The Clarifier: Al-Tamyīz (التَّمْيِيز)

Have you ever started a sentence and realized the listener is still confused? If you say, "I have eleven," the immediate question is: Eleven what? Pens? Books? Planets? In Arabic, the word that solves this mystery is called Al-Tamyīz.

What is Al-Tamyīz?

The Tamyīz is an indefinite Mansūb noun (ending in Fatha) that removes the "vague" nature of the word before it. It usually clarifies numbers, measurements, or comparisons.

اشْتَرَيْتُ عِشْرِينَ كِتَابًا

Ishtaraytu 'ishrīna kitāban

I bought twenty books.

'Ishrīna (Twenty): This is the Mumay-yaz (the vague word).
Kitāban (Books): This is the Tamyīz. It specifies what exactly there are twenty of.

When Do We Use Tamyīz?

There are two main categories of Specification in Arabic Grammar:

1. Tamyīz of the Single Word (Dhat)

This clarifies a specific noun that is vague, usually in four areas:

Numbers: From 11 to 99. (e.g., Eleven stars).
Weight: (e.g., A kilo of dates).
Measure: (e.g., A meter of cloth).
Volume: (e.g., A cup of water).

2. Tamyīz of the Sentence (Nisbah)

This clarifies a whole relationship or comparison. It often follows words of "preference" like Akthar (More) or Ajmal (More Beautiful).

Example: أَنَا أَكْثَرُ مِنْكَ مَالًا (I am more than you in wealth).

How to Spot Tamyīz:

✅ Is it a Noun?
✅ Is it Mansūb (ends in Fatha)?
✅ Is it Indefinite (no "Al-")?
✅ Does it answer the question: "With respect to what?"

The Clarifier: Al-Tamyīz (التَّمْيِيز)

The Clarifier: Al-Tamyīz (التَّمْيِيز)

What is Al-Tamyīz?