46 Grammar: Demonstrative pronouns and adjectives
A demonstrative (Arabic: Ism ishaara اسم اشارة) is a word used to stand in for a noun intended to indicate something specific (“this” or “that”). It can either be used as a pronoun such as in the sentence “This is difficult” (meaning, for example, “this (test) is difficult.” Or, as a demonstrative adjective “This road is bumpy.” As in English, the words for demonstrative nouns and demonstrative adjectives, which you can translate as “this”, are the same:
“This”
da (m) دا
dii (f) دي
dol (pl) دول
In spoken Egyptian Arabic, grammatically, the demonstrative in phrases such as “this book” is interpreted as a definite adjective grammatically: in such a case, it follows the noun it describes.
الكتاب ده البنت دي الطلاب دول
If the demonstrative is to be treated as a pronoun, then it precedes the noun it is referring to. Eg below: “This is the book.” “This is the girl.” “Those are the students”.
ده الكتاب دي البنت دول الطلاب
As in other pronouns, a demonstrative pronouns can be used on its own. Eg “This [one m] lives in the dorm.” “Those [ones] are from Egypt.”
ده ساكن في بيت الطلبة دول من مصر
