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تِلْكَ

A2 determiner #600 most common 10 min read

تِلْكَ

tilka Top 600

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips تِلْكَ in 30 Seconds

Explanation تِلْكَ in your Level:

At the A1 level, you learn the basics of pointing. You already know 'hadhihi' (this) for things close to you. 'Tilka' is the word you use when you want to say 'that' for a feminine thing that is far away. For example, if you are in a park and see a distant tree (shajara), you say 'tilka shajara'. It is important to remember that in Arabic, every noun is either a boy or a girl. If the word has a 'ta marbuta' (the ة circle at the end), it is usually feminine, so you use 'tilka'. At this stage, just focus on simple objects like 'that car', 'that school', or 'that girl'. Don't worry about complex rules yet; just think of it as the 'far away girl' version of 'that'. You will mostly use it in simple sentences like 'What is that?' (Ma tilka?) or 'That is a beautiful flower' (Tilka zahra jameela). Practice by pointing at things across the room and naming them with 'tilka' if they are feminine.

At the A2 level, you start to use 'tilka' in more varied sentences. You learn the difference between 'tilka al-sayyara' (that car) and 'tilka sayyara' (that is a car). This is a big step! You also begin to see 'tilka' used with non-human plurals. This is a special Arabic rule: if you have a group of things (not people), you treat them like one feminine singular thing. So, 'those books' becomes 'tilka al-kutub'. This might feel strange at first, but it is very common. You will also start using 'tilka' with time words, like 'tilka al-layla' (that night) or 'tilka al-fatra' (that period). You should be able to use it correctly with adjectives, making sure the adjective is also feminine singular. For example, 'tilka al-mudun al-kabira' (those big cities). At this level, you are building the foundation for formal speaking and reading.

By B1, you are expected to use 'tilka' fluently in both writing and speaking. You should naturally apply the non-human plural rule without thinking twice. You will encounter 'tilka' frequently in news articles and short stories. It is often used to refer back to an idea or a situation mentioned earlier in a paragraph. For example, 'Tilka al-mushkila' (That problem) refers to a problem the writer just described. You also start to see 'tilka' in more abstract contexts, such as 'tilka al-fikra' (that idea) or 'tilka al-ru'ya' (that vision). You should be comfortable using prepositions with it, like 'fi tilka al-ayam' (in those days). Your vocabulary is growing, so you'll be using 'tilka' with a wider range of feminine nouns, including abstract concepts like 'justice' (adala) or 'freedom' (hurriya) when they are being discussed as distant or historical goals.

At the B2 level, you recognize the rhetorical power of 'tilka'. In formal speeches or essays, 'tilka' is used to create emphasis or to establish a professional distance. You will notice it in complex sentence structures where it might be separated from its noun or used in a series of demonstratives. You should be able to identify its use in classical literature and understand why a writer chose 'tilka' over a near demonstrative to evoke a sense of longing or historical significance. You are also becoming aware of how 'tilka' functions in different registers; while you use it in your formal essays, you know to use 'hadik' when chatting with friends in a dialect. You can handle 'tilka' in the context of 'I'rab' (grammatical analysis), knowing that it is 'mabni' but occupies a specific 'mahall' (place) in the sentence, such as being in the place of a 'mubtada' or 'ism inna'.

At the C1 level, you appreciate the nuance of 'tilka' in high-level literature and Quranic Arabic. You understand its morphological history—how the 'ti', 'la', and 'ka' components combine to create a specific sense of 'distant feminine address'. You can analyze texts where 'tilka' is used for 'ta'dhim' (glorification) or to indicate something that is physically near but spiritually distant. You are comfortable with the rare dual and plural forms but understand why 'tilka' is often preferred for its rhythmic and grammatical properties. Your own writing uses 'tilka' to maintain cohesion in long academic or legal texts, using it to point precisely to feminine antecedents across multiple sentences. You can discuss the linguistic theories behind demonstratives and how 'tilka' fits into the Semitic language family's evolution.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'tilka' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You use it with an innate sense of rhythm and style. You can interpret the most subtle uses of 'tilka' in classical poetry, where it might be used to refer to a lost beloved or a distant star with layers of metaphorical meaning. You understand the historical shifts in the demonstrative system and can navigate between the 'Fusha' use of 'tilka' and its various dialectal evolutions with ease. You can provide detailed grammatical explanations of its use in the Quran, such as in the verse 'Tilka ayatullah', explaining the rhetorical choice of the distal demonstrative for divine revelation. For you, 'tilka' is not just a word for 'that'; it is a tool for precision, emphasis, and cultural expression in the highest forms of the Arabic language.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

تِلْكَ in 30 Seconds

Means 'that' for feminine singular objects.
Used for 'those' with non-human plural nouns.
Indicates physical or metaphorical distance.
Remains unchanged in form (mabni) regardless of case.

The Arabic word تِلْكَ (tilka) is a fundamental demonstrative pronoun used to point toward something distant. In the English language, we simply use the word 'that' regardless of whether the object is masculine or feminine. However, Arabic is a gendered language, and تِلْكَ is specifically reserved for feminine singular nouns that are far away from the speaker. This distinction is crucial for learners to master early on, as it affects the entire agreement of the sentence. Beyond just physical distance, تِلْكَ can also represent metaphorical or temporal distance, referring to an idea mentioned earlier or a time long past. It is the feminine counterpart to ذَلِكَ (dhalika), which is used for masculine singular distant objects.

