Arabic for Nerds
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A CLASSIC | How Arabic Names Work: A Guide to Ism, Nasab, Laqab, Nisba, and Kunya
Unlike Western names, Arabic family names form a paternal chain. This guide explains the five components of a full Arabic name - Ism (first name), Laqab (epithet), Nasab (genealogy), Nisba (origin), and Kunya (honorif
Unlike Western names, Arabic family names form a paternal chain. This guide explains the five components of a full Arabic name - Ism (first name), Laqab (epithet), Nasab (genealogy), Nisba (origin), and Kunya (honorif
January 28, 2026 at 3:12 PM
A CLASSIC | How Arabic Names Work: A Guide to Ism, Nasab, Laqab, Nisba, and Kunya
Unlike Western names, Arabic family names form a paternal chain. This guide explains the five components of a full Arabic name - Ism (first name), Laqab (epithet), Nasab (genealogy), Nisba (origin), and Kunya (honorif
Unlike Western names, Arabic family names form a paternal chain. This guide explains the five components of a full Arabic name - Ism (first name), Laqab (epithet), Nasab (genealogy), Nisba (origin), and Kunya (honorif
A CLASSIC | What Is an Ism al-Masdar? The "Other" Verbal Noun in Arabic
Arabic features اِسْم الْمَصْدَر (Ism al-Masdar), a shorter form of the original Masdar that often points to the action's result. This article clarifies its difference from the primary Masdar (e.g., غِناءٌ vs. تَغْنِيَةٌ), showing its frequ
Arabic features اِسْم الْمَصْدَر (Ism al-Masdar), a shorter form of the original Masdar that often points to the action's result. This article clarifies its difference from the primary Masdar (e.g., غِناءٌ vs. تَغْنِيَةٌ), showing its frequ
January 21, 2026 at 3:15 PM
A CLASSIC | What Is an Ism al-Masdar? The "Other" Verbal Noun in Arabic
Arabic features اِسْم الْمَصْدَر (Ism al-Masdar), a shorter form of the original Masdar that often points to the action's result. This article clarifies its difference from the primary Masdar (e.g., غِناءٌ vs. تَغْنِيَةٌ), showing its frequ
Arabic features اِسْم الْمَصْدَر (Ism al-Masdar), a shorter form of the original Masdar that often points to the action's result. This article clarifies its difference from the primary Masdar (e.g., غِناءٌ vs. تَغْنِيَةٌ), showing its frequ
A CLASSIC | Cutting the Qiblah
The direction of prayer should not be interrupted - at least not in the written form of the Arabic word. #Errabic https://yalla.li/7fdz6
The direction of prayer should not be interrupted - at least not in the written form of the Arabic word. #Errabic https://yalla.li/7fdz6
January 18, 2026 at 4:15 PM
A CLASSIC | Cutting the Qiblah
The direction of prayer should not be interrupted - at least not in the written form of the Arabic word. #Errabic https://yalla.li/7fdz6
The direction of prayer should not be interrupted - at least not in the written form of the Arabic word. #Errabic https://yalla.li/7fdz6
A CLASSIC | Understanding the Interpreted Infinitive (الْمَصْدَر الْمُؤَوَّل) in Arabic Grammar
The Arabic verbal noun often appears as الْمَصْدَر الْمُؤَوَّل (interpreted infinitive), formed by أَنْ or ما followed by a verb. This article clarifies how it achieves the same meaning as the explicit Masdar (e.g., أُريدُ أَنْ
The Arabic verbal noun often appears as الْمَصْدَر الْمُؤَوَّل (interpreted infinitive), formed by أَنْ or ما followed by a verb. This article clarifies how it achieves the same meaning as the explicit Masdar (e.g., أُريدُ أَنْ
January 14, 2026 at 3:15 PM
A CLASSIC | Understanding the Interpreted Infinitive (الْمَصْدَر الْمُؤَوَّل) in Arabic Grammar
The Arabic verbal noun often appears as الْمَصْدَر الْمُؤَوَّل (interpreted infinitive), formed by أَنْ or ما followed by a verb. This article clarifies how it achieves the same meaning as the explicit Masdar (e.g., أُريدُ أَنْ
The Arabic verbal noun often appears as الْمَصْدَر الْمُؤَوَّل (interpreted infinitive), formed by أَنْ or ما followed by a verb. This article clarifies how it achieves the same meaning as the explicit Masdar (e.g., أُريدُ أَنْ
