Answer: You have to  focus on the second “l”  (ل) in Allah (الله). Let’s analyze the so-called Grand Word and derive two rules that are easy to remember.

Recently a reader asked me how he should read a typical grammatical analysis in Arabic grammar books. Reading grammar books in Arabic can be challenging if you cannot decode the language of the grammarians.

But there is good news – there is a formula.

Legend has it that the question of the wasp or hornet, in Arabic:  Masʾala(t) al-Zunbūr  (مَسْأَلة الزُّنْبُور), caused Sībawayhi, the most fa­mous Arabic grammarian, to with­draw and die of anger and grief.

Recently a  reader asked me about the word حَيَّ. The word is used in the call of the Muezzin: Come to prayer! (حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلاةِ). The word in question – حَيَّ – is a so-called اِسْم الْفِعْل.

Ramadan starts soon, so the Arab World will be fasting AND watching TV. If you also want to watch the latest TV dramas (for the purpose of improving your Arabic, of course), you don’t necessarily need to live in the Arab World. We are lucky to have the Internet.