Grammatical Classification: It is classified as an 'Ism al-Isharah' (Demonstrative Noun) for the 'Ba'id' (Distant). It is 'mabni' (indeclinable), meaning its ending does not change regardless of its position in the sentence.

تِلْكَ المَرْأَةُ طَبِيبَةٌ مَاهِرَةٌ. (تِلْكَ refers to the distant woman).

One of the most fascinating aspects of تِلْكَ is its application to plural nouns. In Arabic grammar, there is a rule stating that all non-human plurals are treated as feminine singular. This means that if you are pointing at a group of distant mountains, cars, or books, you do not use a plural demonstrative; instead, you use تِلْكَ. For example, 'those mountains' becomes 'tilka al-jibal'. This rule is a common point of confusion for English speakers who expect a plural form like 'ula'ika'. Understanding this 'feminine singular for non-human plurals' rule is a major step toward reaching the A2 and B1 levels of proficiency.

Morphological Breakdown: The word is composed of 'ti' (the feminine demonstrative base), 'la' (the lam of distance), and 'ka' (the kaf of address/harf khitab).

تِلْكَ الأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ. (Those days we alternate among the people).

In daily conversation, while many dialects might simplify demonstratives to 'hadik' or 'dik', تِلْكَ remains the standard in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and is used extensively in literature, news, and formal speeches. It provides a level of precision and elegance that defines formal Arabic communication. When you use تِلْكَ, you are not just pointing; you are situating the object in a specific gendered and spatial context that is deeply rooted in the logic of the Arabic language.

Comparison with Nearness: Contrast تِلْكَ (that - far) with هَذِهِ (this - near). Both are feminine singular, but they define the speaker's physical relationship to the object.

تِلْكَ حَقِيقَةٌ لا يُمْكِنُ إِنْكَارُهَا. (That is a truth that cannot be denied).

Using تِلْكَ correctly requires an understanding of two primary sentence structures: the demonstrative phrase and the complete sentence. In a demonstrative phrase, تِلْكَ is followed by a noun that has the definite article 'al-' (الـ). In this case, it translates to 'that [noun]'. For example, تِلْكَ السَّيَّارَةُ (tilka al-sayyaratu) means 'that car'. The noun following it is called the 'badal' (substitute) and must match the case of the demonstrative. Since تِلْكَ is indeclinable, the noun usually takes the case required by the sentence's syntax (nominative, accusative, or genitive).

Structure 1: The Phrase: Demonstrative + Definite Noun (Al-). Example: تِلْكَ المَدِينَةُ جَمِيلَةٌ (That city is beautiful).

أُرِيدُ تِلْكَ التُفَّاحَةَ. (I want that apple).

In the second structure, تِلْكَ acts as the subject (mubtada') of a sentence and is followed by an indefinite noun (khabar). This translates to 'That is a [noun]'. For example, تِلْكَ سَيَّارَةٌ (tilka sayyaratun) means 'That is a car'. Notice the absence of the 'al-' article. This distinction is vital because adding or removing 'al-' completely changes the meaning from a simple phrase to a full statement. Learners must be vigilant about this small but powerful grammatical detail.

Structure 2: The Sentence: Demonstrative + Indefinite Noun. Example: تِلْكَ مَدْرَسَةٌ (That is a school).

تِلْكَ قِصَّةٌ طَوِيلَةٌ. (That is a long story).

Furthermore, تِلْكَ is used for plural non-human nouns. This is one of the most common uses in literature. If you want to say 'those stars', you use تِلْكَ النُّجُومُ. If you want to say 'those ideas', you use تِلْكَ الأَفْكَارُ. Even though 'stars' and 'ideas' are plural, the 'feminine singular' rule for non-humans dictates the use of تِلْكَ. This creates a rhythmic and consistent pattern in Arabic prose and poetry, where distant objects are grouped under this singular feminine umbrella.

Agreement Rules: 1. Feminine Singular Nouns. 2. Non-human Plural Nouns. 3. Distant location (physical or abstract).

نَظَرْتُ إِلَى تِلْكَ الجِبَالِ العَالِيَةِ. (I looked at those high mountains).

Finally, in complex sentences, تِلْكَ can be preceded by prepositions. For example, فِي تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ (fi tilka al-lahdhati) means 'at that moment'. The preposition 'fi' (in/at) governs the phrase, but تِلْكَ itself remains unchanged in its form, while the following noun 'al-lahdhati' takes the genitive case (kasra). Mastering these patterns allows the speaker to navigate time and space fluently in Arabic.

While تِلْكَ is a staple of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), its presence is most felt in formal environments. If you tune into a news broadcast on Al Jazeera or BBC Arabic, you will frequently hear news anchors using تِلْكَ to refer to 'those events' (تِلْكَ الأَحْدَاث) or 'that period' (تِلْكَ الفَتْرَة). It provides a sense of objectivity and professional distance that is expected in journalism. In the realm of literature, from classical poetry to modern novels, تِلْكَ is used to evoke imagery of distant lands, past memories, or celestial bodies. It carries a certain poetic weight that 'this' (hadhihi) lacks.

