Breakdown of عندنا خمس حواس.
ناnâ
our / us (object) / we (subject suffix on past verb)
عند'inda
at / to have
خمسةkhamsah
five
حاسةhâssah
sense (sight, hearing…)
Questions & Answers about عندنا خمس حواس.
Why is the number five written as masculine خمس here instead of the feminine خمسة?
In Arabic, numbers 3 through 10 use 'reverse agreement' with the counted noun. You always look at the singular form of the noun to determine the gender. The singular of حواس is حاسة (sense), which is feminine. Because the singular noun is feminine, the number must take the masculine form خمس.
Nouns after numbers 3 to 10 are usually in the genitive case with a double kasra (tanween). Why does حواس end in a fatha instead?
You are right that the counted noun must be plural and genitive (majrur). However, حواس is a diptote (a noun that resists standard case endings) because of its specific broken plural pattern. Therefore, it is forbidden from taking tanween. When diptotes are in the genitive case, they take a fatha instead of a kasra, making it حواسَّ.
Why does the phrase for 'we have' (عندنا) come at the beginning of the sentence?
Arabic doesn't have a direct verb for 'to have,' so it uses the preposition عند (with/at) plus the pronoun suffix نا (us). In a verbless sentence where the subject ('five senses') is indefinite, the Arabic grammar rule requires the prepositional phrase acting as the predicate to come first.
What is the root of حواس and how does it relate to other words?
The root is ح-س-س, which relates to feeling, perceiving, or sensing. Recognizing this root helps you connect it to other common words you might know at this level, such as the verb أحس (to feel) or the noun إحساس (feeling).
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