Mastering the Arabic Feminine Demonstrative: Hādhihi (هٰذِهِ)

The Feminine "This": Hādhihi (هَذِهِ)

Identifying and Pointing to Feminine Nouns

In our previous lessons, we used Hādhā for masculine items. However, if the object or person you are pointing to is feminine, you must switch to Hādhihi (هَذِهِ). This applies to both people (like a girl) and objects (like a car).

How do I know a noun is feminine?

Most feminine nouns in Arabic are easy to spot because they end with a special letter called the Tā Marbūta (ة). It looks like a circle with two dots on top.

• Car: سَيَّارَة (Sayyārah) → Ends in ة
• School: مَدْرَسَة (Madrasah) → Ends in ة
• Teacher (Fem): مُدَرِّسَة (Mudarrisah) → Ends in ة

Examples using Hādhihi

Arabic Phrase	Transliteration	English Meaning
هَذِهِ بِنْتٌ	Hādhihi bintun	This is a girl.
هَذِهِ سَيَّارَةٌ	Hādhihi sayyāratun	This is a car.
هَذِهِ مَدْرَسَةٌ	Hādhihi madrasatun	This is a school.

💡 Did You Know?

In Arabic, body parts that come in pairs (like eyes, ears, and hands) are almost always considered feminine, even if they don't end in a Tā Marbūta!

هَذِهِ يَدٌ (Hādhihi yadun) — This is a hand.

Practice: If Sa'ah (سَاعَة) means "Watch" or "Clock," how do you say "This is a watch"?
Answer: هَذِهِ سَاعَةٌ (Hādhihi sā'atun).