Adjectives In Arabic
Adjectives In Arabic

Adjectives In Arabic: 200+ List Of Common Arabic Adjectives

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Adjectives are an integral part of any language, and Arabic is no exception. These descriptive words add color and detail to our sentences, helping us to better convey our thoughts and ideas. 

In this lesson, we will explore the various aspects of adjectives in Arabic, including their forms, uses, and variations.

What Is Adjectives In Arabic?

In Arabic the adjective (a word describing the noun) is either called “Na’t” نَعْتٌ or “As-siffah” الصِّفَةُ, and the noun it qualifies is called “Man’ut مَنْعُوتٌ or “Al-mawsuff” الْمَوْصُوفُ and the clause thus formed is called either النَّعْتُ والْمَنْعُوتُ  or الْمُرَكَّبُ الوَصْفِيُّ . 

In Arabic, adjectives are placed after the noun they describe, and they must match the gender and number of the noun.

In the English language, when we want to describe a noun we say for example a good boy, the adjective (description) comes before the noun. 

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However in Arabic the word being used for the description (adjective) comes after the noun, for example,  وَلَدٌ جَيِّدٌ or طَالِبٌ كَسْلانُ if translated linguistically means “Boy good” or “student lazy” but literally it means “Good boy” or “Lazy student“.

  • A dirty handkerchief   مِنْدِيلٌ وَسِخٌ
  • An intelligent student  طَالِبَةٌ ذَكِيَّةٌ
What is Adjectives In Arabic

The adjectives that express feelings normally end with (-an) and bear no Tanween on their ending letters e.g:

  • Thirsty   عَطْشَانُ
  • Hungry   جَوْعَانُ
  • Full   مَلآنُ
  • Angry   غَضْبَانُ
  • Happy   فَرْحَانُ

One of the unique features of Arabic adjectives is their system of agreement. In Arabic, adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in gender and number. 

For example, if the noun is masculine and singular, the adjective must also be masculine and singular. If the noun is feminine and plural, the adjective must be feminine and plural. 

This agreement is important for ensuring that the adjective and noun match in gender and number, and it helps to make the sentence clear and grammatically correct.

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READ ALSO Arabic Personal Pronouns With Examples (Essential Guide)

Rules Of Adjective In Arabic

Following are the rules pertained for the formation of the adjective clause:

  • Definiteness agreement
  • Number Agreement
  • Gender Agreement
  • Case Agreement
Adjectives In Arabic rules

Definiteness agreement

When an adjective is added to describe a noun or a noun phrase, it must agree with it in definiteness. That is, the indefinite noun is followed by an indefinite adjective, and the definite noun is follow by a definite adjective

Both the adjective and the noun must be either definite or indefinite. 

Therefore if the noun is definite, then the adjective which is describing the noun will also be definite e.g.  الْمَكْتَبُ الْقَدِيمُ meaning “The old table” and when the noun is indefinite the adjective will also be indefinite e.g. كِتَابٌ جَدِيدٌ meaning “A new book“. More examples:

  • The big city  الْمَدِينَةُ الْكَبِيرَةُ
  • A poor man  رَجُلٌ فَقِيرٌ

Note that if the adjective after the nouns or the noun phrases is نَكِرَة (indefinite), it is no longer an adjective. Instead, it is a noun functioning as خَبَر forming a nominal sentence. For example الكِتَاب جَدِيْد means the book is new not the new book.

Gender Agreement

The adjective always follows the noun which it is describing in gender. The adjective of a masculine noun is masculine and that of a feminine noun is feminine. For example we say: 

  • A young boy   وَلَدٌ صَغِيرٌ  
  • A young girl   بِنْتٌ صَغِيرَةٌ
  • A famous engineer   مُهَنْدِسٌ شَهِيرٌ
  • A tasty apple   تُفَّاحَةٌ لَذِيذَةٌ

Examples of female and male adjectives are:

