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Lesson 32: Arabic Word Roots (الجذور)

Arabic Word Roots (الجذور)

Most Arabic words are built from a 3-letter root. Understanding roots helps you recognize word families.

Root: ع-ل-م (ʿ-L-M) — Knowledge

  • عَلِمَ (ʿalima) — He knew
  • عِلْم (ʿilm) — Knowledge
  • عَلِيم (ʿalīm) — All-Knowing (Allah's name)
  • عَالِم (ʿālim) — Scholar / Knowing
  • مُعَلِّم (muʿallim) — Teacher

Root: ر-ح-م (R-Ḥ-M) — Mercy

  • رَحْمَة (raḥma) — Mercy
  • رَحْمَٰن (raḥmān) — Most Gracious
  • رَحِيم (raḥīm) — Most Merciful
  • رَحِم (raḥim) — Womb (source of the word raḥma)

Root: ك-ت-ب (K-T-B) — Writing

  • كِتَاب (kitāb) — Book
  • كَتَبَ (kataba) — He wrote
  • كُتُب (kutub) — Books
  • كاتب (kātib) — Writer

Lesson Quiz

Answer all questions. You need 75% to pass and unlock the next lesson.

1.What is the root of عِلْم (knowledge)?

2.The root ر-ح-م relates to:

3.كِتَاب (book) and كَاتِب (writer) share which root?

4.مُعَلِّم (muʿallim) comes from which root?