This lesson focuses on the third person masculine singular pronoun هُوَ (huwa) meaning "he" in Arabic. As one of the most fundamental pronouns in the Arabic language, هُوَ appears in countless contexts and is essential for basic communication. For autodidact students, understanding this pronoun opens the door to describing actions, states, and attributes of masculine subjects.
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FAQ: What does هُوَ mean in Arabic? Answer: هُوَ (huwa) is the third person masculine singular pronoun meaning "he" in Arabic. It refers to a male person or grammatically masculine noun that has already been mentioned or is understood from context. Unlike English, Arabic pronouns can often be omitted when the subject is clear from verb conjugation, but هُوَ is frequently used for emphasis or clarity.
In the following 15 examples, you'll see هُوَ used in various positions - as a subject pronoun, in nominal sentences (where it can serve as a copula), and in different grammatical constructions. The pronoun agrees with masculine singular verbs and adjectives, making it a cornerstone of Arabic grammar.
Educational Note: This lesson is designed as language learning material for English speakers studying Modern Standard Arabic, using the interlinear glossing method developed by the Latinum Institute.
Key Takeaways: -
هُوَ is the independent pronoun for "he" -
It can be emphasized or omitted depending on context -
When used with nouns and adjectives, it can function as a copula (is/are) -
The pronoun triggers masculine singular agreement in verbs and adjectives
Arabic is written from right to left using a cursive script where most letters connect to each other. The pronoun هُوَ consists of two letters: هـ (hā') and و (wāw), with a damma (ُ) vowel mark on the first letter. For beginners, note that Arabic letters change form depending on their position in a word (initial, medial, final, or isolated).
Transliteration System: This lesson uses a modified version of the standard academic transliteration with the following conventions: -
Long vowels: ā, ī, ū -
Emphatic consonants: ṣ, ḍ, ṭ, ẓ -
Pharyngeal sounds: ḥ, ʿ (ayn) -
Glottal stop: ʾ (hamza)
Common Learner Mistakes: -
Confusing هُوَ (huwa - he) with هِيَ (hiya - she) -
Forgetting that Arabic verbs already contain pronoun information -
Misunderstanding when to use the independent pronoun vs. when it's implied
16.1 هُوَ (huwa) he يَكْتُبُ (yaktubu) writes-3MSG رِسَالَةً (risālatan) letter-ACC إِلَى (ʾilā) to صَدِيقِهِ (ṣadīqihi) friend-his-GEN
16.2 قَالَ (qāla) said-3MSG الْمُعَلِّمُ (al-muʿallimu) the-teacher-NOM إِنَّ (ʾinna) that هُوَ (huwa) he طَالِبٌ (ṭālibun) student-NOM مُمْتَازٌ (mumtāzun) excellent-NOM
16.3 هُوَ (huwa) he طَبِيبٌ (ṭabībun) doctor-NOM فِي (fī) in الْمُسْتَشْفَى (al-mustašfā) the-hospital-GEN الْكَبِيرِ (al-kabīri) the-big-GEN
16.4 عِنْدَمَا (ʿindamā) when جَاءَ (jāʾa) came-3MSG هُوَ (huwa) he أَحْضَرَ (ʾaḥḍara) brought-3MSG الْهَدَايَا (al-hadāyā) the-gifts-ACC
16.5 هُوَ (huwa) he لَا (lā) not يَعْرِفُ (yaʿrifu) knows-3MSG الْجَوَابَ (al-jawāba) the-answer-ACC الصَّحِيحَ (aṣ-ṣaḥīḥa) the-correct-ACC