EnglishTransliterationArabic
Beautiful in Arabicm: jameel
f: jameela
جميل
جميلة
Good in Arabicm: jayeed
f: jayeda
جيد
جيدة
Happy in Arabicm: sa’eed
f: sa’eeda
سعيد
سعيدة
Sad in Arabicm: hazeen
f: hazeena
حزين
حزينة
Tired in Arabicm: mot’ab
f: mot’ba
متعب
متعبة
Delicious in Arabicm: latheeth
f: lathetha
لذيذ
لذيذة
Bad in Arabicm: saye’
f: saye’a
سيئ
سيئة
Nice in Arabicm: lateef
f: lateefa
لطيف
لطيفة
Cold in Arabicm: barid
f: bareda
بارد
باردة
Spicy in Arabicm: harr
f: harrah
حار
حارة
Hot in Arabicm: sakhen
f: sakhena
ساخن
ساخنة
Light in Arabicm: mode’
f: mode’a
مضيئ
مضيئة
Dark in Arabicm: mothlem
f: mothlema
مظلم
مظلمة
Easy in Arabicm: sahl
f: sahla
سهل
سهلة
Black m: aswad
f: sawdaa’
أَسْودُ
سَوْداءُ
Redm: ahmar
f: hamraa
أحْمَرُ
حمراء
Bluem: azraq
f: zarqaa
أزْرَقُ
زَرْقَاءُ
Greenm: akhddar
f: khadraa
اخضر
خضراء
Blindm: a3maa
f: 3amyaa
أَعْرَجُ
عَمْيَاءُ
White m: abyad
f: baydaa
ابيض
بيضاء
Yellowm: asfar
f: safraa
اصفر
صفراء
Deefm: attrasj
f: ttarsjaa
أَطْرَشُ
طَرْشَاءُ
Dumbm: agras
f: garsaa
أخْرَسُ
خَرْسَاءُ
Lamem: aradj
f: ardjaa
أَعْرَجُ
عَرْجَاءُ
Adjectives In Arabic

Number Agreement

When an adjective is added to a noun, it must agree with it in number. That is, if the noun is singular, the adjective must be singular; if it is dual, the adjective must be dual; and if it plural, the adjective must be plural.

Arabic Dual Adjectives

Another interesting feature of Arabic adjectives is the use of the dual form, which is used to describe nouns that come in dual. ان is added to nouns to make dual for masculine and feminine.

Consider the following examples:

  • Two observant Muslims  مُسْلِمَان مُلْتَزِمَان
  • Two excellent engineers  مُهْنْدِسَان مُمْتَازَان
  • Two new books   كِتَابَان جَدِيْدَان
  • Two beautiful girls   بِنْتَان جَمِيْلَتَان

Arabic Plural Adjectives

Some examples of Arabic plural adjectives are:

