Lesson 2
Roots: one root, many words
Know three root letters, recognise a whole family of words.
Most Arabic words are built from three root letters. The root carries a basic meaning.
Pouring the root into different patterns makes new words, but the basic meaning stays.
For example, from ع ل م (to know): عَلِمَ (he knew), عِلْم (knowledge), عَلِيم (All-Knowing), يَعْلَمُونَ (they know).
Examples from the Qur'an
Root ع ل م — to know
- he knewSurah 2:60عَلِمَ
- knowledgeSurah 3:66عِلْمٌۭ
- All-KnowingSurah 2:29عَلِيمٌۭ
- they knowSurah 2:13يَعْلَمُونَ
Root ك ت ب — to write
- he wrote / decreedSurah 2:187كَتَبَ
- a bookSurah 2:89كِتَـٰبٌۭ
See “Words from the same root” on every word page.