This lesson explores the Arabic demonstrative and relative pronouns meaning "that" - a fundamental grammatical element that serves both as a pointing word (demonstrative) and as a connector in complex sentences (relative). For autodidact students, understanding "that" in Arabic requires grasping two distinct concepts: ذلك (dhālika) and its variants for demonstrative use ("that thing/person over there"), and الذي/التي (alladhī/allatī) and their variants for relative clauses ("the one that/which"). This lesson is part of the comprehensive Latinum Institute course system, accessible at https://latinum.substack.com/p/index.
FAQ: What does "that" mean in Arabic? In Arabic, "that" has multiple forms depending on its grammatical function. As a demonstrative pronoun, it uses forms like ذلك (dhālika - masculine), تلك (tilka - feminine), and أولئك (ulā'ika - plural). As a relative pronoun, it uses الذي (alladhī - masculine), التي (allatī - feminine), الذين (alladhīna - masculine plural), and اللاتي/اللواتي (allātī/allawātī - feminine plural). These forms must agree with the gender and number of the noun they refer to.
In the following 15 examples, you will encounter "that" used in various contexts - pointing to objects near and far, connecting clauses, and serving as the subject or object of sentences. The examples progress from simple demonstrative uses to more complex relative constructions, providing a comprehensive understanding of this essential Arabic pronoun.
Educational Content: This material is designed for English speakers learning Arabic script and grammar through the Latinum Institute's proven interlinear method.
Key Takeaways: -
Arabic distinguishes between near (هذا) and far (ذلك) demonstratives -
Demonstratives must agree in gender and number -
Relative pronouns are definite and require the definite article -
The relative pronoun changes form based on gender and number -
Word order in relative clauses follows specific patterns
Arabic is written from right to left using a cursive script where most letters connect to each other. The script has 28 letters that change form depending on their position in a word (initial, medial, final, or isolated). Vowels are typically marked with diacritics (harakat) above and below the letters. In this lesson, we provide full vocalization for learners.
Transliteration System: We use a modified academic system where: -
ث = th, ذ = dh, ص = ṣ, ض = ḍ, ط = ṭ, ظ = ẓ -
ع = ', غ = gh, ح = ḥ, خ = kh, ش = sh -
Long vowels: ā, ī, ū -
The definite article ال is transcribed as "al-" with assimilation shown
Common Learner Mistakes: -
Forgetting gender agreement with demonstratives -
Confusing near and far demonstratives -
Using the wrong relative pronoun form -
Omitting the resumptive pronoun in relative clauses
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13.1 ذلك (dhālika) that الكتاب (al-kitābu) the-book مفيد (mufīdun) useful جداً (jiddan) very
13.2 رأيت (ra'aytu) I-saw الرجل (ar-rajula) the-man الذي (alladhī) who/that يعمل (ya'malu) works هنا (hunā) here
13.3 تلك (tilka) that-FEM المرأة (al-mar'atu) the-woman طبيبة (ṭabībatun) doctor-FEM ماهرة (māhiratun) skilled-FEM
13.4 هل (hal) QUESTION تعرف (ta'rifu) you-know ذلك (dhālika) that الشخص (ash-shakhṣa) the-person ؟ (?) ?
