Short answer
Every Arabic word is one of three types: ism (noun — a person, place, thing or quality), fi'l (verb — an action tied to time) or harf (particle — a word like 'in', 'on' or 'and' that only has meaning with other words).
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Ism (noun) | Allah, kitab (book), rahim (merciful) |
| Fi'l (verb) | qala (he said), ya'lamun (they know) |
| Harf (particle) | fi (in), min (from), wa (and) |
Quick tests
- Can take 'al-' (the)? Usually an ism
- Shows past/present action? A fi'l
- Needs another word to make sense? A harf
Frequently asked questions
Is this taught to children?
Yes, older children can learn the three word types easily using examples from Al-Fatiha.
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