Adjective SingularAdjective pluralMeaning
Stingy in Arabic بَخِيْلٌبُخَلاَءُ
Ignorant in Arabic جَاهِلٌجُهَلاَءُ
Beautiful, handsome, good lookingجَمِيْلٌجُمَلَاءُ
Present in Arabic حَاضِرٌحَاضِرُوْنَ
Sad in Arabic حَزِيْنٌحُزَنَاءُ
Honest in Arabic أَمِيْنٌأُمَنَاءُ
Happy in Arabicسَعِيْدٌسُعَدَاءُ
Clever in Arabic ذَكِيٌّأَذْكِيَاءُ
Miserable, naughtyشَقِيٌّأَشْقِيَاءُ
Fat in Arabic سَمِيْنٌسِمَانٌ
Truthful in Arabic صَادِقٌصَادِقُونَ
Pious in Arabic صَالِحٌصَالِحُونَ
Evil, badطَالِحٌطَالِحُوْنَ
Small in Arabic صَغِيْرٌصِغَارٌ
Poor in Arabic فَقِيْرٌفُقَرَاءُ
Rich in Arabic غَنِيٌّأَغْنِيَاءُ
Happy in Arabic فَرِحٌفَرِحُونَ
Bad in Arabic قِبَاحٌقِبَاحٌ
Tall in Arabic طَوِيْلٌطِوَالٌ
Short in Arabic قَصِيْرٌقِصَارٌ
Liar; untruthfulكَاذِبٌكَاذِبُوْنَ
Skillful in Arabic مَاهِرٌمَهَرَةٌ
Lazy in Arabic كَسْلاَنُكَسَالَى
Enthusiastic; activeنَشِيْطٌنَشِيْطُونَ
Thin in Arabic نَحِيْفٌنِحَافٌ
Blunt in Arabic كَلِيْلٌكِلاَلٌ
Sharp in Arabicحَادٌّحِدَادٌ
Big in Arabic كَبِيْرٌكِبَارٌ
Diligent in Arabicمُجْتَهِدٌمُجْتَهِدُوْنَ
Weak in Arabic ضَعِيْفٌضُعَفَاءُ
Clean in Arabicنَظِيفٌنَظِيْفُوْنَ
Stupid in Arabic غَبِيّأَغْبِيَاءُ
Strong in Arabic قَوِيٌّأقْوِيَاءُ
Delicious in Arabic لَذِيْذٌلُذٌّ ; لِذَاذٌ
Tasteless in Arabic تَفِهٌتَافِهُوْنَ
Bitter in Arabicمُرٌّأَمْرَارٌ
Sweet in Arabicحُلْوٌحُلْوُونَ
Good in Arabic جَيِّدٌجِيَدٌ
Old in Arabicقَدِيْمٌقُدَمَاءُ
New in Arabic جَدِيْدٌجُدُدٌ
Far in Arabicبَعِيْدٌبَعِيْدُونَ
Near in Arabicقَرِيبٌقَرَائِبُ
Lame in Arabic عُرْجٌأَعْرَجُ
Adjectives In Arabic

Case Agreement

In addition to matching the gender and number of the noun, Arabic adjectives must also agree with the noun in case. 

This means that the ending of the adjective must change depending on the role of the noun in the sentence.

In Arabic, adjectives can have up to three different forms, depending on their use in the sentence. 

  • The first form, known as the nominative, is used when the adjective is the subject of the sentence. 
  • The second form, known as the accusative, is used when the adjective is the direct object of the sentence. 
  • The third form, known as the genitive, is used when the adjective is the object of a preposition.

The adjective has the same case as the noun i.e., if the noun is in the nominative case, the adjective will also be in the nominative case e.g., الدَّرْسُ الصَّعْبُ meaning “The difficult lesson“, 

If the noun is in the accusative case then the adjective will also be in the accusative case and if the noun is in the genitive case then the adjective will also be in the genitive case e.g. ذَهَبَ أَحْمَدُ إلى صَدِيقٍ مَرِيضٍ Ahmad went to an ill friend.

Nominative Examples

  • This is a new teacher   هَـٰذَا مُدَرِّسٌ جَدِيدٌ
  • The old book is at home   الْكِتَابُ القَدِيمُ فِي الْبَيْتِ
  • America is a big country   أَمْرِيكَا بَلَدٌ كَبِيرٌ
  • This is the new fan   هَـٰذِهِ الْمِرْوَحَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ
  • A seagull is a beautiful bird   النَّوْرَسُ طَيْرٌ جَمِيلٌ
  • This is a crowded road   هَذَا طَرِيقٌ مُزْدَحِمٌ
  • The clean room  الْغُرْفَةُ النَّظِيفَةُ

Genitive examples

  • The pen is in the small bag  الْقَلَمُ فِي الْحَقِيبَةِ الصَّغِيرَةِ
  • The water is in a broken glass  الْمَاءُ فِي كَأْسٍ مَكْسُورٍ
  • Ahmad entered into a vast building  دَخَلَ أَحْمَدُ فِي مَنْزِلٍ كَبِيرٍ
Adjectives In Arabic

Case is called عَلاَمَة الإِعْرَاب ‘word final diacritical mark / parsing mark’ in Arabic. There are three basic parsing marks فَتْحَة, ضَمَّة, and كَسْرَة. 

