How to Say “Specifically” in Arabic: Using وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ

Introduction

Imagine that someone asks what kind of fruit you like.

You could simply say:

أُحِبُّ الْفَوَاكِهَ.
I like fruit.

But perhaps you want to give more exact information:

أُحِبُّ الْفَوَاكِهَ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ التُّفَّاحَ.
I like fruit, specifically apples.

The useful expression here is:

وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ
specifically / to be exact / more precisely

This expression helps you start with general information and then narrow it down to something more precise.

It is useful when talking about times, places, food, travel, work, school, schedules, preferences, and many other everyday topics.

1. The Arabic Expression

وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ

Transliteration: wa-bi-t-taḥdīdi

Natural English meanings:

• specifically
• to be exact
• more precisely
• and specifically

For example:

أَعْمَلُ فِي الْمُسْتَشْفَى، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ فِي قِسْمِ الْأَطْفَالِ.
I work in the hospital, specifically in the children's department.

The first part gives general information:

فِي الْمُسْتَشْفَى
in the hospital

The second part gives a more precise detail:

فِي قِسْمِ الْأَطْفَالِ
in the children's department

2. What Does وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ Mean?

The word وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ is useful when you want to move from something general to something more exact.

Compare:

أُحِبُّ الْفَوَاكِهَ.
I like fruit.

This is general.

Now:

أُحِبُّ الْفَوَاكِهَ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ التُّفَّاحَ.
I like fruit, specifically apples.

Now the listener knows exactly which fruit you mean.

Another example:

أُرِيدُ السَّفَرَ إِلَى أُورُوبَّا.
I want to travel to Europe.

More precisely:

أُرِيدُ السَّفَرَ إِلَى أُورُوبَّا، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ إِلَى فَرَنْسَا.
I want to travel to Europe, specifically to France.

Think of the pattern as:

general information → وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ → exact information

3. How the Expression Is Built

Let us break وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ into smaller parts.

وَ
and

This is a very common Arabic conjunction.

For example:

أَحْمَدُ وَعَلِيٌّ
Ahmad and Ali

بِـ
with / by / in

This is a حَرْفُ جَرٍّ — preposition.

In the expression بِالتَّحْدِيدِ, it is part of a fixed phrase and should not normally be translated word by word.

التَّحْدِيدُ
specification / identification / defining something precisely

It comes from the verb:

حَدَّدَ – يُحَدِّدُ
to specify / to determine / to define

So, taken very literally, بِالتَّحْدِيدِ relates to giving something with greater precision.

However, beginners should normally learn the expression as one useful unit:

بِالتَّحْدِيدِ
specifically / precisely

and:

وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ
and specifically / specifically

4. The Grammar Behind the Pattern

You do not need complicated grammar to start using this expression.

The most important idea is that وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ usually introduces information that makes the previous statement more precise.

For example:

أَسْتَيْقِظُ مُبَكِّرًا، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ فِي السَّاعَةِ السَّادِسَةِ.
I wake up early, specifically at six o'clock.

Here:

أَسْتَيْقِظُ مُبَكِّرًا
I wake up early

is general information.

Then:

فِي السَّاعَةِ السَّادِسَةِ
at six o'clock

makes the time more exact.

Why Is It بِالتَّحْدِيدِ and Not بِالتَّحْدِيدُ?

The prefix بِـ is a preposition.

A noun after a preposition is normally in the مَجْرُور — genitive case.

Therefore:

التَّحْدِيدُ

becomes:

بِالتَّحْدِيدِ

For an A1–A2 learner, however, the easiest approach is to memorize:

بِالتَّحْدِيدِ

as one complete expression.

5. The Reusable Sentence Pattern

The basic pattern is extremely useful.

Pattern 1

General information + وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ + more specific information

For example:

أُحِبُّ الْحَيَوَانَاتِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ الْقِطَطَ.
I like animals, specifically cats.

General:

الْحَيَوَانَاتُ
animals

Specific:

الْقِطَطُ
cats

Pattern 2: With a Place

Place + وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ + more exact place

أَنَا فِي الْبَيْتِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ فِي غُرْفَةِ النَّوْمِ.
I am at home, specifically in the bedroom.

Pattern 3: With Time

General time + وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ + exact time

سَأَزُورُكَ فِي الْمَسَاءِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ فِي السَّاعَةِ السَّابِعَةِ.
I will visit you in the evening, specifically at seven o'clock.

Pattern 4: With a Category

General category + وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ + specific member of that category

أَدْرُسُ اللُّغَاتِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ اللُّغَةَ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ.
I study languages, specifically Arabic.

6. Simple A1 Examples

Example 1 — Daily Routine

أَسْتَيْقِظُ مُبَكِّرًا، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ فِي السَّاعَةِ السَّادِسَةِ.
I wake up early, specifically at six o'clock.

