Gender in Arabic: Masculine and Feminine Nouns
The Arabic language is known for its unique grammar rules and complexities. One aspect that stands out is the use of gendered objects. Unlike in English, where objects are usually neutral, objects in Arabic are either masculine or feminine. In other words, nouns have gender in Arabic.
In this blog post, we will explore the rules surrounding gendered objects in Arabic and how they are used in various contexts.
The Basics
In Arabic, objects are gendered, meaning they are either classified as masculine or feminine. This is a fundamental aspect of the language that affects how words are used and formed.
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
| Masculine(M) | ذكر | thakar |
| Feminine(F) | مؤنث | mu’annath |
2. Taa’ Marbouta (ة)
Taa’ marbouta is a special form of the letter (ت). Most singular feminine words end with this letter, making it easy to tell feminine from masculine words.
Examples:
Feminine (F):
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
| Car | سيارة | Sayyara(t) |
| Building | بناية | Binaaya(t) |
| Table | طاولة | Taawila(t) |
Masculine (M):
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
| Restaurant | مطعم | MaT3am |
| Pencil | قلم | Qalam |
| House | بيت | Bait |
Thi taa’ at the end of the feminine words is pronounced similar to the letter (T = ت) if it’s followed by other letters or words.
Examples:
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
| Ahmad’s car | سيارة أحمد | Sayyarat Ahmad |
| Food table | طاولة الطعام | Tawilat Al-ta3am |
| The city of Amman | مدينة عمان | Madeenat Amman |
On the other hand, it’s pronounced as (a) if it’s not followed by any letter or word.
Examples:
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
| Table | طاولة | tawila |
| Writing | كتابة | kitaba |
| Tree | شجرة | shajara |
| City | مدينة | madina |
| Car | سيارة | sayyara |
In all of these examples, the taa’ is pronounced as “a” because it is not followed by any letter or word.
Gender Classification of Nouns in Arabic
In Arabic, every object, living or non-living, has a gender classification of either masculine or feminine. This means that the noun associated with an object will be either masculine or feminine.
In the example , “sayyara” (a car) and “tawila” (a table) are both feminine words because they end with the taa’ marbouta (ة), while “qalam” (a pen) and “kursiyy” (a chair) are both masculine words.
It is important to know the gender of a noun in Arabic as it affects the agreement of other words in the sentence, such as verbs and adjectives.
The gender classification of a noun is usually based on the object’s natural gender, such as animals, or the object’s shape and form. It is a fundamental aspect of the Arabic language and a crucial component of effective communication in Arabic-speaking communities.
6. Professions, Nationalities and Adjectives
Masculine words can be easily changed to feminine by simply adding the feminine taa marboota (ة) at the end of the word. For example, muhandis (male engineer) becomes muhandisa (female engineer). The same applies to nationalities and adjectives.
Examples:
| Word (English) | Word (Arabic) | Pronunciation | M or F |
| Teacher (M) | معلم | Muealim | M |
| Teacher (F) | معلمة | Muealima | F |
| Doctor (M) | طبيب | Tabib | M |
| Doctor (F) | طبيبة | Tabiba | F |
| Student (M) | طالب | Talib | M |
| Student (F) | طالبة | Taliba | F |
| Manger(M) | مدير | Mudeer | M |
| Manger(F) | مديرة | Mudeera | F |
| Engineer (M) | مهندس | Muhandis | M |
| Engineer (F) | مهندسة | Muhandasa | F |
| Jordanian (F) | أردني | Urdoniyy | M |
| Jordanian (M) | أردنية | Urdoniyya | F |
| Emirati (M) | أماراتي | Emarati | M |
| Emirati (F) | أماراتية | Emaratiah | F |
| Syrian (M) | سوري | Soori | M |
| Syrian (F) | سورية | Sooriah | F |
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FAQs
Q: What is the significance of gender in the Arabic language?
In Arabic, every object, living or non-living, is classified as either masculine or feminine, which affects the way words are used and formed in sentences.
Q: How do I identify masculine and feminine nouns in Arabic?
Masculine nouns are generally neutral and do not end with special letters, while feminine nouns often end with the letter ت (taa’ marbouta).
Q: What is taa’ marbouta and how does it indicate gender?
Taa’ marbouta is a special form of the letter ت that marks feminine nouns, such as سيارة (sayyara) for “car” and طاولة (taawila) for “table.”
Q: Can you give examples of feminine nouns with taa’ marbouta?
Examples include سيارة (sayyara) for “car,” طاولة (taawila) for “table,” and شجرة (shajara) for “tree.”
Q: How are professions and nationalities affected by gender in Arabic?
In Arabic, professions and nationalities can be changed from masculine to feminine by adding taa’ marbouta. For example, مُهندس (muhandis) means “engineer” (masculine), and مُهندسة (muhandisa) means “engineer” (feminine).
Q: How does gender influence the formation of adjectives in Arabic?
Adjectives in Arabic also change based on gender. For instance, طبيب (tabib) means “doctor” (masculine), while طبيبة (tabiba) means “doctor” (feminine).
Q: Can I learn more about gender in Arabic and other related topics?
Yes, you can explore more through resources like the Mezan Institute, where expert teachers provide guidance on learning the Arabic language and understanding its complexities.
Q: How can I start learning Arabic?
You can start learning Arabic immediately by enrolling in an online, self-paced Arabic language course, designed to help you learn in a simple and practical way.
Conclusion
Gender is an essential aspect of the Arabic language, and it affects how words are used and formed.
Objects are classified as either masculine or feminine, and the gender of a noun can affect the agreement of other words in a sentence.
It is important to understand the gender classification of nouns, professions, and adjectives to communicate effectively in Arabic.
Interested in learning more about gender in Arabic and similar topics? Join Mezan Institute for professional guidance offered from expert teachers. Join now and start your Arabic learning journey!
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