16.6 سَأَلْتُ (saʾaltu) asked-I عَنْهُ (ʿanhu) about-him وَ (wa) and هُوَ (huwa) he فِي (fī) in الْمَكْتَبَةِ (al-maktabati) the-library-GEN
16.7 يَعْتَقِدُ (yaʿtaqidu) believes-3MSG أَنَّ (ʾanna) that هُوَ (huwa) he الْأَفْضَلُ (al-ʾafḍalu) the-best-NOM بَيْنَ (bayna) among زُمَلَائِهِ (zumalāʾihi) colleagues-his-GEN
16.8 هُوَ (huwa) he يَقْرَأُ (yaqraʾu) reads-3MSG الْقُرْآنَ (al-qurʾāna) the-Quran-ACC كُلَّ (kulla) every صَبَاحٍ (ṣabāḥin) morning-GEN
16.9 الْكِتَابُ (al-kitābu) the-book-NOM الَّذِي (allaḏī) which هُوَ (huwa) he يَحْمِلُهُ (yaḥmiluhu) carries-it-3MSG ثَقِيلٌ (ṯaqīlun) heavy-NOM
16.10 هُوَ (huwa) he سَيُسَافِرُ (sa-yusāfiru) will-travel-3MSG غَدًا (ġadan) tomorrow إِلَى (ʾilā) to دُبَيّ (dubayy) Dubai
16.11 لَمَّا (lammā) when رَأَيْتُهُ (raʾaytuhu) saw-I-him هُوَ (huwa) he كَانَ (kāna) was-3MSG يَبْتَسِمُ (yabtasimu) smiling-3MSG
16.12 هُوَ (huwa) he وَ (wa) and أَخُوهُ (ʾaḫūhu) brother-his-NOM يَعْمَلَانِ (yaʿmalāni) work-3MDU مَعًا (maʿan) together
16.13 قُلْتُ (qultu) said-I لَهُ (lahu) to-him إِنَّ (ʾinna) that هُوَ (huwa) he مُخْطِئٌ (muḫṭiʾun) mistaken-NOM
16.14 هُوَ (huwa) he الَّذِي (allaḏī) who عَلَّمَنِي (ʿallamanī) taught-me اللُّغَةَ (al-luġata) the-language-ACC الْعَرَبِيَّةَ (al-ʿarabiyyata) the-Arabic-ACC
16.15 لَوْ (law) if هُوَ (huwa) he دَرَسَ (darasa) studied-3MSG أَكْثَرَ (ʾakṯara) more لَنَجَحَ (la-najaḥa) would-have-succeeded-3MSG
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16.1 هُوَ يَكْتُبُ رِسَالَةً إِلَى صَدِيقِهِ. He is writing a letter to his friend.
16.2 قَالَ الْمُعَلِّمُ إِنَّ هُوَ طَالِبٌ مُمْتَازٌ. The teacher said that he is an excellent student.
16.3 هُوَ طَبِيبٌ فِي الْمُسْتَشْفَى الْكَبِيرِ. He is a doctor in the big hospital.
16.4 عِنْدَمَا جَاءَ هُوَ، أَحْضَرَ الْهَدَايَا. When he came, he brought gifts.
16.5 هُوَ لَا يَعْرِفُ الْجَوَابَ الصَّحِيحَ. He doesn't know the correct answer.
16.6 سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْمَكْتَبَةِ. I asked about him while he was in the library.
16.7 يَعْتَقِدُ أَنَّ هُوَ الْأَفْضَلُ بَيْنَ زُمَلَائِهِ. He believes that he is the best among his colleagues.
16.8 هُوَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّ صَبَاحٍ. He reads the Quran every morning.
16.9 الْكِتَابُ الَّذِي هُوَ يَحْمِلُهُ ثَقِيلٌ. The book that he is carrying is heavy.
16.10 هُوَ سَيُسَافِرُ غَدًا إِلَى دُبَيّ. He will travel to Dubai tomorrow.
16.11 لَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُ، هُوَ كَانَ يَبْتَسِمُ. When I saw him, he was smiling.
16.12 هُوَ وَأَخُوهُ يَعْمَلَانِ مَعًا. He and his brother work together.
16.13 قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ هُوَ مُخْطِئٌ. I told him that he is mistaken.
16.14 هُوَ الَّذِي عَلَّمَنِي اللُّغَةَ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ. He is the one who taught me the Arabic language.
16.15 لَوْ هُوَ دَرَسَ أَكْثَرَ، لَنَجَحَ. If he had studied more, he would have succeeded.
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16.1 هُوَ يَكْتُبُ رِسَالَةً إِلَى صَدِيقِهِ.
16.2 قَالَ الْمُعَلِّمُ إِنَّ هُوَ طَالِبٌ مُمْتَازٌ.
16.3 هُوَ طَبِيبٌ فِي الْمُسْتَشْفَى الْكَبِيرِ.
16.4 عِنْدَمَا جَاءَ هُوَ، أَحْضَرَ الْهَدَايَا.
16.5 هُوَ لَا يَعْرِفُ الْجَوَابَ الصَّحِيحَ.