  • When the noun or the adjective is assigned ضَمَّة, it is called مَرْفُوْع ‘nominative’
  • If assigned فَتْحَة, it is called مَنْصُوب ‘accusative’
  • If assigned كَسْرَة, it is called مَجْرُور ‘genitive.’

The secondary parsing marks are ان, وَن, يْنِ, and يْنَ. The ان is for masculine and feminine dual, and the وَن is for sound masculine plural. Both mark the nominative case. 

The يْنِ with kasrah below the nuun is for dual, and the يْنَ with fatHah over the nuun is for the sound masculine plural. They mark the accusative and genitive cases.

Case assignment is determined by the position of the word in the sentence or by certain particles that precede the noun.

One common mistake made by learners of Arabic is not properly conjugating the adjective to match the gender and number of the noun.

List Of Arabic Adjectives To Describe A Person

Below you will find a list of many Arabic adjectives useful while describing someone’s personality.

EnglishAdjectives in ArabicTransliteration
Adventurous in Arabic مُغامِرmughaamir
Affectionate, lovingحَنونHanuun
Ambitious in Arabic طَمُوحTamuuH
Arrogant in Arabic مُتَكَبِّرmutakabbir
Assertive in Arabic حازِمHaazim
Bold in Arabic جَرِيءjarii’i
Boring/ dullمُمِلّmumill
Brave in Arabic شُجَاع shujaa3
Calm in Arabic هادِئhaadi’
Careless in Arabic مُهْمِلmuhmil
Cautious/ carefulحَذِرHadhir
Charismatic in Arabic كاريزْميّkaarizmiy
Charming in Arabic جَذّابjadhdhaab
Cheerful in Arabic مَبْسُوطmabsuuT
Classy/ sophisticatedأنيقaniiq
Clever in Arabic شَاطِرshaaTir
Compassionate/ sympatheticعَطُوف3aTuuf
Confident in Arabic وَاثِقwaathiq
Conservative in Arabic مُحَافِظmuHaafiDH
Creative in Arabic مُبْدِعmubdi3
Curious in Arabic فُضُولِيّfuDuuliy
Cute in Arabic جَذّابjadhdhaab
Diplomatic in Arabic دِبْلومَاسِيّdibluumaasiy
Disciplined in Arabic مُنْضَبِطmunDabiT
Emotional/ sensitiveحَسّاسHassaas
Energetic in Arabic نَشيطnashiiT
Friendly in Arabic وَدودwaduud
Funny in Arabic مُضْحِكmuDHik
Generous in Arabic كَريمkariim
Greedy in Arabic بَخِيل bakhiil
Grumpy/ moodyنَكَدِيّnakadiy
Hardworking in Arabic مُجْتَهِدmujtahid
Hasty in Arabic مُتَسَرَّعmutasarra3
Helpful in Arabic مُفيدmufiid
Honest in Arabic صَريحSariiH
Jealous/ enviousحَسودHasuud
Kind/ niceلَطيفLaTiif
Lazy in Arabic كَسولkasuul
Loyal/ faithfulمُخْلِصmukhliS
Mean/ wickedلَئِيمla’iim
Modest/ humbleمُتَوَاضِعmutawaadi3
Naive in Arabic سَاذِج saadhij
Negative in Arabic سَلْبيّsalbiy
Optimistic in Arabic مُتَفائلmutafaa’il
Organized in Arabic مُنَظَّمmunaDHDHam
Patient in Arabic صَبورSabuur
Pessimistic in Arabic مُتَشائِمmutashaa’im
Polite in Arabic مُؤَدََبmu’addab
Positive in Arabic إِيْجَابِيّiijaabiy
Punctual in Arabic مُنْضَبِطmunDHabit
Rational, reasonableعَقْلانِيّ3aqlaaniy
Reserved in Arabic مُتَحَفِّظmutaHaffiDH
Respectful in Arabic مُحْتَرَمmuHtaram
Responsible in Arabic مَسْؤولmas’uul
Romantic in Arabic رومانسيّruumaansiy
Rude in Arabic وَقِحwaqiH
Selfish in Arabic أنانيّanaaniy
Sloppy in Arabic قَذِرqadhir
Sociable in Arabic اِجْتِماعيّijtimaa3iy
Stubborn in Arabic عَنيد3aniid
Straightforward in Arabic صَريحSariiH
Strong in Arabic قَوِيّqawiy
Tolerant in Arabic مُتَسامِحmutasaamiH
Trustworthy in Arabic مَوْثوقmawthuuq
Unique in Arabic فَريدfariid
Weak in Arabic ضَعيفDa3iif
List Of Arabic Adjectives To Describe A Person

List Of Adjectives In Arabic And English

Here is a list of many Arabic adjectives useful in Arabic and English.

pronunciation written next to it.

