🔡 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.

6 verbs in this chapter

🌿

Special Root Family

Hollow Root

ط و ع — 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

اِسْتَطَاعَ

To be able to / can

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

Root (جذر)

ط و ع

Root Insight

Core Idea — Willingness — bending toward another's wish freely.

·obedience, compliance
·voluntary action (ṭawʿan — willingly)
·becoming tame or compliant
·supererogatory worship (ṭawāfiʿ)

Related concepts: obedience, willingness, compliance, voluntary

Word Family

ط و ع

اِسْتَطَاعَDictionary Form

يَسْتَطِيعُPresent Form

اِسْتَطِعْCommand Form

اِسْتِطَاعَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِسْتَطَاعَ

She

اِسْتَطَاعَتْ

Command Form:اِسْتَطِعْ

Action Noun:اِسْتِطَاعَة

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

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

اِنْتَظَرَ

To wait

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

Root (جذر)

ن ظ ر

Root Insight

Core Idea — Directed attention — looking carefully to understand.

·looking, gazing
·thinking, considering
·waiting expectantly (naẓar — watching for)
·a view, theory, or consideration

Related concepts: looking, thinking, theory, considering, gazing

Word Family

ن ظ ر

اِنْتَظَرَDictionary Form

يَنْتَظِرُPresent Form

اِنْتَظِرْCommand Form

اِنْتِظَارAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِنْتَظَرْتُ

You (M)

اِنْتَظَرْتَ

You (F)

اِنْتَظَرْتِ

اِنْتَظَرَ

She

اِنْتَظَرَتْ

اِنْتَظَرْنَا

You (Plural)

اِنْتَظَرْتُمْ

They

اِنْتَظَرُوا

Command Form:اِنْتَظِرْ

Action Noun:اِنْتِظَار

Lesson Word

سَمِعَ

To hear / to listen

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

Root (جذر)

س م ع

Root Insight

Core Idea — Receiving sound — listening and heeding.

·hearing, listening
·heeding, obeying
·reputation (what is heard about a person)
·paying attention to a request

Related concepts: hearing, listening, reputation, heeding, sound

Word Family

س م ع

سَمِعَDictionary Form

يَسْمَعُPresent Form

اِسْمَعْCommand Form

سَمْع / سَمَاعAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

سَمِعْتُ

You (M)

سَمِعْتَ

You (F)

سَمِعْتِ

سَمِعَ

She

سَمِعَتْ

سَمِعْنَا

You (Plural)

سَمِعْتُمْ

They

سَمِعُوا

Command Form:اِسْمَعْ

Action Noun:سَمْع / سَمَاع

Lesson Word

رَكِبَ

To ride / to board

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

Root (جذر)

ر ك ب

Root Insight

Core Idea — Being borne upon — mounting and riding.

·riding, mounting a vehicle or animal
·compound structures (one thing built on another)
·a ship or conveyance
·a traveller, a passenger

Related concepts: riding, mounting, vehicle, compound, passenger

Word Family

ر ك ب

رَكِبَDictionary Form

يَرْكَبُPresent Form

اِرْكَبْCommand Form

رُكُوبAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

رَكِبْتُ

You (M)

رَكِبْتَ

You (F)

رَكِبْتِ

رَكِبَ

She

رَكِبَتْ

رَكِبْنَا

You (Plural)

رَكِبْتُمْ

They

رَكِبُوا

Command Form:اِرْكَبْ

Action Noun:رُكُوب

🔄 Practice Conjugation

Test yourself on all conjugated forms