Religious Context: The Quran uses تِلْكَ over 40 times. It often introduces parables or divine signs, such as 'Tilka ayatullah' (Those are the verses of Allah). Here, it signifies the high status and majesty of the subject.

تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ. (Those messengers - We endowed some of them above others).

In academic lectures and legal documents, تِلْكَ is used to refer back to previously mentioned theories, laws, or feminine entities. It ensures clarity in long, complex sentences by pointing specifically to a feminine antecedent. For instance, a professor might say, 'Tilka al-nazariyya' (That theory) to distinguish it from a masculine 'concept' (mafhum) mentioned earlier. This precision is one of the hallmarks of academic Arabic.

Media Usage: Commonly used in documentaries when narrating historical events: 'In those years...' (في تِلْكَ السَّنَوَات).

مَاذَا حَدَثَ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ؟ (What happened on that night?)

You will also encounter تِلْكَ in formal correspondence. When referring to a previous letter (risala) or a specific request (talab - though talab is masculine, a 'shakwa' or complaint is feminine), the writer will use the appropriate demonstrative to maintain a professional tone. It signals that the speaker is educated and well-versed in the 'Fusha' (pure) register of the language. For a learner, using تِلْكَ correctly in a presentation or essay immediately elevates their perceived fluency level.

Public Speaking: Orators use it to create a sense of scale. Pointing to 'tilka al-ummah' (that nation) or 'tilka al-ahlam' (those dreams) creates a powerful rhetorical effect.

One of the most frequent errors made by English speakers is the 'Gender Mismatch'. Because English uses 'that' for everything, learners often default to ذَلِكَ (dhalika) for all distant objects. They might say 'dhalika al-sayyara', which sounds jarring to a native speaker because 'sayyara' (car) is feminine. You must always check the gender of the noun. If it ends in a 'ta marbuta' (ة) or is naturally feminine (like 'mother' or 'sun'), you must use تِلْكَ.

Mistake 1: Gender Confusion: Using 'dhalika' (masculine) with feminine nouns. Correct: تِلْكَ المَدْرَسَة (That school).

Incorrect: ذَلِكَ الحَقِيبَة. Correct: تِلْكَ الحَقِيبَة. (That bag).

Another significant pitfall is the 'Plural Trap'. Learners often learn that أُولَئِكَ (ula'ika) means 'those'. While this is true for humans (those teachers, those students), it is incorrect for non-humans. If you say 'ula'ika al-kutub' for 'those books', it is a grammatical error. You must use the feminine singular تِلْكَ for non-human plurals. This is a rule that requires constant practice until it becomes second nature.

Mistake 2: Plural Over-application: Using 'ula'ika' for non-human objects. Correct: تِلْكَ الأَشْجَار (Those trees).

The third common mistake involves the use of the definite article 'al-'. As discussed in the usage section, تِلْكَ السَّيَّارَة means 'that car', while تِلْكَ سَيَّارَة means 'that is a car'. Learners often forget the 'al-' when they want to make a phrase, or accidentally include it when they want to make a sentence. This changes the entire syntax of the thought. If you say 'Tilka al-bint jameela', it means 'That girl is beautiful'. If you say 'Tilka bint jameela', it means 'That is a beautiful girl'. The difference is subtle but vital for clear communication.

Mistake: تِلْكَ بِنْتُ (intended: That girl...). Correct: تِلْكَ البِنْتُ... (That girl...).

Mistake 3: Proximity Confusion: Using تِلْكَ for something right in front of you. Use هَذِهِ (hadhihi) for near objects.

Finally, some learners struggle with the pronunciation, specifically the 'lam' and 'kaf' at the end. It is 'til-ka', not 'til-ki' or 'til-ku'. The 'a' sound at the end is fixed. Even if the word is in a genitive position (after a preposition), the ending of تِلْكَ does not change because it is 'mabni'. Trying to change the vowel to match the case is a common error for those who have just learned about case endings (I'rab).

To truly master تِلْكَ, one must understand its place within the wider family of Arabic demonstratives. The most immediate relative is ذَلِكَ (dhalika). While both refer to distant objects, ذَلِكَ is for masculine singular nouns and تِلْكَ is for feminine singular and non-human plurals. Another close relative is أُولَئِكَ (ula'ika), which is used for 'those' when referring to human beings, regardless of gender. Understanding this trio—dhalika, tilka, ula'ika—is essential for describing anything at a distance.

Comparison: Tilka vs. Hadhihi: تِلْكَ (That): Distant feminine. هَذِهِ (This): Near feminine. Use 'hadhihi' for the book in your hand and 'tilka' for the star in the sky.

هَذِهِ زَهْرَةٌ (This is a flower - near). تِلْكَ شَجَرَةٌ (That is a tree - far).

In terms of alternatives, especially in spoken dialects, تِلْكَ is rarely used. In Egyptian Arabic, the word دِي (di) or دِيك (dik) is used. In Levantine Arabic, هَدِيك (hadik) is the standard for 'that feminine'. While these are useful for travel and conversation, they are considered informal. If you are writing an academic paper, a news report, or reading the Quran, تِلْكَ is the only correct choice. It carries a level of formality and 'Fusha' prestige that dialectal versions lack.

