Every noun in Arabic is either masculine or feminine. The gender matters because adjectives, verbs and words like "this" have to match it.
Spotting a feminine noun
Most feminine nouns end in ة (taa marbuuta). In Levantine it's said -a after some consonants and -e after others.
- سيارةsayyaaracar (f)
- مدرسةmadraseschool (f)
- غرفةghurferoom (f)
Everything else is usually masculine: beit (house), ktaab (book), baab (door).
Feminine nouns without ة
A few common words are feminine with no ending:
- female people: imm (mother), binit (girl)
- paired body parts: 3ein (eye), 2iid (hand), ijir (leg)
- a few others: shams (sun), ard (ground)
Making a feminine form
People and adjectives add -a/-e:
- أستاذ / أستاذةistaaz / istaazeteacher (m / f)
- سوري / سوريةsuuri / suuriyyeSyrian (m / f)
- تعبان / تعبانةta3baan / ta3baanetired (m / f)
The -a/-e becomes -it
Before an owner or a possessive ending, the feminine ending is said -it:
- سيارة أحمدsayyaarit a7madAhmed's car
- سيارتيsayyaartimy car
Why it matters
- هالولد طويلhal-walad tawiilThis boy is tall.
- هالبنت طويلةhal-binit tawiileThis girl is tall.