13.5 البيت (al-baytu) the-house الذي (alladhī) which/that اشتريناه (ishtaraynāhu) we-bought-it كبير (kabīrun) big
13.6 أولئك (ulā'ika) those الطلاب (aṭ-ṭullābu) the-students يدرسون (yadrusūna) they-study العربية (al-'arabiyyata) the-Arabic
13.7 قرأت (qara'tu) I-read الكتاب (al-kitāba) the-book الذي (alladhī) which/that أعطيتني (a'ṭaytanī) you-gave-me إياه (iyyāhu) it
13.8 ذلك (dhālika) that صحيح (ṣaḥīḥun) correct تماماً (tamāman) completely
13.9 الفتاة (al-fatātu) the-girl التي (allatī) who/that تغني (tughannī) sings أختي (ukhtī) my-sister
13.10 في (fī) in ذلك (dhālika) that الوقت (al-waqti) the-time كنت (kuntu) I-was نائماً (nā'iman) sleeping
13.11 أحب (uḥibbu) I-love تلك (tilka) that-FEM الأغنية (al-ughniyata) the-song الجميلة (al-jamīlata) the-beautiful-FEM
13.12 الأطفال (al-aṭfālu) the-children الذين (alladhīna) who/that-MASC.PL يلعبون (yal'abūna) they-play سعداء (su'adā'u) happy-PL
13.13 بعد (ba'da) after ذلك (dhālika) that سافرنا (sāfarnā) we-traveled إلى (ilā) to مصر (miṣra) Egypt
13.14 المدينة (al-madīnatu) the-city التي (allatī) which/that-FEM زرتها (zurtuhā) I-visited-it جميلة (jamīlatun) beautiful-FEM
13.15 ذلك (dhālika) that ما (mā) what قلته (qultuhu) I-said-it بالضبط (biḍ-ḍabṭi) exactly
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13.1 ذلك الكتاب مفيد جداً That book is very useful.
13.2 رأيت الرجل الذي يعمل هنا I saw the man who works here.
13.3 تلك المرأة طبيبة ماهرة That woman is a skilled doctor.
13.4 هل تعرف ذلك الشخص؟ Do you know that person?
13.5 البيت الذي اشتريناه كبير The house that we bought is big.
13.6 أولئك الطلاب يدرسون العربية Those students study Arabic.
13.7 قرأت الكتاب الذي أعطيتني إياه I read the book that you gave me.
13.8 ذلك صحيح تماماً That is completely correct.
13.9 الفتاة التي تغني أختي The girl who is singing is my sister.
13.10 في ذلك الوقت كنت نائماً At that time I was sleeping.
13.11 أحب تلك الأغنية الجميلة I love that beautiful song.
13.12 الأطفال الذين يلعبون سعداء The children who are playing are happy.
13.13 بعد ذلك سافرنا إلى مصر After that we traveled to Egypt.
13.14 المدينة التي زرتها جميلة The city that I visited is beautiful.
13.15 ذلك ما قلته بالضبط That is exactly what I said.
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13.1 ذلك الكتاب مفيد جداً
13.2 رأيت الرجل الذي يعمل هنا
13.3 تلك المرأة طبيبة ماهرة
13.4 هل تعرف ذلك الشخص؟
13.5 البيت الذي اشتريناه كبير
13.6 أولئك الطلاب يدرسون العربية
13.7 قرأت الكتاب الذي أعطيتني إياه
13.8 ذلك صحيح تماماً
13.9 الفتاة التي تغني أختي
13.10 في ذلك الوقت كنت نائماً
13.11 أحب تلك الأغنية الجميلة
13.12 الأطفال الذين يلعبون سعداء
13.13 بعد ذلك سافرنا إلى مصر
13.14 المدينة التي زرتها جميلة
13.15 ذلك ما قلته بالضبط
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These are the grammar rules for "that" in Arabic:
Demonstrative Pronouns (Pointing to things): Arabic demonstratives distinguish between near (this) and far (that) objects, and must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
Far demonstratives ("that/those"): -
Masculine singular: ذلك (dhālika) - that -
Feminine singular: تلك (tilka) - that (feminine) -
Plural (both genders): أولئك (ulā'ika) - those
The demonstrative can function as: -
An adjective following a definite noun: الكتاب ذلك (the book, that one) -
A pronoun standing alone: ذلك صحيح (that is correct) -
Part of a noun phrase: ذلك الكتاب (that book)
Relative Pronouns (Connecting clauses): Arabic relative pronouns are always definite and must agree with their antecedent in gender and number: -
Masculine singular: الذي (alladhī) - who/which/that -
Feminine singular: التي (allatī) - who/which/that (fem) -
Masculine plural: الذين (alladhīna) - who/which/that (masc. plural) -
Feminine plural: اللاتي/اللواتي (allātī/allawātī) - who/which/that (fem. plural) -
Dual masculine: اللذان (alladhāni) - who/which/that (two males) -
Dual feminine: اللتان (allatāni) - who/which/that (two females)
