How to form questions in Arabic - Exploring Interrogatives in Arabic: MSA and Jordanian-Palestinian Dialect
This blog will guide you through the usage of interrogatives in both MSA and the Jordanian-Palestinian dialect. This topic is essential in any language as they allow us to ask questions and seek information.
Download a free document that summarizes the usage of these interrogatives in Arabic!
Interrogatives in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)
Modern Standard Arabic, or الفصحى, is the formal version of the Arabic language used in writing and formal speech. Here are some common interrogatives in MSA:
1. هَلْ - Used for yes/no questions.
Example: هل أنت أمريكي؟ (Are you American?)
2. ما and ماذا - Used for asking "what".
Example: ما اسمُكَِ؟ (What is your name?) ما is followed by a noun.
Example: ماذا تقرأ؟ (What are you reading?) ماذا is followed by a verb.
3. مَن - Used for asking "who".
Example: مَن أستاذكم في المدرسة؟ (Who is your teacher at school?)
4. لِماذا - Used for asking "why".
Example: لماذا أنت في الأردن؟ (Why are you in Jordan?)
5. أَيْنَ - Used for asking "where".
Example: أين والدتك الآن؟ (Where is your mother now?)
6. مَتى - Used for asking "when".
Example: متى وصل أحمد إلى العمل؟ (When did Ahmed arrive at work?)
7. كيف - Used for asking "how".
Example: كيف تحب القهوة؟ (How do you like your coffee?)
8. كَمْ - Used for asking "how many".
Example: كم غرفة في البيت؟ (How many rooms are in the house?). Notice that كم is followed by a singular indefinite noun.
9. أَي - Used for asking "which".
Example: أي قهوة تحبّ؟ (Which coffee do you like?)
Interrogatives in the Jordanian-Palestinian Dialect
In the Jordanian-Palestinian dialect, or العامية, the interrogatives are similar but often have different pronunciations or variations. Pay attention how we can form, in dialect, the same questions that we formed for the MSA examples:
1. إنت أمريكي؟
A casual way to ask if someone is American. Notice here that we do not use هل, as in MSA.
2. إيش OR شو - Used for asking "what", whether the question is about a noun or an action.
Example: إيش / شو اسمَِك؟ (What is your name?)
Example: إيش / شو بتقرأ؟ (What are you reading?)
3. مين - Used for asking "who".
Example: مين أستاذكم في المدرسة؟ (Who is your teacher at school?)
4. ليش - Used for asking "why".
Example: ليش أنت في الأردن؟ (Why are you in Jordan?)
5. وين - Used for asking "where".
Example: وين والدتك هسه؟ (Where is your mother now?)
6. إيمْتى OR مَتى - Used for asking "when".
Example: إيمتى / متى وصل أحمد ع الشغل؟ (When did Ahmed arrive at work?)
7. كِيف - Used for asking "how".
Example: كيف بتحب القهوة؟ (How do you like your coffee?)
8. كَمْ - Used for asking "how many".
Example: كم غرفة في البيت؟ (How many rooms are in the house?). Notice that كم is followed by a singular indefinite noun.
9. أي - Used for asking "which".
Example: أي قهوة بتحبّ؟ (Which coffee do you like?)
Using Prepositions with Interrogatives
In both MSA and the Jordanian-Palestinian dialect, prepositions can modify interrogatives to provide more specific questions. Check out the following examples.
Modern Standard Arabic
1. من أين - "From where"
Example: من أين رجعتَ؟ (From where did you return?)
2. إلى متى - "Until when"
Example: إلى متى ستعمل اليوم؟ (Until when will you work today?)
3. عن ماذا - "About what"
Example: عن ماذا تكتب؟ (What are you writing about?)
Jordanian-Palestinian Dialect
1. من وين - "From where"
Example: من وين رجعت؟ (From where did you return?)
2. لمتـى - "Until when"
Example: لمتى رح تشتغل اليوم؟ (Until when will you work today?)
3. عن إيش OR عن شو - "About what"
Example: عن إيش / عن شو بتكتب؟ (What are you writing about?)
Conclusion
Understanding and using interrogatives effectively in both MSA and the Jordanian-Palestinian dialect can greatly enhance your conversational skills. Whether you're asking simple questions or delving into deeper inquiries, mastering these question forms will make your communication in Arabic more nuanced and effective.