16.6 سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْمَكْتَبَةِ.
16.7 يَعْتَقِدُ أَنَّ هُوَ الْأَفْضَلُ بَيْنَ زُمَلَائِهِ.
16.8 هُوَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّ صَبَاحٍ.
16.9 الْكِتَابُ الَّذِي هُوَ يَحْمِلُهُ ثَقِيلٌ.
16.10 هُوَ سَيُسَافِرُ غَدًا إِلَى دُبَيّ.
16.11 لَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُ، هُوَ كَانَ يَبْتَسِمُ.
16.12 هُوَ وَأَخُوهُ يَعْمَلَانِ مَعًا.
16.13 قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ هُوَ مُخْطِئٌ.
16.14 هُوَ الَّذِي عَلَّمَنِي اللُّغَةَ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ.
16.15 لَوْ هُوَ دَرَسَ أَكْثَرَ، لَنَجَحَ.
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These are the grammar rules for هُوَ (huwa):
Basic Function: هُوَ is the third person masculine singular independent pronoun in Arabic. Unlike English, Arabic has two types of pronouns: independent (separate) pronouns like هُوَ, and attached (suffix) pronouns like ـهُ (-hu). The independent pronoun is used for emphasis, contrast, or when the pronoun stands alone.
Nominal Sentences: In Arabic nominal sentences (sentences without a verb), هُوَ can function as a copula, linking the subject to a predicate. For example: هُوَ طَبِيبٌ (huwa ṭabībun) means "He is a doctor." The pronoun here serves the function of the verb "to be" which doesn't exist in the present tense in Arabic.
Verbal Sentences: When used with verbs, هُوَ emphasizes the subject. Arabic verbs already contain pronoun information in their conjugation, so adding هُوَ provides emphasis or clarification. Compare: يَكْتُبُ (yaktubu - he writes) with هُوَ يَكْتُبُ (huwa yaktubu - HE writes/It is he who writes).
Agreement: هُوَ requires masculine singular agreement with verbs, adjectives, and demonstratives. Verbs following هُوَ must be in the third person masculine singular form (past: فَعَلَ faʿala, present: يَفْعَلُ yafʿalu).
Position: هُوَ can appear in various positions: -
Subject position: هُوَ قَالَ (huwa qāla - he said) -
After particles: إِنَّ هُوَ (ʾinna huwa - that he) -
In relative clauses: الَّذِي هُوَ (allaḏī huwa - who he)
Common Mistakes: -
Using هُوَ when the pronoun is already clear from the verb conjugation (unless emphasis is intended) -
Confusing هُوَ with the attached pronoun ـهُ (-hu) -
Forgetting that هُوَ can serve as a copula in nominal sentences -
Using feminine agreement with هُوَ instead of masculine
Comparison with English: English always requires an explicit subject pronoun ("he writes"), while Arabic can express this with just the verb conjugation (يَكْتُبُ). The addition of هُوَ in Arabic adds emphasis that might be conveyed in English through stress or word order ("HE writes" or "It's he who writes").
Conjugation Reference: Independent pronouns third person: -
Masculine singular: هُوَ (huwa) - he -
Feminine singular: هِيَ (hiya) - she -
Masculine dual: هُمَا (humā) - they two (m.) -
Feminine dual: هُمَا (humā) - they two (f.) -
Masculine plural: هُمْ (hum) - they (m.) -
Feminine plural: هُنَّ (hunna) - they (f.)
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Formal vs. Informal Usage: In Modern Standard Arabic, هُوَ maintains the same form in both formal and informal contexts. However, in spoken dialects, the pronunciation varies significantly. Egyptian Arabic often reduces it to "huwwa," Levantine dialects may say "huwwe," and Gulf dialects might pronounce it as "huw" or "hu."
Religious Context: The pronoun هُوَ holds special significance in Islamic texts. In the Quran, it frequently refers to Allah, often appearing in the phrase هُوَ اللَّهُ (huwa Allāh - He is Allah). The divine name الْهُوَ (al-Huw) meaning "The He" is considered one of the mystical names of God in Sufi tradition.
Literary Usage: Classical Arabic poetry often employs هُوَ at the beginning of verses for emphasis or to maintain meter. The pronoun can create a dramatic effect when revealing the identity of an unnamed subject built up through previous verses.