Common Mistakes: -
Using masculine demonstratives with feminine nouns -
Forgetting the resumptive pronoun in relative clauses -
Using indefinite relative pronouns with definite antecedents -
Placing demonstratives incorrectly in the sentence
Step-by-Step Guide for Relative Clauses: -
Identify the antecedent (the noun being described) -
Choose the correct relative pronoun form (gender/number agreement) -
Include a resumptive pronoun in the relative clause if needed -
Ensure verb agreement within the relative clause
Grammatical Summary: Demonstrative "that": dhālika (masc.), tilka (fem.), ulā'ika (plural) Position: Can precede or follow the noun Agreement: Must match gender and number
Relative "that": alladhī (masc.), allatī (fem.), alladhīna (masc.pl.), allātī (fem.pl.) Function: Connects dependent clause to main clause Requirement: Antecedent must be definite
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The use of demonstratives in Arabic carries important cultural and social implications. In formal Arabic, the distinction between near and far demonstratives is strictly maintained, while in dialects, usage may vary significantly.
Formal vs. Informal Contexts: In Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), used in media and formal writing, all demonstrative and relative forms are preserved. However, in spoken dialects, these forms are often simplified. For example, Egyptian Arabic uses "da" (ده) for masculine and "di" (دي) for feminine, regardless of distance.
Regional Variations: -
Levantine: Uses "hadāk" (هداك) for "that" -
Gulf: May use "dhāk" (ذاك) or "hādhāk" (هاذاك) -
Maghrebi: Often uses "dīk" (ديك) or "hādīk" (هاديك)
Idiomatic Expressions: -
بعد ذلك (ba'da dhālika) - "after that" (commonly used transition) -
مع ذلك (ma'a dhālika) - "with that/nevertheless" -
ذلك أن (dhālika anna) - "that is because" -
كل ذلك (kullu dhālika) - "all of that"
Syntactical Peculiarities: Arabic relative clauses often require a resumptive pronoun that refers back to the antecedent, especially when the relative pronoun is not the subject of the relative clause. This feature, absent in English, must be mastered for natural Arabic expression.
The demonstrative ذلك also appears in classical religious texts with spiritual connotations, as in ذلك الكتاب لا ريب فيه "That is the Book in which there is no doubt" (Quran 2:2), where the demonstrative adds reverence and distance.
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From "Season of Migration to the North" (موسم الهجرة إلى الشمال) by Tayeb Salih:
وأحسست كأن ذلك الرجل ليس رجلاً عادياً، بل شخص آخر أعرفه ولا أعرفه. تلك النظرة التي رأيتها في عينيه، والابتسامة التي ارتسمت على شفتيه، كل ذلك جعلني أتساءل عن حقيقة الأمور التي ظننت أنني أعرفها.
وأحسست (wa-aḥsastu) and-I-felt كأن (ka-anna) as-if ذلك (dhālika) that الرجل (ar-rajula) the-man ليس (laysa) not-is رجلاً (rajulan) man-ACC عادياً ('ādiyyan) ordinary-ACC ، (,) , بل (bal) but شخص (shakhṣun) person آخر (ākharu) another أعرفه (a'rifuhu) I-know-him ولا (wa-lā) and-not أعرفه (a'rifuhu) I-know-him . (.) . تلك (tilka) that-FEM النظرة (an-naẓratu) the-look التي (allatī) which-FEM رأيتها (ra'aytuhā) I-saw-it-FEM في (fī) in عينيه ('aynayhi) his-eyes-DUAL ، (,) , والابتسامة (wa-l-ibtisāmatu) and-the-smile التي (allatī) which-FEM ارتسمت (irtasamat) appeared-FEM على ('alā) on شفتيه (shafatayhi) his-lips-DUAL ، (,) , كل (kullu) all ذلك (dhālika) that جعلني (ja'alanī) made-me أتساءل (atasā'alu) I-wonder عن ('an) about حقيقة (ḥaqīqati) truth الأمور (al-umūri) the-matters التي (allatī) which-FEM ظننت (ẓanantu) I-thought أنني (annanī) that-I أعرفها (a'rifuhā) I-know-it-FEM
وأحسست كأن ذلك الرجل ليس رجلاً عادياً، بل شخص آخر أعرفه ولا أعرفه. تلك النظرة التي رأيتها في عينيه، والابتسامة التي ارتسمت على شفتيه، كل ذلك جعلني أتساءل عن حقيقة الأمور التي ظننت أنني أعرفها.
