Hello dear students! We are excited to present this comprehensive and simplified guide on Arabic prepositions, a key lesson for every new language learner. If you’re looking for an easy way to understand prepositions in Arabic and how to use them in daily conversation, you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we’ll dive into the most common and frequently used Arabic prepositions, complete with clear examples to help you master them with confidence.
What Are Arabic Prepositions?
In Arabic grammar, prepositions (known as حروف الجر – ḥurūf al-jarr) are small words, or sometimes even just a single letter, that come before nouns (and never before verbs!). They specify the function of the noun that follows them in the sentence. The golden rule here is that the noun following a preposition becomes “majrūr” (مجرور), meaning its grammatical case ending will often be a kasra (ــِـ).
Imagine prepositions as tiny bridges connecting parts of a sentence, clarifying meaning and making it more precise. Without them, our sentences would be incomplete and hard to understand.
Common Arabic Preposition List
We can divide Arabic prepositions into two main categories to help you understand and use them easily:
The Separate Prepositions (الحروف المنفصلة)
These prepositions are written as independent words and do not attach to the noun that follows them:
- مِنْ (min):
- Meaning: “from,” “of,” “some of,” “beginning of a spatial or temporal extent.”
- Examples:
- (I am from Egypt.) – أنا مِنْ مِصر. /ʼanaa min miSr/
- (I went out from the house.) – ِخرجتُ مِنْ البيت. /kharajtu min ilbayti/
- (I read a part of the book.) – ِقرأتُ جزءًا مِنْ الكتاب. /qaraʼtu juzʼan min ilkitaabi/
- إلى (ila):
- Meaning: “to,” “towards,” “end of a spatial or temporal extent,” “indicating direction or destination.”
- Examples:
- (I went to the market.) – ِذهبتُ إلى السوق. /THahabtu ʼilaa issooqi/
- (We traveled to Paris.) – سافرنا إلى باريس./saafarnaa ʼilaa baarees/
- (The student returned to the school.) – ِعاد الطالبُ إلى المدرسة. /ʻaada iTTaalibu ʼilaa ilmadrasati/
- عَنْ (an):
- Meaning: “about,” “concerning,” “away from something.”
- Examples:
- (I talked about history.) – ِتحدَّثتُ عَنْ التاريخ. /taHaddathtu ʻan ittaareekhi/
- (Stay away from problems.) – ِابتعد عَنْ المشاكل. /ibtaʻid ʻan ilmashaakili/
- (I asked him about his family’s news.) – سألتُه عَنْ أخبار عائلتِه. /saʼaltuh ʻan ʼakhbaar ʻaaʼilatih/
- عَلَىٰ (ala):
- Meaning: “on,” “upon,” “over,” “superiority” (position or control).
- Examples:
- (The pen is on the table.) – ِالقلمُ عَلَى الطَّاولة. /alqalamu ʻalaa iTTaawilahi/
- (The book is on the shelf.) – ِّالكتابُ عَلَى الرَّف. /alkitaabu ʻalaa irrafi/
- (I greeted the friends.) – ِسلَّمتُ عَلَى الأصدقاء. /sallamtu ʻalaa ilʼaSdiqaaʼi/
- فِي (fi)
- Meaning: “in,” “inside,” “spatial or temporal ظرفية (adverbial sense).”
- Examples:
- (I am in the house now.) – أنا فِي البيتِ الآن. /ʼanaa fee ilbayti ilʼaan/
- (We meet in the evening.) – ِنلتقي فِي المساء. /naltaqee fee ilmasaaʼi/
- (There are many shops in the city.) – ِيوجدُ الكثير من المتاجرِ فِي المدينة. /yujadu ilkatheer min ilmataajiri fee ilmadeenati/
- حَتَّىٰ (ḥattā):
- Meaning: “until,” “even,” “up to.” (It acts as a preposition when followed by a noun.)
- Examples:
- (I stayed up until morning.) – ِسهرتُ حَتَّى الصباح. /sahirtu Hattaa iSSabaaHi/
- (I ate the fish even its head.) – أكلتُ السمكة حَتَّى رأسِها. /ʼakaltu issamakah Hattaa raʼsihaa/
The Attached Prepositions (الحروف المتصلة)
These prepositions connect and become part of the word that follows them:
- بِـ (bi-):
- Meaning: “with,” “by means of,” “in,” “at,” “because of.”
