Question 1

How exactly does عندنا translate to "we have"?

Accepted Answer

In Arabic, we don't use a standard verb for "to have". Instead, we use a preposition like عند (at/with) attached to a pronoun suffix. Here, we add the suffix نا (us/our) to make عندنا (at us / with us). Idiomatically, this is how we say "we have".

Question 2

Could we use معنا (with us) or لنا (to us) instead of عندنا in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

عندنا is the best choice here. معنا usually means you physically have something on you right now, like a pen or keys in your pocket. لنا is often used for abstract relationships that can't be separated from you, like family members. For an appointment or a schedule, عندنا is the standard way to say you "have" it.

Question 3

Why doesn't the word for hospital, المستشفى, have dots under its final letter?

Accepted Answer

That last letter isn't a ي (yaa), even though it looks exactly like one! It is an alif maqsurah (which means "broken alif"). It makes a long "aa" sound, just like a regular tall ا (alif). It is always found at the end of a word, and it never takes dots.

Question 4

Why does غدا (tomorrow) end with those two little diagonal lines on top?

Accepted Answer

Those lines are called tanwin fatha. They add an "an" sound to the end of the word, which is why the word is pronounced "ghadan". In Arabic, this ending is frequently used to turn a noun into an adverb of time or manner. You will see it on many common time words, such as دائما (always).

عندنا موعد في المستشفى غدا.

Breakdown of عندنا موعد في المستشفى غدا.

Questions & Answers about عندنا موعد في المستشفى غدا.

Learn عندنا موعد في المستشفى غدا and more in Arabic