Question Word/Particle: مَا (what)

In English, we say "What is this?" or "What is your name?" Arabic does something even simpler. It often skips the "is" entirely. You simply place مَا at the beginning of your sentence. It acts as a question particle that signals you are looking for information. Specifically, it looks for information about things, not people. If you see a strange fruit at the grocery store, use مَا. If you want to know the title of a book, use مَا. It stays exactly the same regardless of gender or number. It does not care if the object is masculine or feminine. It is like a grammar traffic light that always stays green for nouns. Just remember that it usually pairs with nouns or pronouns in nominal sentences. It is the king of the "What is...?" structure.

1. 1Creating a question with مَا is like building with Lego blocks. Follow these simple steps:
2. 2Start with the particle مَا at the very beginning.
3. 3Add the noun or pronoun you are asking about immediately after.
4. 4Add a question mark ؟ at the end (remember it faces the other way in Arabic!).
5. 5For example: مَا + هَذَا (this) = مَا هَذَا؟ (What is this?).
6. 6To ask a name: مَا + اِسْمُكَ (your name) = مَا اِسْمُكَ؟ (What is your name?).
7. 7Notice there is no verb "to be" needed in the middle. It is a direct connection.

You should reach for مَا in several specific real-world scenarios. Use it when you are identifying objects in a room. Use it when you are asking for someone's name or a specific piece of information. It is perfect for asking about the weather, like مَا الجَوّ؟ (What is the weather?). Use it in a job interview to ask مَا خِبْرَتُكَ؟ (What is your experience?). It is also used when asking for a phone number or an address. Basically, if the answer is a "thing" or a "concept," مَا is your go-to word. It is the polite way to seek clarification without overcomplicating your sentences. Even if you forget every other word, مَا plus a pointed finger will get you very far in a new city.

This is where many learners trip up, so pay close attention. Do not use مَا to ask about people. If you see a person and want to know who they are, you must use مَنْ (who). Using مَا for a person is like calling someone an "it"—it is a bit rude and grammatically wrong! Also, try to avoid using مَا directly before a verb in most standard questions. If you want to ask "What are you doing?" or "What are you eating?", you usually switch to a cousin word called مَاذَا. Think of مَا as the partner for nouns and مَاذَا as the partner for verbs. Yes, even native speakers occasionally blur these lines in dialects, but for your A1 foundation, keep them separate. It is like using a fork for steak and a spoon for soup.

The most common mistake is the "Person vs. Thing" mix-up. I once saw a student ask a teacher مَا أَنْتَ؟ (What are you?) instead of مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ (Who are you?). The teacher jokingly replied, "I am a human!" Another mistake is trying to translate the English word "is" into the sentence. You do not need a word for "is" between مَا and the noun. Just put them side-by-side. Also, watch out for the spelling. Do not confuse مَا (what) with مَنْ (who) or مِنْ (from). They look similar if you are rushing. Finally, remember the Arabic question mark ؟. Writing a standard ? is a dead giveaway that you are still thinking in English. It is a small detail, but it makes your writing look professional.

Let's compare مَا with its closest relatives. First, there is مَاذَا. Both mean "what," but مَاذَا loves verbs. If there is an action involved, مَاذَا is usually the star. Then there is أَيّ (which). You use أَيّ when you have a choice between specific things, like "Which color do you want?" مَا is broader and more general. Finally, contrast it with هَلْ. هَلْ is for Yes/No questions. If you ask هَلْ هَذَا كِتَاب؟, you want a "yes" or "no." If you ask مَا هَذَا؟, you want the actual name of the object. It is the difference between asking "Is this a cat?" and "What is this animal?"