Asslamo Allaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,
What is the vocative particle “Yaa” يا ?
“Yaa” يا is always used to address/call someone who is present and can respond to you.
When using vocative particle “Yaa” يا in front of a single name
You have learned masculine names in Arabic carry Tanween (Dammatain) by default, e.g:
Female names ALWAYS carry a single Damma and here are some examples for you:
آمِنَةُ
فَاطِمَةُ
When “Yaa” يا is added to a masculine name e.g. when you want to call "Muhammad" or "Khalid" one of the Damma will drop!
But when “Yaa” يا is added to a feminine name e.g. when you want to call "Amina" or "Fatima" no change occurs.
When using vocative particle “Yaa” يا in front of a Mudad/Mudaf-Ileh phrase:
Al-Idfaha (Possessive phrase): These are two "Nouns" in Arabic with one posessing the other. In English "Pen of Bilal", "Book of Aisha". To convert into Arabic there are two rules:
- The item which is the possession comes first e.g. “Pen”, “Book”. Interestingly this first (noun) in Arabic will neither have Tanween nor “ال” and thats the sign that this phrase is Al-Idfaha (Possessive phrase). This first noun of the phrase is called "Mudaf" مُضَاف
- قَلَمُ
- كتابُ
- The item which is the possessor comes second e.g. “Bilal”, “Aisha”. Interestingly this secon (noun) in Arabic will ALWAYS be Majroor. This second noun of the phrase is called "Mudaf Ileh" مُضَاف إلَيْه
- بَلالٍ
- عائشةِ
Recall that Masculine names always get Tanween on the letter and Feminine names always get a single Harakah on the last letter
So together the Al-Idfaha (Possessive phrase) will be:
- "Pen of Bilal" قَلَمُ بَلالٍ
- كتابُ عائشةِ "Book of Aisha"
When “Yaa” يا in placed in front of this structure the Mudaf changes from being "Marfoo" to "Mansoob"
عَبدُاللهِ (Servant of Allah) will become يا عَبدَاللهِ (O! Servant of Allah)
رَسُولُ اللهِ (Servant of Allah) will become يا رَسُولَ اللهِ (O! Servant of Allah)
Note: For some reason I can't use colours so I have highlighted the change to show you the change which is made by “Yaa” يا
