أشياء
The English phrase 'things' is translated to Arabic as أشياء.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the plural أشياء is شيء.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to add a regular plural suffix to the singular شيء, but أشياء is an irregular broken plural.
Did you know?
- The word شيء is an example of a 'non-human plural' rule where adjectives modifying أشياء must be in the singular feminine form.
- In certain Arabic dialects, the term for 'things' might be replaced by the word حاجات, which comes from the root meaning 'needs' or 'necessities'.
- The term شيء can be used as an intensifier in slang to mean 'something special' or 'incredible', similar to saying 'this is something!' in English.
Examples in context
- كان سامي يرمي أشياءا.Sami threw things.Tatoeba #6712778 by OsoHombre, translation #6711480 by OsoHombre
- لدي أشياء أهم لأفعلها.I have more important things to do.Tatoeba #4940512 by damascene, translation #2641745 by CK
- أحب اختراع أشياء مفيدة.I like to invent useful things.Tatoeba #11252797 by Amghar, translation #1762551 by Amastan
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Layla and Omar are cleaning a room together.
- ليلى Laylaعمر، هناك أشياء كثيرة على الطاولة.Omar, hunaka ashya' kathira 'ala al-tawila.Omar, there are many things on the table.
- عمر Omarهل هذه أشياء قديمة؟Hal hadhihi ashya' qadima?Are these old things?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، هي أشياء لم نستخدمها منذ سنوات.Na'am, hiya ashya' lam nasta'dimha mundhu sanawat.Yes, they are things we haven't used for years.
- عمر Omarسأضع كل هذه الأشياء في الصندوق.Sa-ada' kull hadhihi al-ashya' fi al-sanduq.I will put all these things in the box.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