And I felt as if that man was not an ordinary man, but another person whom I knew and did not know. That look which I saw in his eyes, and the smile which appeared on his lips, all of that made me wonder about the truth of the matters which I thought I knew.
وأحسست كأن ذلك الرجل ليس رجلاً عادياً، بل شخص آخر أعرفه ولا أعرفه. تلك النظرة التي رأيتها في عينيه، والابتسامة التي ارتسمت على شفتيه، كل ذلك جعلني أتساءل عن حقيقة الأمور التي ظننت أنني أعرفها.
This passage masterfully employs both demonstrative and relative pronouns. ذلك الرجل (that man) uses the demonstrative to create psychological distance, suggesting mystery. The feminine demonstrative تلك agrees with النظرة (the look). Three relative pronouns التي connect descriptive clauses to their feminine antecedents.
Key vocabulary: -
أحسست (aḥsastu) - "I felt/sensed" from the root ح-س-س relating to sensation -
عادياً ('ādiyyan) - "ordinary" in the accusative case after ليس -
ارتسمت (irtasamat) - "appeared/was drawn" using Form VIII of ر-س-م -
أتساءل (atasā'alu) - "I wonder" Form VI expressing reflexive action
The phrase كل ذلك (all of that) demonstrates how demonstratives can be modified by quantifiers. The dual forms عينيه (his two eyes) and شفتيه (his two lips) show Arabic's preservation of the dual number.
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13.16 أعلن (a'lana) announced الوزير (al-wazīru) the-minister أن (anna) that ذلك (dhālika) that القرار (al-qarāra) the-decision سيطبق (sa-yuṭabbaqu) will-be-applied غداً (ghadan) tomorrow
13.17 الشركة (ash-sharikatu) the-company التي (allatī) which فازت (fāzat) won-FEM بالعقد (bi-l-'aqdi) with-the-contract تلك (tilka) that-FEM التي (allatī) which توظف (tuwaẓẓifu) employs ألف (alfa) thousand عامل ('āmilin) worker
13.18 قال (qāla) said المتحدث (al-mutaḥaddithu) the-spokesman إن (inna) that ذلك (dhālika) that غير (ghayru) not صحيح (ṣaḥīḥin) correct
13.19 الدول (ad-duwalu) the-countries التي (allatī) which-FEM شاركت (shārakat) participated-FEM أكدت (akkdat) confirmed-FEM أن (anna) that ذلك (dhālika) that ضروري (ḍarūriyyun) necessary
13.20 في (fī) in ذلك (dhālika) that الاجتماع (al-ijtimā'i) the-meeting الذي (alladhī) which عقد ('uqida) was-held أمس (amsi) yesterday تم (tamma) was-completed الاتفاق (al-ittifāqu) the-agreement
13.21 أولئك (ulā'ika) those الخبراء (al-khubarā'u) the-experts الذين (alladhīna) who حضروا (ḥaḍarū) attended أكدوا (akkadū) confirmed ذلك (dhālika) that
13.22 تلك (tilka) that-FEM المشكلة (al-mushkilatu) the-problem التي (allatī) which نواجهها (nuwājihuhā) we-face-it تحتاج (taḥtāju) needs حلاً (ḥallan) solution-ACC عاجلاً ('ājilan) urgent-ACC
13.23 ذكر (dhakara) mentioned التقرير (at-taqrīru) the-report أن (anna) that ذلك (dhālika) that سيؤثر (sa-yu'aththiru) will-affect على ('alā) on الاقتصاد (al-iqtiṣādi) the-economy
