أعرف
a'rif
The English phrase "I know" is translated into Arabic as أعرف (a'rif).
أعرف is used as an assertion that speaker has answer or idea.
Meaning: assertion that speaker has answer or idea (phrase)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Moroccan Arabic, كنعرف is often used to express "I know", while in Egyptian Arabic, a common way to say this is أنا عارف.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Modern Standard Arabic, أعرف is the first-person singular present tense of the verb "to know". You can also add the suffix -hu to the verb to create أعرفه, which means "I know it" or "I know him".
How do you pronounce it?
a'rif
Did you know?
- The term عريف can refer to a military rank equivalent to a 'corporal' in many Arabic-speaking armies. This stems from the idea that a corporal is someone 'knowledgeable' or 'familiar' with the squad.
- In some mystical traditions, a عارف is not just someone who knows, but a 'gnostic' who possesses intuitive or divine knowledge of God. This elevates the word from simple awareness to spiritual enlightenment.
- While أعرف means 'I know', Arabic has a completely different verb علم for 'knowing' a fact. Using the wrong one can shift the meaning from being 'acquainted with' something to 'possessing scientific or certain knowledge'.
Examples in context
- كيف لي أن أعرف؟How should I know?This example shows how to use أعرف in a rhetorical question.Tatoeba #370915 by saeb, translation #25498 by CK
- هذا كل ما أعرفه.I know only this.This example demonstrates using أعرف to limit the scope of one's knowledge.Tatoeba #617506 by saeb, translation #33527 by CK
- هي أكسل من أعرف.She is the laziest person I know.This example illustrates using أعرف to identify a person.Tatoeba #4940090 by damascene, translation #3689988 by karloelkebekio
- أعلم أن الجواب صحيحI know that the answer is correct
- عارف إنه عيد ميلادكI know it's your birthday
- بعرف وين المطعمI know where the restaurant is
- 80 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Layla and Ziad are discussing where to go for dinner.
- ليلى Laylaهل تعرف مطعماً جيداً هنا؟Hal ta'rif mat'aman jayyidan huna?Do you know a good restaurant here?
- زياد Ziadنعم، أعرف مكاناً رائعاً.Na'am, a'rif makanan ra'i'an.Yes, I know a wonderful place.
- ليلى Laylaهل هو بعيد عن هنا؟Hal huwa ba'id an huna?Is it far from here?
- زياد Ziadلا، هو قريب جداً.La, huwa qarib jiddan.No, it is very close.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
