This lesson introduces vocabulary for common metals, elements, and raw materials, and shows you how to describe what everyday objects are made of.
Comparing Materials
When comparing the qualities of different materials, Arabic uses a specific comparative pattern. Words follow the shape أفعل and are followed by the preposition من (than). For example, to say that "lead" (رصاص) is heavier than "steel" (فولاذ), we use أثقل (heavier).
Exclamations
You can use this exact same أفعل pattern to make exclamations. By placing the word ما before it, the meaning shifts to "How [adjective]!". For instance, ما أثقل translates to "How heavy!".
Saying "Made Of" with من
When you want to state that an object is made out of a certain material, such as "aluminum" (ألمنيوم) or "leather" (جلد), you can simply use the preposition من (from) immediately before the material.
Raw Materials and Processing
As you discuss industry, you will use words like the verb "to smelt" (صهر) and locations like a "mine" (منجم). You will also frequently see the word خام (raw), which acts as an adjective to describe unprocessed metals and materials.
Saying "Made Of" with an Idafa
Another very common way to state what something is made of is by using an Idafa (possession) structure. Instead of using من, you simply place the object noun directly before the material noun. It acts like saying "an object of [material]".
Notice how this works below with an "ingot" (سبيكة) made of silver or "bronze" (برونز).