🔡 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.
28 verbs in this chapter
Lesson Word
To occupy / make busy
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 rule / regulate / manage
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 transgress
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 Rootز و 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
To supply with
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 ع ظ — 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 admonish
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 Rootس و ي — 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 equalize / make equal
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 create
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 earn
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 feel sympathy / compassion for
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 moderate
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 arrogant
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 — Greatness — largeness in size, age, or status.
- ·greatness, largeness
- ·old age (kibār — the elderly)
- ·pride, arrogance
- ·Allāhu Akbar — God is the Greatest
Related concepts: greatness, age, pride, large, elder
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Assimilated Rootو ض ع — 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 be humble
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 something in a position — placing and situating.
- ·placing, putting down
- ·a position or situation
- ·giving birth (waḍaʿat — she delivered)
- ·lowliness (waḍīʿ — placed below others)
Related concepts: placing, position, birth, situation, lowliness
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Special Root Family
Hollow Rootج و 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
To comply
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 — Responding — and the traversal that makes response possible.
- ·answering, responding
- ·crossing through (traversing)
- ·a well or hollow cut through the earth
- ·the space between two sides
Related concepts: answer, response, crossing, traversal
Word Family
Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms
Lesson Word
To be happy / pleased
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 Rootج ز 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 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 record / register
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 Rootع ن 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 mean
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 convinced
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 gain independence
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 Rootب ر أ — 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 renounce / free oneself from
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 leave / abstain from
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 seek forgiveness
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 Rootب ي 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 clarify
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
Doubled Rootح 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
To specify / set / layout
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 travel along / pursue
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
Doubled Rootض ل ل — 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
To go astray
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 ج 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 be saved from
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 Rootع د 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 be violent
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