Browse Tag
Hebrew
49 posts
Hebrew (العبرية): An ancient Semitic language that is the official language of Israel and is used in Jewish religious texts. It has a rich history and is known for its unique script and phonetics.
A Guide to the Arabic Broken Plural: Understanding its History and Function
The broken plural is a fascinating, unique feature of Arabic and South Semitic languages. This article covers its historical roots, formation patterns, and its grammatical role as a "collective noun."
“Even dust accumulated becomes a mountain” | Reginald Hefner | 9273 Roots #13
He's a polyglot who worked as a Chinese and Japanese interpreter for the US government and attended Middlebury's Arabic school nine times. Reginald "Reggie" Hefner discusses his lifelong addiction to languages and his fascination with Arabic's rarest verb forms.
“I expect to serve in the Arab world so this feels like a wise investment of my time” | Ulric Shannon | 9273 Roots #11
He's the Canadian ambassador to Egypt who has served across the Middle East. Ulric Shannon discusses why studying Arabic is a "wise investment," his experience at Middlebury College, and his love for the complex literature of Taha Hussein and the "swagger" of the Lebanese dialect.
How to Write the Final Hamza (ء) in Arabic: A Simple Guide
The final Hamza is tricky, even for native speakers. This guide explains why it appears at the end of words and how it relates to weak root letters like و and ي, using clear examples and rules.
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.
Ism al-Fi’l (اسم الفعل): Understanding Arabic’s Unique “Nouns with Verbal Force”
The Islamic phrase حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلاةِ (Come to prayer!) features a special type of Arabic word: a noun with verbal force (اسم الفعل). This article explains these unique indeclinable words, which carry verb-like meaning and governing power, and how to use common imperative forms like صَهْ (hush!) or آمِينَ (Amen!).
How to Add Arabic Subtitles to Netflix (Easy Guide)
A step-by-step tutorial on how to add Arabic subtitles to Netflix using the OpenSubtitles extension, which works great for Arabic.
Arabic “but” (لكن): the Dagger Aleph (أَلِف خَنْجَرِيَّة) explained
Many Arabic words, including لٰكن (but/however) and even "Allah" (اللّٰه)), are written with a subtle mark called the dagger Aleph (أَلِف خَنْجَرِيَّة). This article explains why these words appear different from their pronunciation, delving into the historical evolution of Arabic script and how this short vertical dash signifies a long vowel, especially in Quranic and common words.
What is a “Kafir” in Islam? The Answer is More Than “Unbeliever”
The word "Kafir" (كافِر) in Arabic and Islam is often misunderstood. Its root, k-f-r, fundamentally means "to cover." This article reveals the word's diverse Quranic meanings, including "sower" and "ungrateful," illustrating its nuances far beyond just "disbeliever," and discusses its theological and modern implications.
