🔡 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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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.

20 verbs in this chapter

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Special Root Family

Defective Root

ث 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

اِسْتَثْنَى

To except / exclude

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

Root (جذر)

ث ن ي

Word Family

ث ن ي

اِسْتَثْنَىDictionary Form

يَسْتَثْنِيPresent Form

اِسْتَثْنِCommand Form

اِسْتِثْنَاءAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِسْتَثْنَى

She

اِسْتَثْنَىتْ

Command Form:اِسْتَثْنِ

Action Noun:اِسْتِثْنَاء

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Special Root Family

Defective Root

ر ض 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

اِسْتَرْضَى

To conciliate

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

Root (جذر)

ر ض ي

Word Family

ر ض ي

اِسْتَرْضَىDictionary Form

يَسْتَرْضِيPresent Form

اِسْتَرْضِCommand Form

اِسْتِرْضَاءAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِسْتَرْضَى

She

اِسْتَرْضَىتْ

Command Form:اِسْتَرْضِ

Action Noun:اِسْتِرْضَاء

Lesson Word

اِسْتَعْبَدَ

To enslave

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

Root (جذر)

ع ب د

Word Family

ع ب د

اِسْتَعْبَدَDictionary Form

يَسْتَعْبِدُPresent Form

اِسْتَعْبِدْCommand Form

اِسْتِعْبَادAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِسْتَعْبَدْتُ

You (M)

اِسْتَعْبَدْتَ

You (F)

اِسْتَعْبَدْتِ

اِسْتَعْبَدَ

She

اِسْتَعْبَدَتْ

اِسْتَعْبَدْنَا

You (Plural)

اِسْتَعْبَدْتُمْ

They

اِسْتَعْبَدُوا

Command Form:اِسْتَعْبِدْ

Action Noun:اِسْتِعْبَاد

Lesson Word

أَشْفَقَ

To feel sorry for

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

Root (جذر)

ش ف ق

Word Family

ش ف ق

أَشْفَقَDictionary Form

يُشْفِقُPresent Form

أَشْفِقْCommand Form

إِشْفَاقAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

أَشْفَقْتُ

You (M)

أَشْفَقْتَ

You (F)

أَشْفَقْتِ

أَشْفَقَ

She

أَشْفَقَتْ

أَشْفَقْنَا

You (Plural)

أَشْفَقْتُمْ

They

أَشْفَقُوا

Command Form:أَشْفِقْ

Action Noun:إِشْفَاق

Lesson Word

اِقْتَصَّ

To avenge oneself / take revenge

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

Root (جذر)

ق ت ص

Word Family

ق ت ص

اِقْتَصَّDictionary Form

يَقْتَصُّPresent Form

اِقْتَصَّCommand Form

اِقْتِصَاصAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِقْتَصَْتُ

You (M)

اِقْتَصَْتَ

You (F)

اِقْتَصَْتِ

اِقْتَصَّ

She

اِقْتَصَّتْ

اِقْتَصَْنَا

You (Plural)

اِقْتَصَْتُمْ

They

اِقْتَصَُوا

Command Form:اِقْتَصَّ

Action Noun:اِقْتِصَاص

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Special Root Family

Hamzated Root

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

Lesson Word

أَنَّبَ

To rebuke

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

Root (جذر)

ؤ ن ب

Word Family

ؤ ن ب

أَنَّبَDictionary Form

يُؤَنِّبُPresent Form

أَنِّبْCommand Form

تَأْنِيبAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

أَنَّبْتُ

You (M)

أَنَّبْتَ

You (F)

أَنَّبْتِ

أَنَّبَ

She

أَنَّبَتْ

أَنَّبْنَا

You (Plural)

أَنَّبْتُمْ

They

أَنَّبُوا

Command Form:أَنِّبْ

Action Noun:تَأْنِيب

Lesson Word

تَذَكَّرَ

To remember / recall

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

Root (جذر)

ذ ك ر

Word Family

ذ ك ر

تَذَكَّرَDictionary Form

يَتَذَكَّرُPresent Form

تَذَكَّرْCommand Form

تَذَكُّرAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

تَذَكَّرْتُ

You (M)

