In a nutshell: Arabic demonstrative pronouns help specify objects based on gender, number, and proximity, like هذا (this) or تلك (that). They are key in pointing out, comparing, and introducing people or things, with ten forms used in both everyday speech and Quranic texts.

To master any language you have to master its articles, prepositions, determines, pronouns, and so on.

In this article, we are going to explain the Arabic demonstrative pronouns, their definitions,  functions, their singular and plural forms, their masculine and feminine forms, and the similarities and differences between them. We will provide examples of demonstrative pronouns in a simple way that helps you form Arabic sentences efficiently. Keep reading.

What do Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns (أسماء الإشارة asmā’ al-ishirāh) Mean?

Arabic demonstrative pronoun (اسم الإشارة ism al-ishirāh) is an article that comes before a noun to point to something specific. So, its main use is to refer to a specific thing or definite person whether it is singular, dual (Muthanna), plural, masculine, feminine, and near or remote.

The function of the demonstrative pronouns is to put stress or draw attention to the nouns following them. They refer to the relative interval or remoteness of the noun being referred to, they also are used to refer to sequent and subsequent order. They are known in Arabic grammar terms with the name, أسماء الإشارة asmā’ al-ishirāh

How Many Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns Are There?

Technically, there are ten distinct demonstrative pronouns in Arabic, as we will see in our detailed list below. But think of it this way: they are all built from just two basic ideas:

1. Near: Things close to you (this/these) – هذا، هذه، هذان، هاتان، هؤلاء
2. Far: Things far from you (that/those) – ذلك، تلك، ذانك، تانك، أولئك

Some new students ask: What are the four demonstrative pronouns in Arabic? This confusion stems from the fact that English has 4 demonstrative pronouns, so they think that Arabic also has only 4 demonstrative pronouns. But as we have seen, there are 10 Arabic demonstrative pronouns, and we will revisit them in the following list.

Read Also: Gender In Arabic

List of Demonstrative Pronouns in Arabic

Remember, these pronouns are like your linguistic pointing fingers, helping you distinguish between objects or people based on their location and characteristics.

1. هذا (haadha) – This (masculine singular)

Use this for one masculine thing close to you.

• هذا قلم. (haadha qalam) – This is a pen.
• هذا رجلٌ كريمٌ. (haadha rajulun kareemun) – This is a generous man.

* Excerpted From Kalimah’s online Arabic course curriculum.

2. هذه (haadhihi) – This (feminine singular)

Use this for one feminine thing close to you.

• هذه حقيبةٌ جميلةٌ. (haadhihi haqeebatun jameelah) – This is a beautiful bag.
• هذه امرأةٌ ذكيةٌ. (haadhihi imra’atun dhakiyyah) – This is an intelligent woman.

* Excerpted From Kalimah’s online Arabic course curriculum.

3. هذان (haadhaan) – These two (masculine dual)

This is for two masculine things close to you.

• هذان كتابانِ جديدانِ. (haadhaan kitaabaani jadeedaani) – These two books are new.

4. هاتان (haataan) – These two (feminine dual)

This is for two feminine things close to you.

• هاتان فتاتانِ لطِيفَتانِ. (haataan fataataani lateefataani) – These two girls are kind.

5. هؤلاء (haaulaa’i) – These (masculine and feminine plural)

This is for many things close to you, regardless of their gender.

• هؤلاء أصدقائي. (haaulaa’i asdiqaa’i) – These are my friends.
• هؤلاء طالباتٌ مُجتهِداتٌ. (haaulaa’i taalibaatun mujtahidaatun) – These are hardworking students.

6. ذلك (dhaalika) – That (masculine singular)

Now, we move to things further away. This is for one masculine thing.

• ذلك مبنىً عالٍ. (dhaalika mabnan ‘aal) – That is a tall building.

7. تلك (tilka) – That (feminine singular)

This is for one feminine thing far away.

• تلك سماءٌ زرقاءُ. (tilka samaa’un zarqaa’) – That is a blue sky.

8. ذانك (dhaanika) – Those two (masculine dual)

This is for two masculine things far away.

• ذانك رجُلانِ يمشيانِ. (dhaanika rajulaani yamshiyaani) – Those two men are walking.

