سوى

Other than

Level 4

سوى (siwā) is a formal way to say 'except' or 'other than.' Unlike the common particle إلا (illā), سوى is a noun that forms a possessive-like relationship with the word that follows it.

How It Works

سوى is a literary and formal tool for exception. While it shares a meaning with إلا, its grammatical behavior is distinct:

  • Grammatical Status: It is an exceptive noun (ism istithnā’). It takes the grammatical role that the noun after illā would have taken, but because it is an Ism Maqsur (ending in ى), its case is always muqaddara (implied/hidden).
  • The Following Noun: The word after سوى is always the mudaf ilayh. Therefore, it must be genitive. If a pronoun is used, it must be an attached pronoun (e.g., سوى+ك = سواك).
  • Register: It is highly formal and common in Modern Standard Arabic literature and journalism. In casual speech, speakers prefer illā or dialectal words like bass.
  • Negative Contexts: When used after a negation, it often translates to 'only' or 'nothing but.'

Examples (4)

  1. حضر الطلاب سوى واحدٍ.

    The students attended except for one.

    Word by Word: Attended the students other than one.

    Here, 'واحدٍ' is in the genitive case because it follows 'سوى' in an Idafa construction.

  2. لا أملك سوى هذا الكتاب.

    I own nothing but this book.

    Word by Word: Not I own other than this the book.

    In negative sentences, 'سوى' often functions like 'only' or 'nothing but'.

  3. لم يبقَ سوى ساعةٍ واحدةٍ.

    Only one hour remains.

    Word by Word: Did not remain other than hour one.

    The word 'ساعةٍ' is genitive. Note that 'سوى' itself shows no vowel because of the final alif.

  4. لا أثق بأحدٍ سواك.

    I trust no one but you.

    Word by Word: Not I trust in anyone other than you.

    When using pronouns, you must use the attached form (ك) rather than the independent form (أنت).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the accusative case for the noun following 'سوى'.

    حضروا سوى واحداً.
    حضروا سوى واحدٍ.

    Unlike 'إلا', which often takes the accusative, 'سوى' is a noun that requires the following word to be genitive (majrūr).

  • Using an independent pronoun instead of an attached one.

    لا أريد سوى أنت.
    لا أريد سواك.

    Because 'سوى' acts as a noun in an Idafa, it must take the attached possessive pronoun suffix.

  • Confusing 'سوى' (except) with 'سواء' (equal/whether).

    سوى كان الأمر صعباً أو سهلاً...
    سواءٌ كان الأمر صعباً أو سهلاً...

    'Sawā’' (سواء) is used for 'whether/equal,' while 'siwā' (سوى) is used for 'except'.

How It Connects

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

سوىLevel 4Other than

Learn This First

To understand سوى, you first need to be familiar with the concept of exception (using إلا) and how the Idafa construction works, as سوى acts as a governor that puts the following noun into the genitive case.

Words in This Pattern

سوى