🔡 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.
13 verbs in this chapter
Lesson Word
To meet
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 — Bringing scattered things together into one.
- ·gathering, collecting, assembling
- ·a community or congregation (jāmiʿ)
- ·Friday — the day of gathering (jumʿah)
- ·the plural form in grammar (jamʿ)
- ·adding numbers together
Related concepts: gathering, community, Friday, plural, assembly
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To announce
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 split / divided
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 gather / collect
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 — Bringing scattered things together into one.
- ·gathering, collecting, assembling
- ·a community or congregation (jāmiʿ)
- ·Friday — the day of gathering (jumʿah)
- ·the plural form in grammar (jamʿ)
- ·adding numbers together
Related concepts: gathering, community, Friday, plural, assembly
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To serve
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 raise
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 — Elevation — moving upward, raising in status or position.
- ·lifting, raising physically
- ·elevation of status or rank
- ·the nominative case in Arabic grammar (marfūʿ)
- ·submitting a petition or complaint
Related concepts: lifting, raising, elevation, status, nominative
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Defective Rootع ف و — 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 forgive
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 participate
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 compete
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 compete (rival)
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 Rootك 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
To reward
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 award
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 win / accomplish
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