Comparison: Tilka vs. Ula'ika: تِلْكَ: Non-human plurals (Those cars). أُولَئِكَ: Human plurals (Those students).

أُولَئِكَ النِّسَاءُ (Those women - human). تِلْكَ النُّجُومُ (Those stars - non-human).

There are also dual forms, though they are much rarer. تَانِكَ (tanika) is the feminine dual for 'those two'. While you might see this in very classical texts or high-level literature, in 99% of modern contexts, تِلْكَ is sufficient for singular and non-human plural needs. Finally, consider the word هُنَاكَ (hunaka), which means 'there'. While تِلْكَ points to a specific object, هُنَاكَ points to a location. They are often used together: 'Tilka al-bint hunaka' (That girl over there).

Summary Table: Near: Hadhihi (F). Far: Tilka (F). Near Plural (Non-human): Hadhihi. Far Plural (Non-human): Tilka.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The 'ka' at the end of 'tilka' is actually a second-person pronoun fragment. In very ancient Arabic, you could change this 'ka' to 'ki' or 'kum' depending on who you were talking to, while still pointing at the same 'that'!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈtɪl.kæ/

US /ˈtɪl.kə/

The stress is on the first syllable: TIL-ka.

Rhymes With

Milka (as in the chocolate brand) Silka Sikka Dikka Hikka Mikka Rikka Zikka

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'til-ki' (feminine address vowel).
Pronouncing it as 'til-ku' (nominative vowel error).
Making the 'l' too heavy (velarized).
Elongating the final 'a' into a long 'aa'.
Softening the 'k' into a 'kh' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize, but must remember the non-human plural rule.

Writing 3/5

Requires careful gender and number agreement with the following noun.

Speaking 3/5

Learners often default to 'dhalika' or dialect forms.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation makes it easy to hear in formal speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

هَذِهِ (This - F) ذَلِكَ (That - M) سَيَّارَة (Car) بِنْت (Girl) مَدْرَسَة (School)

Learn Next

أُولَئِكَ (Those - Plural) تَانِكَ (Those two - F) الَّتِي (Which - F) هَؤُلاءِ (These - Plural) ذَانِكَ (Those two - M)

Advanced

إِعْرَاب أَسْمَاء الإِشَارَة (Grammar of demonstratives) جَمْع التَّكْسِير (Broken plurals) المَمْنُوع مِنَ الصَّرْف (Diptotes) البَدَل (The substitute grammar rule) المُبْتَدَأ وَالخَبَر (Subject and Predicate)

Grammar to Know

Non-human Plural Agreement

تِلْكَ الأَقْلامُ (Those pens) - uses feminine singular.

The Badal (Substitute) Rule

تِلْكَ السَّيَّارَةُ (The noun after tilka matches its case).

Mabni (Indeclinable) Status

Tilka never becomes 'Tilki' or 'Tilku'.

Demonstrative as Mubtada

تِلْكَ مَدْرَسَةٌ (Tilka is the subject).

Gender Concord

Tilka must match a feminine noun like 'shajara'.

Examples by Level

تِلْكَ بِنْتٌ.

That is a girl.

Simple sentence: Demonstrative + Indefinite Noun.

تِلْكَ السَّيَّارَةُ جَمِيلَةٌ.

That car is beautiful.

Demonstrative phrase: Tilka + Al-Noun.

مَا تِلْكَ؟

What is that (feminine)?

Question form using the feminine demonstrative.

تِلْكَ مَدْرَسَتِي.

That is my school.

Demonstrative + Possessive Noun.

تِلْكَ القِطَّةُ صَغِيرَةٌ.

That cat is small.

Feminine singular agreement.

تِلْكَ شَجَرَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ.

That is a big tree.

Adjective matching the feminine noun.

أُرِيدُ تِلْكَ التُفَّاحَةَ.

I want that apple.

Object of the verb using tilka.

تِلْكَ غُرْفَتُكِ.

That is your (f) room.

Demonstrative with a feminine possessive.

تِلْكَ الكُتُبُ جَدِيدَةٌ.

Those books are new.

Non-human plural rule: Tilka + Plural Noun + Singular Adjective.

هَلْ تَعْرِفُ تِلْكَ المَرْأَةَ؟

Do you know that woman?

Accusative case for the noun after tilka.

تِلْكَ الأَيَّامُ كَانَتْ صَعْبَةً.

Those days were difficult.

Tilka used for temporal distance (those days).

انْظُرْ إِلَى تِلْكَ النُّجُومِ.

Look at those stars.

Genitive case after the preposition 'ila'.

تِلْكَ المَدِينَةُ بَعِيدَةٌ جِدًّا.

That city is very far.

Reinforcing the 'distal' nature of tilka.

تِلْكَ هِيَ الحَقِيقَةُ.

That is the truth.

Use of pronoun of separation 'hiya' for emphasis.

تِلْكَ الصُّوَرُ قَدِيمَةٌ.

Those pictures are old.

Non-human plural agreement.

فِي تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ، وَصَلَ أَبِي.

At that moment, my father arrived.

Common phrase for storytelling.

تِلْكَ القَضِيَّةُ تُهِمُّ الجَمِيعَ.

That issue concerns everyone.

Abstract feminine noun 'qadhiyya'.

تِلْكَ هِيَ الطَّرِيقَةُ الصَّحِيحَةُ.

