Detached pronouns (الضمائر المنفصلة) are independent words that stand on their own in a sentence, as opposed to attached pronouns which are suffixed to other words. They are used primarily as subjects (in the محل رفع position) and play a key role in nominal sentences (الجملة الاسمية).
The most common detached pronouns are: أنا (I), أنتَ/أنتِ (you, m/f), هو/هي (he/she), نحنُ (we), أنتم/أنتنّ (you all, m/f), and هم/هنّ (they, m/f). There are also dual forms: أنتما (you two) and هما (they two). Each pronoun is definite and مبني (indeclinable) — its form doesn't change based on grammatical position.
In nominal sentences, detached pronouns serve as the مبتدأ (subject): هو طالبٌ (he is a student), أنا مسلمٌ (I am a Muslim), نحنُ مجتهدونَ (we are diligent). Since there is no "to be" verb in present-tense Arabic nominal sentences, these pronouns directly connect to their predicates.
Detached pronouns are also used for emphasis and contrast. While Arabic verbs already contain embedded subject pronouns (the verb ذهبتُ already means "I went"), you can add the detached pronoun for emphasis: أنا ذهبتُ (I went — with emphasis on "I"). This construction is common in both everyday Arabic and Quranic text, where emphasis carries significant meaning.