A1 Pronouns 15 min read Easy

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

Relative pronouns connect definite nouns to descriptions, requiring strict agreement in gender, number, and definiteness.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Relative pronouns like 'alladhi' connect a noun to a description, acting as the bridge between a person or thing and their action.

  • Use 'alladhi' (الذي) for masculine singular nouns: 'The man who eats' (الرجل الذي يأكل).
  • Use 'allati' (التي) for feminine singular nouns: 'The woman who eats' (المرأة التي تأكل).
  • The relative pronoun must match the gender of the noun it describes.
Noun + (alladhi/allati) + Verb/Description

Overview

In Arabic, just like in English, you often need to combine two related ideas into a single, more descriptive sentence. Instead of saying, "I saw a man. The man was running," you naturally say, "I saw the man who was running." This 'who' is a relative pronoun.

In Arabic, these vital connectors are called الأسماء الموصولة (al-asmāʾ al-mawṣūlah), literally meaning "connecting nouns." They act as a crucial grammatical bridge, linking a main clause to a subordinate clause (known as the relative clause or جملة الصلة - jumlat aṣ-ṣilah) that provides additional information about a preceding noun. Mastering relative pronouns is fundamental for building complex sentences and articulating thoughts with precision, moving beyond simple, disconnected statements.

At the A1 level, your focus will primarily be on the singular forms الذي (alladhī) for masculine nouns and التي (allatī) for feminine nouns. These two forms allow you to describe singular people, places, or things by attaching a descriptive mini-sentence to them. For example, البيتُ الذي رأيتَه كبيرٌ. (The house which you saw is big.) or البنتُ التي تدرسُ مجتهدةٌ. (The girl who is studying is diligent.) The choice between الذي and التي is determined by the gender of the noun they refer back to.

This adherence to gender agreement is a hallmark of Arabic grammar, ensuring clarity and internal consistency within sentences.

Critically, Arabic relative pronouns like الذي and التي are only used when the noun they describe is definite (اسم معرفة - ism maʿrifah). A definite noun is typically one preceded by the definite article الـ (al-), or a proper noun (e.g., محمد - Muḥammad, القاهرة - al-Qāhirah). This is a foundational rule: if the noun is indefinite (e.g., كتابٌ - kitābun, 'a book'), a relative pronoun is not used.

Instead, the descriptive clause directly follows the indefinite noun. This linguistic principle emphasizes the importance of definiteness in Arabic sentence structure, a concept quite different from English, where "that" can follow both definite and indefinite antecedents.

How This Grammar Works

Arabic relative pronouns الذي and التي function as the gateway to a descriptive clause, enhancing a noun's meaning. The relative pronoun itself does not carry intrinsic meaning; its role is purely connective, establishing a grammatical link. The noun that the relative pronoun refers to is called the antecedent (الاسم الموصوف - al-ism al-mawṣūf).
The core mechanism involves placing الذي or التي directly after a definite antecedent, and then following it with a clause that elaborates on that noun. For instance, in الرجلُ الذي جاءَ متأخراً صديقي. (The man who came late is my friend.), الرجلُ (the man) is the definite antecedent, الذي is the relative pronoun, and جاءَ متأخراً (came late) is the relative clause.
One of the most distinctive and initially challenging features of Arabic relative clauses is the mandatory presence of a returning pronoun (الضمير العائد - aḍ-ḍamīr al-ʿāʾid) within the relative clause. This returning pronoun is a suffix or a separate pronoun that directly refers back to the antecedent, establishing an explicit link. It must agree with the antecedent in both gender and number.
Think of it as a small echo of the main noun within the descriptive clause. Without this returning pronoun, the sentence would be grammatically incomplete and unclear to a native speaker, much like saying "The book I read" instead of "The book which I read it" in a literal translation of the Arabic structure.
Consider the example: الكتابُ الذي قرأتُه مفيدٌ. (The book which I read it is useful.) Here, الكتابُ (the book) is masculine singular. The relative pronoun الذي is chosen for masculine singular. Within the relative clause قرأتُه (I read it), the suffix -ه (hu) is the returning pronoun, also masculine singular, referring back to الكتابُ.
This ensures the clause clearly describes the book. Similarly, for a feminine antecedent: المجلةُ التي قرأتُها ممتعةٌ. (The magazine which I read it is enjoyable.) The suffix -ها (hā) correctly matches the feminine singular المجلةُ.
This returning pronoun is crucial for precision and is rarely optional in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Its absence is a common error for learners, as it often feels redundant to English speakers. However, in Arabic, it is the grammatical anchor that secures the relative clause to its antecedent.
The type of returning pronoun (attached suffix or separate pronoun) depends on the structure of the relative clause itself, whether it's verbal, nominal, or a semi-sentence (prepositional phrase or adverb).