The speaker first says early, then gives the exact time.

Example 2 — Location

أَنَا فِي الْبَيْتِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ فِي غُرْفَةِ النَّوْمِ.
I am at home, specifically in the bedroom.

الْبَيْتُ is the general location.

غُرْفَةُ النَّوْمِ gives the exact location.

Example 3 — Food

أُحِبُّ الْفَوَاكِهَ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ التُّفَّاحَ.
I like fruit, specifically apples.

This pattern is useful for talking about preferences.

You could replace التُّفَّاحَ with:

الْمَوْزَ
bananas

الْبُرْتُقَالَ
oranges

الْعِنَبَ
grapes

Example 4 — Travel

أُرِيدُ السَّفَرَ إِلَى أُورُوبَّا، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ إِلَى فَرَنْسَا.
I want to travel to Europe, specifically to France.

The first destination is broad.

The second destination is more precise.

Example 5 — Study

أَدْرُسُ اللُّغَاتِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ اللُّغَةَ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ.
I study languages, specifically Arabic.

You can reuse this pattern with school subjects:

أَدْرُسُ الْعُلُومَ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ عِلْمَ الْأَحْيَاءِ.
I study science, specifically biology.

Example 6 — Work

هُوَ يَعْمَلُ فِي الْمُسْتَشْفَى، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ فِي قِسْمِ الْأَطْفَالِ.
He works at the hospital, specifically in the children's department.

Example 7 — Animals

هِيَ تُحِبُّ الْحَيَوَانَاتِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ الْقِطَطَ.
She likes animals, specifically cats.

Example 8 — Schedule

الِامْتِحَانُ فِي الْأُسْبُوعِ الْقَادِمِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ.
The exam is next week, specifically on Monday.

Example 9 — Seasons and Months

أُحِبُّ فَصْلَ الشِّتَاءِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ شَهْرَ دِيسَمْبِرَ.
I like the winter season, specifically December.

Example 10 — Colors

أُحِبُّ الْأَلْوَانَ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ اللَّوْنَ الْأَصْفَرَ.
I like colors, specifically the color yellow.

7. A2-Level Examples

Now let us make the sentences slightly longer.

Example 1

أُفَضِّلُ الطَّعَامَ الْعَرَبِيَّ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ الطَّعَامَ اللُّبْنَانِيَّ.
I prefer Arabic food, specifically Lebanese food.

Example 2

سَأَذْهَبُ إِلَى السُّوقِ غَدًا، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ فِي فَتْرَةِ الصَّبَاحِ.
I will go to the market tomorrow, specifically in the morning.

Example 3

نَحْنُ نَدْرُسُ مَوَاضِيعَ كَثِيرَةً، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ مَوْضُوعَ السَّفَرِ هَذَا الْأُسْبُوعَ.
We are studying many topics, specifically the topic of travel this week.

Example 4

أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَتَحَدَّثَ مَعَ الْمُدِيرِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ عَنْ مَوْعِدِ الِاجْتِمَاعِ.
I want to speak with the manager, specifically about the meeting time.

Notice that وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ does not always introduce only one noun. It can introduce an entire phrase.

8. Common Mistakes English Speakers Should Avoid

Mistake 1: Thinking وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ Must Always Translate “Especially”

English specifically and especially are related, but they do not always have the same meaning.

Compare:

وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ
specifically / more precisely

versus:

خُصُوصًا
especially / particularly

If you are narrowing general information to an exact detail, وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ is often a good choice.

For example:

أُحِبُّ الرِّيَاضَةَ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ كُرَةَ الْقَدَمِ.
I like sports, specifically football.

The sentence identifies the exact sport.

Mistake 2: Forgetting the Preposition بِـ

Do not normally say:

وَالتَّحْدِيدِ

when you mean “specifically.”

Learn the complete expression:

وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ

Mistake 3: Giving Information That Is Not More Specific

The second part should normally make the first part more precise.

Natural:

أُرِيدُ السَّفَرَ إِلَى آسِيَا، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ إِلَى الْيَابَانِ.
I want to travel to Asia, specifically to Japan.

Japan is more specific than Asia.

The logic is:

broad category → specific detail

Mistake 4: Translating Word for Word

Do not try to translate every part of وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ literally each time you use it.

Treat it as a useful expression meaning:

“specifically,” “to be exact,” or “more precisely.”

9. Real-Life Dialogues

Dialogue 1 — Travel

A: أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُسَافِرَ؟
Where do you want to travel?

B: أُرِيدُ السَّفَرَ إِلَى أُورُوبَّا، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ إِلَى فَرَنْسَا.
I want to travel to Europe, specifically to France.

Dialogue 2 — Food

A: مَا الطَّعَامُ الَّذِي تُحِبُّهُ؟
What food do you like?

