Pointing to the Distance: Using Tilka in Arabic (تِلْكَ)

The Distant Feminine: Tilka (تِلْكَ)

Mastering "That" for Feminine Singular Nouns and Non-Human Plurals in Arabic

1. Introduction: Demonstrative Pronouns in Arabic

In English grammar, demonstrative pronouns are straightforward words like "this," "that," "these," and "those." They allow us to point out specific people, objects, or concepts relative to our physical or temporal location. Arabic demonstrative pronouns, known as Asmā' al-Ishārah (أَسْمَاءُ الْإِشَارَةِ), serve the exact same pointing function, but they are governed by gender (masculine vs. feminine) and distance (near vs. far).

While the demonstrative Hādhihi (هَذِهِ) is used to point to a feminine noun that is close to the speaker (meaning "This"), the pronoun Tilka (تِلْكَ) is used when pointing to a feminine noun that is located far away (meaning "That"). Learning when and how to deploy Tilka is a essential milestone for building basic conversational skills and constructing descriptive Arabic sentences.

2. Distance and Gender Matrix

To understand where Tilka (تِلْكَ) fits within the broader system of Arabic demonstratives, compare it directly to its near-distance counterpart. Notice how switching from near to far changes both the pronunciation and the physical feeling of pointing across space:

Near Distance (This)

هَذِهِ

Hādhihi
Used for feminine objects/people right next to you.

Far Distance (That)

تِلْكَ

Tilka
Used for feminine objects/people far across the room or distance.

3. Identifying Feminine Nouns That Take Tilka

Before you can use Tilka correctly, you need to recognize which nouns are categorized as feminine in Modern Standard Arabic. Broadly speaking, feminine nouns fall into three primary categories:

• Nouns ending with Ta Marbuta (ة / ـة): The vast majority of feminine words in Arabic end with this letter marker. Examples include Sayyāratun (car), Madrasatun (school), and Naāfidhatun (window).
• Naturally Feminine Beings: Words representing female humans or female animals are grammatically feminine regardless of their spelling, such as Ummun (mother), Bintun (girl/daughter), or Tabībatun (female doctor).
• Paired Body Parts: Organs and limbs that come in pairs on the human body are treated as feminine in Arabic grammar, such as 'Aynun (eye), Yadun (hand), and Rijlun (foot).

4. Practical Sentence Examples

Observe how Tilka operates at the beginning of complete nominal sentences (الجُمْلَةُ الإِسْمِيَّةُ). Because Arabic does not require an explicit present-tense verb for "is," combining Tilka with an indefinite noun naturally creates a full sentence:

Arabic Phrase	Transliteration	English Meaning	Noun Type
تِلْكَ دَجَاجَةٌ	Tilka dajaajatun	That is a chicken.	Animal (Ta Marbuta)
تِلْكَ نَافِذَةٌ	Tilka naafidhatun	That is a window.	Inanimate Object
تِلْكَ طَبِيبَةٌ	Tilka tabiibatun	That is a (female) doctor.	Human Profession
تِلْكَ شَجَرَةٌ	Tilka shajaratun	That is a tree.	Nature / Plant
تِلْكَ السَّيَّارَةُ سَرِيعَةٌ	Tilka as-sayyaaratu sarī'atun	That car is fast.	Definite Phrase + Adj

⚠️ Crucial Rule: Non-Human Plurals (جَمْعُ غَيْرِ الْعَاقِلِ)

One of the most essential rules in Arabic grammar states that all non-human plurals are treated grammatically as singular feminine nouns, regardless of whether their singular forms were originally masculine or feminine.

This means when pointing to a group of distant objects, animals, or ideas (like books, mountains, or cars), you do not use a plural pronoun. Instead, you use Tilka, translating in English to "Those are...":

Example: Pointing to Distant Books

تِلْكَ كُتُبٌ

Tilka kutubun ← "Those are books."
(Singular: Kitāb [masculine] → Plural: Kutub [non-human plural → treated as feminine singular])

Example: Pointing to Distant Cars

تِلْكَ سَيَّارَاتٌ

Tilka sayyārātun ← "Those are cars."

5. Structural Difference: "That is a..." vs. "That..."

Pay close attention to how adding the definite article Al- (الـ) to the noun following Tilka changes the meaning from a full sentence into a descriptive phrase:

Indefinite Noun = Full Sentence

تِلْكَ مَدِينَةٌ

Tilka madīnatun.
"That is a city."

Definite Noun = Incomplete Phrase

تِلْكَ الْمَدِينَةُ...

Tilka al-madīnatu...
"That city..." (requires a predicate to complete the sentence, e.g., "is big").

6. Interactive Practice Exercise

Practice 1: If Hujratun (حُجْرَةٌ) means "Room," how do you say "That is a room"?
Answer: تِلْكَ حُجْرَةٌ (Tilka hujratun).

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Practice 2: How would you say "Those are stars" if the word for stars is Nujūm (نُجُومٌ - non-human plural)?
Answer: تِلْكَ نُجُومٌ (Tilka nujūmun).

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