A1 Pronouns 17 min read Easy

Arabic Relative Pronouns: Who & Which (الذي، التي)

Relative pronouns connect descriptions to definite nouns; indefinite nouns don't need them at all in Arabic.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'الذي' for masculine and 'التي' for feminine to connect your sentences like a pro.

  • Use الذي (alladhi) for masculine singular nouns: الرجل الذي يقرأ (The man who reads).
  • Use التي (allati) for feminine singular nouns: المرأة التي تكتب (The woman who writes).
  • These pronouns must agree with the gender of the noun they describe.
Noun + (الذي/التي) + Verb/Description

Overview

Relative pronouns are fundamental connectors in Arabic, much like "who," "which," or "that" in English. They allow you to attach a descriptive clause directly to a noun, providing additional, specific information about that noun without creating a new, separate sentence. This grammatical function is crucial for building complex, flowing sentences rather than a series of short, disjointed statements.

In Arabic, these pronouns are known as al-ism al-mawṣūl (الِاسْمُ الْمَوْصُولُ).

The core principle governing their use in Arabic is the definiteness of the noun they describe, known as the antecedent. If the antecedent is definite—meaning it refers to a specific person, place, or thing (e.g., "the book," a proper noun like "Ahmed," or a pronoun)—you must use an al-ism al-mawṣūl. Conversely, if the antecedent is indefinite—referring to a non-specific item (e.g., "a book," "a man")—you do not use an al-ism al-mawṣūl.

Instead, the descriptive clause directly follows the indefinite noun, a concept often termed the "Zero Relative Pronoun" in Arabic grammar. This distinction is a cornerstone of Arabic sentence structure.

Arabic relative pronouns, like many other grammatical elements, exhibit agreement in gender and number with their antecedent. This means you select a different form of the pronoun based on whether the noun it refers to is masculine or feminine, and singular, dual, or plural. For A1 learners, the primary forms are al-ladhī (الَّذِي) for singular masculine and al-latī (الَّتِي) for singular feminine.

Understanding this foundational agreement is vital for constructing grammatically correct Arabic sentences. This guide will meticulously detail these forms and their application.

How This Grammar Works

The function of al-ism al-mawṣūl is to introduce a relative clause, known as ṣilat al-mawṣūl (صِلَةُ الْمَوْصُولِ), which modifies the preceding noun (the antecedent). This clause provides essential, often defining, information about the antecedent. The relative pronoun acts as the bridge, linking the two parts of the sentence seamlessly.
Consider the English "I saw the man who was reading a book." Here, "who was reading a book" describes "the man." In Arabic, if "the man" is definite, you would use a relative pronoun. If it were "a man," the structure changes significantly. This fundamental rule of definiteness dictates the very presence of al-ism al-mawṣūl.
The Definiteness Principle:
The most critical aspect of Arabic relative pronouns is their exclusive use with definite antecedents. A noun is considered definite if it:
  • Begins with the definite article al- (الـ), e.g., al-kitāb (الكِتابُ - the book).
  • Is a proper noun, e.g., Ahmad (أحمدُ - Ahmad), Dimashq (دمشقُ - Damascus).
  • Is a demonstrative pronoun, e.g., hādhā (هٰذا - this).
  • Is a noun followed by a definite possessive noun (in an iḍāfah construction), e.g., kitābu al-waladi (كِتابُ الوَلَدِ - the boy's book).
  • Is a pronoun, e.g., huwa (هو - he).
When the antecedent is definite, the structure is:
Definite Noun + al-ism al-mawṣūl (matching gender/number) + Relative Clause.
Example

الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي قَرَأَ الكِتابَ. (al-rajulu al-ladhī qara'a al-kitāba. - The man who read the book.)

When the antecedent is indefinite, the al-ism al-mawṣūl is entirely omitted. The structure becomes:
Indefinite Noun + Relative Clause (which functions adjectivally).
Example

رَجُلٌ قَرَأَ الكِتابَ. (rajulun qara'a al-kitāba. - A man who read the book. / A man reading the book.)

In this indefinite construction, the relative clause immediately following the indefinite noun effectively acts as an adjective, describing it. It is an efficient linguistic shortcut that avoids unnecessary words.
The Resumptive Pronoun (ḍamīr al-'ā'id):
Another indispensable feature of Arabic relative clauses is the resumptive pronoun. This is a pronoun, typically attached to a verb, preposition, or noun within the relative clause, that refers back to the antecedent. It serves to explicitly link the action or state within the clause to the specific noun being described, reinforcing clarity.
While English often omits such a pronoun ("The book that I read"), Arabic frequently requires it ("The book that I read it").
The form of the resumptive pronoun must agree with the antecedent in gender and number.
  • If the antecedent is the subject of the verb in the relative clause, the resumptive pronoun is often implicit in the verb conjugation itself (e.g., الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي قَرَأَ - al-rajulu al-ladhī qara'a - the man who he read).
  • If the antecedent is the object of the verb in the relative clause, the resumptive pronoun appears as an attached object pronoun.
Example

الكِتابُ الَّذِي قَرَأْتُهُ. (al-kitābu al-ladhī qara'tuhu. - The book that I read it.) Here, -hu refers to al-kitāb.

