Roots are Arabic’s secret code. Children who learn them start recognising words they’ve never been taught.
How roots work
Most words have three root letters. Different patterns around them create related words.
Root families
| Root | Core meaning | Words |
|---|---|---|
| ك ت ب | writing | كَتَبَ، كِتَاب، كَاتِب، مَكْتُوب، مَكْتَب، مَكْتَبَة |
| ع ل م | knowing | عِلْم، عَالِم، مُعَلِّم، عَلَّمَ، الْعَلِيم |
| ر ح م | mercy | رَحْمَة، الرَّحْمٰن، الرَّحِيم |
| س ج د | prostrating | سَجَدَ، سَجْدَة، مَسْجِد، سَجَّادَة |
| ص ل ح | goodness | صَالِح، صَالِحَات، إِصْلَاح |
Patterns that help
- مَفْعَل/مَفْعِل often = a place: مَسْجِد (place of prostration), مَكْتَب.
- فَاعِل = the doer: كَاتِب (writer).
- مُفَعِّل = one who makes others do: مُعَلِّم (one who makes others know: teacher).
Root detective game
Give your child a word from their surah, such as الرَّحِيم. Can they find the three root letters? What other words share them?
Teacher’s tip: roots are why Quranic Arabic becomes easier over time. Learn a few hundred high-frequency roots and much of the Quran’s vocabulary opens up. Our Quranic Arabic programme is built on this.
Related: Reading without harakat.
