Meaning
Asks if a place is close by.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'qarib' can be relative. In rural areas, 'near' might mean a 2-mile walk, while in a city, it means the next block. People often use 'Yamm' (يم) instead of 'qarib min' in very casual speech. Hospitality dictates that if you ask for something, people will try to make it seem close to help you feel better. The word 'Arayyib' is used constantly in songs to describe emotional longing or physical distance.
Gender Check
Always check the gender of the place you are asking about. If it ends in 'Ta Marbuta' (ة), use 'qariba'.
The 'Q' Sound
Don't pronounce 'Qarib' as 'Karib' (with a normal K), as it might sound like a different word in some contexts.
Meaning
Asks if a place is close by.
Gender Check
Always check the gender of the place you are asking about. If it ends in 'Ta Marbuta' (ة), use 'qariba'.
The 'Q' Sound
Don't pronounce 'Qarib' as 'Karib' (with a normal K), as it might sound like a different word in some contexts.
Add 'Min Hunā'
Adding 'min hunā' (from here) makes your Arabic sound much more natural and specific.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'near'.
هل المدرسة ____؟ (The school is feminine)
Since 'Al-Madrasa' is feminine, the adjective must be 'qariba'.
Choose the correct translation for 'Is the market near from here?'
How do you say 'Is the market near from here?'
Arabic uses 'min' (from) with 'qarib'.
Match the Arabic word to its English opposite.
Match the opposites:
Qarib (Near) is the opposite of Ba'id (Far).
Complete the dialogue.
A: أين الحمام؟ B: هو هناك. A: هل ____؟
'Al-Hammam' is masculine, so we use 'huwa qarib'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesهل المدرسة ____؟ (The school is feminine)
Since 'Al-Madrasa' is feminine, the adjective must be 'qariba'.
How do you say 'Is the market near from here?'
Arabic uses 'min' (from) with 'qarib'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Qarib (Near) is the opposite of Ba'id (Far).
A: أين الحمام؟ B: هو هناك. A: هل ____؟
'Al-Hammam' is masculine, so we use 'huwa qarib'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, but it means 'Is he nearby?' physically. If you mean 'Is he a relative?', you would say 'Hal huwa qarībak?' (Is he your relative?).
The opposite is 'ba'īd' (بعيد), meaning far.
In formal writing, yes. In daily speech, you can just say 'Huwa qarib?' with a rising tone.
Add 'jiddan' (جداً) at the end: 'Hal huwa qarib jiddan?'.
Related Phrases
بعيد جداً
contrastVery far
بجانب
similarNext to
تقريباً
builds onApproximately
قاب قوسين أو أدنى
specialized formExtremely close
