Arabic → English
أيّ in English
- Pronunciation
- ʾayyun
- Arabizi
ay- Type
- pronoun · masculine
Other meanings
- أَيْ ʾay — i.e. · i.e.
- أَيْ ʾay — namely · namely
How to use it
The word "أي" (ʾay) has multiple uses. As an interrogative or indefinite pronoun, it means 'any' and is usually followed by a noun in the genitive case. When used as a conjunction, it means 'i.e.' or 'namely', introducing an explanation or clarification.
Example sentences
-
هَلْ تُرِيدُ أَيَّ كِتَابٍ؟
hal turīdu ʾayya kitābin?
Do you want any book?
-
هُوَ طَبِيبٌ، أَيْ مُخْتَصٌّ فِي الْقَلْبِ.
huwa ṭabībun, ʾay mukhtaṣṣun fī l-qalbi.
He is a doctor, i.e., a heart specialist.
-
نَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مُسَاعَدَةٍ، أَيْ شَخْصٍ يُسَاعِدُنَا.
naḥtāju ʾilā musāʿadatin, ʾay shakhṣin yusāʿidunā.
We need help, namely someone to help us.
Examples from real texts
Sentences taken from published bilingual texts (subtitles, documents). They show the word in context and are not reviewed one by one.
أيّ منهم؟
Which one?
أيّ طالب خرج؟
Which student went out?
سأفعل أيّ شيء لِتوم.
I would do anything for Tom.
لم يحدث سامي أيّ صوت.
Sami didn't make any noise.
لم يصدر سامي أيّ صوت.
Sami didn't make any noise.
سامي لا يقلّ أيّ شخص.
Sami won't pick up just anybody.
سأفعل أيّ شيء لحمايتك.
I'd do anything to protect you.
لم يكن لسامي أيّ وجود.
Sami never existed.
سامي لا يصطحب أيّ شخص.
Sami won't pick up just anybody.
أيّ السّاندوتشات سيأخذ هو؟
Which sandwich is he going to take?
نسيان أيّ الحزم هي "جديدة"
Forget which packages are "new"
يخرج الصراخ دون أيّ تحكّم.
Starting at the feet and working his way up.
Related words and expressions
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