  • If the antecedent is the object of a preposition within the relative clause, the resumptive pronoun appears as an attached prepositional pronoun.
Example

البَيْتُ الَّذِي ذَهَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ. (al-baytu al-ladhī dhahabtu ilayhi. - The house that I went to it.) Here, -hi refers to al-bayt.

Omitting the resumptive pronoun when it is required is a common error and can render the sentence ungrammatical or confusing to a native speaker. It is a key element for maintaining cohesion and clarity within the sentence structure.

Formation Pattern

1
Constructing a grammatically correct relative clause in Arabic involves a systematic approach, ensuring proper agreement and the inclusion of the resumptive pronoun where necessary. This section outlines the precise steps and forms required.
2
Step 1: Identify and Analyze the Antecedent Noun
3
Before selecting a relative pronoun, you must first determine the characteristics of the noun you wish to describe:
4
Definiteness: Is the noun definite (e.g., al- prefixed, proper noun) or indefinite? This is the primary determinant for using an al-ism al-mawṣūl.
5
Gender: Is the noun masculine (mudhakkar - مُذَكَّر) or feminine (mu'annath - مُؤَنَّث)?
6
Number: Is the noun singular (mufrad - مُفْرَد), dual (mutathannā - مُثَنَّى), or plural (jam' - جَمْع)?
7
Step 2: Select the Appropriate al-ism al-mawṣūl
8
Based on the definiteness, gender, and number of the antecedent, choose the correct relative pronoun.
9
| Antecedent Trait (Definite) | Relative Pronoun (al-ism al-mawṣūl) | Transliteration | English Equivalent | Example Sentence |
10
| :------------------------------ | :---------------------------------- | :------------------------------- | :------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
11
| Masculine Singular | الَّذِي | al-ladhī | who, which, that | الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي رَأَيْتُهُ. (The man whom I saw.) |
12
| Feminine Singular | الَّتِي | al-latī | who, which, that | السَّيَّارَةُ الَّتِي اشْتَرَيْتُهَا. (The car which I bought.) |
13
| Masculine Dual (Nominative) | اللَّذَانِ | al-ladhānī | who, which, that | الْوَلَدَانِ اللَّذَانِ لَعِبَا. (The two boys who played.) |
14
| Masculine Dual (Accusative/Genitive) | اللَّذَيْنِ | al-ladhayni | who, which, that | رَأَيْتُ الرَّجُلَيْنِ اللَّذَيْنِ سَاعَدَانِي. (I saw the two men who helped me.) |
15
| Feminine Dual (Nominative) | اللَّتَانِ | al-latānī | who, which, that | الْبِنْتَانِ اللَّتَانِ دَرَسَتَا. (The two girls who studied.) |
16
| Feminine Dual (Accusative/Genitive) | اللَّتَيْنِ | al-latayni | who, which, that | النِّسَاءُ احْتَرَمْنَ الفَتَاتَيْنِ اللَّتَيْنِ دَخَلَتَا. (The women respected the two girls who entered.) |
17
| Masculine Plural (Rational) | الَّذِينَ | al-ladhīna | who, which, that | الطُّلَّابُ الَّذِينَ نَجَحُوا. (The students who succeeded.) |
18
| Feminine Plural (Rational) | اللَّاتِي / اللَّوَاتِي / اللَّائِي | al-lātī/al-lawātī/al-lā'ī | who, which, that | النِّسَاءُ اللَّوَاتِي عَمِلْنَ. (The women who worked.) |
19
| Non-human Plural | الَّتِي | al-latī | which, that | الْكُتُبُ الَّتِي اشْتَرَيْتُهَا. (The books which I bought.) |
20
Key Observation for A1: For singular definite nouns, remember al-ladhī for masculine and al-latī for feminine. The other forms, particularly duals and distinct plural forms, will become essential as your proficiency grows. Note the crucial rule that non-human plurals (e.g., al-kutub - الْكُتُبُ - the books) are grammatically treated as feminine singular, thus always taking al-latī. This is a common point of confusion for learners.
21
Step 3: Construct the Relative Clause (ṣilat al-mawṣūl)
22
The clause immediately following the relative pronoun is the ṣilat al-mawṣūl. This clause must contain a resumptive pronoun (ḍamīr al-'ā'id) that refers back to the antecedent. The resumptive pronoun must match the antecedent in gender and number.
23
Placement of the Resumptive Pronoun:
24
As the subject of the clause's verb: If the antecedent is the subject of the relative clause, the resumptive pronoun is often implicit in the verb's conjugation.
25
Example: الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي سَافَرَ. (al-rajulu al-ladhī sāfara - The man who traveled.) Here, سَافَرَ (he traveled) inherently contains the masculine singular subject pronoun referring to al-rajulu.
26
As the object of the clause's verb: If the antecedent is the direct or indirect object of the verb within the relative clause, the resumptive pronoun will be an attached object pronoun.
27
Example: الكِتابُ الَّذِي قَرَأْتُهُ. (al-kitābu al-ladhī qara'tuhu. - The book which I read it.) -hu is the resumptive pronoun for al-kitāb.
28
After a preposition: If the antecedent is the object of a preposition within the relative clause, the resumptive pronoun will be an attached prepositional pronoun.
29
Example: المَدِينَةُ الَّتِي سَافَرْتُ إِلَيْهَا. (al-madīnatu al-latī sāfartu ilayhā. - The city which I traveled to it.) -hā is the resumptive pronoun for al-madīnah.
30
As a possessive pronoun: If the antecedent is possessed by something within the relative clause, the resumptive pronoun will be an attached possessive pronoun (often referred to as mudāf ilayh).
31
Example: البِنْتُ الَّتِي رَأَيْتُ أَبَاهَا. (al-bintu al-latī ra'aytu abāhā. - The girl whose father I saw.) -hā refers to al-bint.
32
Example of the full process: "I saw the student who wrote the homework."
33
Antecedent: الطالب (al-ṭālib - the student)
34
Definiteness: Definite (al-).
35
Gender: Masculine.
36
Number: Singular.
37
Relative Pronoun: الَّذِي (al-ladhī).
38
Relative Clause: "wrote the homework." The antecedent (الطالب) is the subject of "wrote" in this clause. The verb كتب (kataba - he wrote) will implicitly contain the resumptive pronoun.
39
Full sentence: رَأَيْتُ الطَّالِبَ الَّذِي كَتَبَ الْوَاجِبَ. (ra'aytu al-ṭāliba al-ladhī kataba al-wājiba.)
40
Example for Indefinite Nouns (Zero Relative Pronoun): "I saw a student who wrote the homework."
41
Antecedent: طالبٌ (ṭālibun - a student)
42
Definiteness: Indefinite (no al-).
43
Relative Pronoun: None.
44
Relative Clause: كتب الواجبَ. (kataba al-wājiba. - wrote the homework.)
45
Full sentence: رَأَيْتُ طَالِبًا كَتَبَ الْوَاجِبَ. (ra'aytu ṭāliban kataba al-wājiba.)
46
Understanding the interplay between the antecedent's definiteness, the chosen al-ism al-mawṣūl, and the correctly formed resumptive pronoun within the ṣilat al-mawṣūl is paramount for mastering this construction.

