جداً

Very

Level 1

جداً (jiddan) is the standard way to say 'very' in Arabic. It is placed immediately after the adjective or adverb it describes and never changes its form.

How It Works

In Modern Standard Arabic, جداً is the primary tool for intensification. Here are the key rules for its use:

  • Placement: It must follow the word it modifies. This can be an adjective (e.g., 'very big') or an adverb (e.g., 'very quickly').
  • Invariability: It is a 'frozen' form. Even if the noun and adjective are feminine, plural, or in different cases, جداً remains exactly the same. You never add a Tāʾ Marbūṭa to it.
  • Emphasis: For extra intensity, you can repeat the word: جداً جداً (very, very). It is also commonly used after the word كثيراً (much/a lot) to say 'very much' (كثيراً جداً).
  • Grammatical Nature: Technically, it is a noun meaning 'seriousness' or 'effort' used as a Deputy Absolute Object (nāʾib ʿan al-mafʿūl al-muṭlaq). This is why it always carries the tanwīn fatḥ ending.
  • Usage with Verbs: Be careful not to use جداً alone to mean 'a lot' with actions. For verbs, use كثيراً or كثيراً جداً instead.

Examples (4)

  1. البيتُ كبيرٌ جداً.

    The house is very big.

    Word by Word: The house big very.

    Notice how جداً follows the adjective 'big' (kabīr).

  2. هذهِ السيارةُ سريعةٌ جداً.

    This car is very fast.

    Word by Word: This the-car fast very.

    Even though 'car' and 'fast' are feminine, جداً remains masculine/neutral.

  3. يَمشي الوَلَدُ بِبُطءٍ جداً.

    The boy walks very slowly.

    Word by Word: Walks the-boy with-slowness very.

    Here, جداً modifies an adverbial phrase ('with slowness') to mean 'very slowly'.

  4. أنا متعبٌ جداً جداً اليوم.

    I am very, very tired today.

    Word by Word: I tired very very today.

    You can double the word for extra emphasis.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing جداً before the adjective.

    جداً كبير
    كبير جداً

    In English, we say 'very big,' but in Arabic, the intensifier must follow the adjective.

  • Making جداً feminine to match a feminine noun.

    بنت جميلة جدة
    بنت جميلة جداً

    جداً is an adverbial form and does not take gender agreement like adjectives do.

  • Using جداً with verbs to mean 'a lot'.

    أكلتُ جداً
    أكلتُ كثيراً

    جداً is common with feelings and qualities (أحبك جداً, كبير جداً). For eating, working, or other actions of quantity, كثيراً is the usual word.

How It Connects

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

جداًLevel 1Very

Learn This First

To use جداً (very) correctly, you need to understand how adjectives work in Arabic, as it always follows the adjective it modifies. You also need to be familiar with the tanwin marker for pronunciation and the basic structure of a nominal sentence where these descriptions usually occur.

Words in This Pattern

جدا