Formation Pattern

1
Constructing sentences with Arabic relative pronouns involves a methodical approach, ensuring proper agreement and the inclusion of the returning pronoun. The process can be broken down into four key steps:
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Identify a Definite Antecedent (الاسم المعرفة):
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The noun you wish to describe must be definite. This is usually indicated by the definite article الـ (al-) at the beginning of the noun (e.g., الرجلُ - ar-rajulu, 'the man'; المدينةُ - al-madīnatu, 'the city').
4
Proper nouns, by their nature, are always definite (e.g., عليٌّ - ʿAliyyun; مصرُ - Miṣru, 'Egypt').
5
Possessive constructions (e.g., كتابُ الطالبِ - kitābu ṭ-ṭālibi, 'the student's book') also render the first noun definite, even without الـ.
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Select the Appropriate Relative Pronoun:
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The choice of relative pronoun depends exclusively on the gender and number of the antecedent. At A1, you primarily focus on singular forms:
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For Masculine Singular: Use الذي (alladhī).
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Example: الكتابُ الذي ... (The book which ...)
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For Feminine Singular: Use التي (allatī).
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Example: السيارةُ التي ... (The car which ...)
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Special Rule for Non-Human Plurals: This is a critical exception for A1 learners. When referring to non-human plural nouns, Arabic treats them grammatically as feminine singular. Therefore, you must use التي.
13
Example: الكتبُ التي قرأتُها مفيدةٌ. (The books which I read them are useful.) Here, الكتبُ (the books) is plural, but because books are non-human, التي is used.
14
Example: البيوتُ التي بنيتُها جديدةٌ. (The houses which I built them are new.) البيوتُ (the houses) is plural non-human, hence التي.
15
While other forms exist for dual (اللذان/اللتان) and plural (الذين/اللاتي), they are typically introduced at slightly higher CEFR levels. For A1, focus on mastering الذي and التي for singulars and non-human plurals.
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Construct the Relative Clause (جملة الصلة):
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This is the descriptive mini-sentence that follows the relative pronoun. It must contain the information you want to add about the antecedent.
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The relative clause can take several forms:
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Verbal Sentence (جملة فعلية): Contains a verb.
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Example: الرجلُ الذي يسافرُ كثيراً ... (The man who travels a lot ...)
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Nominal Sentence (جملة اسمية): Contains a subject and predicate, often starting with a pronoun.
22
Example: المرأةُ التي هي طبيبةٌ ... (The woman who is a doctor ...)
23
Semi-Sentence (شبه جملة): A prepositional phrase or adverbial phrase.
24
Example: القهوةُ التي على الطاولةِ ... (The coffee which is on the table ...)
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Example: المكتبُ الذي هنا ... (The office which is here ...)
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Integrate the Returning Pronoun (الضمير العائد):
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This is an essential component of the relative clause. The returning pronoun connects the relative clause back to the antecedent.
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It must agree with the antecedent in gender and number.
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Its form depends on its grammatical role within the relative clause:
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Object Pronoun (attached to a verb):
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الكتابُ الذي قرأتُه. (The book which I read it.) (-ه matches الكتابُ)
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المجلةُ التي قرأتُها. (The magazine which I read it.) (-ها matches المجلةُ)
33
Pronoun after a Preposition:
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البيتُ الذي سكنتُ فيه. (The house which I lived in it.) (-ه matches البيتُ)
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المرأةُ التي تكلمتُ معها. (The woman which I spoke with her.) (-ها matches المرأةُ)
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Subject Pronoun (less common with الذي/التي, more for higher levels): The subject is often implied by the verb's conjugation, or it can be an explicit separate pronoun if the clause is nominal (التي هي جميلة).
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Table of Returning Pronoun Suffixes (Singular Focus for A1):
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| Antecedent Gender/Number | Returning Pronoun Suffix (Object/Preposition) |
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| :----------------------- | :--------------------------------------------- |
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| Masculine Singular | -ه (hu) |
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| Feminine Singular | -ها (hā) |
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Example combining all steps:
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رأيتُ الطالبةَ التي تدرسُ بجدٍ في المكتبةِ.
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(I saw the female student [definite antecedent: الطالبةَ, feminine singular] who [relative pronoun: التي] studies diligently in the library [relative clause: تدرسُ بجدٍ في المكتبةِ].)
45
Note: The returning pronoun here is implicitly embedded in the verb تدرسُ (she studies), where the subject is هي (she), referring back to الطالبةَ.