تَذَكَّرْتَ

You (F)

تَذَكَّرْتِ

تَذَكَّرَ

She

تَذَكَّرَتْ

تَذَكَّرْنَا

You (Plural)

تَذَكَّرْتُمْ

They

تَذَكَّرُوا

Command Form:تَذَكَّرْ

Action Noun:تَذَكُّر

Lesson Word

اِلْتَفَتَ

To turn / look around

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

Root (جذر)

ل ف ت

Word Family

ل ف ت

اِلْتَفَتَDictionary Form

يَلْتَفِتُPresent Form

اِلْتَفِتْCommand Form

اِلْتِفَاتAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

اِلْتَفَتْتُ

You (M)

اِلْتَفَتْتَ

You (F)

اِلْتَفَتْتِ

اِلْتَفَتَ

She

اِلْتَفَتَتْ

اِلْتَفَتْنَا

You (Plural)

اِلْتَفَتْتُمْ

They

اِلْتَفَتُوا

Command Form:اِلْتَفِتْ

Action Noun:اِلْتِفَات

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Special Root Family

Hollow Root

ج و ر — 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

تَجَاوَرَ

To be adjacent

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

Root (جذر)

ج و ر

Word Family

ج و ر

تَجَاوَرَDictionary Form

يَتَجَاوَرُPresent Form

تَجَاوَرْCommand Form

تَجَاوُرAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

تَجَاوَرَ

She

تَجَاوَرَتْ

Command Form:تَجَاوَرْ

Action Noun:تَجَاوُر

Lesson Word

ظَلَمَ

To oppress

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

Root (جذر)

ظ ل م

Word Family

ظ ل م

ظَلَمَDictionary Form

يَظْلِمُPresent Form

اِظْلِمْCommand Form

ظُلْمAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

ظَلَمْتُ

You (M)

ظَلَمْتَ

You (F)

ظَلَمْتِ

ظَلَمَ

She

ظَلَمَتْ

ظَلَمْنَا

You (Plural)

ظَلَمْتُمْ

They

ظَلَمُوا

Command Form:اِظْلِمْ

Action Noun:ظُلْم

Lesson Word

سَرَقَ

To steal

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

Root (جذر)

س ر ق

Word Family

س ر ق

سَرَقَDictionary Form

يَسْرِقُPresent Form

اِسْرِقْCommand Form

سَرِقَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

سَرَقْتُ

You (M)

سَرَقْتَ

You (F)

سَرَقْتِ

سَرَقَ

She

سَرَقَتْ

سَرَقْنَا

You (Plural)

سَرَقْتُمْ

They

سَرَقُوا

Command Form:اِسْرِقْ

Action Noun:سَرِقَة

Lesson Word

شَفَعَ

To intercede

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

Root (جذر)

ش ف ع

Word Family

ش ف ع

شَفَعَDictionary Form

يَشْفَعُPresent Form

اِشْفَعْCommand Form

شَفَاعَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

شَفَعْتُ

You (M)

شَفَعْتَ

You (F)

شَفَعْتِ

شَفَعَ

She

شَفَعَتْ

شَفَعْنَا

You (Plural)

شَفَعْتُمْ

They

شَفَعُوا

Command Form:اِشْفَعْ

Action Noun:شَفَاعَة

Lesson Word

طَبَّقَ

To execute / carry out

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

Root (جذر)

ط ب ق

Word Family

ط ب ق

طَبَّقَDictionary Form

يُطَبِّقُPresent Form

طَبِّقْCommand Form

تَطْبِيقAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

طَبَّقْتُ

You (M)

طَبَّقْتَ

You (F)

طَبَّقْتِ

طَبَّقَ

She

طَبَّقَتْ

طَبَّقْنَا

You (Plural)

طَبَّقْتُمْ

They

طَبَّقُوا

Command Form:طَبِّقْ

Action Noun:تَطْبِيق

Lesson Word

غَضِبَ

To be angry

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

Root (جذر)

