Arabic Grammar: Mastering the Relative Pronouns (Alladhi & Allati)

The Relative Pronouns (الاسْمُ الْمَوْصُولُ)

The Connector Between Nouns and Their Stories

A relative pronoun (like "who," "which," or "that") is used in Arabic to describe a Definite Noun. In Arabic, these pronouns must match the noun they follow in Gender and Number.

Common Singular Forms

Type	Arabic	Transliteration	English Usage
Masculine	اَلَّذِي	Alladhī	The boy who... / The book which...
Feminine	اَلَّتِي	Allatī	The girl who... / The car which...

Grammar Checkpoints

• Definite Only: We only use these pronouns when the noun has "Al-" (e.g., Al-Walad). If the noun is indefinite (Walad), the pronoun is omitted.
• Agreement: If the noun is feminine (ending in Tā Marbūta), you must use Allatī.
• Broken Plurals: Remember our rule! Non-human plurals are treated as singular feminine. So, for "The books which...", you use Allatī.

Sentence Examples

اَلرَّجُلُ الَّذِي فِي الْمَسْجِدِ طَبِيبٌ

(Al-rajulu alladhī fī al-masjidi tabībun)
The man who is in the mosque is a doctor.

اَلسَّاعَةُ الَّتِي عَلَى الْمَكْتَبِ جَمِيلَةٌ

(Al-sā'atu allatī 'alā al-maktabi jamīlatun)
The watch which is on the desk is beautiful.

Practice: How would you say "The teacher (masculine) who is in the classroom"?
Hint: Teacher = Mudarris, Classroom = Fasl.
Answer: اَلْمُدَرِّسُ الَّذِي فِي الْفَصْلِ (Al-mudarrisu alladhī fī al-fasli).