🔡 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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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.

22 verbs in this chapter

Lesson Word

اِحْتَاطَ

To be cautious / careful

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

Root (جذر)

ح ا ط

Word Family

ح ا ط

اِحْتَاطَDictionary Form

يَحْتَاطُPresent Form

اِحْتَطْCommand Form

اِحْتِيَاطAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِحْتَاطْتُ

You (M)

اِحْتَاطْتَ

You (F)

اِحْتَاطْتِ

اِحْتَاطَ

She

اِحْتَاطَتْ

اِحْتَاطْنَا

You (Plural)

اِحْتَاطْتُمْ

They

اِحْتَاطُوا

Command Form:اِحْتَطْ

Action Noun:اِحْتِيَاط

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Special Root Family

Defective Root

د ع 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

اِدَّعَى

To claim

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

Root (جذر)

د ع ي

Word Family

د ع ي

اِدَّعَىDictionary Form

يَدَّعِيPresent Form

اِدَّعِCommand Form

اِدِّعَاءAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِدَّعَى

She

اِدَّعَىتْ

Command Form:اِدَّعِ

Action Noun:اِدِّعَاء

Lesson Word

اِسْتَغَلَّ

To exploit / benefit from

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

Root (جذر)

س غ ل

Word Family

س غ ل

اِسْتَغَلَّDictionary Form

يَسْتَغِلُّPresent Form

اِسْتَغِلَّCommand Form

اِسْتِغْلَالAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِسْتَغَلَْتُ

You (M)

اِسْتَغَلَْتَ

You (F)

اِسْتَغَلَْتِ

اِسْتَغَلَّ

She

اِسْتَغَلَّتْ

اِسْتَغَلَْنَا

You (Plural)

اِسْتَغَلَْتُمْ

They

اِسْتَغَلَُوا

Command Form:اِسْتَغِلَّ

Action Noun:اِسْتِغْلَال

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Special Root Family

Hollow Root

ف 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

اِسْتَفَادَ

To benefit from

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

Root (جذر)

ف ي د

Word Family

ف ي د

اِسْتَفَادَDictionary Form

يَسْتَفِيدُPresent Form

اِسْتَفِدْCommand Form

اِسْتِفَادَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِسْتَفَادَ

She

اِسْتَفَادَتْ

Command Form:اِسْتَفِدْ

Action Noun:اِسْتِفَادَة

Lesson Word

اِنْخَفَضَ

To decrease / become less

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

Root (جذر)

خ ف ض

Word Family

خ ف ض

اِنْخَفَضَDictionary Form

يَنْخَفِضُPresent Form

اِنْخَفِضْCommand Form

اِنْخِفَاضAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِنْخَفَضْتُ

You (M)

اِنْخَفَضْتَ

You (F)

اِنْخَفَضْتِ

اِنْخَفَضَ

She

اِنْخَفَضَتْ

اِنْخَفَضْنَا

You (Plural)

اِنْخَفَضْتُمْ

They

اِنْخَفَضُوا

Command Form:اِنْخَفِضْ

Action Noun:اِنْخِفَاض

Lesson Word

بَذَّرَ

To waste

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

Root (جذر)

ب ذ ر

Word Family

ب ذ ر

بَذَّرَDictionary Form

يُبَذِّرُPresent Form

بَذِّرْCommand Form

تَبْذِيرAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

بَذَّرْتُ

You (M)

بَذَّرْتَ

You (F)

بَذَّرْتِ

بَذَّرَ

She

بَذَّرَتْ

بَذَّرْنَا

You (Plural)

بَذَّرْتُمْ

They

بَذَّرُوا

Command Form:بَذِّرْ

Action Noun:تَبْذِير

Lesson Word

جَمَّلَ

To beautify

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

Root (جذر)

ج م ل

Word Family

ج م ل

جَمَّلَDictionary Form

يُجَمِّلُPresent Form

جَمِّلْCommand Form

تَجْمِيلAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

جَمَّلْتُ

You (M)

جَمَّلْتَ

You (F)

جَمَّلْتِ

جَمَّلَ

She

جَمَّلَتْ

جَمَّلْنَا

You (Plural)

جَمَّلْتُمْ

They

جَمَّلُوا

Command Form:جَمِّلْ

Action Noun:تَجْمِيل

Lesson Word

بَرَّدَ

To cool / freeze / refrigerate

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

Root (جذر)

ب ر د

Root Insight

Core Idea — Reduction of heat — coolness, stillness, freshness.

