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### Abstract Nouns and the Suffix ـية

In English, we frequently use suffixes like "-ism", "-ity", "-ness", or "-cracy" to transform ordinary words into broad, abstract concepts (like "capitalism" or "humanity"). 

In Arabic, this is achieved through a consistent structure called the Artificial Verbal Noun (المصدر الصناعي). To form an abstract concept, you simply add the suffix ـيَّة to the end of a noun or adjective. This suffix is a combination of the relative adjective ending (ـيّ) and the feminine marker (ـة).

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### Usage in Sentences

Because these artificial verbal nouns end in ة, they are always grammatically feminine. They behave exactly like regular nouns: they can take the definite article (الـ), standard case endings, and act as subjects or objects.

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Like any other noun ending in ة, if you attach a possessive pronoun to the end of an abstract noun, the tied ة opens up into a regular ت to connect with the suffix.

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Abstract nouns (ـية)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

interrogative

noun

numeral

particle

prefix

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

The definite article and locatives (الـ)

Basic noun gender (ة)

Sun and moon letters

Singular subject pronouns (أنا، أنت، هو، هي)

Indefinite nouns and nominal sentences (ـٌ)

Demonstrative pronouns for 'this' (هذا / هذه)

Separate prepositions (في، من، إلى، على)

Attributive adjectives

Predicative adjectives

Yes/No questions (هل، أ)

Basic questions (من، ما، أين)

Singular possessive pronouns (ـي، ـك، ـه، ـها)

Plural subject pronouns (نحن، أنتم، هم)

Plural possessive pronouns (ـنا، ـكم، ـهم)

Noun possession

Attached prepositions (بـ، لـ، كـ)

Pronouns with prepositions

Having and possessing (عند، لـ، مع)

Regular plural nouns (ـون، ـين، ـات)

Broken plurals

Dual nouns (ـان / ـين)

Plural and distant demonstratives (هؤلاء، ذلك، تلك)

Non-human plural agreement

Present tense singular verbs

Verbal sentences (VSO)

Present tense plural verbs

Topicalized sentences (SVO)

The indefinite accusative case (ـاً)

Verb object pronouns (-ني، -ك، -ه)

Present tense negation (لا)

Question words with verbs (متى، كيف...)

Adverbs of time and place

The future tense (سـ / سوف)

Intentions and desires (أن)

Negating states and possession (ليس)

Past tense singular suffixes

Past tense plural suffixes

Negating past events (ما)

Singular commands

Numbers 1 to 10

Number agreement for 1 and 2 (واحد، اثنان)

Asking how many (كم)

Numbers 3 to 10 (ثلاثة إلى عشرة)

Ordinal numbers 1 to 10 (الأول، الثاني)

Basic conjunctions (فـ، أو، لكن)

Ordering at a café (واحد، اثنان)

Food and drink with conjunctions (و، ف، أو، لكن)

There is and there are (هناك / ليس هناك)

Direct address (يا)

Giving reasons (لأنّ)

Relative pronouns (الذي / التي)

Quantifiers (كل / بعض)

The past tense of 'to be' (كان)

Past possession

Numbers 11 to 19 and tens to 80

Telling time (الساعة)

This book vs this is a book (هذا الكتاب، هذا كتاب)

Greetings (مرحبا، السلام عليكم)

How are you? and goodbye (كيف حالك، مع السلامة)

Nationalities (مصري، مصرية)

Roots and patterns (كتب، كتاب، مكتب)

Politeness (من فضلك، آسف)

Complex possession chains

Colors and traits (أفعل / فعلاء)

Plural colors and traits (فُعْل)

Comparative adjectives (أفعل من)

Superlative adjectives (أفعل)

Adverbs of manner (ـاً)

The nominative case (ـُ)

The genitive case (ـِ)

The accusative case (ـَ)

Dual noun cases (ـان / ـين)

Masculine plurals and 'the best of' (أفضل النجارين)

Emphasizing sentences (إنّ)

Connecting clauses (أنّ)

Reporting speech (قال إنّ)

Expressing contrast (لكنّ)

Comparison and probability (كأنّ, لعلّ)

Distant plural pointing (أولئك)

Plural relative pronouns (الذين, اللواتي)

Past habits (كان + present)

Ongoing actions (ما زال)

