Questions & Answers about هذا شعور غريب.
What does each word in هذا شعور غريب mean?
Word by word:
- هذا = this
- شعور = feeling
- غريب = strange / odd / unusual
So the sentence literally matches This [is] a strange feeling.
Why is there no word for is in the Arabic sentence?
In Arabic, the present tense of to be is usually not stated in sentences like this.
So:
- هذا شعور غريب literally looks like this a strange feeling
- but it naturally means This is a strange feeling
This is very common in Arabic nominal sentences.
If you wanted a past tense meaning, then Arabic would use a verb, for example something like كان for was.
Why does the sentence start with هذا?
هذا is the demonstrative pronoun meaning this for a masculine singular noun.
Since شعور is a masculine singular noun, Arabic uses:
- هذا = this (masculine)
- not هذه = this (feminine)
So هذا شعور غريب is the correct choice for this is a strange feeling.
Is شعور masculine or feminine?
شعور is masculine in Modern Standard Arabic.
That matters because words that describe it must match it. So the adjective is:
- غريب = masculine singular
If the noun were feminine, the adjective would usually take a feminine form instead.
Why does غريب come after شعور instead of before it?
In Arabic, adjectives normally come after the noun they describe.
So:
- شعور غريب = a strange feeling
- literally: feeling strange
This is the normal Arabic order:
- noun + adjective
Also, the adjective agrees with the noun in:
- gender
- number
- definiteness
- case
So غريب matches شعور.
Why are شعور and غريب indefinite? Should there be ال?
They are indefinite because the meaning is a strange feeling, not the strange feeling.
So:
- شعور غريب = a strange feeling
- الشعور الغريب = the strange feeling
In Arabic, adjective phrases match in definiteness too:
- indefinite noun + indefinite adjective
شعور غريب - definite noun + definite adjective
الشعور الغريب
That is why there is no ال on either word in your sentence.
What is the difference between هذا شعور غريب and هذا الشعور غريب?
They are similar, but not identical.
- هذا شعور غريب = This is a strange feeling
- هذا الشعور غريب = This feeling is strange
In the first sentence, شعور غريب is an indefinite phrase: a strange feeling.
In the second, الشعور is definite: the feeling / this feeling, and غريب is the predicate adjective: strange.
So the difference is mainly about whether you are introducing a feeling or talking about a specific feeling.
Is this considered a complete sentence in Arabic?
Yes. It is a complete nominal sentence.
A simple way to understand its structure is:
- هذا = the topic / subject-like element
- شعور غريب = the information being given about it
In traditional grammar terms, Arabic often analyzes this kind of sentence as a nominal sentence with a subject and predicate.
So even without a verb, it is fully complete and natural.
How is هذا شعور غريب pronounced?
A careful MSA pronunciation is approximately:
hādhā shuʿūrun gharībun
A few notes:
- هذا = hādhā
- شعور = shuʿūr
- غريب = gharīb
In normal pausal pronunciation, the final case endings are often not pronounced, so you will often hear:
hādhā shuʿūr gharīb
Also:
- ع in شعور is a consonant that does not exist in English
- غ in غريب is a voiced guttural sound, somewhat like a French r to many learners
What are the case endings here?
In full formal Arabic, both شعور and غريب are in the nominative, so they can take -un when indefinite:
- شعورٌ
- غريبٌ
So the fully inflected form is:
هذا شعورٌ غريبٌ
Why nominative? Because in this kind of nominal sentence, the predicate part is nominative in standard grammar.
In everyday reading and speech, these short vowel endings are often omitted in writing and often not pronounced in pause, which is why you commonly see:
هذا شعور غريب
Could I translate شعور as emotion instead of feeling?
Sometimes, yes, depending on context. But feeling is the most direct and natural choice here.
شعور can refer to:
- feeling
- sensation
- sense
- emotion, in some contexts
In هذا شعور غريب, feeling is usually the best translation because it sounds natural in English and fits the sentence well.
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