Arabic Basic Verbs – Transliteration With English Translation

No matter how many nouns you are already familiar with, Arabic sentences also require Arabic basic verbs. Even if you know how to say “school” in Arabic, what good is it if you can’t ask, “Where is the school?” Alternatively, you can pronounce Tuesday in Arabic, yet you cannot invite your buddies on a Tuesday. Fortunately, because Arabic verbs are based on a group of two, three, four, and occasionally even five (though mainly three) consonants termed as root, they adhere to the same rules as the rest of the languages’ vocabulary.

Any alterations to the vowels between the consonants and any prefixes or suffixes connected describe grammatical functions such as a person, gender, number, tense, mood, and voice. This root conveys the basic meaning of the verb.

But there is something different. You would say “I Henry” rather than “I am Henry” because there is no verb “to be” (am, is, are, etc.) in the Arabic present tense. That means there is one fewer verb to learn, at least. We hope you will soon be able to construct some sentences using this collection of these basic Arabic verbs.

If you want to learn the basics of Arabic Grammar, turn to Quran Focus Academy. We offer introductory Arabic grammar, online Noorani Qaida, Quran reading, Quran recitation and Quran memorization courses for kids, adults and sisters at an affordable rate.

 

English Standard Arabic Transliteration Egyptian Arabic Transliteration
to be (not used in present tense) كان – يكون (كون) kaana – yakuunu (koon) kaan – yikuun (koon)
to do; to make فعل – يفعل (فعل) fa3ala – yaf3alu (fa3l) عمل – يعمل 3amal – yi3mil (3amal)
to work عمل – يعمل (عمل) 3amala – ya3milu (3amal) اشتغل – يشتغل (سغل) ištaġal – yištaġil (šuġl)
to bring, fetch أحضر – يحضر (احضار) aHDara – yuHDiru (iHDaar) جاب – يجيب (جيبان) gaab – yigiib (gayabaan)
to take أخذ – يأخذ (أخذ) axada – ya’xudu (axd) خد – ياخد (اخد) xad – yaaxud (axd)
to put وضع – يضع (وضع) waDa3a – yaDa3u (waD3) حطّ – يحطّ (حطّ) HaTT – yiHoTT (HaTT)
to become أصبح – يصبح (اصباح) aSbaHa – yuSbiHu (iSbaaH) بقى – يبقى ba’a – yib’a
to change (s.t.) غيّر – يغيّر (تغيير) ġayyara – yuġayyiru (taġyiir) ġayyar – yiġayyar (taġyiir)
to count عدّ – يعدّ (عدّ) 3adda – ya3uddu (3add) 3add – yi3idd (3add)
to go (to) ذهب – يذهب (ذهاب) إلى dahaba – yadhabu (dahaab) ila راح – يروح (مرواح | روحان) raaH – yiruuH (mirwaaH/rawaHaan)
to walk مشى – يمشي (مشي) maša – yamši (mašy) مشي – يمشي (مشي) miši – yimši (mašy)
to run جرى – يجري (جري) jara – yajri (jary) geri – yigri (gary)
to come جاء – يجئ (جيئة) jaa’a – yajii’u (jii’a) جه – يجي (مجي) geh – yiigi (migiyy)
أتى – يأتي (اتي) ata – yaa’ti (aty)
to return رجع – يرجع (رجوع) إلى raja3a – yarja3u (rujuu3) rigi3 – yirga3 (ruguu3)
عاد – يعود (عودة) إلى 3aada – ya3uudu (3awda)
to arrive وصل – يصل (وصول) إلى waSala – yaSilu (wuSuul) ila وصل – يوصل (وصول) wiSil – yiwSil (wuSuul)
to sit جلس – يجلس (جلوس) jalasa – yajlisu (juluus) قعد – يقعد (قعاد) ‘a3ad – yu’3ud (‘u3aad)
to get up, rise قام – يقوم (قيام) qaama – yaquumu (qiyaam) ‘aam – yi’uum (‘iyaam)
to fall وقع – يقع (وقوع) waqa3a – yaqa3u (wuquu3) وقع – يوقع (وقوع) wi’i3 – yiw’a3 (wu’uu3)
سقط – يسقط (سقوط) saqaTa – yasquTu (suquuT)
to go up طلع – يطلع (طلوع) Tala3a – yaTla3u (Tuluu3) Tili3 – yiTla3 (Tuluu3)
to go down نزل – ينزل (نزول) nazila – yanzilu (nuzuul) nizil – yinzil (nuzuul)
to cook طبخ – يطبخ (طبخ) Tabaxa – yaTbuxu (Tabx) Tabax – yiTbux (Tabx)
