🔡 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.

6 verbs in this chapter

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Special Root Family

Hamzated Root

أ ك ل — This root contains a hamza (ء). Hamza spelling follows standard Arabic orthography rules and does not change the meaning or pronunciation significantly.

Lesson Word

أَكَلَ

To eat

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

Root (جذر)

أ ك ل

Root Insight

Core Idea — Taking something inward — consuming it fully.

·eating food
·consuming or devouring
·erosion (fire "eating" something)
·absorbing wealth or resources

Related concepts: food, consumption, nourishment

Word Family

أ ك ل

أَكَلَDictionary Form

يَأْكُلُPresent Form

كُلْCommand Form

أَكْلAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

أَكَلْتُ

You (M)

أَكَلْتَ

You (F)

أَكَلْتِ

أَكَلَ

She

أَكَلَتْ

أَكَلْنَا

You (Plural)

أَكَلْتُمْ

They

أَكَلُوا

Command Form:كُلْ

Action Noun:أَكْل

Lesson Word

شَرِبَ

To drink

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

Root (جذر)

ش ر ب

Root Insight

Core Idea — Taking liquid into the body — absorbing.

·drinking
·absorbing moisture (land "drinking" rain)
·a watering place
·colour or dye absorbed by cloth

Related concepts: drinking, absorbing, liquid, watering, beverage

Word Family

ش ر ب

شَرِبَDictionary Form

يَشْرَبُPresent Form

اِشْرَبْCommand Form

شُرْبAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

شَرِبْتُ

You (M)

شَرِبْتَ

You (F)

شَرِبْتِ

شَرِبَ

She

شَرِبَتْ

شَرِبْنَا

You (Plural)

شَرِبْتُمْ

They

شَرِبُوا

Command Form:اِشْرَبْ

Action Noun:شُرْب

Lesson Word

طَلَبَ

To want / to order

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

Root (جذر)

ط ل ب

Root Insight

Core Idea — Reaching toward something desired — seeking and requesting.

·requesting, asking for
·demanding, requiring
·a student (ṭālib — one who seeks knowledge)
·pursuing, going after

Related concepts: request, student, seeking, pursuit, demand

Word Family

ط ل ب

طَلَبَDictionary Form

يَطْلُبُPresent Form

اُطْلُبْCommand Form

طَلَبAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

طَلَبْتُ

You (M)

طَلَبْتَ

You (F)

طَلَبْتِ

طَلَبَ

She

طَلَبَتْ

طَلَبْنَا

You (Plural)

طَلَبْتُمْ

They

طَلَبُوا

Command Form:اُطْلُبْ

Action Noun:طَلَب

Lesson Word

فَضَّلَ

To prefer / to favour

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

Root (جذر)

ف ض ل

Root Insight

Core Idea — What exceeds what is needed — surplus, virtue, generosity.

·virtue, excellence
·surplus, excess (faḍl — leftover)
·generosity and favour
·preferring one thing over another

Related concepts: virtue, excellence, surplus, generosity, favour

Word Family

ف ض ل

فَضَّلَDictionary Form

يُفَضِّلُPresent Form

فَضِّلْCommand Form

تَفْضِيلAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

فَضَّلْتُ

You (M)

فَضَّلْتَ

You (F)

فَضَّلْتِ

فَضَّلَ

She

فَضَّلَتْ

فَضَّلْنَا

You (Plural)

فَضَّلْتُمْ

They

فَضَّلُوا

Command Form:فَضِّلْ

Action Noun:تَفْضِيل

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Special Root Family

Assimilated Root

و ز ن — 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

وَزَنَ

To weigh

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

Root (جذر)

و ز ن

Root Insight

Core Idea — Measuring by balance — weight and equilibrium.

·weighing, measuring weight
·balance, equilibrium
·poetic metre (wazn — the measure of verse)
·a morphological pattern (wazn) in Arabic grammar

Related concepts: weight, balance, metre, pattern, equilibrium

Word Family

و ز ن

وَزَنَDictionary Form

يَزِنُPresent Form

زِنْCommand Form

وَزْنAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

وَزَنَ

She

وَزَنَتْ

Command Form:زِنْ

Action Noun:وَزْن

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

🔄 Practice Conjugation

Test yourself on all conjugated forms