Language/Hijazi-arabic/Grammar/Questions
Hi Hijazi Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on questions in Hijazi Arabic. We will cover different types of questions, how to form them, and their proper usage in Hijazi Arabic.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Adjectives, Future Tense & How to Use Have.
Asking "Yes/No" Questions[edit | edit source]
In English, we can ask "Yes/No" questions by adding the auxiliary verb "to be" or "do" before the subject. However, in Hijazi Arabic, we simply raise the tone of the last syllable of the sentence to indicate that it is a question. For example:
| Hijazi Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| أنت معجب؟ | ʾanta mujjib? | Are you pleased? |
| الطعام كان لذيذ؟ | aṭ-ṭaʿām kān laḏīḏ? | Was the food delicious? |
As you can see, there is no need to add any extra words to form the question. The tone of voice is enough to convey the question.
Asking "Wh-" Questions[edit | edit source]
In Hijazi Arabic, "Wh-" questions follow a similar structure to questions in English. However, instead of using auxiliary verbs, we use question words. Here are a few examples:
Asking "What" Questions[edit | edit source]
To ask "What" questions in Hijazi Arabic, we use the word "شنو" (shno). For example:
| Hijazi Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| شنو اسمك؟ | shno ismak? | What is your name? |
Asking "Where" Questions[edit | edit source]
To ask "Where" questions in Hijazi Arabic, we use the word "وين" (wayn). For example:
| Hijazi Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| وين أنت من؟ | wayn ʾanta mn? | Where are you from? |
Asking "When" Questions[edit | edit source]
To ask "When" questions in Hijazi Arabic, we use the word "امتى" (amtā). For example:
| Hijazi Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| امتى تذهب؟ | amtā taḏhab? | When are you leaving? |
Asking "Why" Questions[edit | edit source]
To ask "Why" questions in Hijazi Arabic, we use the word "ليش" (līsh). For example:
| Hijazi Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ليش لا تأكل؟ | līsh lā taʾkul? | Why aren't you eating? |
Asking "How" Questions[edit | edit source]
To ask "How" questions in Hijazi Arabic, we use the word "كيف" (kayf). For example:
| Hijazi Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| كيف حالك؟ | kayf ḥālak? | How are you? |
Asking Tag Questions[edit | edit source]
Tag questions are questions that are added to the end of a statement to engage the listener in conversation. In Hijazi Arabic, we can form tag questions by adding "أليس كذلك" (alaysa kaḏalik) or "أليس كذلك صحيح؟" (alaysa kaḏalik ṣaḥīḥ?) at the end of a sentence. For example:
| Hijazi Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| الطعام كان لذيذ، أليس كذلك؟ | aṭ-ṭaʿām kān laḏīḏ, alaysa kaḏalik? | The food was delicious, wasn't it? |
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we covered different types of questions in Hijazi Arabic, how to form them, and their proper usage. Remember, the best way to improve your language skills is to practice. Use Polyglot Club to find native speakers and ask them any questions you may have! You can also refer to our grammar page for more information.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Negation & Give your Opinion.