9. تانك (taanika) – Those two (feminine dual)

This is for two feminine things far away.

• تانك شجرتانِ خضراوانِ. (taanika shajarataan khadraawaani) – Those two trees are green.

10. أولئك (ulaa’ika) – Those (masculine and feminine plural)

This is for many things far away, regardless of their gender.

• أولئك نجومٌ لامعةٌ. (ulaa’ika nujoomun laami’ah) – Those are shining stars.

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A Quick Comparison of Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns!

• هذا vs. ذلك: Both are masculine singular, but “haadha” is for things nearby, while “dhaalika” is for things far away.
• هذان vs. ذانك: Both are masculine dual, but “haadhaan” is for things nearby, while “dhaanika” is for things far away.
• هؤلاء vs. أولئك: Both are plural, but “haaulaa’i” is for things nearby, while “ulaa’ika” is for things far away.
• هذه vs. تلك: Both are feminine singular, but “haadhihi” is for things nearby, while “tilka” is for things far away.
• هاتان vs. تانك: Both are feminine dual, but “haataan” is for things nearby, while “taanika” is for things far away.

Learning Arabic demonstrative pronouns might seem complex, but with regular practice and guidance, especially through structured Arabic courses at Kalimah Center, you can master these words. 

Kalimah offers personalized lessons that focus on practical use, making it easier to understand and remember these important words in real conversations. 

Ready to learn with native-speaking teachers? joini us for a FREE trial class and see the difference expert guidance can make!

Read also: Personal pronouns in Arabic

Examples of Demonstrative Pronouns in the Quran?

There are many demonstrative pronouns that were mentioned in the Holy Quran, such as:

هذا / هذه / هذان / هاتان / هؤلاء / أولَئك

Examples:

• “Here are two adversaries feuding regarding their Lord.”Surah Al-hajj, verse 19.

هَٰذَانِ خَصْمَانِ اخْتَصَمُوا فِي رَبّهم.

• ” He said, “Indeed, I wish to wed you one of these, my two daughters”Surah Al-Kasas, verse 27

قَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنكِحَكَ إِحْدَى ابْنَتَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ.

• “He said, “These are my daughters, if you must.” Surah Al-Hajjr, verse 71.

قَالَ هٰؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ

• “Those who oppose God and His Messenger are among the lowliest.” Surah Al-Mogadalih, verse 20.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحَادُّونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَٰئِكَ فِي الْأَذَلِّينَ.

Read also: Possessive pronouns in Arabic

Types of Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns

Now, let’s talk about the types of demonstrative pronouns in Arabic. We categorize them based on distance (near or far) and gender (masculine, feminine, and plural). This is different from English, where we don’t have gendered pronouns for “this” or “that.”

Masculine and Feminine Demonstrative Pronouns

The following lines explain the masculine and feminine Demonstrative Pronouns for a singular noun. 

هذا (hādhā) – “this” (masculine, singular)

It is the first demonstrative pronoun (Asim E-Sharah), it means (this) here are its definition and functions:-

1. It precedes(comes before) a singular noun.
2. The singular noun that follows can be a definite or indefinite noun.
3. The noun that follows should be masculine.
4. It points to a near object.

Examples:

هَذّاكتّابٌ	This is a book.
هَذا رجّلٌ	This is a man.
هَذا ولّدٌ	This is a boy.
هَذا بحّرٌ	This is a sea.

هذه (hādhihi) – “this” (feminine, singular)

It is the second demonstrative pronoun (Asim E-Sharah), which means (this)here is its definition and functions:-

1. It precedes (comes before) a singular noun.
2. The singular noun that follows can be a definite or indefinite noun.
3. The noun that follows it should be feminine.
4. It refers to a near object.

Examples:

هَذه بنّتٌ	This is a girl.
هَذه شجّرةٌ	This is a tree
هَذه بقّرةٌ	This is a cow
هَذه مِدرسّةٌ	This is a school
هَذه إمّرأة ٌ	This is a  woman
هَذه حُجرْةٌ	This is a room

Important notes:-

•  The noun that follows the demonstrative pronouns هذاorهذه should end with Tanween if it is Indefinitenoun (دٌ)
• The aspects of similarities between (هذا) and (هذه) are: 

1- Both of them point to a singular noun.