That is the correct way.

Demonstrative used for a method or process.

لَمْ أَكُنْ أَعْلَمُ بِتِلْكَ القَوَانِينِ.

I did not know about those laws.

Non-human plural 'qawanin' (laws).

تِلْكَ الذِّكْرَيَاتُ لا تُنْسَى.

Those memories are unforgettable.

Plural of 'dhikra' (memory).

تِلْكَ الدَّوْلَةُ لَدَيْهَا تَارِيخٌ غَنِيٌّ.

That country has a rich history.

Feminine noun 'dawla' (country).

تِلْكَ الأَفْكَارُ غَيَّرَتْ مَجْرَى العَالَمِ.

Those ideas changed the course of the world.

Non-human plural 'afkar' (ideas).

سَأَزُورُ تِلْكَ القَرْيَةَ الصَّغِيرَةَ.

I will visit that small village.

Demonstrative phrase as a direct object.

تِلْكَ المَسْؤُولِيَّةُ تَقَعُ عَلَى عَاتِقِكَ.

That responsibility lies on your shoulders.

Abstract feminine noun 'mas'uliyya'.

تِلْكَ هِيَ العَوَاقِبُ الَّتِي حَذَّرْتُكَ مِنْهَا.

Those are the consequences I warned you about.

Non-human plural 'awaqib' (consequences).

تِلْكَ الرِّحْلَةُ كَانَتْ نُقْطَةَ تَحَوُّلٍ.

That journey was a turning point.

Feminine noun 'rihla' (journey).

تِلْكَ المَعْلُومَاتُ غَيْرُ دَقِيقَةٍ.

That information is inaccurate.

Non-human plural 'ma'lumat' (information).

تِلْكَ الظُّرُوفُ جَعَلَتْهُ يَتْرُكُ عَمَلَهُ.

Those circumstances made him leave his job.

Non-human plural 'dhuruf' (circumstances).

تِلْكَ هِيَ النَّتِيجَةُ المَنْطِقِيَّةُ.

That is the logical result.

Abstract feminine noun 'natija'.

تِلْكَ القَصِيدَةُ تَعْكِسُ مَشَاعِرَ الشَّاعِرِ.

That poem reflects the poet's feelings.

Feminine noun 'qasida' (poem).

تِلْكَ المَبَادِئُ أَسَاسِيَّةٌ فِي مُجْتَمَعِنَا.

Those principles are fundamental in our society.

Non-human plural 'mabadi' (principles).

تِلْكَ هِيَ الفُرْصَةُ الَّتِي كُنْتَ تَنْتَظِرُهَا.

That is the opportunity you were waiting for.

Feminine noun 'fursa' (opportunity).

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الكِتَابِ الحَكِيمِ.

Those are the verses of the wise Book.

Quranic usage; 'ayat' is non-human plural.

تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلا تَقْرَبُوهَا.

Those are the limits of Allah, so do not approach them.

Quranic usage; 'hudud' (limits) is non-human plural.

تِلْكَ الأُمَّةُ قَدْ خَلَتْ.

That nation has passed away.

Historical reference to a past nation (ummah).

تِلْكَ هِيَ الفَلْسَفَةُ الَّتِي تَبَنَّاهَا.

That is the philosophy he adopted.

Abstract feminine noun 'falsafa'.

تِلْكَ المَسَاعِي لَمْ تَذْهَبْ سُدًى.

Those efforts did not go in vain.

Non-human plural 'masa'i' (efforts).

تِلْكَ الرُّؤْيَةُ الثَّاقِبَةُ مَيَّزَتْهُ عَنْ غَيْرِهِ.

That piercing vision distinguished him from others.

Feminine noun 'ru'ya' with a feminine adjective.

تِلْكَ هِيَ المَعَايِيرُ الصَّارِمَةُ لِلْجَوْدَةِ.

Those are the strict standards for quality.

Non-human plural 'ma'ayir' (standards).

تِلْكَ الحِقْبَةُ شَهِدَتْ تَطَوُّرَاتٍ هَائِلَةً.

That era witnessed massive developments.

Feminine noun 'hiqba' (era).

تِلْكَ هِيَ التَّجَلِّيَاتُ الأُولَى لِلنَّهْضَةِ.

Those are the first manifestations of the Renaissance.

Sophisticated non-human plural 'tajalliyat'.

تِلْكَ النَّزْعَةُ الفَرْدِيَّةُ تُقَلِّصُ الرَّوَابِطَ الِاجْتِمَاعِيَّةَ.

That individualistic tendency shrinks social bonds.

Complex abstract noun 'naz'a' (tendency).

تِلْكَ هِيَ المَآلَاتُ المَنْظُورَةُ لِلسِّيَاسَةِ الحَالِيَّةِ.

Those are the foreseeable outcomes of current policy.

Advanced non-human plural 'ma'alat' (outcomes).

تِلْكَ الِاسْتِعَارَةُ تُضْفِي جَمَالاً عَلَى النَّصِّ.

That metaphor adds beauty to the text.

Literary term 'isti'ara' (metaphor).

تِلْكَ هِيَ الإِرْهَاصَاتُ الأُولَى لِلثَّوْرَةِ.

Those are the first signs/preludes of the revolution.

Rare non-human plural 'irhasat'.

