لا شيء / لا أحد

Nothing and Nobody

Level 2

In Modern Standard Arabic, 'nothing' and 'nobody' are expressed using the pattern لا (lā) + indefinite noun with a single fatḥa (ـَ) ending. This is called the 'La of Absolute Negation'.

How It Works

The phrases لا شيءَ (nothing) and لا أحدَ (nobody) are the most common applications of There Is No Such Thing. To become proficient in this structure, follow these rules:

  • The Noun (Ism Lā): The noun must be indefinite. If it is a single word, it is 'built' on the ending it would take in the the Object Ending case (accusative) without the Indefinite Ending. For most singular nouns, this is a single fatḥa (e.g., لا رجلَ). However, Regular Feminine Plural nouns are built on a kasra (e.g., لا طالباتِ). For Two of Something or Regular Masculine Plural, it is built on the letter Yā’ (e.g., لا رجلينِ).
  • Joined Nouns: If the noun is the first part of an Possession by Joining Two Nouns, it is inflected in the the Object Ending case and never takes tanwīn (e.g., لا طالبَ علمٍ مهملٌ). If it is 'Similar to Joined' (Shabīh bi-l-Muḍāf), where the noun is followed by a related word like a prepositional phrase, it remains in the the Object Ending case but does retain its the Indefinite Ending (e.g., لا طالباً للعلمِ غائبٌ).
  • The Predicate (Khabar Lā): The word describing the noun must also be indefinite and remains in the the Subject Ending (nominative). In many common idioms, the predicate is implied, usually meaning 'exists'.
  • Definite Nouns: If you use a definite noun, the 'lā' loses its special power; the noun stays in the the Subject Ending and you must repeat 'lā' for a second item (e.g., لا الطالبُ هنا ولا الأستاذُ).
  • Immediate Sequence: The noun must come immediately after 'lā' with no words in between.

This formal structure provides a much stronger negation than It Is Not or Not Doing Something.

Examples (4)

  1. لا أحدَ في البيتِ.

    Nobody is in the house.

    Word by Word: No one in the house.

    Here, 'aḥada' follows 'lā' with a single fatḥa, negating the presence of anyone at all.

  2. لا شيءَ مستحيلٌ.

    Nothing is impossible.

    Word by Word: No thing impossible.

    This is a common phrase where 'shay'a' is the noun being absolutely negated.

  3. لا شكَّ في ذلك.

    There is no doubt about that.

    Word by Word: No doubt in that.

    The word 'shakka' (doubt) is used here to show absolute certainty.

  4. لا مشكلةَ.

    No problem.

    Word by Word: No problem.

    A very common formal way to say 'no problem' or 'no issue'.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding tanwīn to a single-word noun.

    لا أحداً هنا.
    لا أحدَ هنا.

    When the noun is a single word (not a phrase), it is 'built' on a single fatḥa and cannot take tanwīn.

  • Using a single fatḥa after a preposition.

    سأذهب بلا شكَ.
    سأذهب بلا شكٍ.

    If a preposition like 'bi-' comes before 'lā', the special negation rule is cancelled, and the noun follows the normal rules of prepositions.

  • Using a definite noun without repeating 'lā'.

    لا الرجلُ في البيت.
    لا الرجلُ في البيت ولا الولدُ.

    If the noun is definite, the special fatḥa rule does not apply, and you must repeat 'lā' with a second subject to complete the sentence correctly.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

لا شيء / لا أحدLevel 2Nothing and Nobody

Learn This First

To understand 'لا شيء' (nothing) and 'لا أحد' (nobody), a learner needs to be familiar with the basic negation particle 'لا'. Additionally, understanding how to form simple nominal sentences and basic nouns referring to people and things is necessary to grasp how these absolute negatives function in context.

Words in This Pattern

شيءأحد