·cold temperature
·cooling down, becoming calm
·relief from heat or difficulty
·mail and correspondence (barīd — the cool courier)

Related concepts: cold, cooling, calm, relief

Word Family

ب ر د

بَرَّدَDictionary Form

يُبَرِّدُPresent Form

بَرِّدْCommand Form

تَبْرِيدAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

بَرَّدْتُ

You (M)

بَرَّدْتَ

You (F)

بَرَّدْتِ

بَرَّدَ

She

بَرَّدَتْ

بَرَّدْنَا

You (Plural)

بَرَّدْتُمْ

They

بَرَّدُوا

Command Form:بَرِّدْ

Action Noun:تَبْرِيد

Lesson Word

سَخَّنَ

To warm up

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

Root (جذر)

س خ ن

Word Family

س خ ن

سَخَّنَDictionary Form

يُسَخِّنُPresent Form

سَخِّنْCommand Form

تَسْخِينAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

سَخَّنْتُ

You (M)

سَخَّنْتَ

You (F)

سَخَّنْتِ

سَخَّنَ

She

سَخَّنَتْ

سَخَّنْنَا

You (Plural)

سَخَّنْتُمْ

They

سَخَّنُوا

Command Form:سَخِّنْ

Action Noun:تَسْخِين

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Special Root Family

Hollow Root

ض ي ء — 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

أَضَاءَ

To light up / illuminate

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

Root (جذر)

ض ي ء

Word Family

ض ي ء

أَضَاءَDictionary Form

يُضِيءُPresent Form

أَضِئْCommand Form

إِضَاءَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

أَضَاءَ

She

أَضَاءَتْ

Command Form:أَضِئْ

Action Noun:إِضَاءَة

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Special Root Family

Doubled Root

ج د د — This root has two identical letters at the end. Arabic sometimes writes them together with a shadda (ّ), and the two letters may separate in certain forms.

Lesson Word

جَدَّدَ

To renew

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

Root (جذر)

ج د د

Word Family

ج د د

جَدَّدَDictionary Form

يُجَدِّدُPresent Form

جَدِّدْCommand Form

تَجْدِيدAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

جَدَّدَ

She

جَدَّدَتْ

Command Form:جَدِّدْ

Action Noun:تَجْدِيد

Lesson Word

صَدَّرَ

To export

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

Root (جذر)

ص د ر

Word Family

ص د ر

صَدَّرَDictionary Form

يُصَدِّرُPresent Form

صَدِّرْCommand Form

تَصْدِيرAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

صَدَّرْتُ

You (M)

صَدَّرْتَ

You (F)

صَدَّرْتِ

صَدَّرَ

She

صَدَّرَتْ

صَدَّرْنَا

You (Plural)

صَدَّرْتُمْ

They

صَدَّرُوا

Command Form:صَدِّرْ

Action Noun:تَصْدِير

Lesson Word

ضَاعَفَ

To double / multiply

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

Root (جذر)

ض ع ف

Word Family

ض ع ف

ضَاعَفَDictionary Form

يُضَاعِفُPresent Form

ضَاعِفْCommand Form

مُضَاعَفَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

ضَاعَفْتُ

You (M)

ضَاعَفْتَ

You (F)

ضَاعَفْتِ

ضَاعَفَ

She

ضَاعَفَتْ

ضَاعَفْنَا

You (Plural)

ضَاعَفْتُمْ

They

ضَاعَفُوا

Command Form:ضَاعِفْ

Action Noun:مُضَاعَفَة

Lesson Word

طَبَخَ

To cook

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

Root (جذر)

ط ب خ

Root Insight

Core Idea — Transforming raw ingredients with fire.

·cooking, preparing food
·boiling, simmering
·the kitchen
·transforming something through heat

Related concepts: cooking, food, heat, transformation, kitchen

Word Family

ط ب خ

طَبَخَDictionary Form

يَطْبُخُPresent Form

اُطْبُخْCommand Form

طَبْخAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

طَبَخْتُ

You (M)

طَبَخْتَ

You (F)

طَبَخْتِ

طَبَخَ

She

طَبَخَتْ

طَبَخْنَا

You (Plural)

طَبَخْتُمْ

They

طَبَخُوا

Command Form:اُطْبُخْ

Action Noun:طَبْخ

Lesson Word

قَفَزَ

To jump / leap

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

Root (جذر)

ق ف ز

Word Family

ق ف ز

قَفَزَDictionary Form

يَقْفِزُPresent Form

اِقْفِزْCommand Form

قَفْزAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

قَفَزْتُ

You (M)

قَفَزْتَ

You (F)

