Plural Things Take a Feminine Singular Adjective

Level 2

In Arabic, if a plural noun refers to anything other than a human (objects, animals, ideas), it is treated as feminine singular. This means adjectives, verbs, and pronouns that describe it will be feminine singular, even if the noun's singular form was masculine.

How It Works

This rule is one of the most distinctive features of Arabic syntax. It applies regardless of whether the plural is a Broken Plural or a Sound Feminine Plural.

The rule affects four main areas of agreement:

  • Adjectives: An adjective describing a non-human plural must be feminine singular. For example, 'new books' is al-kutub al-jadīdah (the books the-new [fem. sing.]).
  • Demonstratives: You must use هذه (this [fem.]) or تلك (that [fem.]) for non-human plurals.
  • Verbs: If a non-human plural is the subject, the verb takes the feminine singular form (the 'she' form).
  • Pronouns: When referring back to these nouns, use هي (she/it) or the attached suffix ـها.

Note: This rule does not apply to the dual. Two objects always take dual agreement.

Examples (5)

  1. هذه الكتبُ جديدةٌ.

    These books are new.

    Word by Word: This (fem. sing.) the-books new (fem. sing.)

    Even though 'book' (kitāb) is masculine, its plural (kutub) is non-human, so it takes the feminine singular demonstrative 'hādhihi' and adjective 'jadīdah'.

  2. السياراتُ السريعةُ غاليةٌ.

    The fast cars are expensive.

    Word by Word: The-cars the-fast (fem. sing.) expensive (fem. sing.)

    The plural 'cars' (sayyārāt) is non-human, so both the attributive adjective 'fast' and the predicate adjective 'expensive' are feminine singular.

  3. تجري الكلابُ في الشارعِ.

    The dogs run in the street.

    Word by Word: Runs (fem. sing.) the-dogs in the-street

    The verb 'tajrī' is the 3rd person feminine singular form because the subject 'dogs' is a non-human plural.

  4. عندي أقلامٌ وهي على المكتبِ.

    I have pens and they are on the desk.

    Word by Word: At-me pens and-she on the-desk

    The pronoun 'hiya' (she) is used to refer back to 'pens' because they are non-human plurals.

  5. رأيتُ الجبالَ العاليةَ.

    I saw the high mountains.

    Word by Word: I-saw the-mountains the-high (fem. sing.)

    The adjective 'al-'āliyah' matches the non-human plural 'al-jibāl' in the feminine singular form.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a masculine plural adjective for masculine objects.

    الكتب الجدد
    الكتب الجديدة

    Learners often try to use the masculine plural 'judud' because 'kitāb' is masculine. However, non-human plurals usually take the feminine singular 'jadīdah'.

  • Applying the rule to human broken plurals.

    الرجال جائعة
    الرجال جائعون

    The rule only applies to non-humans. Since 'men' (rijāl) are human, they must take a plural adjective (jā'i'ūn).

  • Applying the rule to dual nouns.

    هذه الكتابان
    هذان الكتابان

    The rule is strictly for plurals (3+). Dual nouns (2) must use dual agreement.

How It Connects

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Plural Things Take a Feminine Singular AdjectiveLevel 2

Learn This First

To understand why plural objects take feminine singular adjectives or pronouns, you first need to be comfortable with the basic categories of number (singular vs. plural) and gender (masculine vs. feminine) in Arabic, as well as how adjectives typically match the nouns they describe.