When asking a question that offers a choice between two specific options (like "Is it A or B?"), Arabic uses a special structure.
While you might already know أو for "or" in regular statements, alternative questions require the word أم instead.
The (أ ... أم) Structure
Alternative questions almost always begin with the question prefix أ attached to the first word of the sentence, rather than using the separate question word هل.
- أ introduces the first option.
- أم introduces the second option.
| Is this a poll or a study? | أهذا استطلاع أم دراسة؟a hâdhâ stitlâ'un am dirâsah |
Notice how the prefix أ attaches directly to the first word (هذا), setting up the choice that أم completes.
Choosing Between Actions
This same "either/or" structure works perfectly when asking a respondent to choose between two actions (verbs). The prefix أ simply attaches to the first verb.
| Did you answer the question or did you forget? | أأجبت عن السؤال أم نسيت؟a'ajabta 'ani s-su'âli am nasîta |
Surveys and Questionnaires
Because this structure forces a choice between specific alternatives, you will frequently encounter it in formal polling, surveys, and demographic questionnaires.
| On the form: are you male or female? | في الاستمارة: أأنت ذكر أم أنثى؟fi al-istimârati: a'anta zhakarun am unthâ? |
| Is this participant married or single? | أهذا المشارك متزوج أم عازب؟a hâdhâ al mushâriku mutazawwijun am âzibun |
| Is the quality evaluation excellent or acceptable? | أتقييم الجودة ممتاز أم مقبول؟a taqyîmu l-jawdati mumtâzun am maqbûlun? |
If the options in the question involve prepositions, the preposition is usually repeated after أم for clarity.
| Is this evaluation for the quality or the price? | أهذا التقييم للجودة أم للسعر؟a-hâdhâ at-taqyîmu lil-jawdati am lis-si'ri? |