When To Use It

The utility of Arabic relative pronouns extends across all forms of communication where precise and detailed descriptions are necessary. You employ al-ism al-mawṣūl whenever you need to specify which particular noun you are referring to, by attaching a unique descriptive clause.
For Specific Identification:
This is the primary function. If you are talking about the specific house that has a red door, or the particular person who spoke at the conference, you must use a relative pronoun.
  • هٰذِهِ هِيَ الْفِكْرَةُ الَّتِي غَيَّرَتْ حَيَاتِي. (hādhā hiya al-fikratu al-latī ghayyarat ḥayātī. - This is the idea which changed my life.)
  • أَيْنَ الْقَلَمُ الَّذِي وَضَعْتُهُ هُنَا؟ (ayna al-qalamu al-ladhī waḍa'tuhu hunā? - Where is the pen that I put here?)
To Provide Essential Information:
Relative clauses are not merely supplementary; they often contain information crucial for understanding the antecedent's identity. Without the clause, the meaning might be ambiguous or incomplete.
  • الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي يَسْكُنُ بِجَانِبِنَا طَبِيبٌ. (al-rajulu al-ladhī yaskunu bijānibinā ṭabībun. - The man who lives next to us is a doctor.) Here, "who lives next to us" is vital to identify which man is being discussed.
In Formal and Informal Contexts:
While the specific forms might vary in highly informal spoken dialects (e.g., illī in many Levantine and Egyptian dialects), the underlying grammatical need to link a definite noun with a descriptive clause remains universal in Arabic. In Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), as found in literature, news, academic writing, and formal speeches, the full forms of al-ism al-mawṣūl are always used. Even in structured professional emails or formal social media posts, you will encounter these forms regularly.
  • News Headline: القَرارُ الَّذِي اتَّخَذَتْهُ الحُكومَةُ. (al-qarāru al-ladhī ittakhadhat-hu al-ḥukūmatu. - The decision which the government took.)
  • Academic Article: الدِّراساتُ الَّتِي أُجْرِيَتْ فِي هٰذَا المَجالِ. (al-dirāsātu al-latī ujriyat fī hādhā al-majāli. - The studies which were conducted in this field.) Note al-dirāsāt (الدراسات - studies) is a non-human plural taking al-latī.
Distinguishing from Adjectives:
While simple adjectives modify nouns, relative clauses provide more elaborate descriptions, often involving actions, states, or relationships.
  • Adjective: الطَّالِبُ النَّاجِحُ. (al-ṭālibu al-nājiḥu. - The successful student.)
  • Relative clause: الطَّالِبُ الَّذِي نَجَحَ فِي الِامْتِحَانِ. (al-ṭālibu al-ladhī najaḥa fī al-imtiḥāni. - The student who succeeded in the exam.)
Mastering the use of al-ism al-mawṣūl enables you to articulate precise thoughts and connect ideas logically, transforming simple sentences into sophisticated expressions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often encounter specific challenges when applying Arabic relative pronouns. Recognizing these pitfalls and understanding their underlying causes is crucial for accurate usage.
1. Using al-ism al-mawṣūl with Indefinite Antecedents:
This is arguably the most frequent and significant error. As established, relative pronouns like al-ladhī or al-latī are exclusively for definite nouns. Attempting to use them with indefinite nouns is grammatically incorrect and will sound awkward to a native speaker.
  • Incorrect: رَأَيْتُ رَجُلًا الَّذِي يَتَكَلَّمُ. (ra'aytu rajulan al-ladhī yatakallamu. - I saw a man who is speaking.)
  • Correct: رَأَيْتُ رَجُلًا يَتَكَلَّمُ. (ra'aytu rajulan yatakallamu. - I saw a man speaking / a man who is speaking.)
