Definite & Indefinite

In this lesson, we learn how to talk about a specific thing (The Book) versus any general thing (A Book). This is the key to building real Arabic sentences!

1. The Big Idea: Nakirah vs. Ma'rifah

Nakirah (Indefinite)

When you talk about "A" general thing. In English, it's "A House" or "A Chair".


بَيْتٌ
Baytun
A House
Look for the Tanween (Double Vowel)!

Ma'rifah (Definite)

When you talk about "The" specific thing. In Arabic, we add AL (ال).


اَلْبَيْتُ
Al-Baytu
The House
Important: The Tanween runs away!
The #1 Magic Rule:

AL (ال) and Tanween (ٌ ٍ ً) are like fire and water. They NEVER stay together in the same word.

اَلْـكِتَابٌ اَلْـكِتَابُ

2. The Transformation Lab

Watch how adding "AL" changes the word and removes the tanween. Read these out loud!

قَلَمٌ اَلْقَلَمُ
Qalamun → Al-Qalamu
A pen → The pen
كِتَابٌ اَلْكِتَابُ
Kitaabun → Al-Kitaabu
A book → The book
مَكْتَبٌ اَلْمَكْتَبُ
Maktabun → Al-Maktabu
A desk → The desk
بَابٌ اَلْبَابُ
Baabun → Al-Baabu
A door → The door
كُرْسِيٌّ اَلْكُرْسِيُّ
Kursiyyun → Al-Kursiyyu
A chair → The chair
وَلَدٌ اَلْوَلَدُ
Waladun → Al-Waladu
A boy → The boy
بِنْتٌ اَلْبِنْتُ
Bintun → Al-Bintu
A girl → The girl
جَمَلٌ اَلْجَمَلُ
Jamalun → Al-Jamalu
A camel → The camel
حِمَارٌ اَلْحِمَارُ
Himaarun → Al-Himaaru
A donkey → The donkey
دِيكٌ اَلدِّيكُ
Deekun → Ad-Deeku
A rooster → The rooster
قِطٌّ اَلْقِطُّ
Qittun → Al-Qittu
A cat → The cat
كَلْبٌ اَلْكَلْبُ
Kalbun → Al-Kalbu
A dog → The dog
رَجُلٌ اَلرَّجُلُ
Rajulun → Ar-Rajulu
A man → The man
سَفِينَةٌ اَلسَّفِينَةُ
Safeenatun → As-Safeenatu
A ship → The ship
نَجْمٌ اَلنَّجْمُ
Najmun → An-Najmu
A star → The star
شَمْسٌ اَلشَّمْسُ
Shamsun → Ash-Shamsu
A sun → The sun
قَمَرٌ اَلْقَمَرُ
Qamarun → Al-Qamaru
A moon → The moon
طَالِبٌ اَلطَّالِبُ
Taalibun → At-Taalibu
A student → The student
طَبِيبٌ اَلطَّبِيبُ
Tabeebun → At-Tabeebu
A doctor → The doctor
مُعَلِّمٌ اَلْمُعَلِّمُ
Mu'allimun → Al-Mu'allimu
A teacher → The teacher
سَرِيرٌ اَلسَّرِيرُ
Sareerun → As-Sareeru
A bed → The bed
وَجْهٌ اَلْوَجْهُ
Wajhun → Al-Wajhu
A face → The face
يَدٌ اَلْيَدُ
Yadun → Al-Yadu
A hand → The hand
رِجْلٌ اَلرِّجْلُ
Rijlun → Ar-Rijlu
A leg → The leg
عَيْنٌ اَلْعَيْنُ
Aynun → Al-Aynu
An eye → The eye
أُذُنٌ اَلْأُذُنُ
Udhunun → Al-Udhunu
An ear → The ear
فَمٌ اَلْفَمُ
Famun → Al-Famu
A mouth → The mouth
أَنْفٌ اَلْأَنْفُ
Anfun → Al-Anfu
A nose → The nose
رَأْسٌ اَلرَّأْسُ
Ra'sun → Ar-Ra'su
A head → The head
قَلْبٌ اَلْقَلْبُ
Qalbun → Al-Qalbu
A heart → The heart
دَرْسٌ اَلدَّرْسُ
Darsun → Ad-Darsu
A lesson → The lesson
فَصْلٌ اَلْفَصْلُ
Faslun → Al-Faslu
A class → The class
مَسْجِدٌ اَلْمَسْجِدُ
Masjidun → Al-Masjidu
A mosque → The mosque
بَيْتٌ اَلْبَيْتُ
Baytun → Al-Baytu
A house → The house
غُرْفَةٌ اَلْغُرْفَةُ
Ghurfatun → Al-Ghurfatu
A room → The room
مَطْبَخٌ اَلْمَطْبَخُ
Matbakhun → Al-Matbakhu
A kitchen → The kitchen
سُوقٌ اَلسُّوقُ
Sooqun → As-Sooqu
A market → The market
حَدِيقَةٌ اَلْحَدِيقَةُ
Hadeeqatun → Al-Hadeeqatu
A garden → The garden
شَجَرَةٌ اَلشَّجَرَةُ
Shajaratun → Ash-Shajaratu
A tree → The tree
زَهْرَةٌ اَلزَّهْرَةُ
Zahratun → Az-Zahratu
A flower → The flower
نَهْرٌ اَلنَّهْرُ
Nahrun → An-Nahru
A river → The river
بَحْرٌ اَلْبَحْرُ
Bahrun → Al-Bahru
A sea → The sea
سَمَاءٌ اَلسَّمَاءُ
Samaa'un → As-Samaa'u
A sky → The sky
أَرْضٌ اَلْأَرْضُ
Ardun → Al-Ardu
An earth → The earth
خُبْزٌ اَلْخُبْزُ
Khubzun → Al-Khubzu
A bread → The bread
لَبَنٌ اَللَّبَنُ
Labanun → Al-Labanu
A milk → The milk
مَاءٌ اَلْمَاءُ
Maa'un → Al-Maau
A water → The water
طَعَامٌ اَلطَّعَامُ
Ta'aamun → At-Ta'aamu
A food → The food
لَحْمٌ اَللَّحْمُ
Lahmun → Al-Lahmu
A meat → The meat
تُفَّاحٌ اَلتُّفَّاحُ
Tuffaahun → At-Tuffaahu
An apple → The apple
مَوْزٌ اَلْمَوْزُ
Mawzun → Al-Mawzu
A banana → The banana
بُرْتُقَالٌ اَلْبُرْتُقَالُ
Burtuqaalun → Al-Burtuqaalu
An orange → The orange
سَيَّارَةٌ اَلسَّيَّارَةُ
Sayyaaratun → As-Sayyaaratu
A car → The car
حَافِلَةٌ اَلْحَافِلَةُ
Haafilatun → Al-Haafilatu
A bus → The bus
دَرَّاجَةٌ اَلدَّرَّاجَةُ
Darraajatun → Ad-Darraajatu
A bike → The bike
طَيَّارَةٌ اَلطَّيَّارَةُ
Tayyaaratun → At-Tayyaaratu
A plane → The plane
بَحَّارٌ اَلْبَحَّارُ
Bahhaarun → Al-Bahhaaru
A sailor → The sailor
جُنْدِيٌّ اَلْجُنْدِيُّ
Jundiyyun → Al-Jundiyyu
A soldier → The soldier
مَلِكٌ اَلْمَلِكُ
Malikun → Al-Maliku
A king → The king
وَزِيرٌ اَلْوَزِيرُ
Wazeerun → Al-Wazeeru
A minister → The minister

