List of Arabic Verbs: A Comprehensive Guide

List of Arabic Verbs

Learning Arabic can seem challenging, especially when it comes to verbs, which form the backbone of the language. Verbs not only indicate actions but also convey time, mood, and subject, making them essential for constructing meaningful sentences. A solid understanding of Arabic verbs allows learners to communicate effectively, read with comprehension, and write accurately.

To make this process easier, having a structured list of Arabic verbs is invaluable. From common daily verbs to advanced expressions, knowing them provides a foundation for fluency. By practicing regularly, understanding verb patterns, and applying them in real-life contexts, learners can gradually master the language and gain confidence in using Arabic in everyday conversations.

Arabic Verbs

Arabic verbs (الأفعال) are words that express actions, states, or occurrences. They are the core of Arabic sentences, showing what is happening.

Most Arabic verbs are derived from a three-letter root that conveys the core meaning. One root can generate multiple verbs by applying different patterns or forms.

Verbs change according to tense (past, present, future) and the person acting (I, you, he, she, we, they).

Examples of Usage

For the root ك-ت-ب:

  • كَتَبَ (kataba) → “he wrote”
  • يَكْتُبُ (yaktubu) → “he writes”
  • اُكْتُبْ (uktub) → “write!”

Understanding Arabic verbs is essential for forming sentences, expressing ideas clearly, and building fluency in reading, writing, and speaking.

List of Arabic verbs

Arabic verbs are the building blocks of everyday communication. Learning the most common verbs will help you understand sentences, express yourself clearly, and interact with native speakers. Here is a list of essential Arabic verbs with their meanings and examples:

1. Regular Verbs (الأفعال الصحيحة) – Form I

Simple verbs that follow standard conjugation patterns.

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he wrotekatabaكَتَبَ
he readqara’aقَرَأَ
he ateakalaأَكَلَ
he dranksharibaشَرِبَ
he wentdhahabaذَهَبَ
he satjalasaجَلَسَ
he studieddarasaدَرَسَ
he knew‘alimaعَلِمَ
he heardsami‘aسَمِعَ
he saidqālaقَالَ
he didfa‘alaفَعَلَ
he sleptnāmaنَامَ
he returnedraja‘aرَجَعَ
he foundwajadaوَجَدَ
he laughedḍaḥikaضَحِكَ
he criedbakāبَكَى

2. Weak Verbs (الأفعال)

Verbs containing a weak letter (و, ي, or ا) in their root.

a. Assimilated (الفعل المثال) – starts with a weak letter

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he arrivedwaṣalaوَصَلَ
he wantedarādaأَرَادَ
he becameaṣbaḥaأَصْبَحَ

b. Hollow (الفعل الأجوف) – middle letter weak

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he saidqālaقَالَ
it spreadshā‘aشَاعَ

C. Defective (الفعل الناقص) – ends with a weak letter

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he threwramāرَمَى
he remainedbaqiyaبَقِيَ

3. Doubled Verbs (الأفعال المضعفة)

Verbs with two identical letters in a row (often simplified in the present tense).

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he tightenedshaddaشَدَّ
he taught‘allamaعَلَّمَ
He taught intensivelydarrasaدَرَّسَ

4. Verbs by Derived Forms (الأوزان – Forms I–X)

Form II (فعّل) – Causative or Intensive

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he taughtdarrasaدَرّسَ
he opened intensivelyfattaḥaفَتَّحَ
he explainedsharraḥaشَرَّحَ

Form III (فاعل) – Partnership or Interaction

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he watchedshāhadaشاهَدَ
he spoketakallamaتَكَلَّمَ

Form IV (أفعل) – Causative

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he sentarsalaأَرسَلَ
he informedakhbaraأَخْبَرَ

Form V (تفعّل) – Reflexive / Intensive

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he learnedta‘allamaتَعَلّمَ
he advancedtaqaddamaتَقَدّمَ

