فلان

Root entry · 7 derived lemmas

This root entry discusses the use of 'فلان' and its variations as pronouns or indefinite nouns, akin to 'so-and-so' or 'someone' in English. It details their application for referring to oneself, others, or unspecified individuals, and explores different forms for singular, dual, and plural, as well as masculine and feminine.

Derived headwords

فُلَانname

1.
so-and-soboth
A pronoun or indefinite noun used to refer to a specific but unnamed person, often translated as 'so-and-so' or 'someone'.

فُلَانَةname

1.
so-and-so (fem.)both
The feminine form of 'فلان', used to refer to an unnamed female person.

فُلname

1.
so-and-so (sing.)both
A shortened form of 'فلان', used to refer to a single unnamed person.
2.
so-and-so (poetic)classical
A shortened form of 'فلان', permissible for referring to an unnamed person, but restricted to poetic usage by Sibawayh.

فُلُونname

1.
so-and-so (pl.)both
The plural form of 'فلان', used to refer to multiple unnamed persons.

فُلَّةname

1.
so-and-so (fem. sing.)both
A form used to refer to a single unnamed female person.

فُلْتَانname

1.
so-and-so (fem. sing.)both
Another form used to refer to a single unnamed female person.

فَلَاتname

1.
so-and-so (fem. pl.)both
A form used to refer to multiple unnamed female persons.
2.
so-and-so (fem. sing.)both
A form that can be used to refer to a single unnamed female person, equivalent to 'فلة'.

Parallel reading

كناية عن أسمائنا

A pronoun for our names

وبأآل؛ عن غيرنا

And for others

وقد يقال للواحد: يا فل

And one might say to a single person: O Ful

وللاثنين: يا فلان

And to two: O Fulan

وللجمع: يا فلون

And to a group: O Fulun

وفي المؤنث: يا فلة

And for the feminine: O Falla

ويا فلتان

And O Faltan

ويا فلات

And O Falat

ومنـع سيبويه أن يقال: فل، ويراد فلان، إلا في الشعر

And Sibawayh prohibited saying 'Ful' with the intention of 'Fulan', except in poetry

وقد يقال للواحدة: يا فلات، ويا فل، يراد: يا فلة

And it may be said to a single [female]: O Falat, and O Ful, meaning: O Falla