3. Solar & Lunar: The Secret of the Silent Lam

When we add AL (ال), something special happens to the L (ل) sound. It depends on the letter that follows it!

Lunar Letters (Qamariyyah)

You CLEARLY pronounce the L. The L gets a Sukun (الْـ).

أ
اَلْأَبُ
Al-Abu
The Father
ب
اَلْبَابُ
Al-Baabu
The Door
ج
اَلْجَمَلُ
Al-Jamalu
The Camel
ح
اَلحِمَارُ
Al-Himaaru
The Donkey
خ
اَلخُبْزُ
Al-Khubzu
The Bread
ع
اَلعَيْنُ
Al-Aynu
The Eye
غ
اَلغَدَاءُ
Al-Ghadaau
The Lunch
ف
اَلْفَمُ
Al-Famu
The Mouth
ق
اَلْقَمَرُ
Al-Qamaru
The Moon
ك
اَلْكِتَابُ
Al-Kitaabu
The Book
م
اَلْمَاءُ
Al-Maau
The Water
و
اَلْوَلَدُ
Al-Waladu
The Boy
ه
اَلْهَوَاءُ
Al-Hawaau
The Air
ي
اَلْيَدُ
Al-Yadu
The Hand
Solar Letters (Shamsiyyah)

The L is SILENT. The next letter gets a Shaddah (ّ ) to absorb the L sound.

