Question Words
ما (what), من (who), أين (where), متى (when), كيف (how), هل (yes/no), كم (how many)
Can ask and understand basic questions about identity, location and time
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
ما اسْمُكَ؟
What is your name?
أيْنَ المَطْعَم؟
Where is the restaurant?
هَل أنتَ مِن هُنا؟
Are you from here?
كَيْفَ حالُكَ؟
How are you?
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
أدوات الاستفهام — Question Words
Arabic question words usually come at the start of the sentence:
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ما / ماذا | what | ما هذا؟ (What is this?) |
| مَن | who | مَن أنتَ؟ (Who are you?) |
| أين | where | أين المَطعَم؟ (Where is the restaurant?) |
| مَتى | when | متى الدَّرس؟ (When is the lesson?) |
| كَيْف | how | كيف حالُك؟ (How are you?) |
| هَل | yes/no? | هل أنتَ طالِب؟ (Are you a student?) |
| كَم | how many | كم عُمرُك؟ (How old are you?) |
هل turns any statement into a yes/no question — like adding '?' to the start. ما is used before nouns, ماذا before verbs.
Common Error Patterns
Used wrong question word (e.g. ما instead of من)
ما/ماذا = what, من = who, أين = where, متى = when, كيف = how, هل = yes/no, كم = how many
Formed yes/no question without هل
Add هل at the start to mark a yes/no question in MSA
ما اسْمُكَ؟
What is your name?
mā ismuka — ما + noun (اسم) = 'what'. Literally: 'What your-name?'
أيْنَ المَطْعَم؟
Where is the restaurant?
ayna al-maṭʿam — أين = where. No verb 'is' needed.
هَل أنتَ مِن هُنا؟
Are you from here?
hal anta min hunā — هل turns a statement into a yes/no question.
كَيْفَ حالُكَ؟
How are you?
kayfa ḥāluka — كيف = how. The most common Arabic greeting question.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises