🔡 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.
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.
13 verbs in this chapter
Special Root Family
Hollow Rootص و ب — 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
To be afflicted / to get ill
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — Reaching a target — hitting the mark, being correct.
- ·hitting, striking a target
- ·attaining an objective
- ·correctness, rightness (ṣawāb)
- ·descending rain hitting the earth
Related concepts: accuracy, target, correctness, attainment, hitting
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To rise / to go up
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — Elevation — moving upward, raising in status or position.
- ·lifting, raising physically
- ·elevation of status or rank
- ·the nominative case in Arabic grammar (marfūʿ)
- ·submitting a petition or complaint
Related concepts: lifting, raising, elevation, status, nominative
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Hollow Rootغ ي ب — 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
To be absent
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — What lies beyond perception — the unseen world.
- ·absence, being away
- ·the unseen (al-ghayb) — what is hidden from humans
- ·speaking ill of someone in their absence (ghība)
- ·setting (of stars, the sun)
Related concepts: unseen, hidden, absence, absence-defamation, mystery
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Defective Rootش ف ي — This root ends with a weak letter (و or ي). The final letter may appear differently in some forms — this follows a well-known Arabic pattern.
Lesson Word
To cure / to heal
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — Restoration to health — the body returning to completeness.
- ·healing, curing
- ·quenching (shafā = satisfying thirst for revenge or knowledge)
- ·the edge of something (shafā — on the brink)
Related concepts: healing, cure, health, restoration, satisfaction
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To examine / to check
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — Careful inspection — going over every detail.
- ·examination, inspection
- ·medical check-up
- ·testing, scrutinising
- ·a cleared space where things are examined
Related concepts: examination, inspection, testing, scrutiny
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To meet / to encounter
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — Facing toward — what is in front, what comes before.
- ·before (temporal)
- ·facing toward, in front of
- ·accepting, receiving
- ·kissing (qabala — to bring faces close)
- ·the qibla direction
Related concepts: before, facing, accepting, kiss, qibla
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To advise / to counsel
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — Pure, sincere counsel — advice with no hidden agenda.
- ·giving sincere advice
- ·pure, unadulterated (naṣūḥ — like purified honey)
- ·sewing tightly (naṣḥ — the needle following a straight line)
Related concepts: advice, sincerity, purity, counsel, straightness
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Hollow Rootق ي س — 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
To measure
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — Measuring — comparison to a standard.
- ·measuring, gauging
- ·comparison, analogy (qiyās in Islamic jurisprudence)
- ·a standard of measure
Related concepts: measuring, analogy, comparison, standard, jurisprudence
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Hollow Rootز ي د — 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
To increase / to grow
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — Addition — more coming to join what was already there.
- ·increase, addition, more
- ·growing, multiplying
- ·surpassing a limit
Related concepts: increase, addition, growth, excess, more
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To decrease / to diminish
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — Deficiency — something less than it should be.
- ·deficiency, lack
- ·decreasing, diminishing
- ·a shortcoming or flaw
Related concepts: deficiency, lack, decrease, shortcoming, reduction
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To practise / to exercise
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
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
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Hollow Rootن و ل — 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
To consume / to take (medicine)
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — Conferring and bestowing — bringing something within reach.
- ·giving, bestowing
- ·a loom (nawl — what extends the thread)
- ·what one receives or deserves
Related concepts: giving, bestowing, reaching, loom, conferring
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Defective Rootب ق ي — This root ends with a weak letter (و or ي). The final letter may appear differently in some forms — this follows a well-known Arabic pattern.
Lesson Word
To remain / what is left
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Root Insight
Core Idea — Remaining after everything else has gone.
- ·staying, continuing, persisting
- ·what is left over
- ·surviving, enduring
- ·permanence and continuity
Related concepts: remaining, continuity, survival, permanence, leftover
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Test yourself on all conjugated forms