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Question Words

Asking questions

Yes/no questions

Begin a statement with هل (or the particle أ) to make a yes/no question.

💬 Examples
هل أنتَ طالِب؟
hal anta taalib?
Are you a student?
📝 هل turns a statement into a question
أأنتَ جاهِز؟
a-anta jaahiz?
Are you ready?
📝 Particle أ prefixed
Information questions

Words like ما، مَن، أين، متى، كيف، لماذا ask for specific information.

📊 Common question words
Arabic Meaning Translit
مَن who man
ما / ماذا what maa / maadha
أين where ayna
متى when mataa
كيف how kayfa
لماذا why limaadha
كم how many kam
💬 Examples
ما اسمُك؟
maa ismuk?
What is your name?
📝 ما = what (for things)
أين البَيت؟
ayna al-bayt?
Where is the house?
📝 أين = where
مَن vs ما

Use مَن for people and ما/ماذا for things.

💬 Examples
مَن هذا؟
man haadha?
Who is this?
📝 مَن for a person
ماذا تُريد؟
maadha turiid?
What do you want?
📝 ماذا before a verb