B: أُحِبُّ الْفَوَاكِهَ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ التُّفَّاحَ.
I like fruit, specifically apples.

Dialogue 3 — Location

A: أَيْنَ أَنْتَ؟
Where are you?

B: أَنَا فِي الْبَيْتِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ فِي غُرْفَةِ النَّوْمِ.
I am at home, specifically in the bedroom.

Dialogue 4 — Schedule

A: مَتَى الِامْتِحَانُ؟
When is the exam?

B: فِي الْأُسْبُوعِ الْقَادِمِ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ.
Next week, specifically on Monday.

Practice 6 — Personalize

Complete these sentences with information about your own life.

1.

أُحِبُّ الطَّعَامَ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ ________.

I like food, specifically ________.

2.

أُرِيدُ السَّفَرَ إِلَى ________، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ إِلَى ________.

I want to travel to ________, specifically to ________.

3.

أُحِبُّ الْأَلْوَانَ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ ________.

I like colors, specifically ________.

4.

أَدْرُسُ ________، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ ________.

I study ________, specifically ________.

There is no single correct answer here. The purpose is to use the pattern with information that is meaningful to you.

11. Use the Pattern in Your Own Sentences

To create your own sentence, begin with something general.

For example:

أُحِبُّ الرِّيَاضَةَ.
I like sports.

Now ask yourself:

Which sport exactly?

Perhaps:

كُرَةُ الْقَدَمِ
football

Now combine them:

أُحِبُّ الرِّيَاضَةَ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ كُرَةَ الْقَدَمِ.
I like sports, specifically football.

Try the same process with these topics:

• food
• countries
• cities
• school subjects
• languages
• colors
• animals
• days
• times
• places
• jobs
• hobbies

The important thinking process is:

What is the general information?

↓

What exact detail do I want to add?

↓

Add:

وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ

12. Quick Review

What does وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ mean?

وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ means:

specifically / to be exact / more precisely.

What is its main function?

It introduces information that is more precise than the information that came before it.

What is the basic pattern?

General information + وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ + specific information

For example:

أُحِبُّ الْفَوَاكِهَ، وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ التُّفَّاحَ.

I like fruit, specifically apples.

Can it introduce more than one word?

Yes.

It can introduce a noun:

وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ التُّفَّاحَ
specifically apples

a place:

وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ فِي غُرْفَةِ النَّوْمِ
specifically in the bedroom

a destination:

وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ إِلَى فَرَنْسَا
specifically to France

or a time:

وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ فِي السَّاعَةِ السَّادِسَةِ
specifically at six o'clock

Vocabulary List

Nouns

noun — التَّحْدِيدُ: specification, precise identification

noun — الْبَيْتُ: house, home

noun — غُرْفَةُ النَّوْمِ: bedroom

noun — الْفَوَاكِهُ: fruit

noun — التُّفَّاحُ: apples / apple as a type of fruit

noun — اللُّغَاتُ: languages

noun — اللُّغَةُ الْعَرَبِيَّةُ: the Arabic language

noun — الْمُسْتَشْفَى: hospital

noun — قِسْمُ الْأَطْفَالِ: children's department / pediatric department

noun — الْحَيَوَانَاتُ: animals

noun — الْقِطَطُ: cats

noun — الْأُسْبُوعُ: week

noun — فَصْلُ الشِّتَاءِ: winter season

noun — شَهْرٌ: month

noun — الْأَلْوَانُ: colors

noun — اللَّوْنُ: color

Verbs

verb — حَدَّدَ – يُحَدِّدُ: to specify, determine, define

verb — اِسْتَيْقَظَ – يَسْتَيْقِظُ: to wake up

verb — أَحَبَّ – يُحِبُّ: to like, love

verb — أَرَادَ – يُرِيدُ: to want

verb — سَافَرَ – يُسَافِرُ: to travel

verb — دَرَسَ – يَدْرُسُ: to study

verb — عَمِلَ – يَعْمَلُ: to work

verb — ذَهَبَ – يَذْهَبُ: to go

verb — فَضَّلَ – يُفَضِّلُ: to prefer

Conclusion

The expression وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ is a practical way to say “specifically,” “to be exact,” or “more precisely” in Modern Standard Arabic.

Its most useful pattern is simple:

general information + وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ + more specific information

Start with easy combinations such as:

الْفَوَاكِهُ → التُّفَّاحُ
fruit → apples

أُورُوبَّا → فَرَنْسَا
Europe → France

الْبَيْتُ → غُرْفَةُ النَّوْمِ
home → bedroom

Then turn those ideas into complete sentences.

Once you understand the relationship between the general idea and the exact detail, you can reuse وَبِالتَّحْدِيدِ in many everyday conversations without memorizing an entirely new sentence each time.