to eat أكل – يأكل (أكل) akala – yaa’kulu (akl) كل – ياكل (أكل) kal – yaakul (akl)
to drink شرب – يشرب (شرب) šariba – yašrabu (šurb) širib – yišrab (šurb)
to wake up صحى – يصحو (صحو) SaHa – yaSHu (SaHw) صحي – يصحى (صحو) SaHa – yiSHa (SaHw)
استيقظ – يستيقظ (استيقاظ) istayqaZa – yastayqiZu (istiiqaaZ)
to sleep نام – ينام (نوم) naama – yanaamu (nawm) naam – yinaam (noom)
to wash غسل – يغسل (غسل) ġasala – yaġsilu (ġasl) ġasal – yiġsil (ġasl/ġasiil)
to clean نظّف – ينظّف (تنظيف) naZZafa – yunaZZifu (tanZiif) naZZaf – yinaZZaf (tanZiif)
to study درس – يدرس (دراسة) darasa – yadrusu (diraasa) daras – yidris (diraasa)
to learn تعلّم – يتعلّم (تعلّم) ta3allama – yata3allamu (ta3allum) اتعلّم – يتعلّم (تعلّم) it3allim – yit3allim (ta3allum)
to understand فهم – يفهم (فهم) fahima – yafhamu (fahm) fihim – yifham (fahm)
to know عرف – يعرف (معرفة) 3arafa – ya3rifu (ma3rifa) 3irif – yi3raf (ma3rifa)
to remember تذكر – يتذكر (تذكر) tadakkara – yatadakkaru (tadakkur) افتكر – يفتكر (افتكار) iftakar – yiftikir (iftikaar)
to forget نسي – ينسى (نسي) nasiya – yansaa (nasi) nisi – yinsa (nasi)
to describe وصف – يصف (وصف) waSafa – yaSifu (waSf) وصف – يوصف (وصف) waSaf – yiwSif (waSf)
to try, test (s.t) جرّب – يجرّب (تجريب) jarraba – yujarribu (tajriib) garrab – yigarrib (tagriib)
to try, attempt to do s.t. حاول – يحاول (محاولة) أن Haawala – yuHaawilu (muHaawala) an
to be able to do s.t. قدر – يقدر (قدرة) أن qadara – yaqdiru (qudra) an ‘idir – yi’dir (‘odra)
استطاع – يستطيع (استطاعة) أن istaTaa3a – yastaTii3u (istiTaa3a) an
to read قرأ – يقرأ (قراءة) qara’a – yaqra’ (qiraa’a) قرأ – يقرأ (قراية) ‘ara – yi’ra (‘iraaya)
to write كتب – يكتب (كتابة) kataba – yaktubu (kitaaba) katab – yiktib (kitaaba)
to translate ترجم – يترجم (ترجمة) tarjama – yutarjimu (tarjama) targam – yitargim (targama)
to talk (reflexive) تكلّم – يتكلّم (كلام | تكلّم) takallama – yatakallamu (kalaam/takallum) اتكلّم – يتكلّم (كلام) itkallim – yitkallim (kalaam)
تحدّث – يتحدّث (تحدّث) taHaddata – yataHaddatu (taHaddut)
to say, tell قال – يقول (قول) qaala – yaquulu (qawl) ‘aal – yi’uul (‘awl)
to ask (a question) سأل – يسأل (سؤال) sa’ala – yas’alu (su’aal)
to request طلب – يطلب (طلب) Talaba – yaTlubu (Talab)
to reply, answer (to) أجاب – يجيب (اجابة) على ajaaba – yujiibu (ijaaba) 3ala agaab – yigiib (igaaba) 3ala
ردّ – يردّ (ردّ) على radda – yarudd (radd) 3ala
to thank شكر – يشكر (شكر) šakara – yaškuru (šukr) šakar – yiškur (šukr)
to complain (about) شكى – يشكو (شكوى) من šaka – yašku (šakwa) min اشتكى – يشتكي (شكوى) من ištaka – yištiki (šakwa) min
to promise وعد – يعد (وعد) بـ wa3ada – ya3idu (wa3d) bi وعد – يوعد (وعد) wa3ad – yiw3id (wa3d) bi
to see رأى – يرى (رؤية) ra’a – yara (ru’ya) شاف – يشوف (شوفان | شوف) šaaf – yišuuf (šawafaan/šoof)
to look at نظر – ينظر (نظر) إلى naZara – yanZuru (naZar) ila بصّ – يبصّ (بصّ | بصصان) على baSS – yibuSS (baSS/baSaSaan) 3ala
to look for بحث – يبحث (بحث) عن baHata – yabHatu (baHt) 3an دوّر – يدوّر (تدوير) على dawwar – yidawwar (tadwiir) 3ala
to find وجد – يجد (وجود) wajada – yajidu (wujuud) لاقى – يلاقي laa’a – yilaa’i (la’ayaan)
to lose (s.t.) ضيّع – يضيّع (تضييع) Dayya3a – yuDayyi3u (taDyii3)
to organize نظّم – ينظّم (تنظيم) naZZama – yunaZZimu (tanZiim)
to organize, tidy up رتّب – يرتّب (ترتيب) rattaba – yurattibu (tartiib)
to smoke (in general) دخّن – يدخّن (تدخين) daxxana – yudaxxinu (tadxiin)
to happen حدث – يحدث (حدوث) Hadata – yaHdutu (Huduut) حصل – يحصل (حصول) HaSal – yiHSal (HuSuul)
