Breakdown of لماذا هناك ضوضاء عالية في الملاهي؟
الal
the
هناكhunâka
there
فيfî
in / about, regarding
لماذاlimâdhâ
why
Questions & Answers about لماذا هناك ضوضاء عالية في الملاهي؟
How do we ask a question with هناك (there is)? Do we change the word order like in English?
No, you do not need to flip the word order! In English, we change 'there is' to 'is there' to ask a question. In Arabic, you just put your question word, like لماذا (why), directly in front of هناك. Literally, this sentence starts with 'Why there is...'.
Why does the adjective عالية (loud) have a feminine ending if the word for noise (ضوضاء) does not?
Adjectives must match their nouns in gender. The word ضوضاء is feminine, even though it lacks the standard ة ending. Nouns ending in an alif followed by a hamza (ـاء) are often feminine in Arabic. Because the noise is feminine, the word for loud must be written as عالية instead of the masculine عالي.
Does عالية literally mean 'loud'?
Literally, عالية means 'high'. In Arabic, you do not typically use a separate word for 'loud' when talking about sounds, voices, or noise. Instead, you describe the volume as being 'high'.
The word الملاهي (amusement park) looks like a plural word. Is it?
Yes! It is the plural of ملهى (a place of entertainment or fun). While it is grammatically plural, Arabic speakers use the plural form الملاهي to refer to a single amusement park or theme park.