  • Why it's wrong: The noun rajulan (رجلًا) is indefinite due to the tanween (-an) and absence of al-. The relative clause yatakallamu (يتكلم - he speaks) directly modifies it without an intervening pronoun. You would simply use the verb after the indefinite noun.
2. Misapplication of Gender and Number Agreement:
The relative pronoun must strictly agree with its antecedent in gender and number. This requires careful attention to the noun's form.
  • Incorrect (Gender): المُعَلِّمَةُ الَّذِي شَرَحَتْ الدَّرْسَ. (al-mu'allimatu al-ladhī sharaḥat al-darsa. - The female teacher who explained the lesson.)
  • Correct (Gender): المُعَلِّمَةُ الَّتِي شَرَحَتْ الدَّرْسَ. (al-mu'allimatu al-latī sharaḥat al-darsa. - The female teacher who explained the lesson.)
  • Why it's wrong: al-mu'allimah (المُعَلِّمَة) is feminine singular, requiring al-latī, not al-ladhī.
  • Incorrect (Number - Human Plural): الطُّلَّابُ الَّذِي كَتَبُوا الواجِبَ. (al-ṭullābu al-ladhī katabū al-wājiba. - The students who wrote the homework.)
  • Correct (Number - Human Plural): الطُّلَّابُ الَّذِينَ كَتَبُوا الواجِبَ. (al-ṭullābu al-ladhīna katabū al-wājiba. - The students who wrote the homework.)
  • Why it's wrong: al-ṭullāb (الطلاب) is masculine plural (of rational beings), requiring al-ladhīna.
3. Forgetting or Misplacing the Resumptive Pronoun (ḍamīr al-'ā'id):
This is a frequent source of grammatical error, particularly for English speakers who are unaccustomed to such a construction. The resumptive pronoun is often essential for clarity and grammatical completeness.
  • Incorrect (Object of verb): الكِتابُ الَّذِي قَرَأْتُ. (al-kitābu al-ladhī qara'tu. - The book that I read.)
  • Correct (Object of verb): الكِتابُ الَّذِي قَرَأْتُهُ. (al-kitābu al-ladhī qara'tuhu. - The book that I read it.)
  • Why it's wrong: The verb qara'tu (قرأت - I read) needs an object pronoun (-hu) referring back to al-kitāb (الكتاب) to complete its meaning within the clause. Omitting it creates an incomplete thought.
  • Incorrect (Object of preposition): المَدِينَةُ الَّتِي سَكَنْتُ. (al-madīnatu al-latī sakantu. - The city that I lived.)
  • Correct (Object of preposition): المَدِينَةُ الَّتِي سَكَنْتُ فِيهَا. (al-madīnatu al-latī sakantu fīhā. - The city that I lived in it.)
  • Why it's wrong: The preposition fī (في - in) requires an object, which is supplied by the resumptive pronoun -hā referring to al-madīnah (المدينة).
4. Treating Non-Human Plurals as True Plurals:
A fundamental rule in Arabic is that non-human plural nouns are grammatically treated as feminine singular. This applies to the selection of the relative pronoun.
  • Incorrect: الجِبَالُ الَّذِينَ رَأَيْتُهَا. (al-jibālu al-ladhīna ra'aytuhā. - The mountains that I saw.)
  • Correct: الجِبَالُ الَّتِي رَأَيْتُهَا. (al-jibālu al-latī ra'aytuhā. - The mountains that I saw.)
  • Why it's wrong: al-jibāl (الجبال - mountains) is a non-human plural, thus requiring al-latī (feminine singular), not al-ladhīna (masculine plural for rational beings). This is a rigid grammatical rule in MSA.
5. Confusing al-ism al-mawṣūl with the Definite Article al-:
While both start with al-, their functions are distinct. al- makes a noun definite, whereas al-ism al-mawṣūl links a definite noun to a descriptive clause. They work in conjunction, not interchangeably.
  • Incorrect: الكِتابُ الَّذِي. (Meaning: The book which.) This is incomplete.
  • Correct: الكِتابُ الَّذِي قَرَأْتُهُ. (The book which I read it.) The al- defines الكتاب, and الَّذِي connects the clause قَرَأْتُهُ.
By systematically checking for the definiteness of the antecedent, ensuring gender and number agreement, and diligently including the resumptive pronoun, you can overcome these common hurdles and construct precise, idiomatic Arabic sentences.