تِلْكَ الإِشْكَالِيَّةُ لا تَزَالُ قَائِمَةً.

That problematic/issue still exists.

Academic term 'ishkaliyya'.

تِلْكَ هِيَ المُرْتَكَزَاتُ الَّتِي تَقُومُ عَلَيْهَا النَّظَرِيَّةُ.

Those are the pillars upon which the theory stands.

Non-human plural 'murtakazat' (pillars/bases).

تِلْكَ هِيَ الذُّرْوَةُ الَّتِي طَمَحَ إِلَيْهَا.

That is the peak he aspired to.

Feminine noun 'dhurwa' (peak).

Common Collocations

تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَة

تِلْكَ الأَيَّام

تِلْكَ الفَتْرَة

تِلْكَ القَضِيَّة

تِلْكَ المَدِينَة

تِلْكَ الأَحْدَاث

تِلْكَ الصُّوَر

تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَة

تِلْكَ الأَفْكَار

تِلْكَ المَرْأَة

Common Phrases

تِلْكَ هِيَ الحَيَاة

— That is life / C'est la vie. Used to express resignation to fate.

خَسِرْنَا المُبَارَاةَ، وَلَكِنْ تِلْكَ هِيَ الحَيَاةُ.

فِي تِلْكَ الأَثْنَاء

— In the meantime / Meanwhile. Used to connect two simultaneous events.

كَانَ يَقْرَأُ، وَفِي تِلْكَ الأَثْنَاءِ كَانَتْ أُمُّهُ تَطْبُخُ.

تِلْكَ مَسْأَلَةٌ أُخْرَى

— That is another matter / That's a different story. Used to change the topic.

نَعَمْ، وَلَكِنْ تِلْكَ مَسْأَلَةٌ أُخْرَى.

مِنْ تِلْكَ النَّاحِيَة

— From that perspective / From that side. Used in arguments.

أَنْتَ مُحِقٌّ مِنْ تِلْكَ النَّاحِيَةِ.

تِلْكَ هِيَ القِصَّة

— That is the story. Used to conclude a narration.

وَهَكَذَا انْتَهَى كُلُّ شَيْءٍ، تِلْكَ هِيَ القِصَّةُ.

تِلْكَ حَقِيقَةٌ

— That is a fact. Used to confirm something.

تِلْكَ حَقِيقَةٌ لا يُمْكِنُ إِنْكَارُهَا.

تِلْكَ الفِكْرَةُ رَائِعَة

— That idea is wonderful. A common compliment.

تِلْكَ الفِكْرَةُ رَائِعَةٌ جِدًّا!

بَعْدَ تِلْكَ الفَتْرَة

— After that period. Used in historical or biographical contexts.

بَعْدَ تِلْكَ الفَتْرَةِ، سَافَرَ إِلَى الخَارِجِ.

تِلْكَ هِيَ الشُّرُوط

— Those are the conditions. Used in agreements.

إِذَا كُنْتَ مُوَافِقاً، تِلْكَ هِيَ الشُّرُوطُ.

تِلْكَ لَيْسَتْ مُشْكِلَتِي

— That is not my problem. Used to deny responsibility.

آسِفٌ، تِلْكَ لَيْسَتْ مُشْكِلَتِي.

Often Confused With

تِلْكَ vs ذَلِكَ

Dhalika is for masculine singular; Tilka is for feminine singular.

تِلْكَ vs هَذِهِ

Hadhihi is for near objects; Tilka is for far objects.

تِلْكَ vs أُولَئِكَ

Ula'ika is for human plurals; Tilka is for non-human plurals.

Idioms & Expressions

"تِلْكَ شِنْشِنَةٌ أَعْرِفُهَا مِنْ أَخْزَم"

— This is a trait I recognize from his ancestors. Used for predictable behavior.

لَقَدْ كَذَبَ ثَانِيَةً، تِلْكَ شِنْشِنَةٌ أَعْرِفُهَا مِنْ أَخْزَم.

Classical/Literary

"تِلْكَ القَشَّةُ الَّتِي قَصَمَتْ ظَهْرَ البَعِير"

— The straw that broke the camel's back. The final small thing that causes a collapse.

كَانَ الحَادِثُ تِلْكَ القَشَّةَ الَّتِي قَصَمَتْ ظَهْرَ البَعِيرِ.

Modern Standard

"تِلْكَ الأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاس"

— Fortune changes; days of success and failure alternate. A Quranic idiom.

لا تَحْزَنْ، تِلْكَ الأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ.

Religious/Literary

"تِلْكَ هِيَ الطَّامَّةُ الكُبْرَى"

— That is the greatest disaster. Used for a huge problem.

إِذَا نَسِيَ المِفْتَاحَ، فَتِلْكَ هِيَ الطَّامَّةُ الكُبْرَى.

Formal

"تِلْكَ بَقَرَةٌ حَامِل"

— That is a pregnant cow. A rare idiom for something full of potential or secrets.

تِلْكَ الخُطَّةُ بَقَرَةٌ حَامِلٌ.

Archaic

"تِلْكَ عَصَايَ"

— That is my staff. Used to describe something one relies on heavily (alluding to Moses).

هَذَا القَلَمُ؟ تِلْكَ عَصَايَ فِي العَمَلِ.

