ال
al-
The English word "the" is translated into Arabic as ال (al-).
Meaning: article (article)
How does it change in a sentence?
The definite article ال is a prefix that is attached directly to the beginning of the noun it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
al-
Did you know?
- Many English surnames starting with 'Al-' such as 'Al-Rashid' are not actually part of the name but are simply the Arabic definite article ال attached to a family name.
- While written as ال, the 'l' sound disappears when ال is attached to words starting with the 'sun letters' such as 's' or 't'. In these cases, the next letter is doubled instead.
- Some linguists believe ال might not have originally been an article, but a reduced form of the word for 'these' or 'those'.
Examples in context
- هم في نفس السن.They are the same age.The sentence is useful for showing how ال is used in the context of age.Tatoeba #383364 by saeb, translation #307243 by CK
- ها قد أتى الباص.There comes the bus.The sentence is useful for showing how ال is used when referring to a bus.Tatoeba #370669 by saeb, translation #35414 by CK
- ها قد أتى الباص!Here comes the bus!The sentence is useful for showing how ال is used in an exclamatory sentence about a bus.Tatoeba #376982 by saeb, translation #33126 by CK
- الْكِتَابThe book
- ٱلتُفَّاحَةThe apple
- ٱلْفِيلThe elephant
- البيتThe house
- القطThe cat
- المدرسةThe school
- 8640 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yousef and Maryam are looking for a specific book in a room.
- يوسف Youssefأين الكتاب؟ayna al-kitāb?Where is the book?
- مريم Maryamالكتاب على الطاولة.al-kitābu 'alā al-ṭāwila.The book is on the table.
- يوسف Youssefشكراً يا مريم.shukran yā Maryam.Thank you, Maryam.
- مريم Maryamعفواً يا يوسف.'afwan yā Yūsuf.You're welcome, Yousef.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ال, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