Real Conversations

Understanding the theoretical application of relative pronouns is enhanced by observing their use in authentic communicative contexts, from formal written Arabic to more casual digital interactions. While classical al-ism al-mawṣūl forms are ubiquitous in formal MSA, you will notice some adaptations in everyday spoken Arabic, though the underlying grammatical principle of connecting a definite noun to its description remains constant.

Formal / Written Arabic (News, Literature, Academic Texts):

In these contexts, the full range of al-ism al-mawṣūl forms (including duals and plurals) is consistently and precisely used.

- News Report: رَافَقَ الْوَفْدَ الرَّئِيسِيَّ الَّذِينَ وَصَلُوا الْعَاصِمَةَ. (rāfaqa al-wafda al-ra'īsiyya al-ladhīna waṣalū al-ʿāṣimata. - The main delegation, who arrived in the capital, was accompanied.)

- Literary Context: هِيَ تِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ الَّتِي لا تُنْسَى. (hiya tilka al-ayyāmu al-latī lā tunsá. - Those are the unforgettable days.) Note al-ayyām (أيام - days) is a non-human plural taking al-latī.

- Academic Email: نَرْجُو مُرَاجَعَةَ المِلْفِ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكُمْ. (narjū murāja'ata al-milfi al-ladhī arsalnāhu ilaykum. - We request you review the file which we sent to you.)

Informal / Spoken Arabic (and Texting/Social Media in some regions):

Many Arabic dialects (e.g., Egyptian, Levantine) tend to simplify the al-ism al-mawṣūl forms. The most common simplification is the use of illī (إِلِّي) as an all-purpose relative pronoun, regardless of gender, number, or case. While learning MSA, you should master the distinct forms, but recognizing illī is vital for comprehension in daily life. This simplification is part of the natural evolution of spoken language.

- Levantine Colloquial: الشَّخْصُ إِلِّي حَكَى مَعِي مْنِيح. (ash-shaḫṣ illī ḥakā ma'ī mnīḥ. - The person who spoke with me was good.)

- Compare to MSA: الشَّخْصُ الَّذِي تَكَلَّمَ مَعِي جَيِّدٌ. (ash-shaḫṣu al-ladhī takallama ma'ī jayyidun.)

- Egyptian Colloquial: الْكِتَابُ إِلِّي قَرَيْتُهُ مُمْتِع. (el-ketāb illī qarētuh mumte'. - The book which I read is enjoyable.)

- Compare to MSA: الكِتابُ الَّذِي قَرَأْتُهُ مُمْتِعٌ. (al-kitābu al-ladhī qara'tuhu mumti'un.)

This dialectal simplification highlights the core function of the relative pronoun even when its form is reduced. It still connects a definite noun to its descriptive clause. However, for A1 MSA learners, consistently using al-ladhī and al-latī is paramount for building a strong grammatical foundation. Understanding the dialectal variants comes with greater exposure.

C

Cultural Insight

The consistent use of specific relative pronouns in formal Arabic reflects a linguistic emphasis on precision and explicit agreement, a characteristic often found in highly inflected languages. This contrasts with English, where relative pronouns can sometimes be omitted ("The book I read"), demonstrating a different approach to syntactic economy. Arabic prioritizes grammatical clarity through explicit agreement markers.

Quick FAQ

This section addresses common concise questions about Arabic relative pronouns, consolidating key points for quick reference.
  • Q: Can al-ladhī and al-latī refer to both people and inanimate objects?

Yes. Unlike English, which often differentiates between "who" (for people) and "which" (for things), Arabic al-ladhī (الَّذِي) and al-latī (الَّتِي) are used for both, provided they match the antecedent's gender and number.

  • Example for person: الطَّالِبُ الَّذِي نَجَحَ. (The student who succeeded.)
  • Example for object: الكِتابُ الَّذِي فَوْقَ الطَّاوِلَةِ. (The book which is on the table.)
  • Q: Do I need al-ladhī or al-latī after proper nouns (names)?