13.24 المسؤولون (al-mas'ūlūna) the-officials الذين (alladhīna) who صرحوا (ṣarraḥū) stated بذلك (bi-dhālika) with-that أمس (amsi) yesterday غيروا (ghayyarū) changed رأيهم (ra'yahum) their-opinion
13.25 بعد (ba'da) after ذلك (dhālika) that الحادث (al-ḥādithi) the-incident الذي (alladhī) which وقع (waqa'a) occurred اتخذت (ittakhadhat) took-FEM إجراءات (ijrā'ātun) measures
13.26 تلك (tilka) those-FEM الإجراءات (al-ijrā'ātu) the-measures التي (allatī) which اتخذت (ittukhidhat) were-taken ستمنع (sa-tamna'u) will-prevent ذلك (dhālika) that
13.27 أشار (ashāra) pointed المحلل (al-muḥallilu) the-analyst إلى (ilā) to أن (anna) that ذلك (dhālika) that التطور (at-taṭawwura) the-development مهم (muhimmun) important
13.28 الأرقام (al-arqāmu) the-numbers التي (allatī) which نشرت (nushirat) were-published تؤكد (tu'akkidu) confirm ذلك (dhālika) that التحسن (at-taḥassuna) the-improvement
13.29 ذلك (dhālika) that ما (mā) what توقعه (tawaqqa'ahu) expected-it الخبراء (al-khubarā'u) the-experts الذين (alladhīna) who درسوا (darasū) studied الوضع (al-waḍ'a) the-situation
13.30 في (fī) in ذلك (dhālika) that السياق (as-siyāqi) the-context قالت (qālat) said-FEM المتحدثة (al-mutaḥaddithatu) the-spokeswoman إن (inna) that الحكومة (al-ḥukūmata) the-government ملتزمة (multazimatun) committed-FEM
13.16 أعلن الوزير أن ذلك القرار سيطبق غداً The minister announced that that decision will be implemented tomorrow.
13.17 الشركة التي فازت بالعقد تلك التي توظف ألف عامل The company that won the contract is the one that employs a thousand workers.
13.18 قال المتحدث إن ذلك غير صحيح The spokesman said that that is not correct.
13.19 الدول التي شاركت أكدت أن ذلك ضروري The countries that participated confirmed that that is necessary.
13.20 في ذلك الاجتماع الذي عقد أمس تم الاتفاق In that meeting which was held yesterday, the agreement was reached.
13.21 أولئك الخبراء الذين حضروا أكدوا ذلك Those experts who attended confirmed that.
13.22 تلك المشكلة التي نواجهها تحتاج حلاً عاجلاً That problem which we face needs an urgent solution.
13.23 ذكر التقرير أن ذلك سيؤثر على الاقتصاد The report mentioned that that will affect the economy.
13.24 المسؤولون الذين صرحوا بذلك أمس غيروا رأيهم The officials who stated that yesterday changed their opinion.
13.25 بعد ذلك الحادث الذي وقع اتخذت إجراءات After that incident which occurred, measures were taken.
13.26 تلك الإجراءات التي اتخذت ستمنع ذلك Those measures which were taken will prevent that.
13.27 أشار المحلل إلى أن ذلك التطور مهم The analyst pointed out that that development is important.
13.28 الأرقام التي نشرت تؤكد ذلك التحسن The numbers which were published confirm that improvement.
13.29 ذلك ما توقعه الخبراء الذين درسوا الوضع That is what the experts who studied the situation expected.
13.30 في ذلك السياق قالت المتحدثة إن الحكومة ملتزمة In that context, the spokeswoman said that the government is committed.