Literary

"تِلْكَ قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَى"

— That is an unfair division. Used when something is distributed unjustly.

أَنْتَ تَأْخُذُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ؟ تِلْكَ قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَى.

Quranic/Formal

"تِلْكَ هِيَ العُقْدَة"

— That is the knot / That's the catch. Used for the main difficulty.

تِلْكَ هِيَ العُقْدَةُ فِي هَذَا المَوْضُوعِ.

Formal

"تِلْكَ نَارٌ عَلَى عَلَم"

— That is a fire on a mountain. Used for someone very famous or obvious.

شُهْرَتُهُ تِلْكَ نَارٌ عَلَى عَلَمٍ.

Literary

"تِلْكَ حِكْمَةُ اللَّه"

— That is the wisdom of God. Used to accept an inexplicable event.

مَاتَ صَغِيراً، تِلْكَ حِكْمَةُ اللَّهِ.

Religious

Easily Confused

تِلْكَ vs تِلْكَ vs أُولَئِكَ

Both mean 'those'.

Tilka is for non-human groups (books, stars). Ula'ika is for human groups (people, students).

تِلْكَ النُّجُوم (Those stars) vs أُولَئِكَ النَّاس (Those people).

تِلْكَ vs تِلْكَ vs هَذِهِ

Both are feminine singular.

Hadhihi is for things close to you. Tilka is for things far away.

هَذِهِ التُفَّاحَة (This apple in my hand) vs تِلْكَ التُفَّاحَة (That apple on the tree).

تِلْكَ vs تِلْكَ vs ذَلِكَ

Both mean 'that'.

Dhalika is masculine. Tilka is feminine.

ذَلِكَ الوَلَد (That boy) vs تِلْكَ البِنْت (That girl).

تِلْكَ vs تِلْكَ vs هُنَاكَ

Both relate to distance.

Tilka is a pronoun for an object. Hunaka is an adverb for a location.

تِلْكَ السَّيَّارَة (That car) vs السَّيَّارَةُ هُنَاكَ (The car is there).

تِلْكَ vs تِلْكَ vs تِي

They share the same root.

Ti is archaic and rarely used alone. Tilka is the standard distal form.

Tilka is the only one you need for modern Arabic.

Sentence Patterns

تِلْكَ + Noun

تِلْكَ طَالِبَةٌ.

تِلْكَ + Al-Noun + Adjective

تِلْكَ البِنْتُ جَمِيلَةٌ.

تِلْكَ + Non-human Plural

تِلْكَ البُيُوتُ.

فِي + تِلْكَ + Al-Noun

فِي تِلْكَ السَّاعَةِ.

تِلْكَ + هِيَ + Al-Noun

تِلْكَ هِيَ المُشْكِلَةُ.

تِلْكَ + Al-Noun + الَّتِي...

تِلْكَ السَّيَّارَةُ الَّتِي اشْتَرَيْتُهَا.

تِلْكَ + آيَاتُ + Noun

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الحَقِّ.

تِلْكَ + هِيَ + Al-Noun + Adjective

تِلْكَ هِيَ الإِرْهَاصَاتُ الأُولَى.

Word Family

ذَلِكَ (Masculine distal)

هَذِهِ (Feminine proximal)

أُولَئِكَ (Plural distal)

تَانِكَ (Feminine dual distal)

هُنَاكَ (There)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in formal writing and media; rare in daily speech.

Common Mistakes

Using 'dhalika' for feminine nouns. → تِلْكَ السَّيَّارَة
Learners often forget that 'that' must match the gender of the noun. 'Sayyara' is feminine.
Using 'ula'ika' for non-human plurals. → تِلْكَ الأَيَّام
'Ula'ika' is only for humans. For days, books, or cars, use 'tilka'.
Adding 'al-' when you want to say 'That is a...'. → تِلْكَ مَدْرَسَةٌ
Adding 'al-' makes it a phrase ('That school'), not a sentence ('That is a school').
Changing the ending to 'tilki' for feminine address. → تِلْكَ
The word is 'mabni' and never changes its vowels, regardless of who you are talking to.
Using 'tilka' for near objects. → هَذِهِ البِنْت
'Tilka' is only for distant objects. Use 'hadhihi' for things close to you.

Tips

The Ta-Marbuta Rule

If a singular noun ends in ة, always use 'tilka' for 'that'. It's the easiest way to avoid gender mistakes.

Non-Human Plurals

Memorize the phrase 'Tilka al-kutub' (those books). It will remind you to use 'tilka' for all non-human plurals.

Keep it Short

The final 'a' in 'tilka' is short. Don't stretch it out like 'tilkaaa', or it might sound like a different word.

Look for the Al-

Remember: 'Tilka al-bint' = That girl. 'Tilka bint' = That is a girl. The 'al-' is the key to the meaning.

Elevate Your Writing

Use 'tilka' in your essays to refer to abstract feminine concepts like 'al-hurriya' (freedom) to sound more academic.

News Anchors

Listen to the first 5 minutes of an Arabic news broadcast. You will almost certainly hear 'tilka' used for 'those events'.

The Distance Lam

The 'L' in the middle of 'tilka' is called the 'lam of distance'. If you see that 'L', the object is far away!