Yes. Proper nouns like Ahmed (أحمد) or Beirut (بيروت) are inherently definite. Therefore, if you describe them with a relative clause, you must use the appropriate al-ism al-mawṣūl.

  • Example: أَحْمَدُ الَّذِي زَارَنِي مُهَنْدِسٌ. (aḥmadu al-ladhī zāranī muhandisun. - Ahmed, who visited me, is an engineer.)
  • Q: What is the primary difference between al-ladhī and man (مَنْ)?

al-ladhī refers to a specific, definite antecedent that has already been mentioned or is clearly understood. man (مَنْ), on the other hand, is an indefinite relative pronoun meaning "whoever" or "those who," used for general, non-specific references.

  • al-ladhī: الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي كَلَّمْتُهُ. (The man whom I spoke to.)
  • man: مَنْ يَدْرُسْ يَنْجَحْ. (Whoever studies will succeed.)
  • Q: What happens if the antecedent is dual (two people or things)?

Arabic has specific dual forms for relative pronouns: al-ladhānī (اللَّذَانِ) / al-ladhayni (اللَّذَيْنِ) for masculine, and al-latānī (اللَّتَانِ) / al-latayni (اللَّتَيْنِ) for feminine. The choice between the nominative (-ānī) and accusative/genitive (-ayni) endings depends on the grammatical case of the relative pronoun within the sentence, a more advanced topic.

  • Q: Why is it important to use al-latī for non-human plurals like kutub (كُتُب - books)?

In Arabic, non-human plural nouns (jam' ghayr 'āqil - جَمْعٌ غَيْرُ عَاقِلٍ) are grammatically treated as feminine singular. This impacts not only relative pronouns but also adjectives and verb agreement. It is a fundamental rule that you must memorize for correct Arabic grammar.

Relative Pronoun Gender Table

Gender Pronoun Usage
Masculine Singular
الذي
Human/Non-human
Feminine Singular
التي
Human/Non-human
Masculine Plural
الذين
Human only
Feminine Plural
اللواتي/اللاتي
Human only
Non-human Plural
التي
Non-human objects

Meanings

Relative pronouns act as bridges between a noun and a descriptive clause, specifying exactly which person or object is being discussed.

1

Masculine Singular

Used for masculine singular nouns.

“الولد الذي يلعب”

“البيت الذي أسكن فيه”

2

Feminine Singular

Used for feminine singular nouns.

“البنت التي تدرس”

“السيارة التي اشتريتها”

Reference Table

Reference table for Arabic Relative Pronouns: Who & Which (الذي، التي)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + الذي/التي + Verb
الولد الذي يركض
Negative
Noun + الذي/التي + لا + Verb
الولد الذي لا يركض
Question
هل هذا هو Noun + الذي/التي...?
هل هذا هو الكتاب الذي قرأته؟
Plural
Noun + الذين/التي + Verb
الرجال الذين يعملون

Formality Spectrum

Formal
الرجل الذي يعمل.

الرجل الذي يعمل. (Describing a person)

Neutral
الرجل الذي يعمل.

الرجل الذي يعمل. (Describing a person)

Informal
الزلمة اللي بيشتغل.

الزلمة اللي بيشتغل. (Describing a person)

Slang
الزلمة اللي شغال.

الزلمة اللي شغال. (Describing a person)

Relative Pronoun Map

Relative Pronouns

Masculine

  • الذي who/which

Feminine

  • التي who/which
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

الرجل الذي يأكل

The man who eats

2

البنت التي تلعب

The girl who plays

3

الكتاب الذي أقرأه

The book which I read

4

السيارة التي أريدها

The car which I want

1

هذا هو الصديق الذي ساعدني

This is the friend who helped me

2

تلك هي الشركة التي أعمل فيها

That is the company which I work in

3

البيت الذي أسكن فيه كبير

The house which I live in is big

4

القصة التي قرأتها ممتعة

The story which I read is fun

1

الطلاب الذين يدرسون بجد ينجحون

The students who study hard succeed

2

المدن التي زرتها جميلة

The cities which I visited are beautiful

3

الرجل الذي قابلته أمس كان لطيفاً

The man whom I met yesterday was kind

4

المعلومات التي أعطيتني إياها مفيدة

The information which you gave me is useful

1

القرارات التي اتخذتها كانت صعبة

The decisions which I made were difficult

2

الشخص الذي تثق به هو صديق حقيقي

The person whom you trust is a true friend

3

المشاريع التي نعمل عليها تتطلب وقتاً

The projects which we work on require time

4

المدير الذي يدير الفريق خبير

The manager who runs the team is an expert

1

النظرية التي اقترحها العالم مثيرة للجدل

The theory which the scientist proposed is controversial

2

الكاتب الذي نال الجائزة مشهور عالمياً

The author who won the prize is world-famous

3

القوانين التي وضعتها الحكومة صارمة

The laws which the government set are strict

4

اللحظات التي عشناها لن ننساها

The moments which we lived we will not forget

1

القيم التي نؤمن بها تشكل هويتنا

The values which we believe in shape our identity

2

الرجل الذي لا يخطئ لا يتعلم

The man who does not err does not learn

3

المبادئ التي تأسست عليها الشركة ثابتة

The principles upon which the company was founded are firm

4

الآراء التي طرحها في المقال كانت جريئة

The opinions which he put forth in the article were bold

Easily Confused

Arabic Relative Pronouns: Who & Which (الذي، التي) vs Interrogative 'Man' vs Relative 'Alladhi'

