Negation with غَيْر — Standard Arabic Grammar

The word (ghayr) is a noun used to negate single words within a sentence. It functions similarly to the English prefixes "un-", "in-", or "non-", or the word "not" when placed directly before an adjective or noun.

Grammatically, (ghayr) always functions as the first part of a possessive construction ( (iḍāfahiḍāfahiḍāfahiḍafah)). This dictates the case of the word that follows it.

The Word Following ⁧غَيْر⁩ (ghayr)

The most important rule is that the word immediately following (ghayr) must always be in the genitive case ( (majrūrmad͟jrūrmaǧruwrmajrwr)).

If the word is indefinite, it ends with double (kasrah) (-in).
If the word is definite (has (alalʾalal)), it ends with a single (kasrah) (-i).

⁧هَذَا كَلَامٌ غَيْرُ مَفْهُومٍ.⁩
hādhā kalāmun ghayru mafhūmin.hādhā kalāmun ghayru mafhūmin.hādhā kalāmun ghayru mafhuwmin.hadha kalamun ghayru mafhwmin.
This is incomprehensible speech.
⁧أَنَا غَيْرُ مُوَافِقٍ عَلَى هَذَا.⁩
anā ghayru muwāfiqin ʿalā hādhā.anā ghayru muwāfiqin ʿalā hādhā.ʾanā ghayru muwāfiqin ʿalā hādhā.ana ghayru muwafiqin ʿala hadha.
I am not in agreement with this.

Case Endings of ⁧غَيْر⁩ (ghayr)

While the word after (ghayr) is fixed in the genitive case, the word (ghayr) itself changes its case ending (vowel) depending on its role in the sentence. It usually acts as an adjective, mimicking the case of the noun it modifies.

1. Nominative (⁧⁧غَيْرُ⁩⁩ (ghayru))

Used when modifying a subject or a predicate.

⁧هُوَ رَجُلٌ غَيْرُ مَعْرُوفٍ.⁩
huwa rajulun ghayru maʿrūfin.huwa rad͟julun ghayru maʿrūfin.huwa raǧulun ghayru maʿruwfin.huwa rajulun ghayru maʿrwfin.
He is an unknown man.

2. Accusative (⁧⁧غَيْرَ⁩⁩ (ghayra))

Used when modifying the object of a verb.

⁧اِشْتَرَيْتُ هَاتِفًا غَيْرَ غَالٍ.⁩
ishtaraytu hātifan ghayra ghālin.ishtaraytu hātifan ghayra ghālin.ishtaraytu hātifan ghayra ghālin.ishtaraytu hatifan ghayra ghalin.
I bought an inexpensive phone.

3. Genitive (⁧⁧غَيْرِ⁩⁩ (ghayri))

Used when modifying a noun that follows a preposition.

⁧ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى مَكَانٍ غَيْرِ بَعِيدٍ.⁩
dhahabtu ilā makānin ghayri baʿīdin.dhahabtu ilā makānin ghayri baʿīdin.dhahabtu ilā makānin ghayri baʿiydin.dhahabtu ila makanin ghayri baʿydin.
I went to a not-distant (nearby) place.

Negating Adjectives (Un-/In-)

This is the most common use for learners. You use (ghayr) to turn a positive adjective into its negative opposite without using a verb.

⁧هَذَا طَعَامٌ غَيْرُ صِحِّيٍّ.⁩
hādhā ṭaʿāmun ghayru ṣiḥḥiyyin.hādhā ṭaʿāmun ghayru ṣiḥḥiyyin.hādhā ṭaʿāmun ghayru ṣiḥḥiyyin.hadha ṭaʿamun ghayru ṣiḥiyin.
This is unhealthy food.
⁧الْجَوَابُ غَيْرُ صَحِيحٍ.⁩
al-jawābu ghayru ṣaḥīḥin.al-d͟jawābu ghayru ṣaḥīḥin.ʾal-ǧawābu ghayru ṣaḥiyḥin.al-jawabu ghayru ṣaḥyḥin.
The answer is incorrect.

Negating Nouns (Non-)

(ghayr) can also be used with nouns to classify people or things as "non-X".

⁧الدُّخُولُ لِغَيْرِ الْمُوَظَّفِينَ مَمْنُوعٌ.⁩
al-dukhūlu li-ghayri al-muwaẓẓafīna mamnūʿun.al-dukhūlu li-ghayri al-muwaẓẓafīna mamnūʿun.ʾal-dukhuwlu li-ghayri ʾal-muwaẓẓafiyna mamnuwʿun.al-dukhwlu li-ghayri al-muwaẓafyna mamnwʿun.
Entry for non-employees is forbidden.
⁧هِيَ غَيْرُ مُسْلِمَةٍ.⁩
hiya ghayru muslimatin.
She is a non-Muslim.

Difference from ⁧لَيْسَ⁩ (laysa)

While both express negation, (laysa) is a verb used to negate a whole sentence ("He is not happy"), whereas (ghayr) is a noun used to negate a specific attribute ("He is an unhappy person").

(laysa): (al-kitābu laysa mufīdanal-kitābu laysa mufīdanʾal-kitābu laysa mufiydanal-kitabu laysa mufydan) (The book is not useful).
(ghayr): (huwa kitābun ghayru mufīdinhuwa kitābun ghayru mufīdinhuwa kitābun ghayru mufiydinhuwa kitabun ghayru mufydin) (It is a useless book).

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