Quranic Beauty

When you see 'tilka' in the Quran, notice how it often refers to something grand or divine, like 'the afterlife' (al-dar al-akhira).

Know the Shift

When you travel, don't be surprised if you don't hear 'tilka'. Just remember that 'hadik' is its cousin in the streets.

Daily Pointing

Point at 3 distant feminine things every morning and say 'Tilka [noun]'. Consistency is the key to mastery.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Tilka' as 'The Lady's Ka' (That). The 'T' stands for 'The' or 'Ta Marbuta' (feminine).

Visual Association

Imagine pointing a long finger (the 'L' in tilka) at a distant Queen (feminine).

Word Web

Far Feminine That Those (non-human) Formal Distant Singular Pointer

Challenge

Try to find 5 feminine objects in your room and then walk to the other side and point at them using 'Tilka' in a full sentence.

Word Origin

Derived from the Proto-Semitic demonstrative system. The 'ti' is the feminine marker, common across many Semitic languages.

Original meaning: That (feminine).

Afroasiatic -> Semitic -> Central Semitic -> Arabic.

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but ensure correct gender agreement when referring to people to avoid being disrespectful.

English speakers often struggle with the gendered 'that'. In English, 'that' is neutral. In Arabic, using the wrong gender can be seen as a sign of low education.

Quran: 'Tilka ayatullah natluha 'alayka bil-haqq' (Those are the verses of Allah...) Classical Poetry: Often used to refer to 'Tilka al-diyar' (Those homes/lands). Modern News: 'Tilka al-fatra al-zamaniyya' (That time period).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Pointing at distant objects

تِلْكَ الشَّجَرَةُ
تِلْكَ الطَّائِرَةُ
تِلْكَ الجِبَالُ
تِلْكَ البِنَايَةُ

Talking about the past

فِي تِلْكَ الأَيَّامِ
تِلْكَ الفَتْرَةُ
تِلْكَ السَّنَةُ
تِلْكَ الذِّكْرَيَاتُ

Formal presentations

تِلْكَ هِيَ النَّتَائِجُ
تِلْكَ الفِكْرَةُ
تِلْكَ الخُطَّةُ
تِلْكَ الدِّرَاسَةُ

Reading the Quran

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ
تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ
تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ
تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الآخِرَةُ

Storytelling

فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ
تِلْكَ المَرْأَةُ الغَرِيبَةُ
تِلْكَ القِصَّةُ
تِلْكَ المَدِينَةُ القَدِيمَةُ

Conversation Starters

"مَاذَا تَعْرِفُ عَنْ تِلْكَ المَدِينَةِ؟ (What do you know about that city?)"

"هَلْ رَأَيْتَ تِلْكَ السَّيَّارَةَ الجَدِيدَةَ؟ (Did you see that new car?)"

"تِلْكَ الفِكْرَةُ تُعْجِبُنِي، مَا رَأْيُكَ؟ (I like that idea, what do you think?)"

"كَيْفَ كَانَتْ تِلْكَ الرِّحْلَةُ؟ (How was that trip?)"

"مَنْ تِلْكَ المَرْأَةُ الَّتِي تَقِفُ هُنَاكَ؟ (Who is that woman standing over there?)"

Journal Prompts

اكْتُبْ عَنْ تِلْكَ الذِّكْرَيَاتِ الجَمِيلَةِ فِي طُفُولَتِكَ. (Write about those beautiful memories in your childhood.)

صِفْ تِلْكَ المَدِينَةَ الَّتِي تُرِيدُ زِيَارَتَهَا. (Describe that city you want to visit.)

مَا هِيَ تِلْكَ الأَهْدَافُ الَّتِي تُرِيدُ تَحْقِيقَهَا؟ (What are those goals you want to achieve?)

تَحَدَّثْ عَنْ تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ الَّتِي غَيَّرَتْ حَيَاتَكَ. (Talk about that moment that changed your life.)

مَا رَأْيُكَ فِي تِلْكَ القَوَانِينِ الجَدِيدَةِ؟ (What is your opinion on those new laws?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, 'tilka' is only for feminine singular or non-human plurals. For a group of men (or people in general), you must use 'ula'ika' (those).

In Arabic, all non-human plurals are grammatically treated as feminine singular. Since 'books' (kutub) are non-human and far away, we use the feminine singular distal demonstrative 'tilka'.

No, 'tilka' is 'mabni' (indeclinable). Its form remains the same whether it is the subject, object, or follows a preposition.

Rarely. In Egyptian Arabic, people usually say 'di' for 'this/that' or 'dikha' for 'that'. 'Tilka' is reserved for formal situations and writing.

The masculine version is 'dhalika' (ذَلِكَ), which means 'that' for masculine singular nouns.

The feminine dual form is 'tanika' (تَانِكَ), but it is very formal and rarely used in modern conversation.

Yes, it is very common to use 'tilka' with time words, such as 'tilka al-layla' (that night) or 'tilka al-fatra' (that period).

'Hatika' is a more emphatic or literary version of 'tilka'. It is much less common and usually found in classical poetry.

Non-human plurals refer to animals, objects, ideas, and anything that isn't a human being (like angels or jinn, which are also treated as 'rational' in grammar).

It means 'Those are the verses/signs of Allah'. It is a common phrase in the Quran using 'tilka' for the plural 'ayat'.