2- Both of them point to a near object.

• Whereas the aspects of differences are:

1. The demonstrative pronoun (هذا) points to a masculine noun.
2. The demonstrative pronoun  (هذه) refers to a feminine noun.

ذلك (dhālika) – “that” (masculine, singular)

It is the third demonstrative pronoun (Asim E-Sharah), which means (that) Here are its definitions and functions:-

1. It precedes(comes before) a singular noun.
2. The singular noun that follows can be a definite or indefinite noun.
3. The noun that follows should be masculine.
4. It points to a remote object.

Examples:

transliteration	English translation	example in Arabic
Thalik Ketab	That is a book..	ذَلكَ كتّابٌ
Thalik Ragol	That is a man.	ذلك الرجل
Thalik El-Walid	That boy	ذَلّكَ الولّدٌ
Thalik Bahr	That is a sea.	ذَلّكَ بحّرٌ

تلك (tilka) – “that” (feminine, singular)

It is the fourth demonstrative pronoun (Asim E-Sharah), which means (that) Here are its definitions and functions:-

1. It precedes (comes before) a singular noun.
2. The singular nouns that follow can be a definite or indefinite noun.
3. The noun that follows it should be feminine.
4. It refers to remote objects.

Examples:

transliteration	English translation	example in Arabic
Telk El- Bint	Thatgirl.	تلّك البنّتٌ
Telk Shagarh	That is a tree	تلّك شجّرةٌ
Telk Baqarah	That is a cow	تلّك بقّرةٌ
Yelk Madrasa	That is a school	تلّك مَدرسّةٌ

Singular And Plural Demonstrative Pronouns

We mentioned in the above section the masculine and feminine Demonstrative Pronouns for singular nouns. Let’s now explain the demonstrative Pronouns for (Muthanna) and plural.

هذان (hādhān) – “these” (masculine, dual)

 It is the fifth demonstrative pronoun (Asim E-Sharah), here are its definition and functions:-

1.It  precedes(comes before) a dual (Muthanna)noun.

1. The dual noun that follows can be a definite or indefinite noun.
2. The dual noun that follows should be masculine.
3. It points to, a near dual object.

Examples:

transliteration	English translation	example in Arabic
Hathan ketaban	These are two books.	هَذّان كتّابان
Hathan Ragolan	These are two men.	هَذان رَجُلان
Hathan Waladan	These are two boys.	هَذان وَلدان
Hathan Bahran	These are two seas.	هَذان بَحّران

هاتان (hātān) – “these” (feminine, dual)

It is the sixth demonstrative pronoun (Asim E-Sharah), here are its definition and functions:-

1. It precedes (comes before) dual (Muthanna)noun.
2. The dual noun that follows can be a definite or indefinite noun.
3. The noun that follows should be feminine.
4. It refers to a near dual object.

Examples:

transliteration	English translation	example in Arabic
Hatan Bintan	These are twogirls.	هَاتان بنّتان
Hatan Shagaratan	These are two trees.	هَاتان شجّرتان
Hatan Baqaratan	These are twocows.	هَاتّان بقّرتان
Ha’ olaa Behar	These are seas	هَؤلاء بِحّارٌ

Read also: Female pronouns in Arabic

هؤلاء (hā’ulā’) – “these” (plural for both masculine and feminine)

It is the seventh demonstrative pronoun (Asim E-Sharah), it means (these) here are its definition and functions:-

1. It precedes(comes before) a plural noun.
2. The plural noun that follows can be a definite or indefinite noun.
3. The noun that follows can be masculine or feminine plural.
4. It points to near objects.

Examples:

transliteration	English translation	example in Arabic
Ha’ olaa Kotob	These are books	هَؤلّاء كُتّبٌ
Ha’ olaa Regal	These are men.	هَؤلّاء رِجّالٌ
Ha’ olaa Awlad	These are boys	هَؤلِّاء أولادٌ
Ha’ olaa Behar	These are seas	هَؤلاء بِحّارٌ

أولئك (ulā’ika) – “those” (plural for both masculine and feminine)

It is the eighth demonstrative pronoun (Asim E-Sharah), which means (those) here are its definition and functions:-

1. It precedes (comes before) plural nouns.
2. The plural noun that follows can be a definite or indefinite noun.
3. The noun that follows it can be masculine or feminine.
4. It refers to remote objects.

