mumkin

Mumkin is an Arabic adjective meaning "possible" or "feasible." It is used in Modern Standard Arabic and many dialects to describe whether an action, event, or condition can occur or be achieved.

Etymology and forms: The term derives from the verb أمكن (amkana), meaning "to be possible," and from the noun إمكان (imkan), meaning "possibility." The common written form is ممكن, with a feminine form possible as ممكنة (mumkina). In diacritics, it can appear as مُمكِن in formal texts.

Usage: In Modern Standard Arabic, you can say "هل هذا ممكن؟" meaning "Is this possible?" You can also use "ممكن أن..." to introduce a clause: "ممكن أن يأتي" (It is possible that he comes). In colloquial speech, ممكن is frequently used to soften requests: "ممكن تعطيني الماء؟" (Could you give me water?). The word's meaning hinges on context and intonation, ranging from simple feasibility to a polite request or tentative permission.

Related terms: إمكان (imkan) means "possibility," and إمكانية (imkaniyya or imkaniyya) denotes feasibility or potential. The verb أمكن (amkana) is used to express that something has become possible, with common constructions like "أمكن أن..." to introduce subordinate clauses in various tenses.

See also: Imkan and imkaniyya (feasibility and related concepts) are often discussed in linguistic and semantic contexts within Arabic studies.