Types of words in Arabic

Words in Arabic are divided into

• Nouns
• Verbs
• Particles

Nouns

In Arabic a noun is called an 'ism.

A noun is a word which has within itself a complete meaning and does not require any other word to explain what it means.

It does not have any reference to time such as past, present or future.

It refers to a place, thing, person, animal, or abstract idea.

Examples include

رَجُلٌ - rajulun

A man

حَامِدٌ - Haamidun

A proper name of a person

ضَرْبٌ - Darbun

hitting

طَيِّبٌ - Tayyibun

pure


Note that if a word expresses an action, like the word "hitting", but does not give any indication of when this action took place, i.e. in the past, present, or future, then the word is considered to be a noun.


Verb

A word which indicates an action and the time when the action took place.

A verb is called a fa'l in Arabic.

ضَرَبَ

Daraba

He hit

Here the action is that of hitting and the time is that in the past.

ذَهَبَ

Dhahaba

He left

Here the action is of leaving and the time is that in the past. 

يَذْهَبُ

Yadhhabu

He goes or will go

Here the action is of going and the time is that of the present or future.


Particle

A particle is any word, the meaning of which cannot be understood unless it is attached to a noun or verb.


مِنْ

min

from

اِلى

'ilaa

towards, to

عَلى

'alaa

on, on top of

فِى

fi

in, inside