Time and place

In this lesson. we will look at Arabic words that describe time and place. We will see sentences where the words are used and explain the grammar we need to know in order to use the words.

They are called Zarf

Arabic words that describe time or place are called Zarf.

In this lesson, we will learn many Zarf, ie words for time or place. Then we will look at the grammar. The only thing we need to know right now is that almost every Zarf end in a or an.

Word for time

The Arabic word zamaan means time. Words that describe time are called Zarfu z-zamaani in Arabic. These words answer the question: When?

We will now look at many Arabic words that can be used to describe time. These words have in common that they are normal nouns. They can be Zarfu z-zamaan but they can also serve other purposes in a sentence. When these words function as Zarfu z-zamaan, they end in either a or an.

Morning

The Arabic word for morning is SabaaH.

In the morning, many things happend. The sun rises, the birds twitter and people wake up.

Now we have seen three example of sentences where the morning functions as Zarfu z-zamaan (word for time). However, a morning can also serve other purposes in a sentence. For example, it can be the subject (the one doing the action).

Note that the morning can change its final vowel. When it functions as Zarfu z-zamaani, it ends with a or an, and when it functions as the subject, it ends with u or un.

Night

The Arabic word for night is layl.

It also happen a lot of things in the night.

In these sentences, the night functions as Zarfu z-zamaan. However, the night, just like he morning, can serve other purposes in a sentence.

The same rules that applies for the morning, also applies for the night. When it is Zarfu z-zamaani, it ends with a or an, and when it is subject, it ends with u or un.

More words for time

There are plenty of words that, just like the morning and the night, both can function as Zarfu z-zamaani and serve other purposes in a sentence. Below are some of those words. For every word, I also provide a sentence where the word functions as Zarfu z-zamaani.

Evening

Afternoon

Day/daytime

Day

Time

Moment

The seasons

Conclusion - words for time

We have now seen many words that can function as Zarfu z-zamaani. If you looked closely at the sentences, you could see that these words ends with a or an. There are actually even more words that functions in the same way, for example month, year, week, hour, midday, moment.

Words for place

The Arabic word makaan means place. Words that describe place are called Zarfu l-makaani in Arabic. These words answer the question: When?

We will now look at some Arabic words that describe place and see examples of sentences where they are used. These words can only function as Zarfu z-zamaan and they almost always end with a. Unlike the words for time that we looked at, these words can not serve other purposes in a sentence.

In front of and behind

The Arabic word 'amaama means in front of and its opposite is khalfa that means behind.

Another Arabic word for behind is waraa'.

Under and above

The Arabic word taHta means under and its opposite is fawqa that means above.

Conclusion - words for place

We have seen examples of words that are Zarfu l-makaani. These words have in common that they only can function as Zarfu l-makaani and that they almost always end with a.

Words for both time and place

We have now seen Arabic words that can describe time (Zarfu z-zamaan) and Arabic words that can describe place (Zarfu l-makaan). There are also Arabic words that can be used for both time and place. We can call these words Zarf. We can also call them Zarfu z-zamaan or Zarfu l-makaan, depending on the word's function in the current sentence. If we want to specify that we mean words that can denote both time and place, we can say Zarf mushtarak. The Arabic word mushtarak means common.

We will look at some Arabic words that are Zarf mushtarak. Just like Zarfu z-zamaan, these words can only be used as Zarf and they almost always end with a.

Middle

The Arabic word muntaSafa can be translated to middle.

In the combination muntaSafa n-nahaari, that means middle of the day, muntaSafa function as Zarfu z-zamaan. In the combination muntaSafa T-Tariiqi, that means middle of the road, muntaSafa functions as Zarfu l-makaan.

At

The Arabic word 3inda can be translated to with or at, depending on the context.

In the combination 3inda l-3aSri, that means at the afternoon, 3inda functions as Zarfu z-zamaan. In the combination 3inda l-madrasati, that means at school, 3inda functions as Zarfu l-makaan.

Around

The Arabic word Hawla can be translated to around.