When To Use It

Relative pronouns are essential whenever you need to be precise and provide specific, identifying information about a definite noun. They allow you to transform simple statements into richer, more detailed descriptions. Think of them as verbal pointers, clearly indicating which specific noun you are talking about among many.
Here are the primary situations where الذي and التي are indispensable:
  • To Identify Specific Individuals or Objects: When there are multiple similar items, a relative pronoun helps you pinpoint the exact one.
  • الشخصُ الذي قابلتُه أمسَ لطيفٌ. (The person whom I met yesterday is kind.)
  • الكتابُ الذي على الطاولةِ لي. (The book which is on the table is mine.)
  • To Describe Actions or States Related to a Noun: You can use them to attach a verb or a state to a noun, explaining what it does or what it's like.
  • الرجلُ الذي يعملُ في البنكِ أبي. (The man who works in the bank is my father.)
  • المعلمةُ التي تشرحُ الدرسَ جيدةٌ. (The female teacher who explains the lesson is good.)
  • To Link Events to Specific Nouns: When something happened to or with a particular noun.
  • الفيلمُ الذي شاهدتُه البارحةَ كان ممتعاً. (The film which I watched last night was entertaining.)
  • الهديةُ التي تلقيتُها من صديقتي جميلةٌ. (The gift which I received from my friend is beautiful.)
  • In Modern Communication (Texting, Social Media): Even in informal contexts, using relative pronouns correctly enhances clarity and sophistication.
  • Social Media Caption: هذه هي المدينةُ التي أحبُّها. (This is the city which I love it.)
  • Text Message: أين المفتاحُ الذي كان هنا؟ (Where is the key which was here?)
  • Online Review: المطعمُ الذي أكلتُ فيه كان رائعاً. (The restaurant which I ate in it was wonderful.)
By consistently using الذي and التي in these contexts, you elevate your Arabic from basic transactional communication to more nuanced and expressive language. It's a key step in articulating your observations and experiences with greater detail, mirroring the way native speakers structure their thoughts.