Form VI (تفاعل) – Reciprocal / Mutual Action

MeaningTransliterationArabic
they fought each othertaqātalaتَقاتَلَ
they sharedtashārakaتَشَارَكَ

Form VII (انفعل) – Passive / Reflexive

MeaningTransliterationArabic
it was brokeninkasaraاِنْكَسَرَ
it disappearedinṭamasaاِنْطَمَسَ

Form VIII (افتعل) – Reflexive / Internal Action

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he participatedishtarakaاِشْتَرَكَ
he sought forgivenessistaghfaraاِسْتَغْفَرَ

Form IX (افعلّ) – Colors / Defects

MeaningTransliterationArabic
it turned rediḥmarraاِحْمَرَّ
it turned yellowiṣfarraاِصْفَرَّ

Form X (استفعل) – Seeking / Requesting Action

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he inquiredistafahamaاِسْتَفْهَمَ
he usedasta‘malaاِسْتَعْمَلَ

This organization helps learners recognize patterns, memorize roots, and apply verbs in different contexts. 

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30 most commonly used Arabic verbs in daily life

MeaningTransliterationArabic
he waskānaكَانَ
he isyakūnuيَكُونُ
he didfa‘alaفَعَلَ
he saidqālaقَالَ
he ateakalaأَكَلَ
he dranksharibaشَرِبَ
he wentdhahabaذَهَبَ
he satjalasaجَلَسَ
he sleptnāmaنَامَ
he worked‘amilaعَمِلَ
he studieddarasaدَرَسَ
he knew‘alimaعَلِمَ
he understoodfahimaفَهِمَ
he sawra’āرَأَى
he heardsami‘aسَمِعَ
he askedsa’alaسَأَلَ
he answeredajābaأَجَابَ
he returnedraja‘aرَجَعَ
he arrivedwaṣalaوَصَلَ
he startedbada’aبَدَأَ
he finishedintahāاِنْتَهَى
he playedla‘ibaلَعِبَ
he walkedmashāمَشَى
he roderakibaرَكِبَ
he requested / soughtṭalabaطَلَبَ
he gavea‘ṭāأَعْطَى
he tookakhathaأَخَذَ
he explainedsharaḥaشَرَحَ
he taught‘allamaعَلَّمَ
he foundwajadaوَجَدَ

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Why Learning Arabic Verbs is Important

Verbs are essential in any language, and Arabic is no exception. They help you express actions, states, and events. Understanding Arabic verbs allows you to:

1. Forms the Foundation of Sentences

Arabic verbs are essential in constructing sentences. They indicate the action, the time, and who is performing it, helping your sentences make sense grammatically.

2. Improves Communication Skills

Knowing verbs allows you to express actions, narrate events, and have meaningful conversations with others in Arabic.

3. Expands Your Vocabulary

Learning verbs gives you more words to describe a variety of actions, situations, and emotions, making your language richer and more versatile.

4. Helps Understand Arabic Grammar

Arabic verbs follow specific patterns and tenses. Mastering them helps you understand conjugations, sentence structure, and overall language rules.

5. Enhances Reading and Writing

Many Arabic texts revolve around verbs. Knowing them enables you to read articles, stories, and documents more effectively and write sentences correctly.

6. Boosts Confidence in Speaking

The more verbs you know, the easier it becomes to speak Arabic confidently. Familiarity with verbs reduces hesitation and improves fluency.

7. Facilitates Learning Advanced Concepts

Once you master verbs, learning more complex grammar, idiomatic expressions, and nuanced sentence structures becomes much easier.

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Conclusion

Mastering Arabic verbs is a key step toward achieving fluency in the language. By studying both basic and advanced verbs, practicing conjugations, and applying them in sentences, learners build a strong foundation that supports speaking, reading, and writing skills. A well-organized list of Arabic verbs can guide this learning journey effectively.

With consistent practice, engagement with native content, and use of interactive resources, anyone can enhance their command of Arabic verbs. Over time, this knowledge not only improves communication but also opens doors to deeper cultural understanding and appreciation of the Arabic language.

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