🔤 Grammar
The three-letter root system
Almost every Arabic word is built from a three-letter root that carries a core meaning. From ك ت ب (k-t-b, 'writing'): كتب (he wrote), كاتب (writer), كتاب (book), مكتب (office/desk), مكتبة (library). Learning a root gives you a whole family of words.
Conjugation tables
Root ك ت ب (writing)
| Arabic | Translit | English |
|---|---|---|
| كتب | kataba | he wrote |
| يكتب | yaktubu | he writes |
| كاتب | kātib | writer |
| مكتوب | maktūb | written |
| كتاب | kitāb | book |
| مكتب | maktab | office / desk |
| مكتبة | maktaba | library |
كتب — to write (present)
| Pronoun | Arabic | Translit |
|---|---|---|
| أنا | أكتب | aktubu |
| أنتَ | تكتب | taktubu |
| هو | يكتب | yaktubu |
| هي | تكتب | taktubu |
| نحن | نكتب | naktubu |
| هم | يكتبون | yaktubūna |
Examples
- أكتب رسالة إلى صديقي.aktubu risālatan ilā ṣadīqī.I'm writing a letter to my friend.
- هو يقرأ كتاباً جديداً.huwa yaqraʾu kitāban jadīdan.He is reading a new book.
Practice
Match each infinitive-like verb (past 'he' form) to its meaning.
Tap a english below, then tap the arabic it belongs to — or drag it.
Arabic
English
Match each word from the root ك ت ب to its meaning.
Tap a english below, then tap the arabic it belongs to — or drag it.
Arabic
English