🔡 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.
19 verbs in this chapter
Lesson Word
To submit
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 — Moving forward — precedence and the advancing foot.
- ·advancing, going forward
- ·the foot (qadam)
- ·presenting, offering
- ·ancient, old (qadīm — what came before)
Related concepts: advance, foot, presenting, ancient, precedence
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To accept
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 wish for / want
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To join
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Assimilated Rootو ف ق — 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
To agree
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Assimilated Rootو ف ق — 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
To grant success
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To be widespread
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Hollow Rootش ي 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
To be widespread (circulate)
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To be exhausted
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To mount / ride
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 — 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
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Hamzated Rootأ خ ر — This root contains a hamza (ء). Hamza spelling follows standard Arabic orthography rules and does not change the meaning or pronunciation significantly.
Lesson Word
To fall behind
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To translate
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Hamzated Rootأ ث ر — This root contains a hamza (ء). Hamza spelling follows standard Arabic orthography rules and does not change the meaning or pronunciation significantly.
Lesson Word
To be affected
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Defective Rootن ه 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 finish
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 — Setting a limit — forbidding what goes beyond.
- ·prohibition, forbidding
- ·the end point, the limit
- ·intellect (nahī — what sets limits on behaviour)
Related concepts: prohibition, forbidding, limit, intellect, boundary
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Hollow Rootك و ن — 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 consist of
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 — Existence — the state of being.
- ·being, existing
- ·the universe (al-kawn — all that exists)
- ·becoming (kāna — he was/became)
- ·place, spot (makān — where something is)
Related concepts: existence, universe, being, place, becoming
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Hollow Rootر و ح — 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 range (between)
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 — The breath of life — and the relief that comes with rest.
- ·the spirit, soul
- ·rest, relief, comfort
- ·wind, breeze
- ·the evening (time of returning home to rest)
Related concepts: spirit, soul, relief, wind, rest, evening
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To attain / obtain
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To supervise / run
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Assimilated Rootو 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
To provide
Dictionary Form — the base form used in Arabic dictionaries. All other forms of this verb are built from this base.
Root (جذر)
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Test yourself on all conjugated forms