ت
اَلتُّفَّاحُ
At-Tuffaahu
The Apple
ث
اَلثَّوْبُ
Ath-Thawbu
The Dress
د
اَلدِّيكُ
Ad-Deeku
The Rooster
ذ
اَلذَّهَبُ
Adh-Dhahabu
The Gold
ر
اَلرَّجُلُ
Ar-Rajulu
The Man
ز
اَلزَّهْرَةُ
Az-Zahratu
The Flower
س
اَلسَّمَاءُ
As-Samaa'u
The Sky
ش
اَلشَّمْسُ
Ash-Shamsu
The Sun
ص
اَلصَّلَاةُ
As-Salaatu
The Prayer
ض
اَلضَّوْءُ
Ad-Daw'u
The Light
ط
اَلطَّالِبُ
At-Taalibu
The Student
ظ
اَلظُّهْرُ
Adh-Dhuhru
The Noon
ل
اَللَّبَنُ
Al-Labanu
The Milk
ن
اَلنَّجْمُ
An-Najmu
The Star

4. The Definitive Dictionary

Master these 100 nouns by reading them with and without "AL".

اَلْأَبُ
Father
أَبٌ
اَلْأُمُّ
Mother
أُمٌّ
اَلْأَخُ
Brother
أَخٌ
اَلْأُخْتُ
Sister
أُخْتٌ
اَلْوَلَدُ
Boy
وَلَدٌ
اَلْبِنْتُ
Girl
بِنْتٌ
اَلْقَلَمُ
Pen
قَلَمٌ
اَلْكِتَابُ
Book
كِتَابٌ
اَلْمَسْجِدُ
Desk
مَكْتَبٌ
اَلْمَسْجِدُ
Mosque
مَسْجِدٌ
اَلْبَيْتُ
House
بَيْتٌ
اَلْبَابُ
Door
بَابٌ
اَلْكُرْسِيُّ
Chair
كُرْسِيٌّ
اَلسَّرِيرُ
Bed
سَرِيرٌ
اَلنَّجْمُ
Star
نَجْمٌ
اَلْقَمَرُ
Moon
قَمَرٌ
اَلشَّمْسُ
Sun
شَمْسٌ
اَلنَّهْرُ
River
نَهْرٌ
اَلْبَحْرُ
Sea
بَحْرٌ
اَلسَّمَاءُ
Sky
سَمَاءٌ
اَلْأَرْضُ
Earth
أَرْضٌ
اَلْجَبَلُ
Mountain
جَبَلٌ
اَلشَّجَرَةُ
Tree
شَجَرَةٌ
اَلْوَرَقُ
Paper
وَرَقٌ
اَلْغُرْفَةُ
Room
غُرْفَةٌ
اَلْمَطْبَخُ
Kitchen
مَطْبَخٌ
اَلْحَمَّامُ
Bathroom
حَمَّامٌ
اَلسَّاعَةُ
Clock
سَاعَةٌ
اَلصُّورَةُ
Picture
صُورَةٌ
اَلْمِفْتَاحُ
Key
مِفْتَاحٌ
اَلْقُفْلُ
Lock
قُفْلٌ
اَلْحَقِيبَةُ
Bag
حَقِيبَةٌ
اَلمِحْفَظَةُ
Wallet
مِحْفَظَةٌ
اَلْمَاءُ
Water
مَاءٌ
اَلطَّعَامُ
Food
طَعَامٌ
اَلْخُبْزُ
Bread
خُبْزٌ
اَللَّبَنُ
Milk
لَبَنٌ
اَلْعَسَلُ
Honey
عَسَلٌ
اَلتُّفَّاحُ
Apple
تُفَّاحٌ
اَلتَّمْرُ
Date
تَمْرٌ
اَلسَّيَّارَةُ
Car
سَيَّارَةٌ
اَلطَّيَّارَةُ
Plane
طَيَّارَةٌ
اَلسَّفِينَةُ
Ship
سَفِينَةٌ
اَلدَّرَّاجَةُ
Bike
دَرَّاجَةٌ
اَلطَّرِيقُ
Road
طَرِيقٌ
اَلْمَدِينَةُ
City
مَدِينَةٌ
اَلْقَرْيَةُ
Village
قَرْيَةٌ
اَلْبَلَدُ
Country
بَلَدٌ
اَلْجَسْرُ
