Learn Arabic › A1 › هَل
هَل
(yes/no question marker, like English do/does/is at the start of a question) /ˈhal/
particleA1#13 most common
Also: whether, is it that...?, do/does...?
Example sentences
هَل أَنْتَ بِخَيْر؟
Are you okay?
هَل تَتَكَلَّمُ العَرَبِيَّة؟
Do you speak Arabic?
هَل تُرِيدُ فِنْجانَ قَهْوَة؟
Would you like a cup of coffee?
هَل ذَهَبْتَ إِلَى السُّوقِ أَمْسِ؟
Did you go to the market yesterday?
هَل يُمْكِنُكَ أَنْ تُخْبِرَنِي أَيْنَ تَقَعُ المَكْتَبَة؟
Can you tell me where the library is located?
هَلْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ القَرارَ قَدِ اتُّخِذَ قَبْلَ أَنْ نَصِلَ؟
Did you know that the decision had already been taken before we arrived?
Word family
أَalternative yes/no question particle
هَلَّاwhy not? / won't you (urging)
أَلَاis it not the case that... (introducing emphasis/question)
اِسْتِفْهَامinterrogation, questioning
Etymology
هَل is an inherited Semitic interrogative particle used to introduce yes/no questions in Arabic. Its ultimate origin is debated; some grammarians connect it to a sense of 'becoming clear/appearing,' framing a question as a request to clarify. As a function word it has no triliteral verbal root in the usual Arabic pattern system.
Learn Arabic the way that sticks.
Every word here is a full Polylex card with native audio and spaced repetition, so 4,080 words actually move into long-term memory.
Start free
Every word here is a full Polylex card with native audio and spaced repetition, so 4,080 words actually move into long-term memory.
Start free