  Examples:

transliteration	English translation	example in Arabic
O’ Lae’k Banat	Those are girls.	أولَئك بناّتٌ
O’ Lae’k Ashgar	Those are trees.	أولَئك أشّجَار
O’ Lae’k El-Abkar	Those cows	أولَئك الأبقَار
O’ Lae’k El-Madaris	Those schools	أولَئك المَدارس

Important notes:-

• The aspect of similarities between (هؤلاء) and (أولَئك) is: 

1- Both of them point to plural nouns.

• Whereas the aspects of differences are:

1. The demonstrative pronoun (هؤلاء) points to a near noon.

2.The demonstrative pronoun  أولَئك)) refers to a  remote noun.

Characteristics of Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns

Arabic demonstrative pronouns have unique characteristics that make them interesting:

1. Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns Match the Gender

Unlike English, Arabic demonstrative pronouns have different forms for masculine and feminine nouns.

2. Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns Match the Number

Arabic distinguishes between singular, dual (for two things), and plural.

The Function of Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns

The function of Arabic demonstrative pronouns is to clarify what or whom you’re talking about. They’re like linguistic pointers, guiding your listener’s attention to the right place.

Here are the main usage of the Arabic demonstrative pronouns:

1. Use Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns To Identify and Specify 

Imagine you are in a room full of books. You want to talk about one particular book. You can use a demonstrative pronoun to say “This book is interesting” (هذا الكتابُ مُثيرٌ للاهتمام – haadha al-kitaabu muthirun lil-ihtimaam). Now everyone knows exactly which book you mean.

2. Use Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns To Introduce

Demonstrative pronouns can also be like introducing a friend. You might say “This is my friend, Ahmed” (هذا صديقي أحمد – haadha sadiqi Ahmad). You are using “haadha” to bring Ahmed into the conversation.

3. Use Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns To Compare

Sometimes, we use demonstrative pronouns to show the difference between things. For example, “That car is faster than this one” (تلك السيارةُ أسرعُ من هذه – tilka as-sayyaaratun asra’u min haadhihi). You are using “tilka” and “haadhihi” to compare the two cars.

Demonstrative Pronouns Sentence Examples 

After we have explained all kinds of demonstrative pronouns, Here are various sentence examples about the different Arabic demonstrative pronouns:-

transliteration	English translation	example in Arabic
Hatha waldon zaki.	This is a smart boy.	هَذَا ولدٌ ذكي
Hathihe katah latefa.	This is a nice cat.	هَذه قطَةٌ لَطيفةٌ
Hatha El-Ketab Kadeem.	This book is old.	هذا الِكَتاب قديمٌ
Hathan El-Waledan Mogdahan.	These two boys are hard-working.	هذانِ الولدانِ مجتهدانِ
Hatan El-bentan gamelatan.	These two girls are beautiful.	هاتانِ البنتانِ جميلتانِ
Ha’ olae El-Tolab tayboon	These pupils are kind.	هَؤلاءِ الطلابِ طَيبون
Telik El-ghorfa dayqah.	That room is narrow.	تلكَ الغرفةُ ضَيقةٌ

Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns Exercises 

Ready to have some fun with demonstrative pronouns?

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct demonstrative pronoun from the box to complete each sentence.

| هذا | هذه | هذان | هاتان | هؤلاء | ذلك | تلك | ذانك | تانك | أولئك |

1. ____ كتابٌ مفيدٌ. (This is a useful book)
2. ____ سيارةٌ سريعةٌ. (That is a fast car)
3. ____ ولدانِ يلعبانِ في الحديقةِ. (Those two boys are playing in the garden)
4. ____ فتاتانِ تَدرُسانِ اللغةَ العربيةَ. (These two girls are studying Arabic)
5. ____ رجالٌ يُصلّونَ في المسجدِ. (Those men are praying in the mosque)
6. ____ امرأةٌ تُعلّمُ الأطفالَ. (This woman is teaching the children)
7. ____ بيتانِ كبيرانِ. (Those two houses are big)
8. ____ طالباتٌ ناجحاتٌ. (These students are successful)
9. ____ قلمٌ جميلٌ. (That is a beautiful pen)
10. ____ شجرةٌ عاليةٌ. (This is a tall tree)

Exercise 2: Translate to Arabic 

Try to translate these English sentences into Arabic, using the correct demonstrative pronouns.

