You're standing in a bustling market in Cairo or maybe a sleek cafe in Dubai, and you realize you have no idea how to say this in arabic. You point at a shimmering piece of jewelry or a steaming plate of koshary. You look at your phone. The translation app gives you something that sounds like it was pulled from a 12th-century manuscript. It’s stiff. It’s weird. Nobody actually talks like that.
Arabic isn't just one language. It’s a massive, beautiful, frustrating collection of dialects wrapped in a formal shell. If you want to know how to say this in arabic, the first thing you have to accept is that the "correct" answer depends entirely on who you’re talking to and where you are standing.
Honestly, the word for "this" is the perfect example of why Arabic is so tricky for English speakers. In English, "this" is just "this." In Arabic, it changes based on gender, number, and the specific city you’re in. It's a lot.
The Formal Reality vs. The Street Reality
If you open a textbook, you’ll see the word hādha (هذا). That is Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), or Fusha. It’s what news anchors use. It’s what the Quran is written in. It’s beautiful, but if you use it to ask for a coffee in a neighborhood shop, you might get a polite smile and a look that says, "Why are you talking like a Shakespeare character?"
In the real world—the world of the Levant, the Gulf, and North Africa—people chop that word down.
In Egypt, the most widely understood dialect thanks to cinema, they don't say hādha. They say da. Simple. Sharp. If you're pointing at a shirt, you say "da." If it’s a feminine object, like a car (sayyara), you say "di." You've basically mastered 50% of Egyptian shopping just with those two sounds.
But move over to Lebanon or Syria, and suddenly you’re hearing hayda or heik. It’s the same concept, just a different flavor. This is the "diglossia" problem that experts like Dr. Kirk Belnap from the National Middle East Language Resource Center often talk about. You’re essentially learning two languages at once. One for reading, one for living.
Gender Matters More Than You Think
English is lazy. We don't care if a chair is a boy or a girl. Arabic cares deeply.
When you ask how to say this in arabic, you have to identify the gender of the thing you're pointing at. Let's look at some common items. A book (kitab) is masculine. So, in formal Arabic, it’s hādha kitab. But a window (shubbak) is also masculine. A table (tawila), however, is feminine because it ends with that "ah" sound (the ta marbuta). For the table, you’d need to say hādhihi.
It sounds exhausting. It kinda is at first. But there’s a trick.
In most spoken dialects, if you aren't sure, just use the masculine form. People will get it. They know you're learning. Most travelers get paralyzed trying to remember if a spoon is feminine (it is—ma’alaqa) or masculine. Just point and say the dialect version. In Riyadh, you might hear hadha. In Amman, hal. The nuances are endless, but the goal is communication, not a linguistics degree.
Why Your App Is Probably Failing You
The problem with most big-name language apps is that they default to MSA.
They teach you how to pass a university exam. They don't teach you how to argue with a taxi driver about a fare or how to tell a friend "this is amazing" at a dinner party. When you look up how to say this in arabic on a standard translator, it gives you the formal version because it’s the "safest" bet. But "safe" often means "unnatural."
Real fluency comes from "code-switching." This is a phenomenon researched heavily by linguists like Reem Khamis-Dakwar. It’s the ability to jump between the formal "official" language and the "home" language. If you want to sound human, you have to ditch the textbook occasionally.
The "This" Cheat Sheet (Dialect Edition)
- Egypt: Da (masculine), Di (feminine).
- The Levant (Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Syria): Hayda (masculine), Haydi (feminine).
- The Gulf (Saudi, UAE, Kuwait): Hadha or Hada.
- The Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia): Hada or Hadi.
See the pattern? It’s all variations on a theme. The "h" and the "d" or "dh" sounds are the backbone. If you can make a soft "th" sound (like in "the") and follow it with an "a," you’re mostly there.
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Context is Everything
Sometimes "this" isn't a physical object. Sometimes you’re talking about a situation.
"What is this?"
In Cairo, you’d say, Eh da? In Dubai, you might say, Shu hadha? In Morocco, it becomes Shnu hada?