Common Mistakes

Beginners learning Arabic relative pronouns frequently encounter several pitfalls, primarily due to the differences between English and Arabic grammatical structures. Understanding these common errors and their underlying reasons is crucial for accurate usage.
  1. 1Using الذي or التي with Indefinite Nouns: This is arguably the most prevalent mistake. As previously emphasized, Arabic relative pronouns only follow definite nouns. If the noun lacks الـ or isn't a proper name, الذي or التي should not be used. Instead, the descriptive clause follows the indefinite noun directly, functioning as an adjective.
  • Incorrect: شاهدتُ كتاباً الذي كان على الطاولةِ. (I saw a book which* was on the table.)
  • Correct: شاهدتُ الكتابَ الذي كان على الطاولةِ. (I saw the book which was on the table.)
  • Correct Alternative (for indefinite): شاهدتُ كتاباً كان على الطاولةِ. (I saw a book that was on the table.) – Here, كان على الطاولةِ acts directly as an adjective phrase for كتاباً.
  1. 1Gender Mismatch Between Antecedent and Relative Pronoun: Arabic is highly gender-sensitive. Using الذي for a feminine noun or التي for a masculine noun creates a jarring grammatical error.
  • Incorrect: الجامعةُ الذي درستُ فيها. (The university which* I studied in.) (الجامعةُ is feminine.)
  • Correct: الجامعةُ التي درستُ فيها. (The university which I studied in.)
  • Incorrect: الاستاذُ التي علّمني. (The male professor who* taught me.) (الاستاذُ is masculine.)
  • Correct: الاستاذُ الذي علّمني. (The male professor who taught me.)
  1. 1Omitting the Returning Pronoun (الضمير العائد): This is another significant error. The returning pronoun is essential for grammatically linking the relative clause back to its antecedent. Its absence makes the sentence incomplete and ungrammatical.
  • Incorrect: *المنزلُ الذي اشتريتُ. (The house which I bought.) – This feels like something is missing.
  • Correct: المنزلُ الذي اشتريتُه. (The house which I bought it.) (-ه is the returning pronoun for المنزلُ)
  • Incorrect: *الفتاةُ التي التقيتُ. (The girl whom I met.)
  • Correct: الفتاةُ التي التقيتُ بها. (The girl whom I met with her.) (بها = with her, where -ها is the returning pronoun)
  • Remember that the returning pronoun matches the antecedent's gender and number.
  1. 1Confusing Relative Pronouns with Demonstrative Pronouns (هذا/هذه): Learners sometimes mix الذي (alladhī) with هذا (hādhā, 'this') due to their similar initial sound or general function of pointing. However, their grammatical roles are distinct.
  • هذا points to something immediately (هذا كتابٌ - This is a book).
  • الذي connects a clause to a previously mentioned noun (الكتابُ الذي قرأتُه - The book which I read).
  1. 1Confusing Relative Pronouns with Interrogative Pronouns (مَنْ/ما): مَنْ (man, 'who') and ما (mā, 'what'/'which') can appear similar to الذي/التي in translation but serve different purposes. مَنْ asks a question about a person or functions as an indefinite 'whoever'. ما asks about a non-human thing or refers to an indefinite 'whatever'. الذي/التي explicitly refer back to a definite, stated noun.
  • مَنْ جاءَ؟ (Who came?) vs. الرجلُ الذي جاءَ. (The man who came.)
  • ماذا قرأتَ؟ (What did you read?) vs. الكتابُ الذي قرأتُه. (The book which I read.)
By actively paying attention to the definiteness of the antecedent, gender agreement, and the indispensable returning pronoun, you can avoid the vast majority of common errors associated with Arabic relative pronouns.

Real Conversations

Understanding how الذي and التي are used in actual spoken and written contexts helps solidify your grasp of their function. These examples demonstrate their natural integration into everyday Arabic communication, from describing people and objects to expressing opinions in modern digital settings.

S

Scenario 1

Describing a Person

- صديقي هو الرجلُ الذي يعملُ في المشفى.

- My friend is the man who works in the hospital.

- (Here, الرجلُ is masculine singular definite, so الذي is used. The returning pronoun is the implied subject of يعملُ.)

- هل تعرفُ الفتاةَ التي جلستْ معنا أمسَ؟

- Do you know the girl who sat with us yesterday?

- (الفتاةَ is feminine singular definite, hence التي. The تْ suffix on جلستْ implicitly refers to the feminine subject.)

S

Scenario 2

Identifying an Object or Place

- هذا هو الهاتفُ الذي اشتريتُه حديثاً.

- This is the phone which I bought recently.

- (الهاتفُ is masculine singular definite, الذي. The -ه in اشتريتُه is the returning pronoun.)

- أحبُّ المدينةَ التي فيها الكثيرُ من الحدائقِ.

- I love the city which has many parks in it.

- (المدينةَ is feminine singular definite, التي. The ها in فيها refers to المدينةَ.)

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Scenario 3

Talking about Non-Human Plurals

- الكتبُ التي قرأتُها كانت ممتعةً.

- The books which I read them were enjoyable.

- (الكتبُ is non-human plural, so التي is used. The -ها in قرأتُها is the returning pronoun for الكتبُ.)

- هذه هي المعلوماتُ التي طلبتَها.

- These are the information which you requested it.

- (المعلوماتُ is non-human plural, التي. The -ها in طلبتَها refers to المعلوماتُ.)

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Scenario 4

In Text Messages or Social Media (MSA context)

- WhatsApp: أعجبني الفيديو الذي نشرتَه.

- I liked the video which you posted it.

- Instagram Caption: أشكرُ كلَّ الأصدقاءِ الذين حضروا حفلتي.

- I thank all the friends who attended my party.

- (Note: الذين is used here for masculine plural human, a form you'll encounter beyond A1, but good to see in context.)

