Breakdown of يا لقوة هذه البطلة الخارقة! اللاعبة نفسها كسرت الصخرة.
الal
the
هذهhâdhihi
this (f)
هاhâ
her / her (object) / it (feminine)
كسرkasara
to break
ياyâ
O
لاعبlâ'ib
player
بطلbatal
champion / hero
نفسnafs
self (reflexive)
صخرةsakhra
rock
قوةquwwa
strength, power
لli
what/how (exclamatory, after the vocative particle)
خارقkhâriq
extraordinary
Questions & Answers about يا لقوة هذه البطلة الخارقة! اللاعبة نفسها كسرت الصخرة.
Why does لقوة have a fatha on the lam prefix but a kasra on the end of the word?
In the exclamatory vocative, the particle يا is followed by the prefix لَـ which always takes a fatha. However, grammatically, this prefix acts like a preposition. It forces the noun attached to it into the genitive case (majrur), giving قوةِ a kasra at the end.
Why does the adjective الخارقة come at the very end of the phrase قوة هذه البطلة الخارقة?
Adjectives always follow the entire possessive chain (idafa) they modify. Even though الخارقة (extraordinary) modifies قوة (strength), it must wait until after the second part of the possessive structure (هذه البطلة) is complete. Note that it could also be interpreted as modifying البطلة to mean 'this extraordinary heroine' (or 'superheroine'), as the case endings are perfectly identical in both interpretations!
Why is البطلة in the genitive case (with a kasra) if it comes after the unchangeable word هذه?
Here, هذه is the second part of the possessive phrase (mudaf ilayh), putting it in a genitive position. When a demonstrative pronoun is followed by a definite noun, that noun acts as a substitute (badal) and must copy the grammatical case of the demonstrative's position. Therefore, البطلة takes a genitive kasra.
How does the grammar of نفسها work here to mean 'the player herself'?
The word نفس is used here for corroborative emphasis (tawkid). To emphasize a noun, place نفس right after it, attach a pronoun suffix matching the noun (ـها for a feminine singular noun), and match the noun's case. Since the player (اللاعبة) is the subject and takes a nominative damma, the emphasis word also takes a damma: نفسُها.
Learn يا لقوة هذه البطلة الخارقة! اللاعبة نفسها كسرت الصخرة and more in Arabic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free