13.16 أعلن الوزير أن ذلك القرار سيطبق غداً
13.17 الشركة التي فازت بالعقد تلك التي توظف ألف عامل
13.18 قال المتحدث إن ذلك غير صحيح
13.19 الدول التي شاركت أكدت أن ذلك ضروري
13.20 في ذلك الاجتماع الذي عقد أمس تم الاتفاق
13.21 أولئك الخبراء الذين حضروا أكدوا ذلك
13.22 تلك المشكلة التي نواجهها تحتاج حلاً عاجلاً
13.23 ذكر التقرير أن ذلك سيؤثر على الاقتصاد
13.24 المسؤولون الذين صرحوا بذلك أمس غيروا رأيهم
13.25 بعد ذلك الحادث الذي وقع اتخذت إجراءات
13.26 تلك الإجراءات التي اتخذت ستمنع ذلك
13.27 أشار المحلل إلى أن ذلك التطور مهم
13.28 الأرقام التي نشرت تؤكد ذلك التحسن
13.29 ذلك ما توقعه الخبراء الذين درسوا الوضع
13.30 في ذلك السياق قالت المتحدثة إن الحكومة ملتزمة
This news report genre demonstrates professional Arabic usage of demonstrative and relative pronouns. The conjunction أن (anna) meaning "that" (as in "he said that...") appears frequently in reported speech, distinct from the demonstrative ذلك.
Key patterns observed: -
أن ذلك (anna dhālika) - "that that" combining conjunction and demonstrative -
الذي/التي in attributive relative clauses modifying definite nouns -
بذلك (bi-dhālika) - "with that/thereby" showing demonstrative with preposition -
Passive voice constructions: عُقد ('uqida - was held), اتُّخذت (ittukhidhat - were taken)
Vocabulary notes: -
صرّح (ṣarraḥa) - "to declare/state" (Form II) -
أكّد (akkada) - "to confirm/emphasize" (Form II) -
اتّخذ (ittakhadha) - "to take/adopt" (Form VIII) -
يؤثر على (yu'aththiru 'alā) - "to affect/influence"
The formal register employs complex embedded clauses with multiple levels of subordination, characteristic of Modern Standard Arabic in media contexts.
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IPA Transcription for Key Words: -
ذلك [ðaːlika] - "that" (masculine) -
تلك [tilka] - "that" (feminine) -
أولئك [ʔulaːʔika] - "those" -
الذي [allaðiː] - "who/which" (masc.) -
التي [allatiː] - "who/which" (fem.) -
الذين [allaðiːna] - "who/which" (masc. plural)
Common Pronunciation Errors for English Speakers: -
Confusing ذ [ð] (like "th" in "this") with ز [z] -
Not distinguishing between ض [dˤ] (emphatic d) and د [d] (regular d) -
Dropping the final vowels in formal pronunciation -
Not properly pronouncing the pharyngeal ع [ʕ] -
Merging the glottal stop ء [ʔ] with vowels
Stress Patterns: Arabic stress generally falls on: -
Long vowels in the word -
The penultimate syllable if it's heavy (CVC or CVV) -
Otherwise on the antepenultimate syllable
Audio Reference Suggestions: -
Forvo.com for individual word pronunciation -
Al Jazeera Arabic for formal MSA in context -
Bayna Yadayk audio series for structured learning
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The Latinum Institute has been creating innovative language learning materials since 2006, pioneering the use of interlinear texts for autodidact learners. Our method, based on centuries-old classical language pedagogy, provides immediate comprehension through word-by-word glossing while building genuine understanding of grammar and syntax.
This course uses the construed text approach, where each word is independently glossed, allowing learners to understand complex authentic texts from the very beginning. This method accelerates comprehension by eliminating the frustration of dictionary lookups while maintaining engagement with real language use.
Benefits of the interlinear method: -
Immediate access to authentic texts -
Natural acquisition of word order and syntax -
Reduced cognitive load allows focus on patterns -
Building reading fluency through repetition -
Cultural learning through literary excerpts
The Latinum Institute materials are trusted by thousands of independent learners worldwide. See reviews at https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
For autodidact students, this method provides the structure and support needed for successful self-directed learning, making even complex scripts like Arabic accessible to motivated learners.
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