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In Arabic, extended nouns (الاسم الممدود) are nouns that end in an Alif followed by a Hamza (ـاء). Many plural words for groups of people follow this pattern, such as the plurals for allies (حلفاء), enemies (أعداء), and leaders (زعماء).

### The Shifting Hamza

When you attach a pronoun suffix (like ـنا or ـه) to these nouns, the Hamza moves to the middle of the word. Arabic spelling rules dictate that a middle Hamza must sit on a "seat" matching its vowel. 

Because grammatical case dictates the final vowel of a noun, the seat of the Hamza physically changes based on the noun's role in the sentence!

### Nominative Case: Hamza on Waw (ـؤُ)

When the noun is in the nominative case—for instance, when it is the subject performing the action—it takes a Damma vowel. The Damma requires the Hamza to sit on a Waw.

{{item:1184241}}

### Accusative Case: Hamza on the Line (ـءَ)

When the noun is in the accusative case—such as when it is the direct object receiving the action, or when it directly follows particles like إن—it takes a Fatha vowel. The Fatha causes the Hamza to sit directly on the line.

{{item:1184243}}

{{item:1184249}}

### Genitive Case: Hamza on Yaa (ـئِ)

When the noun is in the genitive case—most commonly because it follows a preposition or is the second part of a possessive construction—it takes a Kasra vowel. The Kasra requires the Hamza to sit on a dotless Yaa (often called a "tooth" or "chair").

{{item:1184246}}

### Recognizing Case Through Spelling

Paying attention to the Hamza's seat is crucial when reading, as it instantly reveals who is doing the action and who is receiving it. 

Notice the visual contrast in the following sentence between the nominative subject (حلفاؤه) and the accusative direct object (وزراءه):

{{item:1184259}}

Hamza orthography: nominative and accusative (ـؤُ / ـءَ)

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
ally	حليفhalîf
coalition	ائتلافi'tilâf
Our allies founded a strong coalition.	أسس حلفاؤنا ائتلافا قويا.assasa hulafâ'unâ i'tilâfan qawiyyan.
enemy	عدوaduww
We observed our enemies in the new coalition.	راقبنا أعداءنا في الائتلاف الجديد.râqabnâ a'dâ'anâ fî al-i'tilâfi al-jadîdi
to dominate	هيمن علىhaymana ala
bloc	تكتلtakattul
No one dominates our allies in this bloc.	لا أحد يهيمن على حلفائنا في هذا التكتل.lâ 'ahada yuhayminu 'alâ hulafâ'inâ fî hâdhâ at-takattuli
leader	زعيمza'îm
to side with	انحاز إلىinhâza ilâ
The minister said that our leaders sided with the new bloc.	قالت الوزيرة إن زعماءنا انحازوا إلى التكتل الجديد.qâlati al-wazîratu inna zu'amâ'anâ in'hâzû ilâ at-takattuli al-jadîd.
to oppose	عارض'ârada
front	جبهةjabha
Our partners opposed the front because they dominate the market.	عارض شركاؤنا الجبهة لأنهم يهيمنون على السوق.'ârada shurakâ'unâ al-jabhata li'annahum yuhayminûna 'alâ as-sûqi
to support (endorse, back)	أيدayyada
The president was surprised by what our enemies supported.	تفاجأ الرئيس بما أيده أعداؤنا.tafâja'a ar-ra'îsu bimâ ayyadahu a'dâ'unâ.
We met our leaders and our allies in the coalition.	التقينا زعماءنا وحلفاءنا في الائتلاف.iltaqaynâ zuamâ'anâ wa-hulafâ'anâ fî al-i'tilâf
This bloc will become a strong front.	سيصبح هذا التكتل جبهة قوية.sayusbihu hâdhâ at-takattulu jabhatan qawiyyatan
The people elected our allies in the parliament.	انتخب الشعب حلفاءنا في البرلمان.intakhaba ash-sha'bu hulafâ'anâ fi al-barlamâni.
She sided with her friend and supported what our allies said.	انحازت إلى صديقتها وأيدت ما قاله حلفاؤنا.inhâzat ilâ sadîqatihâ wa-ayyadat mâ qâlahu hulafâ'unâ
His allies opposed the decision, therefore the president opposed his ministers.	عارض حلفاؤه القرار، لذلك عارض الرئيس وزراءه.âraḍa ḥulafâ'uhu al-qarâra, lidhâlika âraḍa ar-ra'îsu wuzarâ'ahu