Mastering the Arabic Phrase Dhaalika (ذٰلِكَ) - That is...

Arabic Lesson: Using Dhaalika (ذٰلِكَ)

Pointing to Things at a Distance

While Haadhaa is used for things nearby, the word Dhaalika (ذٰلِكَ) is the demonstrative pronoun used for masculine nouns that are far away. In English, it translates to "That" or "That is."

The Core Rules

• ✅ Gender: Used exclusively for masculine nouns.
• ✅ Distance: Used for objects or people that are distant from the speaker.
• ✅ Usage: Just like Haadhaa, it combines with an indefinite noun to form a complete "That is..." sentence.

Distant Examples

Arabic Text	Transliteration	English Translation
ذٰلِكَ نَجْمٌ	Dhaalika najmun	That is a star.
ذٰلِكَ مَكْتَبٌ	Dhaalika maktabun	That is a desk.
ذٰلِكَ مَسْجِدٌ	Dhaalika masjidun	That is a mosque.
ذٰلِكَ قَمَرٌ	Dhaalika qamarun	That is a moon.

Quick Comparison

Compare the two to see the difference in distance:

Near: هٰذَا سَرِيرٌ (Haadhaa sareerun) - This is a bed.

Far: ذٰلِكَ كُرْسِيٌّ (Dhaalika kursiyyun) - That is a chair.

Spelling Note: Similar to Haadhaa, Dhaalika is written with a "dagger alif" over the letter Dhal (ذ). Even if the vertical stroke isn't visible, remember to stretch the "a" sound: Dhaa-lika.