In Arabic there is no verb that specifically expresses the concept “to have”. Instead, in the Arabic language, you take a preposition and add a personal ending. There are several variations to this way of expressing ‘have’, but the principle is always the same.
‘to have’ or ‘to own’ something as a general statement
This is formed by adding the preposition 3inda / عند (with) and a personal ending :
There is also another way to express possession: lahu / له
| Transliteration | Arabic | Translation |
| 3indee shanTa kabeera. | عندي / لي شنطة كبيرة. | I have a large bag. |
| hal 3indak nuquud? | هل عندَك / لكَ نقود؟ | Do you have (m.) money? |
| hal 3indik nuquud? | هل عندِك / لكِ نقود؟ | Do you have ((f.) money? |
| 3indahu bayt Saqheer. | عنده / له بيت صغير. | He has a small house. |
| 3indaha bayt Saqheer. | عندها / لها بيت صغير. | She has a small house. |
| 3indana kalb kabeer. | عندنا / لنا كلب كبير. | We have a large dog. |
| hal 3indakum kutub katheera? | هل عندكم / لكم كتب كثيرة؟ | Do you (m. pl.) have many books? |
| hal 3indakunna kutub katheera? | ها عندكن / لكن كتب كثيرة؟ | Do you (f. pl.) have many books? |
| 3indahum madrasa al-yawm. | عندهم / لهم مدرسة اليوم. | They (m. pl.) have lessons (school) today. |
| 3indahunna madrasa al-yawm. | عندهن / لهن مدرسة اليوم. | They (f. pl.) have lessons (school) today. |
to have (with you)
| Transliteration | Arabic | Translation |
| ma3ee shanTa kabeera. | معي شنطة كبيرة. | II have a large bag with me. |
| hal ma3ak nuquud? | هل معك نقود؟ | Do you (m.) have any money with you? |
| hal ma3ik nuquud? | هل معِك هقود؟ | Do you (f.) have any money with you? |
| ma3ahu kalb. | معه كلب. | He has a large dog with him. |
| ma3aha kalb. | معها كلب. | She has a large dog with her. |
| ma3ana kitaab jameel. | معنا كتاب جميل. | We have a nice book with us. |
| hal ma3akum kutub katheera? | هل معكم كتب كثيرة؟ | Have you (m.) got many books with you? |
| hal ma3akunna kutub katheera? | هل معكن كتب كثيرة؟ | Have you (f.) many books with you? |
| ma3ahum aqlaam. | معهم أقلام. | They (m.) have pencils with them. |
| ma3ahunna aqlaam. | معهن أقلام. | They (f.) have pencils with them. |
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