In the combination Hawla nihaayati s-sanati, that means around the turn of the year, Hawla functions as Zarfu z-zamaan. In the combination Hawla l-3aalami, that means around the world, Hawla functions as Zarfu l-makaan.

Towards

The Arabic word naHwa can be translated to towards.

In the combination naHwa s-saa3ati l-waaHidati, that means around one o'clock, naHwa functions as Zarfu z-zamaan. In the combination naHwa al-ghaabati, that means towards the woods, naHwa functions as Zarfu l-makaan.

There is also another naHw in Arabic that is not a Zarf and that means for example grammar.

Middle

The Arabic word wasTa can be translated to middle. The word is mostly used for place. Regarding time, I have so far only seen it toghether with the night.

In the combination wasTa l-layli, that means middle of the night, wasTa functions as Zarfu z-zamaan. In the combination wasTa T-Tariiqi, that means middle of the road, wasTa functions as Zarfu l-makaan.

Between

The Arabic word bayna can be translated to between or among. I have mostly seen the word being used for place. Regarding time, I have so far only seen in being used when speaking about time.

In the combination bayna l-khaamisati wa s-saabi3ati, that means between five and seven, bayna functions as Zarfu z-zamaan. In the combination bayna l-'azhaari, that means between the flowers, bayna functions as Zarfu l-makaan.

Before

The Arabic word qabla can be translated to before. I have mostly seen the word being used for time, but it can also be used for place.

In the combintion qabla d-dukhuuli, that means before the entering, qabla functions as Zarfu z-zamaan. In the combination qabla bayt-ii that means before my house, qabla functions as Zarfu l-makaan. In the combination qabla l-faa3ili, that means before the subject, I think the word can mean both time and place, depending on whether you think the sentence is pronounced or written..

After

The Arabic word ba3da can be translated to after. I have mostly seen the word being used for time, but it can also be used for place.

In the combination ba3da Z-Zuhri that means afternoon, ba3da functions as Zarfu z-zamaan. In the combination ba3da bayti-haa, that means after her house, ba3da functions as Zarfu l-makaan. In the combination ba3da l-fi3li, that means after the verb, I think the word can mean both time and place, depending on whether you think the sentence is pronounced or written..

Words that can only denote time

All the Zarfu z-zamaan we have seen so far can function as Zarf as well as servering other purposes in sentences (for example being the subject). All the Zaru l-makaan and Zarf mushtaraq that we have seen, can only function as Zarf. There are also some Zarfu z-zamaan that, as far as I know, only can function as Zarf.

During

The Arabic word khilaala can be translated to under.

Middle of

The Arabic word 'athnaa' can be translated to during, while and middle of.

When

The Arabic word Hiina can be translated to while. The example sentence comes from a famous Arabic song.

Whole

The Arabic word Tiwaala can be translated to the whole.

There is also another Tiwaal that is plural of the Arabic word for long.

Almost always a

I have said that all the Zarfu l-maakan (word for place) and Zarf mushtaraq (word for both time and place) that we have looked at almost always ends with a. In the sentences we have seen, these words have only ended with a. However, it is allowed to place the prepositions min (from) and 'ilaa (to) in front of these words.

Note that wasTa (middle) has become wasTi, the word 'amaama (in front of) has become 'amaami and waraa'a (behind) has become waraa'i in the sentences above. That it because the words are preceded by preposition, and words after a preposition has genitive case which usually means that they end with i or in. If you want to know more about prepositions and how they affect other words, there is a lesson about prepositions.

Special words for time and place

There are three parts of speech in the Arabic language: ism (noun), fi3l (verb) and Harf (particle). Words that are Zarf belong to the part of speech ism.

Almost all words that are ism has a final vowel that is changed depending on the purpose that the word serves in a sentence. We have seen that all the Zarf we have seen so far end with a or an. We have also seen words that end with u or un when they functions as subject.

There are also some ism whose final vowel never changes, regardless of what purpose the word serves in the sentence. One can say that those words are built on certain vowels. We will look at some Zarf that functions in that way.

