Arabic Vocabulary and Adverbs
Welcome to another blog dear Arabic learners!
Today, our focus is Arabic vocabulary. We will look at an essential world-class in the Arabic language, adverbs. Adverbs constitute a crucial part of this language. They provide information on when, where, how, and to what extent an action takes place. In this guide, we will explore 11 common Arabic adverbs to help you enhance your understanding and communication skills in this beautiful language.
Are you ready?
Let’s start.
Arabic Adverbs of Frequency
Adverb 1: دَائِمًا
Dāʼiman
The adverb “دائمًا” translates to “always,” and is used to express something that is constantly or unchangingly true. It can be used to indicate consistency in people’s behavior, natural phenomena, or daily routines.
Examples
أمثلة
The sun always rises in the east
الشَّمسُ دائمًا تشرق من الشّرق
Sarah always smiles
سارة دائمًا تبتسم
He always arrives early to work
هو دائمًا يأتي باكرًا إلى العمل
Adverb 2: أحْيَانًا
Aḥyānan
“أحيانًا” is another common Arabic adverb and it is the Arabic equivalent of “sometimes,” illustrating events or actions that occur on some occasions but not always. It reflects inconsistency or a lack of a fixed pattern.
Examples
أمثلة
Samer sometimes watches the news
سامر يشاهد الأخبار أحيانًا
Sarah sometimes reads
سارة تقرأ أحيانًا
I sometimes do sports
أنا أمارس الرّياضة أحيانًا
Adverb 3: طوالَ الوَقْت
Ṭwāla alwaqt
“طَوالَ الوقت” means “all the time” and signifies something happening continuously without interruptions. It can be used to describe habits, emotions, or events that persist consistently.
Examples
أمثلة
He jokes all the time
هو يمزح طَوالَ الوقت
He is sad all the time
هو حزينٌ طَوالَ الوقت
The bear sleeps all the time during winter
الدُّبُّ ينام طَوالَ الوقتِ في فصل الشّتاء
Adverb 4: في كَثيْرٍ مِنَ الأَحْيانِ
Fī kathyrin mina alʼaḥyāni
The phrase “في كثيرٍ من الأحيان” corresponds to “frequently.” It is a formal and polite way to say that something happens often, but not all the time.
Examples
أمثلة
Samer frequently comes late to work
في كثيرٍ من الأحيان يأتي سامرٌ متأخرًا إلى العمل
My grandfather frequently forgets to take his medicine
في كثيرٍ من الأحيان ينسى جدّي أن يأخذ أدويته
I frequently earn high grades
في كثيرٍ من الأحيان أنالُ الدّرجات العالية
Adverb 5: مِنْ وَقْتٍ لِآخَر
Min waqtin liʼākhar
“من وقتٍ لآخرَ” translates to “from time to time” and refers to something happening occasionally or at irregular intervals. It’s used to describe infrequent or periodic events and it is a common Arabic adverb.
Examples
أمثلة
The moon changes its shape from time to time
القمر يتغيّر شكله من وقتٍ لآخرَ
The river floods from time to time
النّهر يفيض من وقتٍ لآخرَ
I like to try new food from time to time
أنا أحبُّ أن أجرِّب طعامًا جديدًا من وقتٍ لآخرَ
Adverb 6: بَينَ الحِيْنِ وَالحين
Bayna alḥīni wālḥyn
“بين الحين والحين” corresponds to “every now and then,” indicating that an event occurs occasionally or at somewhat regular intervals. It provides a sense of spontaneity and variety.
Examples
أمثلة
Every now and then I visit my grandfather
بين الحين والحين أزور جدي
Every now and then I go camping
بين الحين والحين أذهب للتخييم
Every now and then I travel to new countries
بين الحين والحين أسافر إلى بلادٍ جديدةٍ
Adverb 7: كُلَّما\عِنْدَما
Kullamā / ʻindamā
“كلّما / عندما” is used to express “whenever” or “every time” an event happens. These adverbs introduce a condition, often implying a habitual action or reaction.
Examples
أمثلة
Whenever I see a police car, I slow down
كلّما رأيت سيّارة الشّرطة أخفّف من سرعتي
Whenever Sarah feels tired, she takes a break
كلّما شعرت سارة بالتّعب تأخذ استراحة
Whenever I feel thirsty, I drink water
كلّما شعرت بالعطش أشرب الماء
Adverb 8: في كُلِّ مَرّةٍ
Fī kulli marrtin
“ٍفي كلِّ مرّة” is a common Arabic adverb and it translates to “every time” and emphasizes the consistency of an event occurring whenever a specific condition is met. It’s often used to describe habits or recurring actions.
Examples
أمثلة
Everytime I leave the house, I lock the door
في كلِّ مرّةٍ أغادر منزلي أقفل الباب
Everytime I use the restroom, I wash my hands
في كلِّ مرّةٍ أستعمل فيها الحمام أنظّف يدي
Everytime I visit my grandfather, I bring a gift
في كلِّ مرّةٍ أزور جدّي أحضر هديّةً
Adverb 9: كَثيْرًا مَا
Kathyran mā
“كثيرًا ما” equates to “often” and is used to express the frequent occurrence of an event or action, although not continuously.
Examples
أمثلة
Sarah often drinks coffee in the morning
سارة كثيرًا ما تشربُ القهوة في الصّباح
I often read before sleep
أنا كثيرًا ما أقرأ قبل النّوم
Samer often plays with his friends after work
سامر كثيرًا ما يلعب مع أصدقائه بعد المدرسة
Adverb 10: قَليْلَاً مَا
Qalylāan mā
“قليلًا ما” corresponds to “hardly,” indicating that something rarely happens or is barely the case. It conveys a sense of rarity or scarcity.
Examples
أمثلة
In my city, electricity hardly goes out
في مدينتي قليلًا ما تنقطع الكهرباء
I hardly use the computer
قليلًا ما أستخدم الحاسوب
I hardly see Samer
قليلًا ما أرى سامر
Adverb 11: نَادِرًا مَا
Nādiran mā
“نادرًا” means “seldom” and expresses an action or event that rarely or infrequently happens. It’s commonly used to describe uncommon occurrences or behaviors.
Examples
أمثلة
At the desert, it seldom rains.
في الصّحراء، نادرًا ما يهطل المطر
Samer seldom comes late to the meeting
سامرٌ نادرًا ما يأتي متّأخرًا إلى الاجتماع
Haifa seldom watches the news
هيفاء نادرًا ما تُشاهد الأخبار
Arabic adverbs are essential for expressing frequency, and providing a clear context for actions or events. Mastering these common adverbs will allow you to better express your thoughts, understand others, and enrich your overall Arabic language skills.
Further Practice
Remember, language learning is a journey, not a destination. So, take your time, enjoy the process, and keep practicing. To make sure you have enough practice, we have prepared a Quiz for you to test your information on the newly learned adverbs.
And make sure to explore our Planner, which features a rich 30-page worksheet accompanied by over 200 practical exercises and activities. This all-inclusive planner serves as an effective tool to reinforce your acquired knowledge and propel your learning journey with ample practice opportunities.
