What Is the Root (الجذر) in Arabic?
What is the root (الجذر) in Arabic? Every Arabic word comes from a small group of letters called الجذر — the root. This root usually has three consonants, and it carries the basic idea of meaning. By adding patterns and vowels around it, Arabic creates hundreds of related words that all share the same core […]
The Ten Verb Forms in Spoken Arabic
The ten verb forms in spoken Arabic When learners study Arabic, they often hear about الأوزان العشرة — the ten basic verb patterns that come from three-letter roots. These patterns are the backbone of Arabic verbs, showing how meaning changes when the same root is shaped in different ways.In Modern Standard Arabic, they’re called Forms […]
More Than “Thank You”
More than “Thank you”: The many shades of يعطيك العافية in levantine Arabic If you spend even one day in Jordan or Palestine, you will hear people say يعطيك العافية. You might hear it at a café, a store, or a workplace. Literally, it means may God give you health, but in real life, it […]