- Examples:
- (I wrote with the pen.) – ِكتبتُ بِـالقلم. /katabtu bilqalami/
- (I passed by the school.) – ِمررتُ بِـالمدرسة. /marartu bilmadrasati/
- (God knows everything.) – ٍالله يعلم بِـكلِّ شيء. /allaah yaʻlamu bikulli shayʼin/
- (I am happy with your success.) – أنا سعيدٌ بِـنجاحك. /ʼanaa saʻeedun binajaaHik/
- لِـ (li-):
- Meaning: “for,” “to,” “belonging to,” “reason,” “purpose.”
- Examples:
- (This book is for Ahmed / belongs to Ahmed.) – هذا الكتاب لِـأحمد. /haTHaa ilkitaab liʼaHmad/
- (I went to the library to read.) – ذهبتُ إلى المكتبة لِـأقرأ. /THahabtu ʼilaa ilmaktabati liʼaqraʼ/
- (The gift is for my sister.) – الهديَّة لِـأختي. /alhadiyyah liʼukhtee/
- كَـ (ka-):
- Meaning: “like,” “as,” “resemblance.”
- Examples:
- (She is beautiful like the moon.) – ِهي جميلة كَـالقمر. /hiya jameelah kalqamari/
- (He works like a bee.) – ِيعمل كَـالنحلة. /yaʻmal kalnaHlati/
- (His voice is sweet as the nightingale.) – ِصوته عذب كَـالبلبل. /Sawtuh ʻaTHbun Kalbulbuli/
How Are Prepositions Used in Arabic?
Preposition words in Arabic are used to express a wide range of relationships and meanings within sentences, adding precision and clarity. Here are some common uses:
- Indicating Location:
- (The cat is in the box.) – ِالقِطَّة فِي الصُّندوق. /alqiTTah fee iSSundooqi/
- (The book is on the table.) – ِالكِتابُ عَلَىٰ الطَّاولة. /alkitaabu ʻalaa iTTaawilati/
- Indicating Direction or Destination:
- (We go to work every morning.) – ٍنذهبُ إلى العملِ كلَّ صباح. /naTHhabu ʼilaa ilʻamali kulla SabaaHin/
- (I returned from the university.) – عدتُ مِنْ الجامعة.
- Indicating Time:
- (We wake up at seven in the morning.) – نستيقظُ فِي السَّابعةِ صباحًا. /nastayqiDHu fee issaabiʻati SabaaHan/
- (I will work until midnight.) – سأعملُ حَتَّىٰ منتصفِ الليل. /saʼaʻmalu Hattaa muntaSafi illayl/
- Stating Reason or Purpose:
- (I succeeded by my diligence.) – نجحتُ بِـاجتهادي. /najaHtu Bijtihaadee/
- (I bought a gift for my mother.) – اشتريتُ هديَّة لِـأمِّي. /ishtarytu hadyyah liʼummee/
- Showing Accompaniment or Means:
- (I drank coffee with milk.) – شربتُ القهوة بِـالحليب. /sharibtu ilqahwah bilHaleeb/
- (I traveled by train.) – سافرتُ بِـالقطار. /saafartu bilqiTaar/
Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes
Ready to use these prepositions like a pro? Here are some key tips to help you avoid common mistakes.
- Always Remember: Prepositions are always followed by a noun (a noun or a pronoun), and they can never be followed by a verb.
- Pay Attention to the Kasra: The noun following a preposition will be in the majrūr (genitive) case, often indicated by a kasra at its end, especially if the noun is singular and fully inflected.
- Don’t Translate Literally: Prepositions in Arabic may not always have a direct one-to-one equivalent in English or other languages. Learn to use them in context.
- Practice is Key: The best way to master Arabic preposition words is to consistently use them in your reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has helped you understand and grasp Arabic prepositions better. They are an integral part of the Arabic language’s beauty and precision. Remember, learning is a journey, and every small step brings you closer to mastering this wonderful language. Keep practicing and speaking, and you’ll see how prepositions naturally become a part of your daily expressions.
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