قَفَزْتِ

قَفَزَ

She

قَفَزَتْ

قَفَزْنَا

You (Plural)

قَفَزْتُمْ

They

قَفَزُوا

Command Form:اِقْفِزْ

Action Noun:قَفْز

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Special Root Family

Hamzated Root

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

Lesson Word

دَفَّأَ

To heat / warm up

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

Root (جذر)

د ف ئ

Word Family

د ف ئ

دَفَّأَDictionary Form

يُدَفِّئُPresent Form

دَفِّئْCommand Form

تَدْفِئَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

دَفَّأْتُ

You (M)

دَفَّأْتَ

You (F)

دَفَّأْتِ

دَفَّأَ

She

دَفَّأَتْ

دَفَّأْنَا

You (Plural)

دَفَّأْتُمْ

They

دَفَّأُوا

Command Form:دَفِّئْ

Action Noun:تَدْفِئَة

🌿

Special Root Family

Hollow Root

ج 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

اِسْتَجَابَ (لـ)

To respond / carry out

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

Root (جذر)

ج ي ب

Word Family

ج ي ب

اِسْتَجَابَ (لـ)Dictionary Form

يَسْتَجِيبُPresent Form

اِسْتَجِبْCommand Form

اِسْتِجَابَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِسْتَجَابَ (لـ)

She

اِسْتَجَابَ (لـ)تْ

Command Form:اِسْتَجِبْ

Action Noun:اِسْتِجَابَة

🌿

Special Root Family

Assimilated Root

و ف ر — 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

وَفَّرَ

To provide

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

Root (جذر)

و ف ر

Word Family

و ف ر

وَفَّرَDictionary Form

يُوَفِّرُPresent Form

وَفِّرْCommand Form

تَوْفِيرAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

وَفَّرَ

She

وَفَّرَتْ

Command Form:وَفِّرْ

Action Noun:تَوْفِير

Lesson Word

اِسْتَمَدَّ

To obtain from / take from

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

Root (جذر)

س م د

Word Family

س م د

اِسْتَمَدَّDictionary Form

يَسْتَمِدُّPresent Form

اِسْتَمِدَّCommand Form

اِسْتِمْدَادAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِسْتَمَدَْتُ

You (M)

اِسْتَمَدَْتَ

You (F)

اِسْتَمَدَْتِ

اِسْتَمَدَّ

She

اِسْتَمَدَّتْ

اِسْتَمَدَْنَا

You (Plural)

اِسْتَمَدَْتُمْ

They

اِسْتَمَدَُوا

Command Form:اِسْتَمِدَّ

Action Noun:اِسْتِمْدَاد

Lesson Word

نَفِدَ

To run out / be exhausted

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

Root (جذر)

ن ف د

Word Family

ن ف د

نَفِدَDictionary Form

يَنْفَدُPresent Form

اِنْفَدْCommand Form

نَفَاد / نَفَدAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

نَفِدْتُ

You (M)

نَفِدْتَ

You (F)

نَفِدْتِ

نَفِدَ

She

نَفِدَتْ

نَفِدْنَا

You (Plural)

نَفِدْتُمْ

They

نَفِدُوا

Command Form:اِنْفَدْ

Action Noun:نَفَاد / نَفَد

Lesson Word

جَرَّبَ

To try / test

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

Root (جذر)

ج ر ب

Word Family

ج ر ب

جَرَّبَDictionary Form

يُجَرِّبُPresent Form

جَرِّبْCommand Form

تَجْرِبَة / تَجْرِيبAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

جَرَّبْتُ

You (M)

جَرَّبْتَ

You (F)

جَرَّبْتِ

جَرَّبَ

She

جَرَّبَتْ

جَرَّبْنَا

You (Plural)

جَرَّبْتُمْ

They

جَرَّبُوا

Command Form:جَرِّبْ

Action Noun:تَجْرِبَة / تَجْرِيب

Lesson Word

اِحْتَجَبَ

To be covered / concealed

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

Root (جذر)

ح ج ب

Word Family

ح ج ب

اِحْتَجَبَDictionary Form

يَحْتَجِبُPresent Form

اِحْتَجِبْCommand Form

اِحْتِجَابAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِحْتَجَبْتُ

You (M)

اِحْتَجَبْتَ

You (F)

اِحْتَجَبْتِ

اِحْتَجَبَ

She

اِحْتَجَبَتْ

اِحْتَجَبْنَا

You (Plural)

اِحْتَجَبْتُمْ

They

اِحْتَجَبُوا

Command Form:اِحْتَجِبْ

Action Noun:اِحْتِجَاب

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