غ ض ب

Word Family

غ ض ب

غَضِبَDictionary Form

يَغْضَبُPresent Form

اِغْضَبْCommand Form

غَضَبAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

غَضِبْتُ

You (M)

غَضِبْتَ

You (F)

غَضِبْتِ

غَضِبَ

She

غَضِبَتْ

غَضِبْنَا

You (Plural)

غَضِبْتُمْ

They

غَضِبُوا

Command Form:اِغْضَبْ

Action Noun:غَضَب

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Special Root Family

Doubled Root

ق ر ر — 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

قَرَّرَ

To establish

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

Root (جذر)

ق ر ر

Word Family

ق ر ر

قَرَّرَDictionary Form

يُقَرِّرُPresent Form

قَرِّرْCommand Form

تَقْرِيرAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

قَرَّرَ

She

قَرَّرَتْ

Command Form:قَرِّرْ

Action Noun:تَقْرِير

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Special Root Family

Defective Root

ك 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

كَنَّى

To give a kunyah

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

Root (جذر)

ك ن ي

Word Family

ك ن ي

كَنَّىDictionary Form

يُكَنِّيPresent Form

كَنِّCommand Form

تَكْنِيَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

كَنَّى

She

كَنَّىتْ

Command Form:كَنِّ

Action Noun:تَكْنِيَة

Lesson Word

طَالَبَ

To seek / demand

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

Root (جذر)

ط ل ب

Root Insight

Core Idea — Reaching toward something desired — seeking and requesting.

·requesting, asking for
·demanding, requiring
·a student (ṭālib — one who seeks knowledge)
·pursuing, going after

Related concepts: request, student, seeking, pursuit, demand

Word Family

ط ل ب

طَالَبَDictionary Form

يُطَالِبُPresent Form

طَالِبْCommand Form

مُطَالَبَةAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

طَالَبْتُ

You (M)

طَالَبْتَ

You (F)

طَالَبْتِ

طَالَبَ

She

طَالَبَتْ

طَالَبْنَا

You (Plural)

طَالَبْتُمْ

They

طَالَبُوا

Command Form:طَالِبْ

Action Noun:مُطَالَبَة

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Special Root Family

Assimilated Root

و ق ف — 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

وَقَفَ

To stand

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

Root (جذر)

و ق ف

Root Insight

Core Idea — Stopping — the deliberate pause.

·stopping, halting
·standing still
·an endowment (waqf — wealth stopped from circulation, dedicated forever)
·the pause in Quran recitation

Related concepts: stopping, pausing, endowment, waqf, standing

Word Family

و ق ف

وَقَفَDictionary Form

يَقِفُPresent Form

قِفْCommand Form

وُقُوفAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

وَقَفَ

She

وَقَفَتْ

Command Form:قِفْ

Action Noun:وُقُوف

Lesson Word

ضَرَبَ

To hit

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

Root (جذر)

ض ر ب

Word Family

ض ر ب

ضَرَبَDictionary Form

يَضْرِبُPresent Form

اِضْرِبْCommand Form

ضَرْبAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

ضَرَبْتُ

You (M)

ضَرَبْتَ

You (F)

ضَرَبْتِ

ضَرَبَ

She

ضَرَبَتْ

ضَرَبْنَا

You (Plural)

ضَرَبْتُمْ

They

ضَرَبُوا

Command Form:اِضْرِبْ

Action Noun:ضَرْب

Lesson Word

كَرَّمَ

To honour

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

Root (جذر)

ك ر م

Word Family

ك ر م

كَرَّمَDictionary Form

يُكَرِّمُPresent Form

كَرِّمْCommand Form

تَكْرِيمAction Noun

Grammar Details — All Conjugated Forms

كَرَّمْتُ

You (M)

كَرَّمْتَ

You (F)

كَرَّمْتِ

كَرَّمَ

She

كَرَّمَتْ

كَرَّمْنَا

You (Plural)

كَرَّمْتُمْ

They

كَرَّمُوا

Command Form:كَرِّمْ

Action Noun:تَكْرِيم

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