If you’re trying to say "this" as in "this person," it changes again. Arabic is built on roots and relationships. It’s a mathematical language. Once you see the grid, it stops being scary. You start to see how the words for "this," "that," "here," and "there" all stem from the same linguistic DNA.
One thing that really trips people up is the "the." In Arabic, if you want to say "this book," you can't just put the words together. You have to say "this the book." Hādha al-kitāb. If you forget the al (the), you’re actually saying "This is a book." It’s a tiny distinction that changes a fragment into a full sentence.
The Sound of the Language
Let’s talk about the "dh" sound in hādha. It’s not a "z." It’s not a "d." It’s that buzzy "th" sound you get in the word "mother."
Many learners struggle with the pharyngeal sounds—the ones that feel like they’re coming from the back of your throat. Luckily, the word for "this" doesn't usually require you to summon a deep guttural "H." It’s mostly breathy and dental.
If you're wondering how to say this in arabic without sounding like a total tourist, focus on the "ah" sounds. Keep them crisp. Don't mumble. Arabic is a rhythmic language. It has a pulse. When you say da in Egypt, it’s short and punchy. When you say hayda in Beirut, it’s a bit more melodic, almost like a song.
Cultural Nuance: More Than Words
When you're pointing at something and asking "how much is this?" or "what is this?", your body language matters as much as the phonetics.
In many Arab cultures, pointing with a single finger can be seen as slightly aggressive or rude depending on the context. It’s often better to use an open hand. It’s a small thing, but it changes the "vibe" of the interaction. You aren't just a person using a language; you're a person participating in a culture.
Also, keep in mind that "this" can be used for emphasis. In many dialects, people will repeat the word for "this" at the end of a sentence just to drive a point home. It’s like saying, "I want a coffee, this one."
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Don't overthink the grammar.
Seriously. Most native speakers don't even follow perfect grammar rules when they're chatting over tea. If you use the wrong gender for "this," 100% of people will still understand you. They might find it charming. They definitely won't be offended.
The biggest mistake is staying silent because you're afraid of the hādha vs hādhihi debate. Just pick a dialect that matches your destination—or your favorite TV show—and stick with it. Consistency is better than perfection.
If you’re traveling to multiple countries, learning the Egyptian da is your best safety net. Because of the massive influence of Egyptian media across the Arab world, almost everyone from Iraq to Morocco understands it, even if they don't use it themselves.
Practical Next Steps for Mastery
To really nail how to say this in arabic, you need to stop reading and start listening.
First, decide on a region. If you don't have a specific travel plan, choose Levantine or Egyptian. These are the most "portable" dialects. Use a tool like YouGlish to search for Arabic phrases and hear how real people—not robots—pronounce them in YouTube videos.
Second, practice the "this + the + noun" structure. It's the biggest hurdle for English speakers. Grab objects around your house and label them. "This the lamp," "This the chair." It feels weird in English, but it will hardwire your brain for Arabic syntax.
Third, find a language partner on an app like HelloTalk or Tandem. Ask them specifically: "How would you say 'What is this?' if you were talking to your mom?" That's how you get the real stuff.
Finally, don't be afraid to make a mess of it. Arabic is a forgiving language for those who try. Whether you're using the formal hādha or the slangy da, the act of trying to meet someone in their own language carries more weight than perfect pronunciation ever will.
Start with one object today. Point at your phone. Say hādha hātif (formal) or da tilifōn (Egyptian). You’ve already begun.
Actionable Insights:
- Choose your "Home Base" Dialect: Don't try to learn all of them. Pick Egyptian for broad reach or Levantine for a softer, widely respected tone.
- The "Al" Rule: Remember that "this book" requires the "the" (al) prefix on the noun. Without it, you’re making a statement (This is a book), not a reference.
- Master the "DH": Practice the "th" sound as in "this" or "breathe." Avoid turning it into a hard "z" or "d" unless you are intentionally speaking the Egyptian dialect.
- Use the "Open Hand" Gesture: When using "this" to point at objects or people in a Middle Eastern context, use your whole hand to remain culturally polite.
- Listen for "Da": If you're watching Arabic content, listen for how often the "h" is dropped in casual speech. It will help you recognize the word in the wild.