While Modern Standard Arabic strictly employs الذي and التي as taught, it's worth noting that in many spoken Arabic dialects, a single, all-purpose relative pronoun like إللي (illi) or يلي (yalli) is used regardless of gender, number, or definiteness. For A1 learners, however, focusing on MSA forms is crucial for building a strong grammatical foundation before exploring dialectal variations.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Arabic relative pronouns, addressing common points of confusion for A1 learners.
  • Q1: Can الذي and التي refer to both people and things?
  • A1: Yes, absolutely. The distinction is based solely on the grammatical gender of the noun they describe, not whether it's animate or inanimate. For example, الرجلُ الذي (the man who) and الكتابُ الذي (the book which) both use الذي because الرجلُ and الكتابُ are both masculine. Similarly, الفتاةُ التي (the girl who) and السيارةُ التي (the car which) both use التي because الفتاةُ and السيارةُ are both feminine.
  • Q2: What about dual (two) and plural (more than two) forms? Do الذي and التي change?
  • A2: Yes, they do. For dual nouns, you would use اللذان (alladhān) for masculine dual and اللتان (allatān) for feminine dual. For human plural nouns, الذين (alladhīna) is used for masculine and اللاتي (allātī) or اللواتي (al-lawātī) for feminine. However, for A1, your primary focus should be on mastering الذي and التي for singular nouns and the special case of non-human plurals, as these cover a significant portion of early communication needs. More complex forms are typically introduced at the A2/B1 levels.
  • Q3: How do I say "a book that I read" if الذي is only for definite nouns?
  • A3: For indefinite nouns, you simply place the descriptive clause directly after the noun, and it functions adjectivally. You do not use a relative pronoun. The returning pronoun is still essential within this clause. For example, to say "a book that I read," you would say كتابٌ قرأتُه. (kitābun qaraʾtuhu). Similarly, "a girl who studies" would be فتاةٌ تدرسُ. (fatātun tadrusu).
  • Q4: Why do non-human plural nouns use التي (feminine singular)?
  • A4: This is a fundamental and unique rule in Arabic grammar. In MSA, all non-human plural nouns (e.g., الكتبُ - the books, البيوتُ - the houses, الأشجارُ - the trees) are grammatically treated as feminine singular. This means any adjectives, verbs, or relative pronouns referring to them must be in the feminine singular form. Therefore, التي is used for non-human plurals, and the returning pronoun in the relative clause will also be feminine singular (-ها). For example: المدارسُ التي زرْتُها كبيرةٌ. (The schools which I visited them are big.)
  • Q5: Is the returning pronoun (الضمير العائد) always necessary?
  • A5: In Modern Standard Arabic, yes, it is almost always necessary to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity. The returning pronoun is the anchor that explicitly links the relative clause back to its antecedent. Omitting it leads to ungrammatical sentences that native speakers would find incomplete. There are rare exceptions in highly advanced structures or specific contexts, but for A1 learners, assume it's always required.
  • Q6: Are there any situations where الذي or التي can be omitted?
  • A6: Besides the case of indefinite antecedents (where they are never used), الذي and التي are generally not omitted in MSA. In some very specific, advanced poetic or highly elliptical contexts, omission might occur, but it's not a feature of standard spoken or written Arabic for learners. Focus on including them correctly after definite nouns. Dialectally, as noted, simplified forms replace them, but they are not omitted in the same way English might omit "that."
This comprehensive understanding of الذي and التي will provide a robust foundation for linking ideas effectively in Arabic, enabling you to construct more descriptive and nuanced sentences.

Relative Pronoun Gender/Number Table

Gender Singular Dual Plural
Masculine
الذي (alladhi)
اللذان (alladhani)
الذين (alladhina)
Feminine
التي (allati)
اللتان (allatani)
اللاتي/اللائي (allati/alla'i)

Meanings

These pronouns function as connectors that introduce a relative clause, providing more information about a preceding noun.

1

Person/Object Identifier

Used to specify a person or object by describing their action or state.

