Have you ever said an Arabic sentence and felt so confident about it… but then you got that look like, “What did you just say?” That usually happens when you translate English prepositions directly into Arabic.
Most beginners learning Arabic fall for this same mistake. They think prepositions are easy, so they translate them from English to Arabic word for word, and then they end up with a sentence that’s completely wrong, even though all the words are actually “correct.”
Arabic prepositions are simply small words that connect the noun to the rest of the sentence in order to show how things are related — reason, direction, place, or possession.
But what we should keep in mind is the fact that they follow Arabic logic and not English. Do not worry — AlifBee is here to help.
In this article, we’ll help you master the most common Arabic prepositions such as في (in), من (from), and إلى (to), which are essential for fluent communication. In addition, we will learn all 21 prepositions in Arabic.
What are prepositions in Arabic?
Prepositions in Arabic, unlike prepositions in English, which mainly indicate relationships between nouns, play an important role in the grammatical case of nouns.
One of the key features that makes Arabic prepositions different from English ones is that they directly affect the grammatical case of the noun that follows them. So, when a noun comes after an Arabic preposition, it automatically appears in the genitive case.
What is harf al-jarr in Arabic grammar?
Harf al-jarr (حرف الجرّ) is the Arabic word for a preposition, and it can be a single word or even a single letter that shows the relationship between nouns. As mentioned earlier, when a noun comes after it, harf al-jarr makes it genitive (مجرور) “majrūr”, usually marked with a kasra.
List of Common Arabic Prepositions with Pronunciation
English
Pronunciation
Arabic
from
min
من
to
ilā
إلى
away from
ʿan
عن
in
fī
في
on
ʿalā
على
to
li-
لـ (اللّام)
with
bi-
بـ (الباء)
like/similar to
ka-
كـ (الكاف)
till
ḥattā
حتّى
for
mundhu
منذ
How Arabic Prepositions Are Used in Sentences
When you learn Arabic prepositions, keep in mind that they connect meaning, so don’t try to memorise or focus only on words.
And this is exactly why you should never translate prepositions word for word, but instead learn which preposition to use depending on the sentence itself.
In Arabic, you can find prepositions:
Prepositions After a Verb
For example, the same verb could have two completely different meanings depending on the preposition that comes right after it:
He looked at the picture
Naẓara ila as-sourati
نظرَ إلى الصّورة
He considered/ examined the topic
Naẓara fi al-al-mawḍūʿi
نظَرَ في الموضوع
In these examples, the same verb naẓara has two completely different meanings in the two sentences, depending on the preposition used in each one.
In addition, some Arabic verbs are considered incomplete if they are not followed by a preposition.
Prepositions After a Noun
A preposition can be used after a noun in order to describe it or complete its meaning.
For example:
A novel about Love
riwāyatun ʿani l-ḥubb
روايةٌ عن الحُبّ
A group of students
majmūʿatun mina t-talāmīdh
مجموعةٌ من التّلاميذ
In these two examples, the prepositions connect two nouns and complete the meaning.
The Most Used Prepositions in Arabic
These are the prepositions essential for beginners to learn to better understand Arabic, as they are the most commonly used in everyday contexts, in books and articles, and even on social media.
مِن (min) — from / of / some of / than
The preposition min is used to signal a starting point, source, or separation. The reference could be physical, abstract, or comparative. It often answers the question “from where?” or “out of what?”.
Usage
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
Starting point
I came from the library.
jiʾtu mina al-maktabati
جِئتُ من المكتبة
Origin
I am from Lebanon.
anā min lubnān
أنا من لبنان
Partitive (some of)
I read a surah from the Qur’an.
qaraʾtu sūratan mina al-qurʾān
قرأتُ سورةً من القرآن
Comparison (than)
This car is better than the other.
hādhihi as-sayyāratu afḍalu mina al-ukhrā
هذه السيارة أفضل من الأخرى
إلى (ilā) — to / until
The preposition ilā shows direction, destination, or an endpoint in space or time. It focuses on where something ends, not where it begins.
Usage
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
Destination
I arrived at the airport.
waṣaltu ilā al-maṭār
وصلتُ إلى المطار
End of time
They completed the fast until night.
atammū aṣ-ṣiyāma ilā al-layl
أتمّوا الصيام إلى الليل
Adding or joining
He added the money to his own.
ḍamma al-māla ilā mālihi
ضمَّ المالَ إلى مالِه
في (fī) — in / within
Use fī to place something inside a space, time, state, or situation. This “space” can be abstract rather than physical.
Usage
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
Physical location
I spent the vacation at the resort.
qaḍaytu al-ijāzata fī al-maṣīf
قضيتُ الإجازة في المصيف
Abstract or metaphorical state
True richness lies in contentment.
al-ghinā kulluhu fī al-qanāʿa
الغِنى كلُّه في القناعة
Cause or reason
She entered the Fire because of a cat she confined.
dakhalat an-nāra fī hirratin ḥabasathā
دخلتِ النارَ في هرّةٍ حبستْها
عن (ʿan) — about / away from
Use ʿan to express distance, separation, or topic. It often answers “away from what?” or “about what?”.
