The three classification of a Noun in Arabic: mudhakkar & muannath

Have you learned definite noun and indefinite noun in Arabic? I suggest you to read the lesson again then start reading this lesson.

Today, I will explain you about two genders in Arabic, they are the masculine and the feminine.





The masculine and the feminine Gender in Arabic Language

The masculine in Arabic is :  الْمُذَكَّرُ (al-mudhakkaru)

The feminine in Arabic is : الْمُؤَنَّثُ (al-mu annathu)

الْمُذَكَّرُ (The masculine Gender)

A noun is assumed to be masculine if they are:

1. Words masculine by meaning

Examples:

a. The man's name, such as: أَحْمَدُ (aḥmadu), عَلِيٌّ ('aliyyun), etc.

b. The thing masculine by meaning, such as: وَلَدٌ (waladun) means a boy, رَجُلٌ (rajulun) means a man, etc.

2. Nouns which don't end in feminine suffixes (ة)

Examples:

- كِتَابٌ (kitaabun): a book

- مُدَرِّسٌ (mudarrisun): a teacher

- كُرْسِيٌّ (kursiyyun): a chair



Note to point number two

There is an exception in this point.

Although some nouns end with feminine suffixes ( ة ), they are still masculine, such as:


- أُسَامَةُ (usaamatu): this is a man's name, so this is a masculine noun.

- خَلِيْفَةٌ (khaliifatun): caliph

How to change masculine into feminine?

You can make it by performing these steps:

1. Change ending harakat into fat-hah.

2. Add ta marbuta (ة) after it.





Examples:

- ابْنٌ (ibnun) means son => this is a masculine noun.

The feminine noun => ابْنَةٌ (ibnatun) means daughter.


- حَسَنٌ (handsome) => حَسَنَةٌ (beautiful/pretty).

Special notes (noun which can be masculine or feminine)

Some nouns are used as both masculine and feminine, for examples:


- بَلَدٌ (baladun) : country

- نَفْسٌ (nafsun) : individual; person; soul

- رُوْحٌ (ruuḥun) : spirit

- حَالٌ (ḥaalun) : condition

- سُوْقٌ (suuqun) : market

- سَبِيْلٌ (sabiilun) : path

- إِصْبَعٌ (iṣba'un) : finger

الْمُؤَنَّثُ (the feminine gender)

Noun is assumed to be feminine if they are:

1. feminine by meaning even if they don't end with feminine suffixes

Examples : زَيْنَبُ (zaynabu), مَرْيَمُ (maryamu), etc.

2. Noun ending in the feminine suffix (ة) or ta marbutah. 

Examples:


-  مُدَرِّسَةٌ (mudarrisatun): a female teacher.

-  غُرْفَةٌ (ghurfatun): a room.

-  سَاعَةٌ (saa'atun): a clock.

3. Noun endings in alif maqsuurah (ى)

Examples:

- حُسْنَى (husnaa) means : kindness; good

- صُغْرَى (ṣughraa) means: small

4. Noun ending in alif mamduudah (اء)

Examples:


- زَهْرَاءُ (zahraa-u) means: bright; shining; blossom.

- صَحْرَاءُ (ṣaḥraa-u) means : desert

5. مُؤَنَّثٌ سَمَاعِيٌّ (mu-annath samaa'iyy).

mu-annath samaa'iyy means feminine in accordance with usage.


mu annath samaa'iyy includes these nouns:


a. The names of cities, countries, tribes.

Examples:

- مَكَّةُ (mecca) : name of a city.

- مِصْرٌ (miṣrun): name of a country -> Egypt

- قُرَيْشُ (qurayshu): name of a tribe.



b. Parts of the body which are in pairs.

Examples:

- عَيْنٌ ('ainun) : eye

- أُذُنٌ (udhunun) : ear


c. Some elements of nature.

Examples:

- سَمَاءٌ (samaa-un) means : sky

- شَمْسٌ (shamsun) means : sun

- أَرْضٌ  (arḍun) means : earth

6. Others

- حَرْبٌ (harbun) : war

- فُلْكٌ (fulkun) : ship

- سِكِّيْنٌ (sikkiinun) : knife

- دَارٌ (daarun) : house

- عَنْكَبُوتٌ ('ankabuutun) : spider

- نَارٌ (naarun) : fire


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Comprehend more about noun gender in Arabic by reading this lesson:

Feminine adjective in Arabic: Agreement between adjective and the noun

masculine noun and feminine noun in Arabic