🔡 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.

9 verbs in this chapter

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Special Root Family

Hollow Root

ن و م — 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

نَامَ

To sleep

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

Root (جذر)

ن و م

Root Insight

Core Idea — The state of unconscious rest — the body's nightly return.

·sleeping, sleep
·calm, stillness
·gentle, soft (nawm — quiet)

Related concepts: sleep, rest, stillness, calm, unconscious

Word Family

ن و م

نَامَDictionary Form

يَنَامُPresent Form

نَمْCommand Form

نَوْمAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

نَامَ

She

نَامَتْ

Command Form:نَمْ

Action Noun:نَوْم

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Special Root Family

Assimilated Root

ي ق ظ — This root begins with a weak letter (و or ي). The first letter sometimes blends with the prefix in present-tense forms — this is a recognised Arabic pattern.

Lesson Word

اِسْتَيْقَظَ

To wake up

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

Root (جذر)

ي ق ظ

Root Insight

Core Idea — Wakefulness — alertness and the readiness of a wakened mind.

·being awake, alert
·vigilance, attentiveness
·the opposite of heedlessness

Related concepts: wakefulness, alertness, vigilance, attentiveness

Word Family

ي ق ظ

اِسْتَيْقَظَDictionary Form

يَسْتَيْقِظُPresent Form

اِسْتَيْقِظْCommand Form

اِسْتِيقَاظAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِسْتَيْقَظَ

She

اِسْتَيْقَظَتْ

Command Form:اِسْتَيْقِظْ

Action Noun:اِسْتِيقَاظ

Lesson Word

ذَهَبَ

To go

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

Root (جذر)

ذ ه ب

Root Insight

Core Idea — Moving away — departure and the preciousness of gold.

·going, departing
·gold (dhahab) — the metal that endures
·disappearing, being gone
·an opinion or doctrine (going in a direction)

Related concepts: departure, gold, going, disappearance, opinion

Word Family

ذ ه ب

ذَهَبَDictionary Form

يَذْهَبُPresent Form

اِذْهَبْCommand Form

ذَهَابAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

ذَهَبْتُ

You (M)

ذَهَبْتَ

You (F)

ذَهَبْتِ

ذَهَبَ

She

ذَهَبَتْ

ذَهَبْنَا

You (Plural)

ذَهَبْتُمْ

They

ذَهَبُوا

Command Form:اِذْهَبْ

Action Noun:ذَهَاب

Lesson Word

كَنَسَ

To vacuum / to sweep

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

Root (جذر)

ك ن س

Root Insight

Core Idea — Clearing away — sweeping what does not belong.

·sweeping, cleaning
·a synagogue (kenīsa — a place of gathering)
·a planet (kawākib — stars that "sweep" through the sky)

Related concepts: sweeping, cleaning, clearing, synagogue

Word Family

ك ن س

كَنَسَDictionary Form

يَكْنُسُPresent Form

اُكْنُسْCommand Form

كَنْسAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

كَنَسْتُ

You (M)

كَنَسْتَ

You (F)

كَنَسْتِ

كَنَسَ

She

كَنَسَتْ

كَنَسْنَا

You (Plural)

كَنَسْتُمْ

They

كَنَسُوا

Command Form:اُكْنُسْ

Action Noun:كَنْس

Lesson Word

غَسَلَ

To wash

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

Root (جذر)

غ س ل

Root Insight

Core Idea — Purifying with water — washing away what does not belong.

·washing, bathing
·ritual purification (ghusl)
·washing clothes, dishwashing

Related concepts: washing, purification, bathing, ritual, cleansing

Word Family

غ س ل

غَسَلَDictionary Form

يَغْسِلُPresent Form

اِغْسِلْCommand Form

غَسْلAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

غَسَلْتُ

You (M)

غَسَلْتَ

You (F)

غَسَلْتِ

غَسَلَ

She

غَسَلَتْ

غَسَلْنَا

You (Plural)

غَسَلْتُمْ

They

غَسَلُوا

Command Form:اِغْسِلْ

Action Noun:غَسْل

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Special Root Family

Hollow Root

ك 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

كَوَى

To iron (clothes)

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

Root (جذر)

ك و ي

Root Insight

Core Idea — Applying heat to heal or mark permanently.

·cauterising, branding with heat
·ironing clothes
·a medical burning treatment

Related concepts: cauterising, ironing, branding, heat, healing

Word Family

ك و ي

كَوَىDictionary Form

يَكْوِيPresent Form

اِكْوِCommand Form

كَيّAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

كَوَى

She

كَوَىتْ

Command Form:اِكْوِ

Action Noun:كَيّ

Lesson Word

شَاهَدَ

To watch / to see

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

Root (جذر)

ش ه د

Root Insight

Core Idea — Being present as a witness — testimony grounded in seeing.

·witnessing, testifying
·a martyr (shahīd — witness with one's life)
·the present moment (shahāda)
·certificate of testimony

Related concepts: witness, testimony, martyr, present, certificate

Word Family

ش ه د

شَاهَدَDictionary Form

يُشَاهِدُPresent Form

شَاهِدْCommand Form

مُشَاهَدَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

شَاهَدْتُ

You (M)

شَاهَدْتَ

You (F)

شَاهَدْتِ

شَاهَدَ

She

شَاهَدَتْ

شَاهَدْنَا

You (Plural)

شَاهَدْتُمْ

They

شَاهَدُوا

Command Form:شَاهِدْ

Action Noun:مُشَاهَدَة

Lesson Word

عَمِلَ

To work

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

Root (جذر)

ع م ل

Root Insight

Core Idea — Intentional action — work that produces an effect.

·work, labour
·a deed, an act
·a profession, craft
·a governor or agent (ʿāmil — one who acts on behalf)

Related concepts: work, action, deed, profession, labour, agent

Word Family

ع م ل

عَمِلَDictionary Form

يَعْمَلُPresent Form

اِعْمَلْCommand Form

عَمَلAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

عَمِلْتُ

You (M)

عَمِلْتَ

You (F)

عَمِلْتِ

عَمِلَ

She

عَمِلَتْ

عَمِلْنَا

You (Plural)

عَمِلْتُمْ

They

عَمِلُوا

Command Form:اِعْمَلْ

Action Noun:عَمَل

Lesson Word

كَتَبَ

To write

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

Root (جذر)

ك ت ب

Root Insight

Core Idea — Fixing something permanently in writing.

·writing
·a book (kitāb)
·a decree (what is written is fixed)
·prescribed obligation (kutiba ʿalaykum — it is written for you)

Related concepts: writing, book, decree, prescription, fixed

Word Family

ك ت ب

كَتَبَDictionary Form

يَكْتُبُPresent Form

اُكْتُبْCommand Form

كِتَابَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

كَتَبْتُ

You (M)

كَتَبْتَ

You (F)

كَتَبْتِ

كَتَبَ

She

كَتَبَتْ

كَتَبْنَا

You (Plural)

كَتَبْتُمْ

They

كَتَبُوا

Command Form:اُكْتُبْ

Action Noun:كِتَابَة

🔄 Practice Conjugation

Test yourself on all conjugated forms