Prepositions

Across from / Opposite

قُصاد

guSaad

في حَديقَه (قُصاد) النَهَر.

fii Hadiiqa guSaad an-nahar.

There is a park across from the river.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

After

بَعَد

ba3ad

أنا لاقيت صاحبي (بَعَد) الشُغل.

ana laageet SaaHbi ba3ad al-shughl.

I met my friend (male) after work.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Alone / By Oneself

بَرا

baraa

إنت لازِم تَمشي (بَرا)ك.

inta laazim tamshi baraak.

You (male) have to go by yourself.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

At / On

في

fii

أنا (في) المَدرسَه.

ana fii al-madrasa.

I am at school.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Before

قُبّال

gubbaal

أنا مَشيت الدُكّان (قُبّال) المَدرَسَه.

ana masheet ad-dukkaan gubbaal al-madrasa.

I went to the store before school.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Before

قَبِل

gabil

(قَبِل) الغُروب، مَشيت الحَديقَه.

gabil al-ghuruub masheet al-Hadiiqa.

Before sunset, I went to the park.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Behind

وَرا

waraa

.الكِتاب (ورا) الكُمبيوتر

al-kitaab waraa al-kumbyuutr.

The book is behind the computer.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Between/ Among

بين

been

بيتي (بين) بيتَك و المُستَشفى.

beeti been beetak u al-mustashfaa.

My house is between your (male) house and the hospital.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

During

خِلال

khilaal

(خِلال) الصيف، حَزور خالي في باريس.

khilaal aS-Seef Hazuur khaali fii baariis.

During the summer, I will visit my uncle (maternal) in Paris.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

From

مِن

min

أنا جيت (مِن) المَكتَب.

ana jiit min al-maktab.

I came from the office.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Have

عِند

3ind

(عِند)ي سُؤال.

3indi su2aal.

I have a question.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

In front of

قِدّام

giddaam

في دُكّان (قِدّام) بيتنا.

fii dukkaan giddaam beetna.

There is a store in front of our house.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Inside

جُوا

juwaa

في أكِل كَتير (جُوا) التَلاجَه.

fii akil katiir juwaa t-talaaja.

There is a lot of food inside the refrigerator.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Like / As

زي

zay

أنا دايِر قَميص (زَي) قَميصُه.

ana daayir gamiiS zay gamiiSu.

I want a shirt like his shirt.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Next to

جَمب

jamb

أنا قاعِد (جَمب) الباب.

ana gaa3id jamb al-baab.

I am standing next to the door.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

On / About

عَلى

3alaa

الكِتاب (عَلى) الطَرَبيزَه.

al-kitaab 3alaa aT-Tarabeeza.

The book is on the table.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

On top / Over

فوق

foog

الكَديسَه فوق السَرير.

al-kadiisa foog as-sariir.

The cat is on top of the bed.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Outside

بَرّه

barra

خُت الزِبالَه (بَرّه) البيت.

khutt al-zibaala baraa al-beet.

Put (command to a male) the trash outside the house.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

To / For

لِ

li

أنا إشتَريت هَدِيَه (لِ)اُختي.

ana ishtareet hadiya li-ukhti.

I bought a gift for my sister.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Under

تِحِت

tiHit

الكِتاب (تِحِت) الطَرَبيزَه.

al-kitaab tiHit aT-Tarabeeza.

The book is under the table.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

With

مَعَ

ma3a

أنا ماشي (مَعَ) صاحبَتي.

ana maashi ma3a SaaHbati.

I am going with my friend (female).

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

With

بِ

bi

أنا بَحِب قَهوَه (بِ)الحَليب.

ana baHib gahwa bi-l haliib.

I like coffee with milk.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

Without

بِدون

biduun

الناس ما بِقدَروا يِعيشوا (بِدون) الحُب.

an-naas ma bigdaru yi3iishu biduun al-Hub.

People are not able to exist without love.

example:

This preposition can be used in isolation or followed a noun or pronoun.

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Study Mode

Prepositions in Sudanese Arabic play an important role in defining relationships between different elements within a sentence. They are used to indicate location, direction, time, possession, cause, and other grammatical relationships. Prepositions must be followed by a definite or indefinite noun or have a suffixed pronoun as an object. A select number of prepositions can occur in isolation and they are noted in the list below.