How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Arabic words on “Function words”. The full topic holds 120 in the KoKo app: 52 at the easy level, 46 at the medium level and 22 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this Arabic vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

Arabic vocabulary: function words

Pronouns, articles, demonstratives, possessives: the small words of Arabic grammar you cannot build a sentence without.

Here are 100 Arabic words on “Function words”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 44 words

Arabic	English
واحد	aIndefinite article, masculine singular
واحدة	aIndefinite article, feminine singular
كل	allDeterminer or pronoun, the whole of a set
كل	allDeterminer, feminine plural
هو	heSubject pronoun, masculine singular
ـه	hisSingular possessor, belonging to him or her
كيف	how
كم	how manyFollowed by a noun, to ask about a number
أنا	ISubject pronoun, first person singular
أنا	meStressed form, after a preposition or on its own
أكثر من	more than
ـي	myPossessive determiner, before the noun
لا	noNegative answer
لم يعد	no longer
لا	notNegating the verb
المرء	one
هي	sheSubject pronoun, feminine singular
بعض	somePartitive article, feminine singular
بعض	somePartitive article, masculine singular
شيء ما	somethingIndefinite pronoun, an unspecified thing
ذلك	thatDemonstrative pronoun, refers to something far away or already mentioned
تلك	that oneDemonstrative pronoun, feminine singular
ذلك	that oneDemonstrative pronoun, masculine singular
الـ	theDefinite article, feminine singular
الـ	theDefinite article, plural
ـهم	theirPlural possessor, belonging to them
هم	themStressed pronoun after a preposition
يوجد	there isExistence
هؤلاء	theseDemonstrative determiner, plural
هم	theySubject pronoun
هذا	thisDemonstrative determiner, masculine before a consonant
هذه	thisDemonstrative determiner, feminine singular
هذا	thisDemonstrative determiner, masculine before a vowel
هذا	this oneDemonstrative pronoun, refers to something close
نحن	weSubject pronoun, first person plural
ما الذي	whatQuestion word, subject
ما	whatBefore a verb
ماذا	whatOn its own or after a preposition
متى	when
أين	where
بلى	yesYes, contradicting a negative statement
ـك	youObject pronoun, informal address
أنت	youSubject, informal address
أنتم	youSubject, formal or plural address

Level 2: medium 38 words

Arabic	English
قليل من	a little
كل	allDeterminer, feminine singular
كل	eachDeterminer, before the noun
كل واحد	each onePronoun, masculine singular
ما يكفي من	enough of
الجميع	everybodyPeople in general, everyone together
ـه	himObject pronoun, to him or to her
نفسه	himselfReflexive pronoun, masculine singular
خاصته	his ownPossessive pronoun, used on its own
كم	how muchUsed on its own, to ask about a quantity or a price
معظم	most
نفسي	myself
أبدا	never
لا أحد	no oneFormal or legal register
لا أحد	nobodyEveryday use
ولا واحد	nonePronoun, used on its own
أي	not anyDeterminer, in a negative sentence
لا شيء	nothingPronoun used on its own
لا شيء	nothingNegation used with the verb
منه	of it
الذات	oneselfReflexive pronoun, simple form
آخر	other
ـنا	ourPossessive determiner, belonging to us
نفس	same
منذ متى	since when
بعض	someIndefinite article, plural, before a noun
شخص ما	someoneIndefinite pronoun, an unspecified person
مثل	such
فيه	thereAdverbial pronoun of place, replaces a complement
أولئك	thoseDemonstrative pronoun, masculine plural
أولئك	thoseDemonstrative pronoun, feminine plural
كثير جدا من	too much
أي	whichInterrogative determiner, before the noun
لماذا	why
لم لا	why not
أنت	youStressed form, after a preposition
ـك	yourInformal address
ـكم	yourFormal or plural address; possessor addressed formally or in the plural

Level 3: hard 18 words

Arabic	English
بأي طريقة	any which way
أي شخص	anyone
أي شيء	anything
في أي وقت	anytime
في أي مكان	anywhere
كل واحدة	each onePronoun, feminine singular
بعضهما بعضا	each otherMutual action between two people
بالكاد	hardly
نفسها	herselfReflexive pronoun, feminine singular
إلى أي حد	how far
بعضهم بعضا	one anotherMutual action among several people
بنفسه	oneselfEmphatic form, stresses the subject
أنفسنا	ourselves
أنفسهم	themselvesReflexive pronoun, masculine plural
كل من	whoever
الذي	whose
خاصتك	yoursPossessive pronoun, used on its own
نفسك	yourself

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 Arabic words on “Function words”. The full topic holds 120 in the KoKo app: 52 at the easy level, 46 at the medium level and 22 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this Arabic vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

How KoKo makes words stick

These lists come from KoKo, the app to learn Arabic vocabulary on iPhone.