A CLASSIC | "Prayer is Better Than Sleep": The Unique Grammar of خَيْرٌ (khayr) in Arabic
The Arabic phrase "Prayer is better than sleep" (الصَّلاةُ خَيْرٌ مِن الْنَّوْمِ), recited during Fajr, has unique grammar. This article explains why خَيْرٌ means "better," deviating from the typical comparative pattern, and cl
The Arabic phrase "Prayer is better than sleep" (الصَّلاةُ خَيْرٌ مِن الْنَّوْمِ), recited during Fajr, has unique grammar. This article explains why خَيْرٌ means "better," deviating from the typical comparative pattern, and cl
January 7, 2026 at 3:15 PM
A CLASSIC | "Prayer is Better Than Sleep": The Unique Grammar of خَيْرٌ (khayr) in Arabic
The Arabic phrase "Prayer is better than sleep" (الصَّلاةُ خَيْرٌ مِن الْنَّوْمِ), recited during Fajr, has unique grammar. This article explains why خَيْرٌ means "better," deviating from the typical comparative pattern, and cl
The Arabic phrase "Prayer is better than sleep" (الصَّلاةُ خَيْرٌ مِن الْنَّوْمِ), recited during Fajr, has unique grammar. This article explains why خَيْرٌ means "better," deviating from the typical comparative pattern, and cl
A CLASSIC | Can You Read Arabic without Dots?
Historically, Arabic was written without vowel signs or dots, a "skeleton script" that makes reading challenging. This article demonstrates how five distinct Arabic letters become identical without dots, and credits al-Farahidi for developing the modern
Historically, Arabic was written without vowel signs or dots, a "skeleton script" that makes reading challenging. This article demonstrates how five distinct Arabic letters become identical without dots, and credits al-Farahidi for developing the modern
December 31, 2025 at 3:15 PM
A CLASSIC | Can You Read Arabic without Dots?
Historically, Arabic was written without vowel signs or dots, a "skeleton script" that makes reading challenging. This article demonstrates how five distinct Arabic letters become identical without dots, and credits al-Farahidi for developing the modern
Historically, Arabic was written without vowel signs or dots, a "skeleton script" that makes reading challenging. This article demonstrates how five distinct Arabic letters become identical without dots, and credits al-Farahidi for developing the modern
A CLASSIC | Hamza on Speed
Even on Saudi Arabia's modern high-speed train, spelling mistakes haunt you. #Errabic https://yalla.li/6vigc
Even on Saudi Arabia's modern high-speed train, spelling mistakes haunt you. #Errabic https://yalla.li/6vigc
December 28, 2025 at 4:11 PM
A CLASSIC | Hamza on Speed
Even on Saudi Arabia's modern high-speed train, spelling mistakes haunt you. #Errabic https://yalla.li/6vigc
Even on Saudi Arabia's modern high-speed train, spelling mistakes haunt you. #Errabic https://yalla.li/6vigc
A CLASSIC | The Difference Between Negating with ما (mā) and لَمْ (lam) in Arabic
While both ما and لَمْ negate actions in Arabic, they have subtle differences. This article clarifies that ما negates verbs in the past tense, whereas لَمْ negates present tense verbs (jussive mood) while conveying a past m
While both ما and لَمْ negate actions in Arabic, they have subtle differences. This article clarifies that ما negates verbs in the past tense, whereas لَمْ negates present tense verbs (jussive mood) while conveying a past m
December 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM
A CLASSIC | The Difference Between Negating with ما (mā) and لَمْ (lam) in Arabic
While both ما and لَمْ negate actions in Arabic, they have subtle differences. This article clarifies that ما negates verbs in the past tense, whereas لَمْ negates present tense verbs (jussive mood) while conveying a past m
While both ما and لَمْ negate actions in Arabic, they have subtle differences. This article clarifies that ما negates verbs in the past tense, whereas لَمْ negates present tense verbs (jussive mood) while conveying a past m
A CLASSIC | What Is the Literal Meaning of the Word Dunyā (دُنْيا) in Arabic?
