The Arabic Question Word أَيُّ

The Arabic word أَيُّ is a question word that can mean “which”, “what”, “which one” or “what kind of”, depending on the context. It is used to ask about a choice, an identity or a category.

In this lesson, we will study how to use أَيُّ in Arabic questions. This word is especially important because it often works like an idafa construction. This means that أَيُّ is the first term of the construction, called مُضَافٌ, and the noun that follows it is the second term, called مُضَافٌ إِلَيْهِ.

This lesson is useful for beginners, but also for students who want to improve their Arabic grammar, Arabic reading, literary Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic and Quranic Arabic.

What Does أَيُّ Mean in Arabic?

The word أَيُّ is used to ask a question equivalent to “which”, “what” or “which one” in English.

Examples:

• أَيُّ بَيْتٍ هَذَا؟: which house is this?
• أَيُّ مَدْرَسَةٍ هَذِهِ؟: which school is this?
• أَيُّ يَوْمٍ هَذَا؟: what day is this?

The exact translation depends on the noun that follows it and on the context of the sentence.

Why Does أَيُّ Work Like an Idafa Construction?

Unlike some other Arabic question words, أَيُّ often works like an idafa construction.

In the expression أَيُّ بَيْتٍ, the word أَيُّ is the مُضَافٌ, and بَيْتٍ is the مُضَافٌ إِلَيْهِ.

This is why the noun that follows أَيُّ is generally in the genitive case.

Example:

أَيُّ بَيْتٍ هَذَا؟

Which house is this?

The word بَيْتٍ has a final kasrah because it is the second term of the idafa construction.

أَيُّ in the Nominative Case

The word أَيُّ is declinable. Its final vowel changes according to its grammatical function in the sentence.

When it appears at the beginning of a nominal sentence and functions as the grammatical subject, it is generally in the nominative case. It then carries a dammah.

Examples:

• أَيُّ بَيْتٍ هَذَا؟: which house is this?
• أَيُّ مَدْرَسَةٍ هَذِهِ؟: which school is this?
• أَيُّ يَوْمٍ هَذَا؟: what day is this?

In these examples, the form is أَيُّ with a final dammah.

أَيِّ in the Genitive Case

When أَيُّ is preceded by a preposition, it moves to the genitive case. Its form becomes أَيِّ.

Examples:

• فِي أَيِّ غُرْفَةٍ دَخَلْتَ؟: which room did you enter?
• فِي أَيِّ مَدْرَسَةٍ أَنْتَ؟: which school are you in?
• مِنْ أَيِّ بَلَدٍ أَنْتَ؟: which country are you from?

In these examples, the prepositions فِي and مِنْ cause أَيِّ to be in the genitive case.

أَيَّ in the Accusative Case

When أَيُّ has an accusative function in the sentence, for example when it is the object of the verb, it takes the form أَيَّ.

Example:

أَيَّ لُغَةٍ تُحِبُّ؟

Which language do you like?

In this sentence, أَيَّ لُغَةٍ is the object of the verb تُحِبُّ. The word أَيَّ is therefore in the accusative case.

Another example:

أَيَّ كِتَابٍ تُحِبُّونَ؟

Which book do you like?

Table of the Forms of أَيُّ

This table helps students remember the three main forms of أَيُّ.

Examples of Questions with أَيُّ

Here are several examples to understand how أَيُّ is used in simple Arabic questions.

• أَيُّ يَوْمٍ هَذَا؟: what day is this?
• أَيُّ شَهْرٍ هَذَا؟: what month is this?
• أَيُّ كُلِّيَّةٍ هَذِهِ؟: which faculty is this?
• فِي أَيِّ مَدْرَسَةٍ أَنْتَ؟: which school are you in?
• مِنْ أَيِّ بَلَدٍ أَنْتَ؟: which country are you from?
• أَيَّ كِتَابٍ تُحِبُّونَ؟: which book do you like?

Answering a Question with أَيُّ

To answer a question with أَيُّ, the speaker usually gives the requested element.

Examples:

• أَيُّ يَوْمٍ هَذَا؟: what day is this?
• هَذَا يَوْمُ السَّبْتِ: it is Saturday.

• أَيُّ شَهْرٍ هَذَا؟: what month is this?
• هَذَا شَهْرُ رَجَبٍ: it is the month of Rajab.

• أَيُّ كُلِّيَّةٍ هَذِهِ؟: which faculty is this?
• هَذِهِ كُلِّيَّةُ التِّجَارَةِ: this is the faculty of commerce.

• مِنْ أَيِّ بَلَدٍ أَنْتَ؟: which country are you from?
• أَنَا مِنَ الأُرْدُن: I am from Jordan.

Difference Between أَيُّ and Other Arabic Question Words

The word أَيُّ is not used exactly like other Arabic question words. It is used to ask about a choice or an identification among several possibilities.

For example:

• مَنْ means “who”;
• مَا means “what”;
• أَيْنَ means “where”;
• أَيُّ means “which” or “which one”.

The special feature of أَيُّ is that it is declinable and often works like an idafa construction.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes made by students who learn the Arabic question word أَيُّ:

• forgetting that أَيُّ works like an idafa construction;
• not putting the following noun in the genitive case;
• using أَيُّ after a preposition instead of أَيِّ;
• using أَيُّ as the object of a verb instead of أَيَّ;
• always translating أَيُّ in the same way without considering the context.

These mistakes are normal at the beginning. They gradually decrease with reading, exercises and correction.

Learn Arabic Questions with a Teacher

Arabic question words require students to understand the meaning of the word, its place in the sentence and sometimes its grammatical case. The word أَيُّ is especially important because it changes form according to its function.

To learn Arabic effectively, online Arabic classes with an Arabic teacher online help students move step by step. A teacher can correct your mistakes, explain grammar rules and provide exercises adapted to your level.

At Al-Dirassa, you can take private Arabic lessons, start Arabic for beginners, progress in Modern Standard Arabic, strengthen your Quranic Arabic or use free Arabic books for beginners alongside your lessons.

Conclusion

The word أَيُّ is an Arabic question word that means “which”, “what” or “which one”, depending on the context. It is used to ask about the identity, choice or category of an element.

It often works like an idafa construction: أَيُّ is the مُضَافٌ, and the following noun is the مُضَافٌ إِلَيْهِ. The word أَيُّ is also declinable: it can appear as أَيُّ, أَيِّ or أَيَّ depending on its grammatical function.

With a progressive method, regular examples and correction from a teacher, questions with أَيُّ become easier to understand and use in correct Arabic sentences.