Regional Variations: -
North African dialects: Often pronounced as "huwa" with a stronger 'w' sound -
Gulf Arabic: May be shortened to "hu" in rapid speech -
Levantine: "huwwe" with the final vowel changed -
Egyptian: "huwwa" with gemination (doubling) of the 'w'
Idiomatic Expressions: -
هُوَ هُوَ (huwa huwa) - "It's the same" (literally: he is he) -
هُوَ ذَا (huwa ḏā) - "Here he is" / "Behold" -
مَنْ هُوَ؟ (man huwa?) - "Who is he?" -
هُوَ الَّذِي (huwa allaḏī) - "He is the one who"
Syntactical Peculiarities: In some classical texts and formal writing, هُوَ can appear redundantly for stylistic emphasis, even when the subject is already clear. This rhetorical device, called "pronoun of separation" (ḍamīr al-faṣl), distinguishes the subject from the predicate in nominal sentences.
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From "ألف ليلة وليلة" (Alf Layla wa-Layla - One Thousand and One Nights), from the story of Aladdin:
كَانَ عَلَاءُ الدِّينِ شَابًّا فَقِيرًا يَعِيشُ مَعَ أُمِّهِ فِي إِحْدَى مُدُنِ الصِّينِ. وَفِي يَوْمٍ مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ، جَاءَ رَجُلٌ غَرِيبٌ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ. هُوَ كَانَ سَاحِرًا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ يَبْحَثُ عَنْ مِصْبَاحٍ سِحْرِيٍّ. رَأَى عَلَاءَ الدِّينِ فِي السُّوقِ وَقَالَ: "هُوَ الْفَتَى الَّذِي أَبْحَثُ عَنْهُ. هُوَ وَحْدَهُ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُحْضِرَ لِي الْمِصْبَاحَ." فَاقْتَرَبَ مِنْهُ وَادَّعَى أَنَّهُ عَمُّهُ.
كَانَ (kāna) was عَلَاءُ (ʿalāʾu) Aladdin الدِّينِ (ad-dīni) the-religion-GEN شَابًّا (šābban) youth-ACC فَقِيرًا (faqīran) poor-ACC يَعِيشُ (yaʿīšu) lives-3MSG مَعَ (maʿa) with أُمِّهِ (ʾummihi) mother-his-GEN فِي (fī) in إِحْدَى (ʾiḥdā) one-of مُدُنِ (muduni) cities-GEN الصِّينِ (aṣ-ṣīni) the-China-GEN. وَفِي (wa-fī) and-in يَوْمٍ (yawmin) day-GEN مِنَ (min) from الْأَيَّامِ (al-ʾayyāmi) the-days-GEN، جَاءَ (jāʾa) came-3MSG رَجُلٌ (rajulun) man-NOM غَرِيبٌ (ġarībun) strange-NOM إِلَى (ʾilā) to الْمَدِينَةِ (al-madīnati) the-city-GEN. هُوَ (huwa) he كَانَ (kāna) was-3MSG سَاحِرًا (sāḥiran) magician-ACC مِنَ (min) from الْمَغْرِبِ (al-maġribi) the-Morocco-GEN يَبْحَثُ (yabḥaṯu) searches-3MSG عَنْ (ʿan) for مِصْبَاحٍ (miṣbāḥin) lamp-GEN سِحْرِيٍّ (siḥriyyin) magical-GEN.
كَانَ عَلَاءُ الدِّينِ شَابًّا فَقِيرًا يَعِيشُ مَعَ أُمِّهِ فِي إِحْدَى مُدُنِ الصِّينِ. وَفِي يَوْمٍ مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ، جَاءَ رَجُلٌ غَرِيبٌ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ. هُوَ كَانَ سَاحِرًا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ يَبْحَثُ عَنْ مِصْبَاحٍ سِحْرِيٍّ. رَأَى عَلَاءَ الدِّينِ فِي السُّوقِ وَقَالَ: "هُوَ الْفَتَى الَّذِي أَبْحَثُ عَنْهُ. هُوَ وَحْدَهُ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُحْضِرَ لِي الْمِصْبَاحَ." فَاقْتَرَبَ مِنْهُ وَادَّعَى أَنَّهُ عَمُّهُ.
