هي
hiya
In Arabic, the English word 'her' can be expressed in different ways depending on its function. The default form is هي (hiya).
The word هي is a pronoun used to refer to a female person or animal previously mentioned.
Which one should you use?
The form هي (hiya) is used specifically as a subject pronoun, meaning it translates to 'she'. In English, 'her' often functions as an object or a possessive, which requires the suffix ـها (-ha) in Arabic.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express 'her' in a possessive sense (for example, 'her book'), you should use the suffix ـها (-ha) attached to the noun.
How do you pronounce it?
hiya
Did you know?
- In a sentence, the pronoun هي is often omitted entirely if the verb already contains a feminine marker, as the verb itself tells you the subject is 'she'.
- Because Arabic assigns gender to all nouns, you must use هي or ـها to refer to inanimate objects like a 'car' or a 'table' if the noun is feminine.
- Arabic refers to 'the feminine' as المؤنث (al-mu'annath), a word derived from a root meaning 'to familiarize' or 'make friendly'.
Examples in context
- هي لم تعجبني قطّ.I've never liked her.This sentence shows how to use هي as a subject.Tatoeba #2606088 by Amastan, translation #2439978 by Hybrid
- نحن لا نعلم من هي.We don't know her.This sentence shows how to use هي to identify a person.Tatoeba #448451 by saeb, translation #439337 by CK
- أين هي صورها الأخرى؟Where are her other pictures?This sentence shows the use of هي in a question regarding possession.Tatoeba #11976554 by dididodo, translation #1761166 by Amastan
- هذه هدية لها.This is a gift for her.
- رحت مع إياها.I went with her.
- 37 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Omar are talking about a mutual friend.
- سارة Saraهل رأيت ليلى اليوم؟Hal ra'ayta Layla al-yawm?Did you see Layla today?
- عمر Omarلا، أين هي الآن؟La, ayn hiya al-an?No, where is she now?
- سارة Saraهي في المكتب حالياً.Hiya fil-maktab haliyan.She is in the office currently.
- عمر Omarسأذهب لزيارتها إذاً.Sa'adhhabu liziyaratiha idhan.I will go visit her then.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
