Learn Arabic (Modern Standard): التنجيم ليس علما حقيقيا.

التنجيم ليس علما حقيقيا.at-tanjeemu laysa 'ilman haqeeqiyyan.

Astrology is not a real science.

Breakdown of التنجيم ليس علما حقيقيا.

Questions & Answers about التنجيم ليس علما حقيقيا.

Why do علما (science) and حقيقيا (real) end with an extra alif (ا)?

The verb ليس (is not) is a special verb in Arabic. Just like كان (was), it changes the predicate (the part of the sentence that describes the subject) into the accusative case. The extra alif at the end of علما and حقيقيا carries the 'an' sound (tanwin fatha) to show this grammatical case.

How does the word التنجيم (astrology) relate to the Arabic word for star?

The word التنجيم comes from the root ن-ج-م, which gives us the noun نجم (star). التنجيم follows the Form II verbal noun pattern, which often implies a systematic action or practice. So, it literally refers to the practice of reading or observing the stars.

How is the adjective حقيقيا (real) formed here?

It is built from the noun حقيقة (truth or reality). To make it an adjective, we drop the feminine ending (ة) and add the 'nisba' suffix (a yaa with a shadda: يّ), making it حقيقي. Finally, because it must match the accusative noun علما in case, we add the accusative ending, resulting in حقيقيا.

Could we start the sentence with ليس instead of التنجيم?