Understanding the مصدر ميمي vs. مصدر أصلي in Arabic

Most Arabic dictionaries provide basic translations, which can leave you confused about which word to use when there are multiple options.

For example: Both سُؤال and مَسْألة are usually translated as question in dictionaries, which is correct. But do they both mean the same thing? It often helps if you know what form a word has.

Before we dive into the difference in meaning, we need to look at two important Arabic terms: The مصدر ميمي (masdar mimy) and the مصدر أصلي (masdar asly).

The difference between the مصدر ميمي and مصدر أصلي

Let’s use both examples, سُؤَالٌ and مَسْأَلةٌ, and analyze the pattern:

• سُؤَالٌ is the original verbal noun (مصدر) of the verb سَأَلَ. It is the so-called الْمَصْدَرُ الْأَصْلِيُّ.
• مَسْأَلةٌ is the so-called Masdar Mimy (الْمَصْدَرُ الْمِيمِيُّ), so a verbal noun where the letter م got involved.

➤ A مَصْدَرٌ مِيمِيٌّ basically means the same as the standard مَصْدَرٌ.

So, what is it good for? Well, the po­ets needed it.

Remark: If you are not familiar with the word مَصْدَر scroll down to the end of this blog! (Excursus).

In daily talk and especially in newspapers, you will find many examples for the الْمَصْدَر الْمِيمِيّ – and most of the time, it basically has the same meaning as the original مَصْدَر:

If you have trouble viewing the table, click here for an image:

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Hot to build the مصدر ميمي

I-form verbs (الثُّلاثيّ)

You use the patterns of the noun of place (اِسْمُ الْمَكانِ) and the noun of time (اِسْمُ الْزَّمانِ):

• مَفْعَلٌ
• مَفْعِلٌ – especially for verbs starting with و. For example, the verb to promise (وَعَدَ) → مَوْعِدٌ
• مَفْعَلةٌ – making the word feminine by the تاءُ التَّأْنِيثِ

Verb forms II – X (غَيْر الثُّلاثيّ)

• You use the same pattern as the اِسْم الْمَفْعُول

Watch out if you have to identify a مَصْدَرٌ مِيمِيٌّ. In the follow­ing table, the word مُسْتَخْرَج occurs in every sentence. But does it have the same meaning and function? Not at all!

If you have trouble viewing the table, click here for an image:

Let us see some examples to understand it better:

The مصدر ميمي and plural forms

Now, let’s check how we can build the plural of a مصدر ميمي.

If you have trouble viewing the table, click here for an image:

Maybe you are not very familiar with the Arabic infinitive noun. Let’s quickly review it.

Excursus

What is a masdar (مَصْدَر)?

The Arabic word مَصْدَر means source. It is the most basic, abstract meaning of the root.

In Arabic, a مَصْدَر is a noun (اِسْم) which is derived from a verb (فِعْل). It describes the action without providing you with information about the time of the event, nor about the person who is doing the action.

The corresponding English grammar term depends on the function of a مَصْدَر in an Arabic sentence. A مَصْدَر can function as a verbal noun (noun of action), as an infinitive, etc. But don’t forget: A مَصْدَر is not a verb!

A مَصْدَر is a so called اِسْم مَعْنَى; something, that is abstract, that has no color, no size – but that is connected to an action, like writing, reading, swimming.

All the other nouns are called اِسْم ذات and can be recognized with your senses – you can see, smell, taste, hear them. For example: a river – نَهْر – or mountain – جَبَل – or chair – كُرْسِيّ. These words can’t be a مَصْدَر.

A مَصْدَر doesn’t have a body, nor a concrete shape or form. How can you describe the word reading? You can’t say it is big, blue or loud. Every مَصْدَر needs a هَدَف (goal) and you can only grasp it with your mind.