Lesson 1: The False Verb "To Have" – عند (3and)
Next up, another essential false verb – (3and), meaning "to have." Let’s learn how
to conjugate it!
What is a false verb?
In Arabic, some expressions act like verbs but aren’t actually verbs. One example is how we say "I have" – there is no real verb like “to have” in Levantine Arabic. Instead, we use a structure with the word عند (3ind).
Using "عند (3and)"
The word 3and means "at" or "by", but when we add pronouns to it, it means "to have". For example, ana 3and alteta (أنا عند التيتا ) means I am at granny's. Yes Spanish speakers, alteta (التيتا) in Arabic means my grandmother.
| Pronoun | Form of "3ind" (to have) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | 3and-i (عندي) | 3andi wleed - عندي ولأد (I have kids) |
| You (m) | 3and-ak (عندك) | 3andak shokola? عندك شوكولا؟ - (Do you have chocolate?) |
| You (f) | 3and-ek (عندِك) | 3andek benet aw walad? عندك بنت أو ولد؟ - (Do you have a girl or a boy) |
| He | 3and-o (عنده) | Miin 3ando daftari? مين عندو دفتري؟ -(Who has my notebook?) |
| She | 3and-a (عندا) | 3anda 3aile kbiire - عندا عائلة كبيرة - (She has a big family) |
| We | 3and-na (عندنا) | 3andna beit sghiir bass 7elu - عندنا بيت صغير بس حلو - (We have a small but beautiful house) |
| You (pl) | 3and-kon (عندكن) | 3indkon su2al? عندكن سؤال؟ -(Do you have a question?) |
| They | 3and-on (عندن) | Ma 3andon wleed sghaar - ما عندون ولاد صغار - (They don't have small children) |
Note: Just like with "bedd" (to want), the structure is: word + pronoun ending.
"مع (m3)" vs. "عند (3ind)"
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عند (3ind) = "to have" (ownership, permanent)
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Example: 3indi su2al (I have a question)
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مع (m3) = "with" (possession in the moment)
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Example: m3ai masari (I have money on me now)
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While مع (m3a) when it stands alone means with, it can be paired with the possessives creating with that person. When using it we could simply say "Ana m3ao" (أنا معو) "I am with him" or "Ma m3ao daftaro" (ما معو دفترو ) "He doesn't (have) his notebook with him".
Tip: If you “have” something on you right now, use m3a. If it’s something you own or something more permanent, use 3and.
New words we’ve learned so far:
masari (money), su2al (question), daftar (notebook), 3aile (family), beit (house), bent (girl), walad (boy), wleed (kids/children) and miin (who).
So basically, the possessives are super important in Arabic! If you want to keep practicing, here are some simple questions for you.