قَامَ
qāma
The English phrase 'get up' in Arabic is قَامَ (qāma). Wiktionary also lists نَهَضَ (nahaḍa) and اَفَاقَ (afāqa).
Meaning: to rise from one's bed (verb)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| قَامَ | qāma |
| نَهَضَ | nahaḍa |
| اَفَاقَ | afāqa |
| تَسَلَّقَ | tasallaqa |
| وَقَّفَ | waqqafa |
The primary meaning is to rise from one's bed.
Which one should you use?
While قَامَ is a general verb for standing or rising, نَهَضَ is a more formal or literary way to express the act of rising or getting up. اَفَاقَ is used specifically for waking up from sleep or regaining consciousness, rather than the physical act of rising from a bed.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the phrase قوم is used to say 'get up' informally. In Gulf Arabic, the informal phrase باقوم is frequently used among friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
When قَامَ is followed by the preposition بِـ (bi-), the meaning shifts from 'to rise' to 'to perform' or 'to carry out' an action.
How do you pronounce it?
qāma
Did you know?
- The verb قَامَ is the root for the word قِيَامَة, which refers to the Day of Resurrection when humanity is said to 'rise' again.
- While نَهَضَ means 'to rise', it is also used metaphorically to describe a nation or a people 'rising up' or 'awakening' to progress.
- In many Arabic dialects, the word قُوم is used not just to wake someone up, but as a sharp command to 'get out' or 'leave' a place.
Examples in context
- قم يا حبيبي، عندهم فقط مكان واحد.Get up, my dear, there's only one spot left.
- قَامَ الطِّفْلُ مِنَ السَّرِيرِ.qāma al-ṭiflu min al-sarīr.The child got up from the bed.
- مَتَى قَامَ زِيَادٌ اليَوْمَ؟matā qāma ziyādu al-yawm?When did Ziad get up today?
- قَامَ الرَّجُلُ مُبَكِّرًا جِدًّا.qāma al-rajulu mubakkiran jiddan.The man got up very early.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “get up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
