Infographic Fun: Arabic Roots

I decided to depict one the reasons why I like Arabic: its root system! I like patterns and this is an interesting and complex grammar pattern. Pay attention to ك (or كـ), ت (or تـ), and ب (or بـ), as I chose كتب. I didn’t even put all the words made from كتب; there are too many.

Arabic typically uses three-letter roots (sometimes four-letter ones) in 10 different patterns called awzan (أوزان) to create verbs, nouns, adjectives, active participles, and passive participles. I’ll use فعل to illustrate how the awzan work:

  1. فَعَلَ - This is the basic/base form.

  2. فَعَّلَ - This is an intensive or causative form of wazn (وزن) 1.

  3. فاعَلَ - This is make wazn 1 transitive or indicates a relation.

  4. أَفْعَلَ - This is a causative or transitive form of wazn 1.

  5. تَفَعَّلَ - This is a reflexive or passive form of wazn 1 or 2.

  6. تَفاعَلَ - This is a reflexive or passive form of wazn 3. Sometimes a mutual relationship is indicated.

  7. اِنْفَعَلَ - This is a passive form of wazn 1.

  8. اِفْتَعَلَ - This indicates reflexive nuances or doing something intentionally.

  9. اِفْعَّلَ - This wazn is quite rare and is only used to indicate color or a defect.

  10. اِسْتَفْعَلَ - This form is used to request or consider something in relation to wazn 1.

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