إلى
To
إلى (ilā) is the standard Arabic word for 'to'. It marks the endpoint of a journey or a period of time.
How It Works
The preposition إلى is one of the most frequent words in Modern Standard Arabic. Its primary functions include:
- Physical Direction: Indicating the place you are going, such as 'to the market' or 'to the office'.
- Temporal Limits: Indicating the end of a time period, often paired with من (from), such as 'from morning to night'.
- Attachment to Pronouns: When you add a pronoun suffix to إلى, the final letter (alif maqṣūrah ى) changes into a ya (ي). For example, to him becomes إليهِ (ilayhi).
It is important to distinguish إلى from the preposition لـِ (li-). While both can translate to 'to' in English, إلى is for movement toward a place, while لـِ is used for purpose or possession.
Examples (5)
- يذهبُ الطالبُ إلى المدرسةِ.
The student goes to the school.
Word by Word: Goes the student to the school.
Here, 'ilā' indicates the physical destination. Note the kasra at the end of 'al-madrasati' because of the preposition.
- سافرتُ إلى القاهرةِ بالقطارِ.
I traveled to Cairo by train.
Word by Word: I traveled to Cairo by the train.
This shows 'ilā' used with a city name as a destination.
- نعملُ من الأحدِ إلى الخميسِ.
We work from Sunday to Thursday.
Word by Word: We work from the Sunday to the Thursday.
This demonstrates the temporal use of 'ilā' to mark the end of a time range.
- أرسلتُ الرسالةَ إليهِ.
I sent the letter to him.
Word by Word: I sent the letter to him.
When the pronoun 'hu' (him) is attached, the ى changes to ي, becoming 'ilayhi'.
- تفضل، اجلس إليّ.
Please, sit next to me (toward me).
Word by Word: Please, sit to me.
When attached to the first-person pronoun 'ya', it becomes 'ilayya' with a shadda.
Common Mistakes
Using 'ilā' to express purpose (to do something).
ذهبتُ إلى أدرسُ.ذهبتُ لأدرسَ.In Arabic, 'ilā' is only for destinations. To say 'in order to', use لـِ (li-) or أن (an) with a verb.
Forgetting the case change (genitive) after the preposition.
إلى البيتُإلى البيتِNouns following 'ilā' must be in the genitive case (majrūr), which usually means they end with a kasra vowel.
Incorrect spelling when adding pronouns.
إلىهإليهِThe alif maqṣūrah (ى) at the end of 'ilā' must convert to a regular 'ya' (ي) when any pronoun suffix is attached.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the preposition 'إلى' (to), a learner should first be familiar with the basic word classes in Arabic (Noun, Verb, and Particle) to recognize its role as a connector. While it is a foundational particle, knowing how it interacts with nouns in a sentence is key.
Related Patterns
- من (حرف جر)From
'Min' (from) is the natural opposite of 'ilā' (to), often used together to define ranges of space or time.
Level 1 - Prepositions Change the Ending
This explains the grammatical rule that requires nouns after 'ilā' to take the genitive case ending.
Level 1 - Pronouns Attached to Prepositions
Covers the specific spelling and pronunciation changes that occur when pronouns are attached to prepositions like 'ilā'.
Level 2 - لِـ (الملكية)Belonging with لِ
Often confused with 'ilā', this preposition is used for purpose and belonging rather than physical destination.
Level 1 - حتىUp Until
Similar to 'ilā' in meaning 'until', but 'ḥattā' is more emphatic and often implies the endpoint is included.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice إلى in Bubblegum
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