“الرجل الذي يتكلم (The man who is speaking)”

“السيارة التي اشتريتها (The car which I bought)”

Reference Table

Reference table for Arabic Relative Pronouns: The one who (alladhi, allati)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + Relative Pronoun + Verb
الرجل الذي يكتب
Negative
Noun + Relative Pronoun + la + Verb
الرجل الذي لا يكتب
Question
Hal + Noun + Relative Pronoun + Verb?
هل الرجل الذي يكتب هنا؟
Short Answer
Yes/No + Pronoun
نعم، هو الذي يكتب
Plural
Noun (pl) + Relative Pronoun (pl) + Verb
الطلاب الذين يدرسون
Feminine
Noun (fem) + Relative Pronoun (fem) + Verb
البنت التي تدرس

Formality Spectrum

Formal
الرجل الذي يتحدث هو معلمي.

الرجل الذي يتحدث هو معلمي. (Describing someone.)

Neutral
الرجل الذي يتكلم هو مدرسي.

الرجل الذي يتكلم هو مدرسي. (Describing someone.)

Informal
الزلمة اللي بيحكي هو أستاذي.

الزلمة اللي بيحكي هو أستاذي. (Describing someone.)

Slang
اللي بيحكي هو أستاذي.

اللي بيحكي هو أستاذي. (Describing someone.)

Relative Pronoun Map

Relative Pronouns

Masculine

  • الذي who/which (sing)

Feminine

  • التي who/which (sing)

Gender Agreement

Masculine
الذي alladhi
Feminine
التي allati

Choosing the Pronoun

1

Is the noun masculine?

YES
Use alladhi
NO
Use allati

Usage Categories

👤

People

  • • الرجل
  • • البنت
  • • الطالب
📦

Objects

  • • الكتاب
  • • السيارة
  • • البيت
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Examples by Level

1

الرجل الذي يقرأ

The man who reads

2

البنت التي تكتب

The girl who writes

3

الكتاب الذي اشتريته

The book which I bought

4

السيارة التي أريدها

The car which I want

1

الطلاب الذين يدرسون

The students who study

2

المدن التي زرتها

The cities which I visited

3

المعلم الذي ساعدني

The teacher who helped me

4

القصة التي قرأتها

The story which I read

1

الرجال الذين يعملون في الشركة

The men who work at the company

2

النساء اللاتي يكتبن

The women who are writing

3

المكان الذي ولدت فيه

The place where I was born

4

الأفكار التي ناقشناها

The ideas which we discussed

1

المهندسون الذين صمموا المبنى

The engineers who designed the building

2

النتائج التي توصلنا إليها

The results which we reached

3

القرار الذي اتخذته الإدارة

The decision which the management made

4

الظروف التي أدت إلى ذلك

The circumstances which led to that

1

العلماء الذين أثبتوا النظرية

The scientists who proved the theory

2

المبادئ التي يقوم عليها النظام

The principles upon which the system is based

3

الكاتب الذي أثر في جيله

The writer who influenced his generation

4

المشكلات التي تعاني منها البلاد

The problems from which the country suffers

1

الأسس التي استند إليها الباحث

The foundations upon which the researcher relied

2

القيم التي يتبناها المجتمع

The values which the society adopts

3

الرؤية التي صاغها القائد

The vision which the leader formulated

4

الآثار التي خلفتها الحرب

The effects which the war left behind

Easily Confused

Arabic Relative Pronouns: The one who (alladhi, allati) vs Demonstrative Pronouns (Hadha/Hadhihi)

Learners often use them to connect clauses instead of relative pronouns.

Arabic Relative Pronouns: The one who (alladhi, allati) vs Interrogative Pronouns (Man/Ma)

Learners confuse 'who' (man) with 'the one who' (alladhi).

Arabic Relative Pronouns: The one who (alladhi, allati) vs Personal Pronouns (Huwa/Hiya)

Learners sometimes use personal pronouns as connectors.