Masculine plurals online (مبرمجون، مؤثرون)

Perfective past (قد)

Probability (قد)

The subjunctive mood (أن)

Question	Answer
democracy	ديمقراطيةdîmuqrâtiyya
transparency	شفافيةshafâfiyyah
Democracy needs transparency.	تحتاج الديمقراطية إلى الشفافية.tahtâju ad-dîmuqrâtiyyatu ilâ ash-shafâfiyyah
dictatorship	دكتاتوريةdiktâtûriyya
selfishness	أنانيةanâniyya
The dictatorship fell because of the selfishness of the leader.	سقطت الدكتاتورية بسبب أنانية القائد.saqatati ad-diktâtûriyyatu bisababi anâniyyati al-qâ'idi
capitalism	رأسماليةra'sumâliyya
socialism	اشتراكيةishtirâkiyya
Capitalism differs from socialism.	تختلف الرأسمالية عن الاشتراكية.takhtalifu ar-ra'smâliyyatu 'ani-shtirâkiyyati.
racism	عنصريةunsuriyya
humanity (humaneness)	إنسانيةinsâniyya
Racism is a crime against humanity.	العنصرية جريمة ضد الإنسانية.al'unsuriyyatu jarîmatun didda al'insâniyyah
secularism	علمانيةalmâniyya
realism	واقعيةwâqi'iyyah
Secularism is political realism.	العلمانية واقعية سياسية.al'ilmâniyyatu wâqi'iyyatun siyâsiyyah
neutrality	حياديةhiyâdiyya
independence	استقلاليةistiqlâliyyah
The judge maintained neutrality and independence.	حافظت القاضية على الحيادية والاستقلالية.hâfazati l-qâdiyatu 'alâ l-hiyâdiyyati wa-l-istiqlâliyyati
If the people had chosen democracy, the dictatorship would have ended.	لو اختار الشعب الديمقراطية، لانتهت الدكتاتورية.law ikhtâra ash-sha'bu ad-dimuqrâtiyyata, lantahati ad-diktâtûriyyatu
Capitalism still ignores transparency sometimes.	ما زالت الرأسمالية تتجاهل الشفافية أحيانا.mâ zâlati ar-ra'smâliyyatu tatajâhalu ash-shafâfiyyata ahyânan
We expected realism from socialism.	توقعنا الواقعية من الاشتراكية.tawaqqa'nâ al-wâqi'iyyata mina al-ishtirâkiyyah
Selfishness ruins the independence of the team.	تفسد الأنانية استقلالية الفريق.tufsidu al-ananiyyatu istiqlaliyyata al-fariq
Secularism supports the neutrality of the state.	تدعم العلمانية حيادية الدولة.tad'amu al-'almâniyyatu hiyâdiyyata ad-dawlati
Humanity could have prevented racism.	كان يمكن أن تمنع الإنسانية العنصرية.kâna yumkinu an tamnaʿa l-insâniyyatu l-ʿunṣuriyyata.
The minister prefers political realism without selfishness.	تفضل الوزيرة الواقعية السياسية بدون أنانية.tufaddilu al-wazîratu al-wâqi'iyyata as-siyâsiyyata bidûni 'ananiyyah
The president discussed democracy and secularism in the parliament.	ناقش الرئيس الديمقراطية والعلمانية في البرلمان.nâqasha ar-ra'îsu ad-dîmuqrâtiyyata wal-'almâniyyata fî al-barlamân.
The poor man suffers from capitalism and racism.	يعاني الفقير من الرأسمالية والعنصرية.yu'âni al-faqîru mina-r-ra'smâliyyati wa-l-'unsuriyyati
We respect the independence and transparency of the newspaper.	نحن نحترم استقلالية الصحيفة وشفافيتها.nahnu nahtarimu istiqlâliyyata as-sahîfati wa shafâfiyyatahâ
Did socialism become a dictatorship?	هل أصبحت الاشتراكية دكتاتورية؟hal asbahati l-ishtirâkiyyatu diktâtûriyyatan?
The doctor lost her neutrality but she kept her humanity.	فقدت الطبيبة حياديتها لكنها حافظت على إنسانيتها.faqadati at-tabibatu hiyadiyyataha lakinnaha hafazat ala insaniyyatiha.