Both translate to 'who'.

Arabic Relative Pronouns: Who & Which (الذي، التي) vs Non-human plural

Learners use plural pronouns for objects.

Arabic Relative Pronouns: Who & Which (الذي، التي) vs Dialect vs MSA

Learners mix 'اللي' with MSA.

Common Mistakes

✗

الرجل التي يقرأ

✓

الرجل الذي يقرأ

Gender mismatch: الرجل is masculine.
✗

البيت الذي

✓

البيت الذي

Correct usage, but often forgotten.
✗

البنت الذي تلعب

✓

البنت التي تلعب

Gender mismatch: البنت is feminine.
✗

الولد يركض

✓

الولد الذي يركض

Missing the relative pronoun.
✗

الكتب الذي قرأتها

✓

الكتب التي قرأتها

Non-human plural requires feminine singular.
✗

الطلاب التي يدرسون

✓

الطلاب الذين يدرسون

Plural human requires plural pronoun.
✗

السيارات الذي اشتريتها

✓

السيارات التي اشتريتها

Non-human plural requires feminine singular.
✗

الرجل الذي رأيتها

✓

الرجل الذي رأيته

The resumptive pronoun must match the antecedent.
✗

النساء الذين يعملون

✓

النساء اللواتي يعملن

Feminine plural requires specific pronoun.
✗

البيت الذي أسكن

✓

البيت الذي أسكن فيه

Missing the prepositional link.
✗

الذي هو يذهب

✓

الذي يذهب

Redundant pronoun usage.
✗

التي هي تدرس

✓

التي تدرس

Redundant pronoun usage.
✗

الرجال التي ذهبوا

✓

الرجال الذين ذهبوا

Plural agreement error.

Sentence Patterns

هذا هو الـ ___ الذي ___

هذه هي الـ ___ التي ___

الـ ___ الذي ___ هو ___

الـ ___ التي ___ هي ___

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

الصورة التي نشرتها جميلة

Texting constant

الرسالة التي أرسلتها وصلت

Job Interview very common

المشروع الذي أدرته كان ناجحاً

Travel common

الفندق الذي حجزته مريح

Food Delivery common

الطلب الذي طلبته تأخر

News very common

القرار الذي اتخذته الحكومة

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

Check the Noun

Always look at the noun before the pronoun. If it ends in ة, use التي.
⚠️

Non-human Plurals

Don't use plural pronouns for objects. Use التي.
🎯

Resumptive Pronoun

Ensure the verb in the clause has a pronoun referring back to the noun.
💬

Dialect vs MSA

In casual speech, 'اللي' is your best friend.

Smart Tips

Check the gender first.

الرجل التي يقرأ → الرجل الذي يقرأ

Remember non-human plurals are feminine singular.

الكتب الذين قرأتها → الكتب التي قرأتها

Use الذي/التي instead of اللي.

الرجل اللي يعمل → الرجل الذي يعمل

Don't forget the resumptive pronoun.

البيت الذي أسكن → البيت الذي أسكن فيه

Pronunciation

al-la-dhi

Alladhi/Allati

The 'll' sound is doubled (geminated).

Statement

الرجل الذي يقرأ ↘

Declarative tone

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: 'Alladhi' is for the guy, 'Allati' is for the lady.

Visual Association

Imagine a bridge connecting two islands. One island has a noun, the other has an action. The bridge is labeled 'الذي' or 'التي'.

Rhyme

For the boy use Alladhi, for the girl use Allati.

Story

Ahmed is a boy (الذي). Sara is a girl (التي). Ahmed walks on a bridge. Sara walks on a bridge. They are both connecting their sentences.

Word Web

الذيالتيالذيناللاتياللواتيالاسم الموصول

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about things in your room using 'الذي' or 'التي'.

Cultural Notes

In spoken Levantine, 'اللي' (illi) is used for all genders and numbers.

Similarly, 'اللي' (illi) is the universal connector.

Formal MSA is often used in media, so 'الذي/التي' are common.

Derived from the demonstrative pronouns.