Usage
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
Distance
I was away from the house for an hour.
baʿudtu ʿani ad-dār sāʿatan
بَعُدتُ عن الدار ساعةً
Topic
We talked about travel.
taḥaddathnā ʿani as-safar
تحدّثنا عن السفر
على (ʿalā) — on / upon
Use على to show contact, responsibility, obligation, or control. It often carries a sense of something resting upon or weighing on someone.
Usage
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
Physical position
I put the book on the table.
waḍaʿtu al-kitāba ʿalā aṭ-ṭāwila
وضعتُ الكتابَ على الطاولة
Responsibility or favor
He has a favor over me.
lahu ʿalayya faḍl
له عليَّ فضلٌ
Condition or obligation
I’ll lend you the money on the condition that you return it.
uqriḍuka al-māla ʿalā an tuʿīdahu
أقرضُك المالَ على أن تُعيده
لِـ (li-) — for / to
Use li- to indicate purpose, ownership, entitlement, or direction toward a person or goal. It often answers “for whom?” or “for what purpose?”.
Usage
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
Ownership or entitlement
The book belongs to the school
al-kitābu li-l-madrasati
الكتابُ للمدرسة
Purpose
I traveled for study.
sāfartu li-d-dirāsa
سافرتُ للدراسة
كَـ (ka-) — like / as
The preposition ka- expresses similarity or comparison. It always introduces an example or likeness, not identity.
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
He ran like a cheetah.
rakaḍa ka-l-fahd
ركض كالفهد
بـِ (Bi-) — with, by, using
Use بِـ to show how something is done, what tool is used, or what someone believes in or relies on.
Usage
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
Means
I traveled by train
safartu bi-l-qiṭāri
سافرتُ بالقطار
Instrument
I am writing with my pencil
anā aktubu bi-qalamī
أنا أكتبُ بقلمي
Association
I believed in you
u’minu bika
أؤمن بكَ
More Arabic Prepositions with Examples
مع (ma’a) - with
Use ma’a when two people or things are together at the same time. It expresses companionship, not a tool or method.
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
I chatted with my friend
taḥaddathu ma‘a ṣadīqī
تحدّثتُ مع صديقي
I had coffee with cream
sharibtu l-qahwa ma‘a l-kriīmati
شربتُ القهوة مع الكريمة
حتّى (ḥattā) — until / up to
The preposition ḥattā emphasizes the final limit or extreme end of an action. It often implies completion or reaching the last point.
Usage
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
End point in time
We will stay until the rain ends.
sanabqā ḥattā yantahī al-maṭar
سنبقى حتى ينتهي المطر
Extent or completion
I ate the fish, even its head.
akaltu as-samakata ḥattā raʾsihā
أكلتُ السمكةَ حتى رأسِها
عند (ʿinda) - at, with
Use ʿinda to show where someone is, what someone has, or when something happens. It often answers “where?” or “with whom?”.
Usage
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
at
I am at your house
anā ‘inda manzilik
أنا عند منزلك
With (possession)
The book is with Ahmad
al-kitābu ‘inda Aḥmad
الكتابُ عند أحمد
خلال (khilāl) - during, throughout
Use khilāl to describe something happening within a time period, not at a single moment.
English
Transliteration
Arabic Example
Throughout my travels
khilāla safari
خلال سفري
During the exam
khilāla l-imtiḥāni
خلال الامتحان
Common Mistakes When Using Arabic Prepositions
As mentioned earlier, the most common mistake learners make with Arabic prepositions is treating them like English ones. Arabic does not work that way.
English often uses a single preposition for several meanings, while Arabic chooses different prepositions based on the underlying idea. This happens because Arabic is concept-based rather than literal.
Another common mistake is assuming that each preposition has only one meaning. This assumption leads learners back to word-for-word translation, which, as we’ve seen, does not reflect how Arabic actually works.
Many beginners also overlook an important grammatical detail: even when the correct preposition is used, the noun that follows it must be in the genitive case, a rule that is frequently ignored.
Finally, learners sometimes add prepositions where Arabic simply does not need them, resulting in sentences that sound unnatural or incorrect.
Key Differences between Arabic and English Prepositions
There are many reasons why direct translation often fails, and it all comes down to one simple fact: a word in Arabic does not equal a word in English, especially when it comes to prepositions.
Given that English prepositions are usually general, while Arabic prepositions are verb- and context-dependent—especially since many Arabic verbs are not complete on their own and are often followed by a preposition and a noun that change the meaning of the verb itself—trying to translate the preposition on its own will lead to mistakes.
In addition, Arabic prepositions often express abstract and metaphorical relationships, not only physical ones, which are not captured by literal translation.
Summary
Even though it might sound complicated at first, getting the hang of Arabic prepositions is only a matter of time. You just need to think differently to use them correctly, and with time, practice, and some help from Alibee, you’ll be able to master them pretty quickly.
Practice Arabic prepositions and all basics in Arabic grammar with AlifBee, which turns dull grammar rules into fun activities and drills.
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FAQs
Around 17 to 21.
Yes, and honestly, it is most likely that it will.
Yes, Arabic prepositions significantly affect the noun that follows them, forcing it into the genitive case.
Because of the major difference between the two languages: English uses one preposition for many meanings, while Arabic uses different prepositions depending on the concept.
Yes, and prepositions often change the meaning of the verb.
