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:
فَعَلَ - This is the basic/base form.
فَعَّلَ - This is an intensive or causative form of wazn (وزن) 1.
فاعَلَ - This is make wazn 1 transitive or indicates a relation.
أَفْعَلَ - This is a causative or transitive form of wazn 1.
تَفَعَّلَ - This is a reflexive or passive form of wazn 1 or 2.
تَفاعَلَ - This is a reflexive or passive form of wazn 3. Sometimes a mutual relationship is indicated.
اِنْفَعَلَ - This is a passive form of wazn 1.
اِفْتَعَلَ - This indicates reflexive nuances or doing something intentionally.
اِفْعَّلَ - This wazn is quite rare and is only used to indicate color or a defect.
اِسْتَفْعَلَ - This form is used to request or consider something in relation to wazn 1.