EnglishArabic
Beautifulجَميل
Uglyقَبيح
Oldقَديم
Newجَديد
Hotساخِن
Coldبارِد
Bigكَبير
Smallصَغير
Cheapرَخيص
Expensiveغالي
Goodجَيِّد
Badسَيِّء
Longطَويل
Shortقَصير
Earlyمُبَكِّر
Lateمُتَأَخِّر
Many/ muchكَثير
Littleقَليل
Importantمُهِمّ
Differentمُخْتَلِف
Busyمَشْغول
Cleanنَظيف
Dirtyوَسِخ
Hard/ difficultصَعْب
Easyسَهْل
Oldكَبير
Youngصَغير
Weirdغَريب
Strongقَوِيّ
Weakضَعيف
Tallطَويل
Shortقَصير
Fatسَمين
Thinنَحيف
Poorفَقير
Richغَنِيّ
Heavyثَقيل
Lightخَفيف
Fastسَريع
Slowبَطيء
Lazyكَسول
Sadحَزين
Happyمَسْرور
Boringمُمِلّ
Smartذَكِيّ
Stupidغَبِيّ
Blueأَزرَق
Grayرَمادي
Whiteأبيض
Greenأَخضَر
Blackأسود
Rawنَيِئ
Orangeبُرتُقالي
Redأَحمَر
Yellowأَصفَر
Brownبُنّي
sweetحُلو
fried in Arabic مَقلي
bitterمر
sour in Arabic حامِض
spicy in Arabic حار
cooked in Arabic
salty in Arabic مالِح
fresh in Arabic طازَج
frightened in Arabic خائِف
angryغاضِب
shy in Arabic خَجول
nervous in Arabic قَلِق
wicked; maliciousشرير
confused in Arabic حائِر
regretful in Arabic نادِم
annoyed; upsetمُنزَعِج
content; satisfiedراضي
proud in Arabic
bald in Arabicأَصلَع
bearded in Arabicمُلتَحي
old; elderlyعَجوز
young in Arabicشاب
heavy in Arabicثَقيل
vast; wideشاسِع
terrible in Arabic رَهيب
huge in Arabic ضَخم
great in Arabic عَظيم
rainy in Arabic مُمطِر
windy in Arabic عاصِف
cloudy in Arabic غائِم
sunny in Arabic مُشمِس
cold in Arabic بارِد
shiny in Arabic لامِع
cracked in Arabic مُتَشَقِّق
smooth in Arabic أَملَس
rough in Arabic خَشِن
humid in Arabic رَطِب
fragile in Arabic هَش
sticky in Arabic لَزِج
wet in Arabic
slippery in Arabic زَلِق
dry in Arabic جاف
public in Arabic عام
private; specialخاص
difficult in Arabic صَعب
important in Arabic هام
soft in Arabic ناعِم
boring in Arabic مُمِل
true; correctصَحيح
wrong in Arabic خاطِئ
simple in Arabic بَسيط
clear; obviousوَاضِح
complex in Arabic مُعَقَّد

In order for the adjective to be feminine, we must add ta marbuta [ة] at the end of it. For example: جَميل [jamiil] (beautiful masculine) – جَميلة [jamiila] (beautiful feminine).

Adjectives In Arabic
List Of Arabic Adjectives

Conclusion

In conclusion, Arabic adjectives are an essential part of the language and add richness to the sentences. With practice and exposure to the language, it is possible to become proficient in using adjectives in Arabic.

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