🔡 Word Families — Sarf

Arabic words belong to families derived from a common root (جذر). Each root has a core idea that connects all words in its family.

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Learn roots, not rules

When you see a new word, ask: what root does it come from, and what idea does that root carry? Tap + related words to see the full root family.

8 verbs in this chapter

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Special Root Family

Hollow Root

ه و ي — This root has a weak middle letter (و or ي). Arabic naturally softens or shortens this letter in some forms — this is a regular Arabic pattern.

Lesson Word

هَوَى

To have hobby / to love

Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.

Root (جذر)

ه و ي

Root Insight

Core Idea — Falling — a descent driven by longing or gravity.

·falling, plummeting
·desire, passion (hawā — what pulls one downward)
·an abyss (hawāʾ — empty void)
·the wind (what moves through empty space)

Related concepts: falling, desire, passion, abyss, wind

Word Family

ه و ي

هَوَىDictionary Form

يَهْوَىPresent Form

اِهْوَCommand Form

هِوَايَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

هَوَى

She

هَوَىتْ

Command Form:اِهْوَ

Action Noun:هِوَايَة

Lesson Word

سَافَرَ

To travel

Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.

Root (جذر)

س ف ر

Root Insight

Core Idea — Setting out on a journey — and revealing what was hidden.

·travel, journey
·uncovering, revealing (safara = to unveil)
·a book (sifr — a written record)
·a diplomatic envoy (safīr)

Related concepts: travel, journey, revelation, book, ambassador

Word Family

س ف ر

سَافَرَDictionary Form

يُسَافِرُPresent Form

سَافِرْCommand Form

سَفَر / مُسَافَرَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

سَافَرْتُ

You (M)

سَافَرْتَ

You (F)

سَافَرْتِ

سَافَرَ

She

سَافَرَتْ

سَافَرْنَا

You (Plural)

سَافَرْتُمْ

They

سَافَرُوا

Command Form:سَافِرْ

Action Noun:سَفَر / مُسَافَرَة

Lesson Word

رَاسَلَ

To correspond / to message

Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.

Root (جذر)

ر س ل

Root Insight

Core Idea — Sending out — dispatching a carrier of a message.

·sending, dispatching
·a messenger, prophet (rasūl)
·an epistle, a letter sent
·ease and flowing movement

Related concepts: messenger, sending, prophet, letter, dispatch

Word Family

ر س ل

رَاسَلَDictionary Form

يُرَاسِلُPresent Form

رَاسِلْCommand Form

مُرَاسَلَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

رَاسَلْتُ

You (M)

رَاسَلْتَ

You (F)

رَاسَلْتِ

رَاسَلَ

She

رَاسَلَتْ

رَاسَلْنَا

You (Plural)

رَاسَلْتُمْ

They

رَاسَلُوا

Command Form:رَاسِلْ

Action Noun:مُرَاسَلَة

Lesson Word

مَارَسَ الرِّيَاضَة

To exercise / to do sports

Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.

Root (جذر)

م ر س

Root Insight

Core Idea — Anchoring firmly — toughness and durability.

·mooring a ship, anchoring
·toughness, durability
·a skilled, experienced person

Related concepts: anchoring, mooring, toughness, skill, durability

Word Family

م ر س

مَارَسَ الرِّيَاضَةDictionary Form

يُمَارِسُPresent Form

مَارِسْCommand Form

مُمَارَسَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

مَارَسَ الرِّيَاضَْتُ

You (M)

مَارَسَ الرِّيَاضَْتَ

You (F)

مَارَسَ الرِّيَاضَْتِ

مَارَسَ الرِّيَاضَة

She

مَارَسَ الرِّيَاضَةتْ

مَارَسَ الرِّيَاضَْنَا

You (Plural)

مَارَسَ الرِّيَاضَْتُمْ

They

مَارَسَ الرِّيَاضَُوا

Command Form:مَارِسْ

Action Noun:مُمَارَسَة

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Special Root Family

Hollow Root

ز و ر — This root has a weak middle letter (و or ي). Arabic naturally softens or shortens this letter in some forms — this is a regular Arabic pattern.

Lesson Word

زَارَ

To visit

Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.

Root (جذر)

ز و ر

Root Insight

Core Idea — Visiting — and the deviation that disguises truth.

·visiting a person or place
·falsehood, forgery (a deviation from truth)
·the chest/breast area (as a source of speech)

Related concepts: visit, falsehood, deviation, forgery

Word Family

ز و ر

زَارَDictionary Form

يَزُورُPresent Form

زُرْCommand Form

زِيَارَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

زَارَ

She

زَارَتْ

Command Form:زُرْ

Action Noun:زِيَارَة

Lesson Word

جَمَعَ

To collect / to gather

Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.

Root (جذر)

ج م ع

Root Insight

Core Idea — Bringing scattered things together into one.

·gathering, collecting, assembling
·a community or congregation (jāmiʿ)
·Friday — the day of gathering (jumʿah)
·the plural form in grammar (jamʿ)
·adding numbers together

Related concepts: gathering, community, Friday, plural, assembly

Word Family

ج م ع

جَمَعَDictionary Form

يَجْمَعُPresent Form

اِجْمَعْCommand Form

جَمْعAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

جَمَعْتُ

You (M)

جَمَعْتَ

You (F)

جَمَعْتِ

جَمَعَ

She

جَمَعَتْ

جَمَعْنَا

You (Plural)

جَمَعْتُمْ

They

جَمَعُوا

Command Form:اِجْمَعْ

Action Noun:جَمْع

Lesson Word

اِخْتَارَ

To choose

Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.

Word Family

—

اِخْتَارَDictionary Form

يَخْتَارُPresent Form

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِخْتَارْتُ

You (M)

اِخْتَارْتَ

You (F)

اِخْتَارْتِ

اِخْتَارَ

She

اِخْتَارَتْ

اِخْتَارْنَا

You (Plural)

اِخْتَارْتُمْ

They

اِخْتَارُوا

Lesson Word

أَهْوَى

To love / like

Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.

Word Family

—

أَهْوَىDictionary Form

يَهْوَىPresent Form

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

أَهْوَْتُ

You (M)

أَهْوَْتَ

You (F)

أَهْوَْتِ

أَهْوَى

She

أَهْوَىتْ

أَهْوَْنَا

You (Plural)

أَهْوَْتُمْ

They

أَهْوَُوا

🔄 Practice Conjugation

Test yourself on all conjugated forms