In this article, I have put together my study notes, course material and other online resources to help give you a better understanding of what are root words as pertaining to the Arabic language and the study of Quran. 


 

What are root words

Root words are the Arabic letters that form the main part of a word.  These root letters provide the basic meaning of a word.  The root letters are joined together with other letters to form different words which have related meanings.

Example: the root of a plant will determine the type of plant, or the genes of a person determine the characteristics of a person, so similarly the root word will determine the meaning of the word.

Example: the root letters  ر ح م  joins together to form the original word  رَحِّم (Rahim: womb).   

Mercy springs from the womb, meaning if we understand the mercy of a mother, then we can understand the concept of mercy that is related to this root.  The root gives the characteristic of mercy.


How many letters in a root

Most Arabic words have three-letter roots, very rarely it will have four or five letters.

Root letters always maintain a specific order. 

Example:   Changing the order will give a completely different meaning.

ع ل م = knowledge  

ع م ل = action


What comes out of a root

From one set of root letters come multiple stem words (مصدر ) and from these stem words, many other words emerge.  Like a root of a plant, the stems then produce many branches. 

Example:

The root  ع ل م  gives the stem words: عِلم (ilm) and عَلمْ (alam)

From the stem word عِلم (ilm)

you get branch words يعْلمُ (ya’lamu), عَليْم (aleem), عَالِم (aalim)

From the stem word  عَلمْ (alam) 

you get branch words عَالميْن (aalameen) 

what-are-root-words-studentsofquran.com


What can affect the root meaning

A word can have the root letters and other letters that share the basic root meaning.

Example:

In English there are stem words, letters are sometimes before, between and also after the root letters. From the root word: eat

  • eating
  • eats
  • ate
  • eaten                                                         what-are-root-words-studentsofquran.com
  • eatery
  • eatable

In Arabic from the root word:  ر ح م 

  • رَّحِيْم   (Raheem)  an extra ي  is added near the end: meaning - always all merciful
  • رَّحْمَن  (Rahmaan)  an extra ن  is added at the end: meaning - most merciful

 From the root word: ك ت ب   

كتب

kataba

to write
كاتب

kaatib

writer
مكتوب

maktoob

written
كتاب

kitaab

book
كتابة

kitaaba

writing
مكتب

maktab

office
مكتبة

maktaba

bookstore

library

استكتاب

istiktaab

dictation

 


Why are root words important

  • To know the translation of the word
  • To understand the meaning of the word
  • To analyze the word
  • To know how to use the Arabic dictionary  

 

Match the roots

To test your understanding match and write the roots for the following words:

 

                                  Match the word to the root                         Write the root of these words


I personally found learning and understanding the Arabic root words difficult at the beginning of my studies, but as time passed and with patience and practice I began to understand.  Once you understand it will become easier and you will recognize the deeper meanings and just how rich and beautiful the Arabic language is.

 

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17 Comments

    1. Jazaaakalllahu khairan sisters!
      Really needed the word to word with Root words.
      Alhumdulillah! Found it here.

      May Allah reward you with the best of the best in this life and Hereafter!
      Ameeeeen ❤️❤️❤️❤️

      Shafia
  1. Jazakallah Khairan for your amazing work – I am also following a diploma course at AL HUDA in Sri LANKA and this is sooooooo helpful Alhammdulilah. Please send me everything inc your notes since my arabic is poor and learning root letters and singular plural for exams take so much time for my 50 year old brain 🙂 Alhamdulilah Qadr Allah

    Suha Audren-Cassim
    1. As Salaam Alaikum

      Alhamdulillah I am happy you are finding the notes of benefit. Please browse the website for further notes and resources, all notes as they are edited are uploaded to the site. Check out the Student Home page if you have not done so already. Sign Up to receive the latest posts and articles as soon as they are uploaded. I wish you all the best in your studies, May Allah grant you patience and steadfastness to complete your studies.

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