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ما

Root entry · 5 derived lemmas

This root primarily relates to negation and questioning, functioning as a particle. It can also be used to express surprise or as a relative pronoun in certain contexts.

Derived headwords

مَاparticle
  1. 1.
    notboth

    A particle used for negating verbs and nominal sentences.

  2. 2.
    whatboth

    An interrogative particle used to ask about something.

  3. 3.
    whichboth

    A relative pronoun introducing a clause, often translated as 'that which' or 'the one which'.

  4. 4.
    how muchclassical

    Used in exclamatory sentences to express abundance or intensity.

مَا بِهَاphrase
  1. 1.
    what is wrong with itmodern

    A phrase used to inquire about a problem or ailment concerning something or someone.

ما بها هبلس وهبليس — What is wrong with them (referring to people)?
هَبْلَسnoun
  1. 1.
    personclassical

    A term referring to a person, often used in a general or somewhat derogatory sense.

هَبْلِيسnoun
  1. 1.
    personclassical

    A term referring to a person, often used in a general or somewhat derogatory sense.

أَحَدnoun
  1. 1.
    oneboth

    The cardinal number one, or a single individual.

  2. 2.
    anyoneboth

    Used in negative contexts to mean 'no one' or 'not anyone'.

Parallel reading

ما بها هبلس وهبليس، بكسرهما: أحد.
What is wrong with them (referring to people)? It is no one.