Bedeutung
Referring to an unspecified person or individual.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Using 'someone' is a common way to avoid 'Hasad' (Envy). By not naming a specific person who did something good, you protect them from the evil eye. In the Levant, 'حدا' (ḥadā) is much more common in daily speech, but 'شخص ما' is used in news and formal storytelling to sound more objective. Egyptians often use 'حد' (ḥadd) or 'واحد' (waḥid). Using 'شخص ما' in a Cairo street might make you sound like you're reciting a poem or a news broadcast. In formal Gulf business settings, 'شخص ما' is used to refer to hypothetical third parties in contracts or policies to ensure gender-neutral and identity-neutral language.
The 'Mā' Trick
You can use this 'mā' with almost any noun to make it 'some-'. 'Kitabun mā' (some book), 'Makanun mā' (somewhere).
No 'Al-' Allowed
Never say 'Al-shakhṣ mā'. It's a common mistake that immediately marks you as a beginner.
Bedeutung
Referring to an unspecified person or individual.
The 'Mā' Trick
You can use this 'mā' with almost any noun to make it 'some-'. 'Kitabun mā' (some book), 'Makanun mā' (somewhere).
No 'Al-' Allowed
Never say 'Al-shakhṣ mā'. It's a common mistake that immediately marks you as a beginner.
Polite Anonymity
If you want to mention a friend's secret without naming them, start with 'Qala li shakhṣun mā...' (Someone told me...).
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'شخص ما' (pay attention to the case!).
رأيتُ _______ في الحديقة ليلة أمس.
The word is the object of the verb 'رأيت' (I saw), so it must be in the accusative case (Mansub) with tanween fatḥa.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct sentence:
'Shakhṣ' is the subject (Fa'il), so it needs tanween damma, and it must NOT have 'al-'.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: من كسر الزجاج؟ B: لا أعرف، ربما _______ كان يلعب بالكرة.
Since the speaker doesn't know who did it, 'someone' (شخص ما) is the logical choice.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You hear a noise in the kitchen at night. What do you say?
You use 'shakhṣ mā' because you don't know who is making the noise.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formal vs Informal 'Someone'
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgabenرأيتُ _______ في الحديقة ليلة أمس.
The word is the object of the verb 'رأيت' (I saw), so it must be in the accusative case (Mansub) with tanween fatḥa.
Select the correct sentence:
'Shakhṣ' is the subject (Fa'il), so it needs tanween damma, and it must NOT have 'al-'.
A: من كسر الزجاج؟ B: لا أعرف، ربما _______ كان يلعب بالكرة.
Since the speaker doesn't know who did it, 'someone' (شخص ما) is the logical choice.
You hear a noise in the kitchen at night. What do you say?
You use 'shakhṣ mā' because you don't know who is making the noise.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, although 'shakhṣ' is grammatically masculine, it is used to refer to any person, male or female, when their identity is unknown.
In affirmative sentences, yes. In negative sentences like 'I don't see anyone', use 'aḥad' instead.
That is the accusative case. Use it when 'someone' is the object of the verb (e.g., 'I saw someone').
It is understood everywhere, but in daily speech, people prefer 'ḥadd' (Egypt) or 'ḥadā' (Levant).
They are almost identical. 'Shakhṣ' literally means 'person', while 'aḥad' means 'one'. 'Shakhṣ' feels slightly more formal.
It's better to say 'shakhṣun jameelun mā' or 'shakhṣun mā, jameel'. The 'mā' usually sticks close to the noun.
Use the same pattern: 'makanun mā' (مکان ما).
Grammatically, it comes from the same root, but here it functions as an indefinite particle, not a question word.
No, for plural you would say 'ashkhāṣun mā' (أشخاص ما).
It is neutral-to-formal. It's the standard way to write 'someone' in an essay or news article.
Verwandte Redewendungen
أحد ما
synonymSomeone / Anyone
شخص معين
contrastA specific person
لا أحد
contrastNo one
أي شخص
similarAnyone / Any person