1. This is my house.
2. That is a delicious apple.
3. These are my brothers.
4. Those two cars are new.
5. These two girls are my sisters.
6. That building is very old.
7. Those flowers are beautiful.

Exercise 3: Spot the Mistake

Each sentence has one mistake with the demonstrative pronoun. Can you find it and correct it?

1. هذا بنتٌ جميلةٌ.
2. تلك ولدٌ ذكيٌّ.
3. هؤلاءِ رجلٌ طويلٌ.
4. أولئكَ سيارتانِ جديدتانِ.
5. هذانِ كتابٌ قديمٌ.

How Kalimah-Center Will Help You With Demonstrative Pronouns

You’re learning about “هذا” and “ذلك”, and that’s great! But to truly use them like a native, you need more than just definitions. You need practice, guidance, and a supportive learning environment.

Our online Arabic courses will help you:

• Master the Arabic alphabet and basic grammar, essential for understanding how demonstrative pronouns work.
• Learn to use “هذا”, “ذلك”, and other pronouns correctly in different contexts through interactive exercises and real-life examples.
• Our experienced teachers will guide you and provide personalized feedback, helping you become fluent in using demonstrative pronouns.

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Which Are The Three Neutral Demonstrative Pronouns?

The neutral demonstrative pronouns are the ones that can be used to point to different types of nouns ( singular, plural,  masculine, feminine) They are: 

أولَئك / هؤلاء / تلك

What is The Difference Between Relative And Demonstrative Pronouns?

The demonstrative pronouns are articles that come before nouns. Their main use is to refer to a specific thing or definite person whether it is singular, dual (Muthanna), plural, masculine, feminine, and near or remote. Their function is to put stress or draw attention to the nouns following them. Whereas the relative pronouns are used to point to the nouns mentioned previously in a clause of a sentence, these names can be names of persons, places, things, or animals. Their basic function is to join two classes or two sentences together. They are (Who, Whom, which, that, whose, whoever, whomever). 

الذي / التي / اللذان / اللتان / الذين / اللاتي 

Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns Relationship with Relative Pronouns

Arabic demonstrative pronouns and relative pronouns each play a role in connecting ideas, but they are used in different ways. 

Demonstrative pronouns point to something, and then relative pronouns come in to tell us more about that thing.

Let’s see how this works:

Imagine you want to say “This is the man who helped me.” You would use both a demonstrative pronoun (“this”) and a relative pronoun (“who”).

• هذا هو الرجلُ الذي ساعدني. (haadha huwa ar-rajulu alladhi sa’adani)

Here, “هذا” points to the man, and “الذي” introduces the extra information that he helped you.

What Pronouns Does Allah Use?

The Divine deity was mentioned in the Holy Quran by using the masculine pronoun “He”. In manyother verses using (He)followed by the relative pronoun (Who)الذي as in the following verse, 

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَجَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِيَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا.

“It is He who created you from a single person, and made from it its mate, that he may find comfort with her.” Al- a’raf verse, No 189

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَجَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِيَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا.

It is worth mentioning that Allah has no gender, Allah is not a male or a female. Allah is Allah. It is just linguistic forms of the Arabic language.

Do All Languages Have DemonstrativePronouns 

Any language has its unique sequence of grammatical rules similar to those in other languages.

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Conclusion:

Arabic demonstrative pronouns (أسماء الإشارة) are key in pointing to specific things or people, based on factors like proximity, gender, and number. These pronouns help specify objects as near or far, whether singular, dual, or plural, and masculine or feminine. There are ten main types, including forms for masculine and feminine singular, dual, and plural objects.

For instance, “هذه” is used for feminine singular items nearby, while “تلك” is used for distant feminine objects. Demonstrative pronouns also help clarify or introduce topics, as seen in phrases like “هذا الكتاب” (this book) or “تلك السيارة” (that car).

FAQs about Arabic Demonstrative Pronouns