Lesson 10

What is this/that?

What is this? ……. This is Arabic.

Do you want to say that in Arabic? Okay, I will teach you how to say it, and how to ask about the nature of things and objects.

The question word “What” is:

English	Arabic	Pronunciation
What	(slang) ايه
What	(classical) ما / ماذا

The verb “Be” is “يكون” in Arabic. We often neglect it during speaking or writing in present tense.

So, when we want to say “What is…?” we will say it like this:

English	Arabic
What is …?	(Slang) ايه ...؟
What is …?	(Classical) ما ...؟ / ماذا ...؟

We have studied the demonstrative pronouns before. So, do you know how to say: “What is this?” or “What is that?”

I think you know how to say it. If you could not, let me do it just to remind you:

English	Arabic	Pronunciation
What is this/that? (refer to the singular masculine)	ايه ده؟
What is this/that? (refer to the singular feminine)	ايه دى؟

Now, could you say: “What is this?  ……This is Arabic.”

I am sure you could say it correctly or close to the correct. Bravo.

Now, let’s take some examples:

English	Arabic	Pronunciation
What is this?	ايه ده؟
This is a book	ده كتاب
What is that?	ايه دى؟
That is a paper	دى ورقة
What is this?	ايه ده؟
This is a pen	ده قلم
What is that?	ايه دى؟
That is the sun	دى الشمس
What is this?	ايه ده؟
This is Arabic	ده عربى
What is that?	ايه ده؟
That is English	ده انجليزى