Iʿrāb (إعراب) is a fundamental concept in the study of Arabic grammar. It refers to the system of inflectional endings that appear at the end of Arabic words to indicate their grammatical roles in a sentence. These endings help determine the case, mood, and function of nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
What Is Iʿrāb?
The word iʿrāb comes from the root (ع-ر-ب) which conveys the meaning of expressing clearly. In Arabic grammar, iʿrāb shows how a word’s ending changes according to its position in the sentence, making the meaning more precise and unambiguous.
For example:
- الولدُ يقرأ الكتابَ
Al-waladu yaqraʾu al-kitāba
(“The boy reads the book.”)
Here, الولدُ ends with ُ (dammah) indicating it is the subject (nominative case), and الكتابَ ends with َ (fathah) indicating it is the object (accusative case).
Why Is Iʿrāb Important?
- It clarifies who is doing the action and who is receiving it.
- It prevents ambiguity in meaning.
- It reflects the rich and precise structure of the Arabic language.
Without iʿrāb, Arabic sentences could become confusing, especially when word order is flexible.
Types of Iʿrāb (Cases)
- Nominative (الرفع) – usually marked by a dammah (ـُ)
Used for subjects and predicates. - Accusative (النصب) – usually marked by a fathah (ـَ)
Used for direct objects, adverbs, and certain complements. - Genitive (الجر) – usually marked by a kasrah (ـِ)
Used after prepositions or in possessive constructions. - Jussive & Subjunctive (الجزم / النصب in verbs)
Applied to verbs to indicate mood.
Conclusion
Iʿrāb is not just a technical detail but a key to understanding Arabic grammar. Learning it allows students to read classical texts, Qur’anic verses, and poetry with greater accuracy and appreciation.
Mastering iʿrāb opens the door to a deeper understanding of the Arabic language and its eloquence.