The Arabic word dunya (دُنْيا), commonly translated as "world," literally means "the lowest" or "the closest." This article explores its grammatical structure as the feminine elative of أَفْعَلُ (from root د-ن-و), revealing its d
The Arabic word dunya (دُنْيا), commonly translated as "world," literally means "the lowest" or "the closest." This article explores its grammatical structure as the feminine elative of أَفْعَلُ (from root د-ن-و), revealing its d
December 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
A CLASSIC | What Is the Literal Meaning of the Word Dunyā (دُنْيا) in Arabic?
The Arabic word dunya (دُنْيا), commonly translated as "world," literally means "the lowest" or "the closest." This article explores its grammatical structure as the feminine elative of أَفْعَلُ (from root د-ن-و), revealing its d
The Arabic word dunya (دُنْيا), commonly translated as "world," literally means "the lowest" or "the closest." This article explores its grammatical structure as the feminine elative of أَفْعَلُ (from root د-ن-و), revealing its d
A CLASSIC | Arabic Swear Words, Curses and Bad Words: The Definitive List in Egyptian, Levantine & Other Arabic Dialects
WARNING: This article contains explicit Arabic swear words and curse words. It compiles a list of frequent insults across dialects like Egyptian and Levantine. While important fo
WARNING: This article contains explicit Arabic swear words and curse words. It compiles a list of frequent insults across dialects like Egyptian and Levantine. While important fo
December 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
A CLASSIC | Arabic Swear Words, Curses and Bad Words: The Definitive List in Egyptian, Levantine & Other Arabic Dialects
WARNING: This article contains explicit Arabic swear words and curse words. It compiles a list of frequent insults across dialects like Egyptian and Levantine. While important fo
WARNING: This article contains explicit Arabic swear words and curse words. It compiles a list of frequent insults across dialects like Egyptian and Levantine. While important fo
A CLASSIC | Holy Smokes!
If you get off the train at the main station in the holy city of al-Madinah in Saudi Arabia, you will be greeted with a serious grammatical error. #Errabic https://yalla.li/bmxy0
If you get off the train at the main station in the holy city of al-Madinah in Saudi Arabia, you will be greeted with a serious grammatical error. #Errabic https://yalla.li/bmxy0
December 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A CLASSIC | Holy Smokes!
If you get off the train at the main station in the holy city of al-Madinah in Saudi Arabia, you will be greeted with a serious grammatical error. #Errabic https://yalla.li/bmxy0
If you get off the train at the main station in the holy city of al-Madinah in Saudi Arabia, you will be greeted with a serious grammatical error. #Errabic https://yalla.li/bmxy0
A CLASSIC ︱The Secret to Finding Any Arabic Root: Just Remember سألتمونيها
Almost every Arabic word has a root of three or four letters. Identifying these roots (جِذْر) is straightforward because only ten specific "extra letters" (حُرُوف الزِّيادة) can be added to a radical. These letters are convenientl
Almost every Arabic word has a root of three or four letters. Identifying these roots (جِذْر) is straightforward because only ten specific "extra letters" (حُرُوف الزِّيادة) can be added to a radical. These letters are convenientl
December 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
A CLASSIC ︱The Secret to Finding Any Arabic Root: Just Remember سألتمونيها
Almost every Arabic word has a root of three or four letters. Identifying these roots (جِذْر) is straightforward because only ten specific "extra letters" (حُرُوف الزِّيادة) can be added to a radical. These letters are convenientl
Almost every Arabic word has a root of three or four letters. Identifying these roots (جِذْر) is straightforward because only ten specific "extra letters" (حُرُوف الزِّيادة) can be added to a radical. These letters are convenientl