Yesterday

The Arabic word 'amsi means yesterday. The word is built on the vowel i.

Since

The Arabic word mundhu means since. It is built on the vowelu.

The Arabic word mudh also means since. It is built on sukun, which means that it does not have any vowel in the end.

Wherever

The Arabic word Haythu means wherever. It is built on the vowel u.

Where

The Arabic word 'ayna means where. It is built on the vowel a.

Since regular Zarf normally end with a or an, we can not tell from the sentence above that the word is built. However, if we place a preposition before the word, we will see the difference. Normal Zarf (and most other nouns) get the ending i or in after a preposition, while 'ayna keeps the a which it is built upon.

Here

The Arabic word hunaa means here. It is built and is pronounced with a long aa in the end.

If we place a preposition before the word, it becomes more clear that it is built. We well still have a long aa in the end of the word.

Now

The Arabic word al-'aana means now. It is built on the vowel a. Also, it should always be in definite form, ie it should have the particle al before it.

Object for time and place

In Arabic syntax, there are five different kinds of objects. On of them are objects that describe when or where the action happned. This object is called al-maf3uulu fii-hi which literally means done in but as I, for simplicity, call object for time and place. In a verbal sentence, the Zarf is such an object. Objects have accusative case in Arabic, which often means that they end with a or an.

In this lesson, I have meantioned many times that Zarf almost always end with a or an. We know the reason now: Zarf have accusative case, whish is usually marked with the vowel a. We have also seen that when a Zarf is preceded by a preposition, it changes to genitive case, which is usually marked with the vowel i. We also have seen words that function as subjects and that they have been marked with the vowel u, that is because they have nominative case. If you want to read more about the three grammatical cases in Arabic, there is an introduction to case and a lesson about each case.

Are Zarf adverbs?

If you look at the page for the word Zarf, you will see that I have translated it to adverb (among other translations). That is very simplified. Zarf is not the same as adverb. In general, terms within English grammar does not work well to appy on Arabic grammar. It often becomes a simplification since English and Arabic are two different systems. In English, words that describe time or place are called adverbs, and in syntax they are called adverbials. In Arabic, Zarf is a subclass to the Arabic part of speech ism and when they are used in verbal sentences they are seen as a kind of object.

Conclusion and terms

Zarf is a word that can be used to denote time or place

Time, place and both

Zarfu z-zamaan is a word that can be used to denote time.

Zarfu l-makaan is a word that can be used to denote place.

Zarf mushtaraq is a word that can be used to denote both time and place.

Flexible and built

Many Arabic words (I would guess most) have a flexible final vowel, ie the last vowel depends on what purpose the word serves in the sentence. Those words are called mu3rab which can be translated to flexible.

A Zarf with a flexible final vowel is therefore called Zarf mu3rab.

Most Zarf are mu3rab, although most of them only ends with a since they can only function as Zarf.

There are also Arabic words that do not have a flexible final vowel, ie they end in the same vowel no mather what purose the word serves in the sentence. Those words are called mabniyy which means built. Those words can be built on the vowel a, i or u. They can also be built on sukun, which means that they do not have any vowel in the end.

A Zarf that is built, ie that does not change its final vowel, is therefore called Zarf mabniyy.

With and without other uses

We have seen examples of words that can function as Zarf in a sentence, but that also can serve other purposes. A word that works like that is called Zarf mutaSarrif.

We have also seen examples of words that can only function as Zarf. A word like that is called Zarf ghayr mutaSarrif

Lots of Zarf

Below is a table with all the Zarf we have looked at in this lesson. To the left, there is the translation of the word that you can click on to get to a page with more information about the word. Therefter you can see the word in Arabic and the pronunciation of the word. Thereafter, you can see if the word is used to denote time (Zarfu l-zamaan), place (Zarfu l-makaan) or both (Zarf mushtaraq). Thereafter, you can see if the word has different uses (Zarf mutaSarrif) or only can function as Zarf (Zarf ghayr mutaSarrif). To the right, you can see if the word has a flexible final vowel (mu3rab) of if the word is built (mabniyy).