What are the question words in Arabic?

Question

Bloomtivo Academy · Accepted Answer

The eight main ones are: مَا / مَاذَا (what), مَنْ (who), أَيْنَ (where), مَتَى (when), كَيْفَ (how), لِمَاذَا (why), كَمْ (how many) and هَلْ (yes/no question). Teach them with one example each, such as أَيْنَ الْقِطَّة؟ (Where is the cat?), and use them in daily conversation. Question words unlock conversation. With them, your child can ask, not just answer.The eight question wordsArabicEnglishExampleمَاwhat (with nouns)مَا اسْمُكَ؟ What is your name?مَاذَاwhat (with verbs)مَاذَا تَأْكُلُ؟ What are you eating?مَنْwhoمَنْ هٰذَا؟ Who is this?أَيْنَwhereأَيْنَ الْقِطَّةُ؟ Where is the cat?مَتَىwhenمَتَى الدَّرْسُ؟ When is the lesson?كَيْفَhowكَيْفَ حَالُكَ؟ How are you?لِمَاذَاwhyلِمَاذَا تَبْكِي؟ Why are you crying?كَمْhow manyكَمْ عُمْرُكَ؟ How old are you?هَلْyes/no questionهَلْ أَنْتَ جَائِعٌ؟ Are you hungry?A two-week planDays 1–4: مَا، مَنْ، أَيْنَ, used with toys and family photos.Days 5–9: add كَيْفَ، كَمْ، هَلْ at mealtimes.Days 10–14: add مَتَى، لِمَاذَا، مَاذَا.The question gameHide a toy. Your child must ask أَيْنَ ...؟ and you answer with “here” (هُنَا) or “there” (هُنَاكَ).Teacher’s tip: when your child asks you a question in English, reply “Ask me in Arabic!” with a smile, and help them with the first word.Related: How can my child introduce themselves in Arabic?

Arabic	English	Example
مَا	what (with nouns)	مَا اسْمُكَ؟ What is your name?
مَاذَا	what (with verbs)	مَاذَا تَأْكُلُ؟ What are you eating?
مَنْ	who	مَنْ هٰذَا؟ Who is this?
أَيْنَ	where	أَيْنَ الْقِطَّةُ؟ Where is the cat?
مَتَى	when	مَتَى الدَّرْسُ؟ When is the lesson?
كَيْفَ	how	كَيْفَ حَالُكَ؟ How are you?
لِمَاذَا	why	لِمَاذَا تَبْكِي؟ Why are you crying?
كَمْ	how many	كَمْ عُمْرُكَ؟ How old are you?
هَلْ	yes/no question	هَلْ أَنْتَ جَائِعٌ؟ Are you hungry?

What are the question words in Arabic?

The eight question words

A two-week plan

The question game

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