to watch شاهد – يشاهد (مشاهدة) šaahada – yušaahidu (mušaahada) اتفرّج – يتفرّج على itfarrag – yitfarrag 3ala
to hear سمع – يسمع (سمع | سماعة) sami3a – yasma3u (sam3/samaa3a) simi3 – yisma3 (sama3)
to listen to استمع – يستمع (استماع) إلى istama3a – yastami3u (istimaa3) ila سمع – يسمع (سمع) simi3 – yisma3 (sama3)
to give أعطى – يعطي (اعطاء) a3aTa – ya3aTi (i3Taa’) ادّى – يدّي (مدّية) idda – yiddi (middiyya)
to carry حمل – يحمل (حمل) Hamala – yaHmilu (Haml) شال – يشيل (شيل | شيلان) šaal – yišiil (šeil/šayalaan)
to love أحبّ – يحبّ (حبّ) aHabba – yuHibbu (Hubb) حبّ – يحبّ (حبّ) Habb – yiHibb (Hubb)
to hate كره – يكره (كره | كراهة) kariha – yakrahu (karh/karaaha) karah – yikrah (karh/karaaha)
to be born وُلد – يُولد (ولادة) wulida – yuuladu (wilaada) اتولد – يتولد itwalad – yitwalad
to live عاش – يعيش (معيشة) 3aaša – ya3iišu (ma3iiša)
to live (in a place) سكن – يسكن (سكن) في sakana – yaskunu (sakan) fi
to die مات – يموت (موت) maata – yamuutu (moot)
to pass away توفّي – يتوفي (وفاة) tuwuffiya – yutawaffayu (wafaah) اتوفى – يتوفي (وفاة) itwaffa – yitwaffi (wafaah)
to wait انتظر – ينتظر (انتظار) intaZara – yantaZiru (intiZaar) استنى – يستني istinna – yistinni
to buy اشترى – يشتري (شراء) ištara – yaštari (širaa’) ištara – yištiri
to sell باع – يبيع (بيع) baa3a – yabii3u (bii3)
to pay; to push دفع – يدفع (دفع) dafa3a – yadfa3u (daf3) dafa3 – yidfa3
to push زق – يزق (زق) za” – yizu” (za”)
to open (s.t.) فتح – يفتح (فتح) fataHa – yaftaHu (fatH) fataH – yiftaH (fatH)
to close (s.t.) غلق – يغلق (غلق) ġalaqa – yaġliqu (ġalq) قفل – يقفل ‘afal – yi’fil
to begin, start (s.t.) بدأ – يبدأ (بدء) bada’a – yabda’u (bad’) bada’ – yibda’
to end (reflexive) انتهى – ينتهي (انتهاء) intaha – yantahi (intihaa’)
to stop (reflexive); to stand up وقف – يقف (وقف | وقوف) waqafa – yaqifu (waqf/wuquuf) wi’if – yiw’af (wa’f)
to finish (s.t.) خلّص – يخلّص (تخليص) xallaSa – yuxalliSu (taxliiS) xallaS – yixallaS (taxliiS)
شطّب – يشطّب (تشطيب) šaTTab – yišaTTab (tašTiib)
to stop (reflexive); to stand up وقف – يقف (وقف | وقوف) waqafa – yaqifu (waqf/wuquuf) wi’if – yiw’af (wa’f)
to play لعب – يلعب (لعب) la3aba – yal3ibu (li3b)
to use (s.t.) استخدم – يستخدم (استخدام) istaxdama – yastaxdimu (istixdaam)
استعمل – يستعمل (استعمال) ista3mala – yasta3milu (isti3maal)
to enter دخل – يدخل (دخول) daxala – yadxulu (duxuul) daxal – yudxul
to go out خرج – يخرج (خروج) xaraja – yaxruju (xuruuj) xarag – yixrag
to leave غادر – يغادر (مغادرة) ġaadara – yuġaadiru (muġaadara) ساب – يسيب saab – yisiib
to ride (ex. a taxi) ركب – يركب (ركوب) rakiba – yarkabu (rukuub) rikib – yirkab
to send أرسل – يرسل (ارسال) arsala – yursilu (irsaal) بعت – يبعت ba3at – yib3at
to receive استلم – يستلم (استلام) istalama – yastalimu (istilaam) istalam – yistilim (istilaam)
to think (about s.t.) فكّر – يفكّر (تفكير) fakkara – yufakkiru (tafkiir) fakkar – yifakkar (tafkiir) fi
to think (that) ظنّ – يظنّ (ظن) أن Zanna – yaZunnu (Zann) anna افتكر – يفتكر iftakar – yiftikir
to believe (that) اعتقد – يعتقد (اعتقاد) i3taqada – ya3taqidu (i3tiqaad) anna
to need (s.t.) احتاج – يحتاج (احتياج) إلى iHtaaja – yaHtaaju (iHtiyaaj) ila iHtaag – yiHtaag
to want (to) أراد – يريد (ارادة) araada – yuriidu (iraada) an عايز – عايزة 3aayiz/3aayza (or 3aawiz/3aawza) – active participle
to succeed نجح – ينجح (نجاح) najaHa – yanjaHu (najaaH) nagaH – yingaH (nagaaH)
to fail فشل – يفشل (فشل) fašila – yafšalu (fašal)

 

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