Questions & Answers about رأوا وحشا في الكهف.
How do you pronounce the verb رأوا and why does it look different from its root?
It is pronounced "ra'aw", not "ra'uu". The root verb is رأى (to see). When attaching the suffix وا to mean "they", the final alif of the root is dropped to avoid having two vowels right next to each other. The fatha (short "a" sound) on the hamza remains, blending into the "w" to make an "aw" sound.
Why is there an alif at the end of the word وحشا?
Does the word وحش always mean a mythical "monster"?
Not necessarily. While it means "monster" in the context of a cave, وحش is also the standard Arabic word for a wild beast or wild animal. You will often see its plural form, وحوش (wuhuush), used in nature contexts to describe untamed animals.
Where is the word for "they" in this sentence?
In Arabic, subject pronouns are usually built directly into the verb. The suffix وا (a waw followed by a silent alif) at the end of رأوا indicates that the subject is a masculine or mixed group "they". Adding the standalone pronoun هم (hum) before the verb is grammatically correct but usually left out unless you want to strongly emphasize it.