Aladdin was a poor young man living with his mother in one of the cities of China. One day, a strange man came to the city. He was a magician from Morocco searching for a magic lamp. He saw Aladdin in the market and said: "He is the boy I'm looking for. He alone can bring me the lamp." So he approached him and claimed that he was his uncle.
كَانَ عَلَاءُ الدِّينِ شَابًّا فَقِيرًا يَعِيشُ مَعَ أُمِّهِ فِي إِحْدَى مُدُنِ الصِّينِ. وَفِي يَوْمٍ مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ، جَاءَ رَجُلٌ غَرِيبٌ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ. هُوَ كَانَ سَاحِرًا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ يَبْحَثُ عَنْ مِصْبَاحٍ سِحْرِيٍّ. رَأَى عَلَاءَ الدِّينِ فِي السُّوقِ وَقَالَ: "هُوَ الْفَتَى الَّذِي أَبْحَثُ عَنْهُ. هُوَ وَحْدَهُ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُحْضِرَ لِي الْمِصْبَاحَ." فَاقْتَرَبَ مِنْهُ وَادَّعَى أَنَّهُ عَمُّهُ.
This passage demonstrates several uses of هُوَ. First, it appears as an emphatic subject pronoun: "هُوَ كَانَ سَاحِرًا" (He was a magician), where the emphasis indicates this is new, important information about the stranger.
The passage also shows هُوَ in the phrase "هُوَ الْفَتَى الَّذِي" (He is the boy who), where it functions as a copula linking the pronoun to a definite noun phrase. Note how الَّذِي (allaḏī - who/which) creates a relative clause.
The expression "هُوَ وَحْدَهُ" (huwa waḥdahu - he alone) uses the pronoun with وَحْدَ (waḥd) meaning "alone/only," with the attached pronoun ـهُ referring back to هُوَ for emphasis.
Key vocabulary includes سَاحِر (sāḥir - magician), مِصْبَاح (miṣbāḥ - lamp), and the verb يَبْحَثُ عَنْ (yabḥaṯu ʿan - to search for). The verb ادَّعَى (iddaʿā - claimed) is in Form VIII, indicating a reflexive or intensive action.
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16.16 أَعْلَنَ (ʾaʿlana) announced-3MSG الْوَزِيرُ (al-wazīru) the-minister-NOM أَنَّ (ʾanna) that هُوَ (huwa) he سَيَزُورُ (sa-yazūru) will-visit-3MSG الْمَدَارِسَ (al-madārisa) the-schools-ACC الْجَدِيدَةَ (al-jadīdata) the-new-ACC الْأُسْبُوعَ (al-ʾusbūʿa) the-week-ACC الْقَادِمَ (al-qādima) the-coming-ACC
16.17 هُوَ (huwa) he صَرَّحَ (ṣarraḥa) stated-3MSG لِلصَّحَفِيِّينَ (li-ṣ-ṣaḥafiyyīna) to-the-journalists-GEN بِأَنَّ (bi-ʾanna) that الْحُكُومَةَ (al-ḥukūmata) the-government-ACC مُلْتَزِمَةٌ (multazimatu) committed-NOM بِتَطْوِيرِ (bi-taṭwīri) with-developing-GEN التَّعْلِيمِ (at-taʿlīmi) the-education-GEN
16.18 وَفْقًا (wafqan) according لِلتَّقَارِيرِ (li-t-taqārīri) to-the-reports-GEN هُوَ (huwa) he خَصَّصَ (ḫaṣṣaṣa) allocated-3MSG مِيزَانِيَّةً (mīzāniyyatan) budget-ACC ضَخْمَةً (ḍaḫmatan) huge-ACC لِهَذَا (li-hāḏā) for-this الْمَشْرُوعِ (al-mašrūʿi) the-project-GEN
16.19 الْمُعَارِضُونَ (al-muʿāriḍūna) the-opponents-NOM يَقُولُونَ (yaqūlūna) say-3MPL إِنَّ (ʾinna) that هُوَ (huwa) he لَمْ (lam) not يَفِ (yafi) fulfill-JUSS-3MSG بِوُعُودِهِ (bi-wuʿūdihi) with-promises-his-GEN السَّابِقَةِ (as-sābiqati) the-previous-GEN