Common Mistakes

✗

الرجل التي يقرأ

✓

الرجل الذي يقرأ

Gender mismatch: 'al-rajul' is masculine.
✗

البنت الذي تكتب

✓

البنت التي تكتب

Gender mismatch: 'al-bint' is feminine.
✗

الرجل يقرأ

✓

الرجل الذي يقرأ

Missing the relative pronoun entirely.
✗

الذي الرجل يقرأ

✓

الرجل الذي يقرأ

Incorrect word order.
✗

الطلاب التي يدرسون

✓

الطلاب الذين يدرسون

Using singular instead of plural.
✗

السيارات الذي اشتريتها

✓

السيارات التي اشتريتها

Non-human plurals are feminine singular.
✗

البيت الذي هي تسكن فيه

✓

البيت الذي تسكن فيه

Redundant pronoun.
✗

الرجلان التي يكتبان

✓

الرجلان اللذان يكتبان

Dual form mismatch.
✗

النساء الذين يكتبن

✓

النساء اللاتي يكتبن

Plural gender mismatch.
✗

الذي الكتاب قرأته

✓

الكتاب الذي قرأته

Word order error.
✗

الذي هو يكتب

✓

الذي يكتب

Unnecessary pronoun usage.
✗

التي هي تعمل

✓

التي تعمل

Unnecessary pronoun usage.
✗

الذين هم يدرسون

✓

الذين يدرسون

Unnecessary pronoun usage.
✗

اللاتي هن يكتبن

✓

اللاتي يكتبن

Unnecessary pronoun usage.

Sentence Patterns

الرجل ___ يقرأ هو أخي.

البنت ___ تكتب هي صديقتي.

الطلاب ___ يدرسون هم أذكياء.

السيارات ___ اشتريتها جميلة.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

الصورة التي نشرتها جميلة جداً.

Texting constant

الخبر اللي سمعته صحيح؟

Job Interview very common

المشروع الذي أدرته كان ناجحاً.

Travel common

الفندق الذي حجزته قريب من المطار.

Food Delivery Apps common

الطلب الذي اخترته وصل.

Academic Writing constant

النتائج التي حصلنا عليها دقيقة.

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💡

Gender Check

Always look at the noun before the pronoun. If it's masculine, go with 'alladhi'.
⚠️

Plural Objects

Remember that non-human plurals are treated as feminine singular. Use 'allati'.
🎯

Listen to Dialects

In spoken Arabic, you'll hear 'illi' everywhere. Don't be confused when you don't hear 'alladhi'.
💬

Formal vs Informal

Use 'alladhi' in writing and formal speeches, but 'illi' is perfectly fine in daily conversation.

Smart Tips

Check for the 'ta marbuta' (ة) at the end of the noun.

السيارة الذي اشتريتها → السيارة التي اشتريتها

Remember the 'feminine singular' rule for non-human plurals.

الكتب الذين قرأتها → الكتب التي قرأتها

Always use the full 'alladhi' or 'allati' forms.

الطلب اللي أرسلته → الطلب الذي أرسلته

It is okay to use 'illi' in casual conversation.

الرجل الذي يتكلم معي → الرجل اللي بيحكي معي

Pronunciation

al-la-dhee

Vowel Length

The 'i' sound in 'alladhi' and 'allati' is long.

al-la-...

Shadda

The 'l' sound has a shadda, so hold it slightly longer.

Statement

الرجل الذي يقرأ ↘

Falling intonation at the end of a sentence.

Question

هل الرجل الذي يقرأ هنا؟ ↗

Rising intonation for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Alladhi is for the guy, Allati is for the lady.

Visual Association

Imagine a bridge (the pronoun) connecting a person (the noun) to their house (the action). The bridge is labeled 'Alladhi' for men and 'Allati' for women.

Rhyme

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

Story

Ahmed (masculine) is the boy who (alladhi) runs. Sara (feminine) is the girl who (allati) jumps. They are both running toward the park.

Word Web

الذيالتيالذيناللاتياللذاناللتان

Challenge

Write 5 sentences today describing people or things around you using 'alladhi' or 'allati'.

Cultural Notes

In Levantine Arabic, 'alladhi' and 'allati' are often replaced by 'illi' (اللي) for all genders and numbers.

Similar to Levantine, 'illi' is the standard connector in spoken Egyptian Arabic.

In formal writing and news, the full forms 'alladhi', 'allati', etc., are strictly required.

Relative pronouns in Arabic evolved from demonstrative particles used to point to a specific entity that is then described.

Conversation Starters

“

من هو الشخص الذي تحبه؟

“

ما هو الكتاب الذي تقرأه الآن؟

“

هل تعرف الطالب الذي يدرس العربية؟

“

ما هي المدينة التي ولدت فيها؟

Journal Prompts

صف صديقك الذي تحبه.
اكتب عن فيلم شاهدته مؤخراً.
تحدث عن معلم أثر في حياتك.
ناقش كتاباً غير طريقة تفكيرك.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct pronoun.

