Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| ـنَا | -nā |
| إِيَّانَا | ʔiyyānā |
Arabic uses different forms for "us" depending on whether the word is attached to another part of speech or standing independently. The suffix ـنَا is used to indicate "us" or "our" by attaching it directly to verbs, nouns or prepositions. The independent form إِيَّانَا is an object pronoun used when the pronoun stands alone or when you wish to provide emphasis.
Which one should you use?
The primary difference lies in how the word functions within a sentence: ـنَا is a bound suffix that must be attached to another word, whereas إِيَّانَا is an independent pronoun.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the informal pronoun إحْنا is widely used. Similarly, in Gulf Arabic, the informal pronoun إحْنَا is commonly used to express "us".
How does it change in a sentence?
The suffix ـنَا acts as a bound morpheme, meaning it is physically attached to the end of verbs, nouns or prepositions to convey the meaning of "us" or "our".
How do you pronounce it?
-nā
Did you know?
- Using the independent form إِيَّانَا can make a sentence sound strikingly poetic or ancient, similar to using 'unto us' in archaic English.
- The suffix ـنَا is a linguistic 'Swiss Army knife' because it can simultaneously mean 'us' as an object and 'our' as a possessive.
- The independent pronoun إِيَّانَا is often used in the Quran to create a sense of dramatic intensity or formal emphasis when 'us' is the direct object.
Examples in context
- نَحْنُ نُحِبُّ العَرَبِيَّةَ.We love Arabic.
- كِتَابُنَاKitābunā
- ضَرَبَنَاDarabanā
Sources
- Wiktionary, “us” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
