In Arabic, to strongly emphasize the direct object of an action—such as telling a VIP, "It is you we value" rather than simply "We value you"—you shift that object to the front of the sentence.
The Pronoun Carrier (إيا)
Normally, an object pronoun is a suffix attached directly to the end of a verb. Because you cannot start a sentence with a suffix, Arabic uses a special base word to "carry" it.
| independent accusative base | إياiyyâ |
By attaching standard pronoun suffixes to this base, you create independent accusative pronouns (ضمائر النصب المنفصلة).
| Person | Suffix | Independent Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Plural | نا | إيانا | Us |
| 2nd Sg. | ك | إياك | You (sg.) |
| 2nd Plural | كم | إياكم | You (pl.) |
| 3rd Masc. Sg. | ه | إياه | Him / It |
| 3rd Fem. Sg. | ها | إياها | Her / It |
| 3rd Plural | هم | إياهم | Them |
Fronting the Object
Place the independent accusative pronoun immediately before the verb. This isolates the receiver of the action, translating best as "It is [object] that [verb]."
| It is you that the team values. | إياك يقدر الفريق.iyyâka yuqaddiru l-farîq |
| It is you that we thank for this long loyalty. | إياكم نشكر على هذا الولاء الطويل.iyyâkum nashkuru 'alâ hâdhâ al-walâ'i at-tawîli |
This structure is extremely useful when highlighting customer service, client loyalty, or target demographics.
| It is them that we attract with this campaign. | إياهم نجذب بهذه الحملة.iyyâhum najdhibu bihâdhihi l-hamlati |
| It is us the company attracts with this luxury. | إيانا تجذب الشركة بهذه الرفاهية.iyyânâ tajdhibu ash-sharikatu bihâdhihi ar-rafâhiyati. |
| It is her that we grant this special treatment. | إياها نمنح هذه المعاملة الخاصة.iyyâhâ namnahu hâdhihi-l-mu'âmalata-l-khâssata |
| It is him that we satisfy through this service. | إياه نرضي من خلال هذه الخدمة.iyyâhu nurdî min khilâli hâdhihi l-khidmah |