مَاضٍ
māḍinindefinite, masculine
The Arabic word for "past" (as a period of time) is مَاضٍ (māḍin). Wiktionary also lists الْمَاضِي (al-māḍī).
Meaning: period of time that has already happened (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مَاضٍ | māḍin | indefinite, masculine |
| الْمَاضِي | al-māḍī | definite, masculine |
The word refers to a period of time that has already happened. It can function as a noun to mean "the past" or as an adjective meaning "past" or "having already happened". In the context of Arabic grammar, the term فِعْل مَاضٍ (fiʿl māḍin) is used to describe a "past tense verb".
Which one should you use?
Use the definite form الْمَاضِي when you are referring to "the past" as a specific concept. Use the indefinite form مَاضٍ when using it as an adjective to mean "a past [something]".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Levantine Arabic, ماضي is used to express "past".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms of this word change based on definiteness. When the word is made definite with the article 'al-', the final 'ya' is restored, resulting in الْمَاضِي.
How do you pronounce it?
māḍin
Did you know?
- The root of مَاضٍ comes from a word meaning 'to cut' or 'to pierce'. This suggests that the 'past' is something that has already sliced through time and moved onward.
- The word الْمَاضِي shares the same linguistic root as the word for the 'current' of a river. Both terms describe a powerful, one-directional flow.
- While English uses 'past' as a direction in space, such as 'walk past the house', Arabic uses different words for spatial movement and temporal passing.
Examples in context
- أنا رحت البارحة.I went yesterday.
- بكرة هيفضل في الماضِي.Tomorrow will stay in the past.
- رحت على المطار بالأسبوع الماضِي.I went to the airport last week.
- لَهُ مَاضٍ بَعِيدٌ.lahu maadin ba'eed.He has a distant past.
Example conversation
Ziad and Nour are talking about changing their lives.
- زياد Ziadلَا تَقْلَقِي، فَلَدَيْكِ مَاضٍ جَمِيلٌ.la taqlaqi, faladayki maadin jameel.Do not worry, you have a beautiful past.
- نور Nourلَكِنَّ الْمَاضِي كَانَ صَعْبًا جِدًّا.lakin al-maadi kana sa'ban jiddan.But the past was very difficult.
- زياد Ziadأَنْتِ قَوِيَّةٌ يَا نُورُ.anti qawiyya ya Nour.You are strong, Nour.
- نور Nourشُكْرًا لَكَ يَا زِيَادُ.shukran laka ya Ziad.Thank you, Ziad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “past” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