16.20 هُوَ (huwa) he رَدَّ (radda) responded-3MSG عَلَى (ʿalā) to الانْتِقَادَاتِ (al-intiqādāti) the-criticisms-GEN قَائِلًا (qāʾilan) saying-ACC إِنَّ (ʾinna) that الْإِصْلَاحَاتِ (al-ʾiṣlāḥāti) the-reforms-ACC تَحْتَاجُ (taḥtāju) need-3FSG وَقْتًا (waqtan) time-ACC
16.21 ذَكَرَتْ (ḏakarat) mentioned-3FSG الصُّحُفُ (aṣ-ṣuḥufu) the-newspapers-NOM أَنَّ (ʾanna) that هُوَ (huwa) he سَيَلْتَقِي (sa-yaltaqī) will-meet-3MSG مَعَ (maʿa) with الْخُبَرَاءِ (al-ḫubarāʾi) the-experts-GEN الدَّوْلِيِّينَ (ad-dawliyyīna) the-international-GEN
16.22 هُوَ (huwa) he أَكَّدَ (ʾakkada) confirmed-3MSG أَنَّ (ʾanna) that الْخُطَّةَ (al-ḫuṭṭata) the-plan-ACC سَتَشْمَلُ (sa-tašmalu) will-include-3FSG جَمِيعَ (jamīʿa) all-ACC الْمُحَافَظَاتِ (al-muḥāfaẓāti) the-provinces-GEN
16.23 عِنْدَ (ʿinda) at سُؤَالِهِ (suʾālihi) questioning-him-GEN عَنِ (ʿani) about الْمَوْعِدِ (al-mawʿidi) the-date-GEN هُوَ (huwa) he قَالَ (qāla) said-3MSG سَنَبْدَأُ (sa-nabdaʾu) we-will-start-1PL قَرِيبًا (qarīban) soon-ACC
16.24 هُوَ (huwa) he كَانَ (kāna) was-3MSG قَدْ (qad) already وَعَدَ (waʿada) promised-3MSG بِإِنْشَاءِ (bi-ʾinšāʾi) with-establishing-GEN مَرَاكِزَ (marākiza) centers-GEN تَدْرِيبٍ (tadrībin) training-GEN جَدِيدَةٍ (jadīdatin) new-GEN
16.25 يُتَوَقَّعُ (yutawaqqaʿu) is-expected-3MSG-PASS أَنْ (ʾan) that هُوَ (huwa) he سَيُعْلِنُ (sa-yuʿlinu) will-announce-3MSG تَفَاصِيلَ (tafāṣīla) details-ACC أُخْرَى (ʾuḫrā) other-ACC غَدًا (ġadan) tomorrow
16.26 هُوَ (huwa) he شَدَّدَ (šaddada) stressed-3MSG عَلَى (ʿalā) on أَهَمِّيَّةِ (ʾahammiyyati) importance-GEN التَّعَاوُنِ (at-taʿāwuni) the-cooperation-GEN بَيْنَ (bayna) between الْوِزَارَاتِ (al-wizārāti) the-ministries-GEN
16.27 قَالَ (qāla) said-3MSG مُسَاعِدُهُ (musāʿiduhu) assistant-his-NOM إِنَّ (ʾinna) that هُوَ (huwa) he يَعْمَلُ (yaʿmalu) works-3MSG سِتَّ (sitta) sixteen سَاعَةً (sāʿatan) hour-ACC يَوْمِيًّا (yawmiyyan) daily-ACC
16.28 هُوَ (huwa) he نَفَى (nafā) denied-3MSG الشَّائِعَاتِ (aš-šāʾiʿāti) the-rumors-ACC حَوْلَ (ḥawla) about اسْتِقَالَتِهِ (istiqālatihi) resignation-his-GEN الْمُحْتَمَلَةِ (al-muḥtamalati) the-possible-GEN
16.29 أَضَافَ (ʾaḍāfa) added-3MSG أَنَّ (ʾanna) that هُوَ (huwa) he مُتَفَائِلٌ (mutafāʾilun) optimistic-NOM بِشَأْنِ (bi-šaʾni) regarding-GEN نَتَائِجِ (natāʾiji) results-GEN الْمُبَادَرَةِ (al-mubādarati) the-initiative-GEN
16.30 هُوَ (huwa) he سَيَحْضُرُ (sa-yaḥḍuru) will-attend-3MSG الْمُؤْتَمَرَ (al-muʾtamara) the-conference-ACC الصَّحَفِيَّ (aṣ-ṣaḥafiyya) the-press-ACC يَوْمَ (yawma) day-ACC الْخَمِيسِ (al-ḫamīsi) the-Thursday-GEN
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16.16 أَعْلَنَ الْوَزِيرُ أَنَّ هُوَ سَيَزُورُ الْمَدَارِسَ الْجَدِيدَةَ الْأُسْبُوعَ الْقَادِمَ. The minister announced that he will visit the new schools next week.