الرجل ___ يقرأ هو أخي.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذي
Masculine singular noun requires 'alladhi'.
Select the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: البنت التي تكتب
Feminine singular noun requires 'allati'.
Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

الطلاب التي يدرسون.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الطلاب الذين يدرسون
Plural masculine noun requires 'alladhina'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الرجل الذي يقرأ هو
Standard subject-relative clause order.
Translate to Arabic. Translation

The car which I bought.

Answer starts with: الس...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: السيارة التي اشتريتها
Feminine singular noun requires 'allati'.
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, الذين
Correct gender/number matching.
Change to plural. Sentence Transformation

الرجل الذي يقرأ -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الرجال الذين يقرأون
Masculine plural requires 'alladhina'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: من هو المعلم؟ B: هو المعلم ___ يدرس العربية.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذي
Masculine singular noun requires 'alladhi'.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Choose the correct pronoun.

الرجل ___ يقرأ هو أخي.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذي
Masculine singular noun requires 'alladhi'.
Select the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: البنت التي تكتب
Feminine singular noun requires 'allati'.
Correct the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

الطلاب التي يدرسون.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الطلاب الذين يدرسون
Plural masculine noun requires 'alladhina'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

الذي / يقرأ / الرجل / هو

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الرجل الذي يقرأ هو
Standard subject-relative clause order.
Translate to Arabic. Translation

The car which I bought.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: السيارة التي اشتريتها
Feminine singular noun requires 'allati'.
Match the noun to the pronoun. Match Pairs

Match: الرجل, البنت, الطلاب

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذي, التي, الذين
Correct gender/number matching.
Change to plural. Sentence Transformation

الرجل الذي يقرأ -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الرجال الذين يقرأون
Masculine plural requires 'alladhina'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: من هو المعلم؟ B: هو المعلم ___ يدرس العربية.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذي
Masculine singular noun requires 'alladhi'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct pronoun. Fill in the Blank

السيارة ___ اشتريتها سريعة.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: التي
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

الذي - الولد - هذا - نجح - هو

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: هذا هو الولد الذي نجح
Translate the phrase to Arabic. Translation

The girl who is playing.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: البنت التي تلعب
Which is correct for non-human plurals? Multiple Choice

الكتب ___ قرأتها جميلة.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: التي
Match the noun with its relative pronoun. Match Pairs

Match these pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Match all correctly
Correct the definiteness error. Error Correction

صديق الذي أحبه.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الصديق الذي أحبه.
Which pronoun for 'followers'? Fill in the Blank

المتابعون ___ يعلقون.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: الذين
Identify the 'returning pronoun'. Multiple Choice

Which sentence has the 'returning pronoun' (it)?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: البيت الذي أسكن فيه.
Translate: 'The app that I use.' Translation

The app that I use.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: التطبيق الذي أستخدمه
Reorder: 'The city which I love.' Sentence Reorder

التي - أحبها - المدينة - هذه

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: هذه هي المدينة التي أحبها

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

'Illi' is the common spoken form used in almost all dialects. 'Alladhi' is the formal standard form.

No, the relative pronoun remains the same regardless of the tense of the verb in the clause.

No, you must use the plural form 'alladhina' for masculine groups.

Non-human plurals are treated as feminine singular, so use 'allati'.

In some very specific contexts, but generally, it is required for clarity.

At the A1-A2 level, no. In advanced grammar, some forms change, but 'alladhi' and 'allati' are generally stable.

Usually, nouns ending in 'ta marbuta' (ة) are feminine. Most others are masculine.

Yes, you can use 'alladhi' or 'allati' depending on the gender of the place name.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

que / quien

Arabic relative pronouns must agree in gender and number.

French high

qui / que

Arabic pronouns are gendered; French relative pronouns are not.

German moderate

der / die / das

German pronouns change based on case; Arabic pronouns at A1 level do not.

Japanese low

no / clause + noun

Arabic uses a connector; Japanese uses word order.

Chinese low

de (的)

Arabic is highly inflected for gender and number.

English moderate

who / which / that

English pronouns are not gendered.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Arabic Relative Pronouns (al-ladhi, al-lati)
Next
Arabic Relative Pronouns: Who & Which (الذي، التي)

Learn These First

A1 Builds On

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

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A2 Requires

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B1 Requires

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C1 Requires

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