Browse Tag

common mistake

20 posts

Tricky and common mistakes made by native and non-native Arabic speakers.

The number 100 rendered in a glowing, colorful space-themed style with planets and stars inside and around the digits, set against a dark starry galaxy background with green and blue swirling nebula effects.
Read More

Solving the Mystery of مِائَة: The Story Behind the Spelling of 100 in Arabic

The Arabic word for "hundred," مِائَة, presents a fascinating linguistic anomaly: it's written with an extra Aleph, but pronounced as مِئَة. This article delves into the historical reasons behind this unique spelling, clarifies the correct pronunciation, and explains its grammatical usage, including how it combines with other numbers.
Large stone letters spelling 'WAW!' illuminated at night, set against a starry sky and sandy terrain with ripples in the sand.
Read More

Beyond “and”: Meanings of وَ in Arabic Grammar

The Arabic conjunction "وَ" (wa) can have meanings beyond "and," often translating as "when," "with," or "while," which can be challenging for learners. This article clarifies these specific uses, detailing the واوُ الْحالِ (circumstantial description) and مَفْعُولٌ مَعَهُ (object of accompaniment) constructions, with examples to distinguish them from the common conjunctive "and".
A yellow diamond-shaped caution sign with the letters 'MA' in bold black text is prominently displayed in front of the national flag of Egypt, featuring horizontal stripes of red, white, and black with the Egyptian coat of arms in the center.
Read More

Mastering Ma in Egyptian Arabic: Functions of ما

The Egyptian Arabic word ما (ma) is highly versatile, often causing confusion for learners. Beyond its roles as a question word ("what"), negation, or relative pronoun, ما frequently acts as an amplifier. This guide explains these functions, focusing on how ما and ده are used for emphasis, with examples to clarify their usage.
Word 'NEVER' in bold, comic-style orange and yellow gradient letters with a dark blue explosion shape background.
Read More

How to Say “Never” in Arabic: قَطُّ vs. أَبَدًا

A common mistake in Arabic is confusing the words for "never." This article clarifies the proper usage of قَطُّ (qattu) for past tense "never" and أَبَدًا (abadan) for future tense "never," providing clear examples and explaining their grammatical functions to help you use them correctly.