Breakdown of أولا، أشرب القهوة، ثم أذهب إلى العمل.
الal
the
ذهبdhahaba
to go
إلىilâ
to
عملamal
work
شربshariba
to drink
قهوةqahwa
coffee
ثمthumma
then (next)
أولاawwalan
first(ly)
Questions & Answers about أولا، أشرب القهوة، ثم أذهب إلى العمل.
Why does أولا end with that extra line and two strokes?
The word for 'first' is أول. When we use it as an adverb meaning 'firstly' or 'first of all,' we add the 'an' sound at the end, written with an alif and two small diagonal dashes (tanween fatha). You will see this on many Arabic adverbs, like شكرا (thank you) or دائما (always).
How can I tell who is doing the drinking and going in this sentence?
Both أشرب (drink) and أذهب (go) are present tense verbs that start with the letter alif (أ). In Arabic, adding this alif to the beginning of a present tense verb always means 'I' am doing the action. You do not need to use the pronoun أنا (I) because the verb already tells you who is acting.
The English translation says 'I drink coffee', but the Arabic says القهوة with the word 'the' (ال). Why is that?
In Arabic, general concepts and categories often take the definite article ال. While in English we just say 'I drink coffee,' Arabic speakers often say 'I drink the coffee.' You will see this rule with other general nouns too, like saying 'I love the reading' instead of 'I love reading.'
Can I use بعد instead of ثم to mean 'then'?
Not quite. ثم specifically means 'then' or 'next' to show the sequence of events. بعد means 'after' and usually needs to be followed by a noun or a pronoun, like 'after that' (بعد ذلك). For linking two full actions in a row like 'I do this, then I do that,' ثم is the perfect word.
Why is 'work' translated as العمل here? Is it a verb or a noun?
In this sentence, العمل is a noun meaning 'the workplace' or 'the act of working.' Because it follows the preposition إلى (to), it has to be a noun. You are literally saying 'I go to the work.'
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