Breakdown of بشرتها ناعمة جدا كالحرير.
الal
the
هاhâ
her / her (object) / it (feminine)
كka
like, as (attached)
جداjiddan
very
حريرharîr
silk
ناعمnâ'im
soft
بشرةbashara
the skin (complexion)
Questions & Answers about بشرتها ناعمة جدا كالحرير.
Why does this sentence use بشرة for skin instead of the word جلد?
In Arabic, بشرة specifically refers to the outer layer of human skin, especially on the face, and is commonly used when talking about complexion, beauty, or skincare. The word جلد is the general anatomical term for skin, and is also used for animal hide or leather.
Does the prefix كـ (like/as) change the grammatical case of the noun attached to it?
Yes, the prefix كـ functions as a preposition. This means it puts the attached noun, الحرير (the silk), into the genitive case. If you were reading this with full vowel endings, it would be pronounced كالحريرِ with a kasra at the end.
Why is the adjective ناعمة (soft) feminine when the subject noun has changed its spelling to attach the pronoun ها?
Gender agreement is always based on the original noun, not its suffixes. The base word is بشرة, which is feminine because it ends in a taa marbootah. When the possessive suffix ها is added, the taa marbootah opens up into a regular ت to connect the letters, but the word remains feminine. Therefore, the predicate adjective ناعمة must also be feminine.
Can I place جدا (very) before the adjective ناعمة like we do in English?
No, adverbs of degree like جدا must always follow the adjective they modify in Arabic. Placing it before the adjective would sound incorrect to a native speaker.
Learn بشرتها ناعمة جدا كالحرير 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