16.17 هُوَ صَرَّحَ لِلصَّحَفِيِّينَ بِأَنَّ الْحُكُومَةَ مُلْتَزِمَةٌ بِتَطْوِيرِ التَّعْلِيمِ. He stated to journalists that the government is committed to developing education.
16.18 وَفْقًا لِلتَّقَارِيرِ، هُوَ خَصَّصَ مِيزَانِيَّةً ضَخْمَةً لِهَذَا الْمَشْرُوعِ. According to reports, he allocated a huge budget for this project.
16.19 الْمُعَارِضُونَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ هُوَ لَمْ يَفِ بِوُعُودِهِ السَّابِقَةِ. The opposition says that he has not fulfilled his previous promises.
16.20 هُوَ رَدَّ عَلَى الانْتِقَادَاتِ قَائِلًا إِنَّ الْإِصْلَاحَاتِ تَحْتَاجُ وَقْتًا. He responded to criticisms saying that reforms need time.
16.21 ذَكَرَتْ الصُّحُفُ أَنَّ هُوَ سَيَلْتَقِي مَعَ الْخُبَرَاءِ الدَّوْلِيِّينَ. The newspapers mentioned that he will meet with international experts.
16.22 هُوَ أَكَّدَ أَنَّ الْخُطَّةَ سَتَشْمَلُ جَمِيعَ الْمُحَافَظَاتِ. He confirmed that the plan will include all provinces.
16.23 عِنْدَ سُؤَالِهِ عَنِ الْمَوْعِدِ، هُوَ قَالَ سَنَبْدَأُ قَرِيبًا. When asked about the date, he said we will start soon.
16.24 هُوَ كَانَ قَدْ وَعَدَ بِإِنْشَاءِ مَرَاكِزَ تَدْرِيبٍ جَدِيدَةٍ. He had promised to establish new training centers.
16.25 يُتَوَقَّعُ أَنْ هُوَ سَيُعْلِنُ تَفَاصِيلَ أُخْرَى غَدًا. It is expected that he will announce other details tomorrow.
16.26 هُوَ شَدَّدَ عَلَى أَهَمِّيَّةِ التَّعَاوُنِ بَيْنَ الْوِزَارَاتِ. He stressed the importance of cooperation between ministries.
16.27 قَالَ مُسَاعِدُهُ إِنَّ هُوَ يَعْمَلُ سِتَّ عَشْرَةَ سَاعَةً يَوْمِيًّا. His assistant said that he works sixteen hours daily.
16.28 هُوَ نَفَى الشَّائِعَاتِ حَوْلَ اسْتِقَالَتِهِ الْمُحْتَمَلَةِ. He denied the rumors about his possible resignation.
16.29 أَضَافَ أَنَّ هُوَ مُتَفَائِلٌ بِشَأْنِ نَتَائِجِ الْمُبَادَرَةِ. He added that he is optimistic about the results of the initiative.
16.30 هُوَ سَيَحْضُرُ الْمُؤْتَمَرَ الصَّحَفِيَّ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ. He will attend the press conference on Thursday.
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16.16 أَعْلَنَ الْوَزِيرُ أَنَّ هُوَ سَيَزُورُ الْمَدَارِسَ الْجَدِيدَةَ الْأُسْبُوعَ الْقَادِمَ.
16.17 هُوَ صَرَّحَ لِلصَّحَفِيِّينَ بِأَنَّ الْحُكُومَةَ مُلْتَزِمَةٌ بِتَطْوِيرِ التَّعْلِيمِ.
16.18 وَفْقًا لِلتَّقَارِيرِ، هُوَ خَصَّصَ مِيزَانِيَّةً ضَخْمَةً لِهَذَا الْمَشْرُوعِ.
16.19 الْمُعَارِضُونَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ هُوَ لَمْ يَفِ بِوُعُودِهِ السَّابِقَةِ.
