Arabic → English
مَا in English
what
مَا
- Pronunciation
- mā
- Arabizi
ma- Type
- pronoun
How to use it
ما is the basic question word for "what". It is used before nouns, verbs or clauses. It never takes the definite article.
Example sentences
-
مَا هَذَا؟
mā hādhā?
What is this?
-
مَا اسْمُكَ؟
mā ismuka?
What is your name?
-
مَا تَفْعَلُ الآنَ؟
mā tafʿalu al-ʾān?
What are you doing now?
Questions and answers
Can ما be used with a verb?
Yes, e.g., ما تفعل؟ (What are you doing?)
Is there a difference between ما and ماذا?
Both mean "what"; ما is slightly more common in spoken Arabic.
Related words and expressions
Updated