Conversation Starters

“

من هو الشخص الذي تحبه؟

“

ما هو الكتاب الذي تقرأه الآن؟

“

ما هي المدينة التي تحب زيارتها؟

“

ما هي المهارة التي تريد تعلمها؟

Journal Prompts

اكتب عن صديقك الذي تحبه.
اكتب عن سيارة أو بيت تحلم به.
اكتب عن وظيفة تحلم بها.
اكتب عن كتاب غير حياتك.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with الذي or التي.

الرجل ___ يعمل هنا.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذي
الرجل is masculine singular.
Choose the correct pronoun. Multiple Choice

السيارة ___ اشتريتها.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: التي
السيارة is feminine singular.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

البنت الذي تلعب.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: البنت التي تلعب
Gender mismatch.
Combine the sentences. Sentence Transformation

هذا ولد. الولد يدرس.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: هذا الولد الذي يدرس
Using relative pronoun to connect.
Match the noun to the pronoun. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذي / التي / التي
Gender and plural rules.
Select the correct pronoun for non-human plural. Multiple Choice

المدن ___ زرتها.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: التي
Non-human plural uses feminine singular.
Fill in the blank.

الطلاب ___ يدرسون بجد.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذين
Human plural masculine.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

الرجل / الذي / يعمل / هنا

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الرجل الذي يعمل هنا
Correct word order.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with الذي or التي.

الرجل ___ يعمل هنا.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذي
الرجل is masculine singular.
Choose the correct pronoun. Multiple Choice

السيارة ___ اشتريتها.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: التي
السيارة is feminine singular.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

البنت الذي تلعب.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: البنت التي تلعب
Gender mismatch.
Combine the sentences. Sentence Transformation

هذا ولد. الولد يدرس.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: هذا الولد الذي يدرس
Using relative pronoun to connect.
Match the noun to the pronoun. Match Pairs

الرجل / البنت / الكتب

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذي / التي / التي
Gender and plural rules.
Select the correct pronoun for non-human plural. Multiple Choice

المدن ___ زرتها.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: التي
Non-human plural uses feminine singular.
Fill in the blank.

الطلاب ___ يدرسون بجد.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذين
Human plural masculine.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

الرجل / الذي / يعمل / هنا

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الرجل الذي يعمل هنا
Correct word order.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

8 exercises
Fill in the blank for non-human plural. Fill in the Blank

الكتب ___ قرأتها مفيدة.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: التي
Translate 'The man who is traveling'. Translation

The man who is traveling.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الرجل الذي يسافر
Reorder the words to say: 'The girl who is writing is smart.' Sentence Reorder

البنت / ذكية / التي / تكتب

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: البنت التي تكتب ذكية
Select the correct plural human form. Multiple Choice

المعلمون ___ يدرسون هنا.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذين
Fix the missing resumptive pronoun. Error Correction

الكتاب الذي قرأت جميل.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الكتاب الذي قرأته جميل.
Match the noun to its pronoun. Match Pairs

Match Noun to Pronoun:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الرجل: الذي
Fill in for a name (naturally definite). Fill in the Blank

سارة ___ تسكن في لندن صديقتي.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: التي
Translate 'A house I saw'. Translation

A house I saw.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: بيت رأيته

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

الذي is for masculine, التي is for feminine.

Only if it is a masculine human plural, use الذين.

Always use التي.

In spoken Arabic, we usually use 'اللي'.

This is the resumptive pronoun, it refers back to the noun.

No, they are for statements.

Yes, they are essential for formal Arabic.

Write sentences about things around you.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

que

Arabic requires gender agreement.

French moderate

qui/que

Gender vs syntactic function.

German high

der/die/das

German has case; Arabic does not for these.

Japanese low

no

Particle vs pronoun.

Chinese low

de

Universal vs gendered.

English moderate

who/which/that

Human/non-human vs gender.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Arabic Relative Pronouns: The one who (alladhi, allati)
Next
Relative Pronouns for Two (Al-Ladhān / Al-Latān)

Learn These First

A1 Builds On

Arabic Relative Pronouns: The one who (alladhi, allati)

Overview In Arabic, just like in English, you often need to combine two related ideas into a single, more descriptive se...

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Relative Pronouns for Two (Al-Ladhān / Al-Latān)

Overview Arabic grammar often demands a level of precision not always found in other languages. While English might simp...
A1

Attached Pronouns: Mine, Yours, His (-i, -ka, -hu)

Overview Arabic, a language renowned for its elegant efficiency, frequently consolidates multiple pieces of information...
A1

Arabic Relative Pronouns: Who, Which, That (الذي، التي)

Overview Arabic, like many languages, requires precise methods to connect and elaborate on ideas within sentences. When...
A1

Arabic Relative Pronouns (al-ladhi, al-lati)

Overview Arabic relative pronouns are the linguistic bridges that connect a definite noun to a subsequent clause describ...
A1

Arabic Relative Pronouns: The one who (alladhi, allati)

Overview In Arabic, just like in English, you often need to combine two related ideas into a single, more descriptive se...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!