Bridge
جَسْرٌ
اَلنَّافِذَةُ
Window
نَافِذَةٌ
اَلْحَائِطُ
Wall
حَائِطٌ
اَلسَّقْفُ
Ceiling
سَقْفٌ
اَلْجَدُّ
Grandpa
جَدٌّ
اَلْجَدَّةُ
Grandma
جَدَّةٌ
اَلْعَمُّ
Uncle (P)
عَمٌّ
اَلْعَمَّةُ
Aunt (P)
عَمَّةٌ
اَلْخَالُ
Uncle (M)
خَالٌ
اَلْخَالَةُ
Aunt (M)
خَالَةٌ
اَلصَّدِيقُ
Friend
صَدِيقٌ
اَلْجَارُ
Neighbor
جَارٌ
اَلْمُعَلِّمُ
Teacher
مُعَلِّمٌ
اَلطَّالِبُ
Student
طَالِبٌ
اَلطَّبِيبُ
Doctor
طَبِيبٌ
اَلْمُهَنْدِسُ
Engineer
مُهَنْدِسٌ
اَلْقَصِيرُ
Short
قَصِيرٌ
اَلطَّوِيلُ
Long/Tall
طَوِيلٌ
اَلْكَبِيرُ
Big
كَبِيرٌ
اَلصَّغِيرُ
Small
صَغِيرٌ
اَلْجَمِيلُ
Beautiful
جَمِيلٌ
اَلْقَبِيحُ
Ugly
قَبِيحٌ
اَلْجَدِيدُ
New
جَدِيدٌ
اَلْقَدِيمُ
Old
قَدِيمٌ
اَلْقَوِيُّ
Strong
قَوِيٌّ
اَلضَّعِيفُ
Weak
ضَعِيفٌ
اَلْغَنِيُّ
Rich
غَنِيٌّ
اَلْفَقِيرُ
Poor
فَقِيرٌ
اَلسَّهْلُ
Easy
سَهْلٌ
اَلصَّعْبُ
Hard
صَعْبٌ
اَلْحَارُّ
Hot
حَارٌ
اَلْبَارِدُ
Cold
بَارِدٌ
اَلنَّظِيفُ
Clean
نَظِيفٌ
اَلْوَسِخُ
Dirty
وَسِخٌ
اَلسَّعِيدُ
Happy
سَعِيدٌ
اَلْحَزِينُ
Sad
حَزِينٌ
اَلْمَلِكُ
King
مَلِكٌ
اَلْأَمِيرُ
Prince
أَمِيرٌ
اَلشُّرْطِيُّ
Police
شُرْطِيٌّ
اَلْجُنْدِيُّ
Soldier
جُنْدِيٌّ
اَلْعِلْمُ
Knowledge
عِلْمٌ
اَلدِّينُ
Religion
دِينٌ
اَلصَّلَاةُ
Prayer
صَلَاةٌ
اَلزَّكَاةُ
Charity
زَكَاةٌ
اَلْحَجُّ
Hajj
حَجٌّ
اَلصَّوْمُ
Fast
صَوْمٌ
اَلْحَقُّ
Truth
حَقٌّ
اَلْبَاطِلُ
Falsehood
بَاطِلٌ
اَلنُّورُ
Light
نُورٌ
اَلظُّلْمَةُ
Darkness
ظُلْمَةٌ
اَلْمَشْرِقُ
East
مَشْرِقٌ
اَلْمَغْرِبُ
West
مَغْرِبٌ

Lesson Complete!

MASHALLAH! You have successfully mastered the Arabic Definite Article. You can now build specific nouns and handle the secrets of Solar and Lunar letters!

Definite Rule

Understood why 'AL' and Tanween can never stay together in the same word.

Sun & Moon

Mastered all 28 Solar and Lunar letters and their unique phonetic rules.

Practice

Added another 100+ essential nouns to your mental dictionary with their definite forms.