16.20 هُوَ رَدَّ عَلَى الانْتِقَادَاتِ قَائِلًا إِنَّ الْإِصْلَاحَاتِ تَحْتَاجُ وَقْتًا.
16.21 ذَكَرَتْ الصُّحُفُ أَنَّ هُوَ سَيَلْتَقِي مَعَ الْخُبَرَاءِ الدَّوْلِيِّينَ.
16.22 هُوَ أَكَّدَ أَنَّ الْخُطَّةَ سَتَشْمَلُ جَمِيعَ الْمُحَافَظَاتِ.
16.23 عِنْدَ سُؤَالِهِ عَنِ الْمَوْعِدِ، هُوَ قَالَ سَنَبْدَأُ قَرِيبًا.
16.24 هُوَ كَانَ قَدْ وَعَدَ بِإِنْشَاءِ مَرَاكِزَ تَدْرِيبٍ جَدِيدَةٍ.
16.25 يُتَوَقَّعُ أَنْ هُوَ سَيُعْلِنُ تَفَاصِيلَ أُخْرَى غَدًا.
16.26 هُوَ شَدَّدَ عَلَى أَهَمِّيَّةِ التَّعَاوُنِ بَيْنَ الْوِزَارَاتِ.
16.27 قَالَ مُسَاعِدُهُ إِنَّ هُوَ يَعْمَلُ سِتَّ عَشْرَةَ سَاعَةً يَوْمِيًّا.
16.28 هُوَ نَفَى الشَّائِعَاتِ حَوْلَ اسْتِقَالَتِهِ الْمُحْتَمَلَةِ.
16.29 أَضَافَ أَنَّ هُوَ مُتَفَائِلٌ بِشَأْنِ نَتَائِجِ الْمُبَادَرَةِ.
16.30 هُوَ سَيَحْضُرُ الْمُؤْتَمَرَ الصَّحَفِيَّ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ.
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This news report genre demonstrates formal Modern Standard Arabic usage of هُوَ in journalistic contexts. The pronoun appears frequently after reporting verbs and particles like أَنَّ (ʾanna - that) and إِنَّ (ʾinna - indeed/that), which require the accusative case for their subjects.
Key reporting verbs include: أَعْلَنَ (ʾaʿlana - announced), صَرَّحَ (ṣarraḥa - stated), أَكَّدَ (ʾakkada - confirmed), نَفَى (nafā - denied), and شَدَّدَ (šaddada - stressed). These verbs often introduce indirect speech using أَنَّ or بِأَنَّ.
The passive voice appears in يُتَوَقَّعُ (yutawaqqaʿu - it is expected), showing how Arabic forms passives by changing the vowel pattern of the verb.
Political vocabulary includes: وَزِير (wazīr - minister), حُكُومَة (ḥukūma - government), مُعَارِضُون (muʿāriḍūn - opposition), إِصْلَاحَات (ʾiṣlāḥāt - reforms), and مُبَادَرَة (mubādara - initiative).
The construction قَدْ + past tense (as in كَانَ قَدْ وَعَدَ - had promised) indicates the past perfect tense, showing an action completed before another past action.
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Key Sounds for English Speakers: -
ح (ḥ): A breathy 'h' sound from deep in the throat (IPA: /ħ/) -
خ (ḫ): Like the 'ch' in German "Bach" (IPA: /x/) -
ع (ʿ): A pharyngeal fricative with no English equivalent (IPA: /ʕ/) -
غ (ġ): Like French 'r' or gargling sound (IPA: /ɣ/) -
ق (q): A 'k' sound from the back of the throat (IPA: /q/) -
ص (ṣ), ض (ḍ), ط (ṭ), ظ (ẓ): Emphatic versions of s, d, t, dh
Vowels: -
Short: a (fatḥa), i (kasra), u (ḍamma) -
Long: ā, ī, ū (held twice as long as short vowels)
Common Errors: -
Pronouncing هُوَ as "who" - the 'h' should be clearly pronounced -
Not distinguishing between ه (h) and ح (ḥ) -
Confusing emphatic and non-emphatic consonants -
Ignoring vowel length distinctions
Stress Patterns: In Modern Standard Arabic, stress generally falls on: -
The last syllable if it's super-heavy (CVVC or CVCC) -
The penultimate syllable if it's heavy (CVV or CVC) -
Otherwise, the antepenultimate syllable
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