How do I teach “this” and “that” in Arabic?

Question

Bloomtivo Academy · Accepted Answer

Four words cover most needs: هٰذَا (this, masculine), هٰذِهِ (this, feminine), ذٰلِكَ (that, masculine) and تِلْكَ (that, feminine). Point and say: هٰذَا كِتَاب (This is a book), هٰذِهِ سَيَّارَة (This is a car). Children meet ذٰلِكَ in the second verse of Al-Baqarah: ذٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ (That is the Book). “This” and “that” let children build their first full sentences in Arabic, just by pointing.The four wordsMasculineFeminineThis (near)هٰذَا (hadha)هٰذِهِ (hadhihi)That (far)ذٰلِكَ (dhalika)تِلْكَ (tilka)These (people)هٰؤُلَاءِ (ha’ula’i)First sentencesهٰذَا بَاب: This is a door.هٰذِهِ طَاوِلَة: This is a table.ذٰلِكَ قَمَر: That is a moon.تِلْكَ شَجَرَة: That is a tree.Remember: words ending in ة usually take the feminine form. See masculine and feminine.In the Quranذٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ (2:2): That is the Book, no doubt in it.تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ: These are the verses of the Book (opening of several surahs).The pointing gameWalk around the house. You point; your child says هٰذَا ... or هٰذِهِ .... Then swap roles.Teacher’s tip: combine with the house labels from your fridge or doors. Your child reads the label and adds هٰذَا in front: an instant sentence.Related: House words.

	Masculine	Feminine
This (near)	هٰذَا (hadha)	هٰذِهِ (hadhihi)
That (far)	ذٰلِكَ (dhalika)	تِلْكَ (tilka)
These (people)	هٰؤُلَاءِ (ha’ula’i)

How do I teach “this” and “that” in Arabic?

The four words

First sentences

In the Quran

The pointing game

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