جَرَّ
jarra
The English verb "pull" can be translated into Arabic using جَرَّ (jarra) or سَحَبَ.
Meaning: transitive: apply force to (something) so it comes towards one (verb)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| جَرَّ | jarra |
| سَحَبَ | saḥaba |
The verbs are used to describe applying force to something so that it comes towards the person performing the action. The noun سَحْب is used for the act of pulling or the withdrawal of something, such as withdrawing money from a bank.
Which one should you use?
سَحَبَ is the more common verb used for the physical act of pulling or dragging an object, such as pulling a chair or pulling a drawer. جَرَّ often carries a connotation of dragging something along behind or causing something to follow, and is frequently used in more formal or literary contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
jarra
Did you know?
- While جَرَّ means 'pull', it is also the technical term in Arabic grammar for 'genitive case', where a noun is 'pulled' or dragged into a specific grammatical state.
- In many Arabic dialects, the word for 'pull' is often used metaphorically to describe 'extracting' or 'drawing out' information from someone during a conversation.
- The verb جَرَّ is used in the common expression جَرَّ في الكلام, which literally means 'pulling in speech' but actually refers to being long-winded or rambling.
Examples in context
- جر الكرسيPull the chair
- جر البابPull the door
- جر الحبلPull the rope
- جَرَّ الطِّفْلُ اللُّعْبَةَ.jarr al-tiflu al-lu'bah.The child pulled the toy.
- جَرَّ الرَّجُلُ العَرَبَةَ.jarr al-rajulu al-'arabah.The man pulled the cart.
Example conversation
In a garden, a boy is playing with a small cart.
- ليلى Laylaمَاذَا جَرَّ عُمَرُ؟madha jarr 'Umaru?What did Omar pull?
- عمر Omarجَرَّ عُمَرُ العَرَبَةَ الصَّغِيرَةَ.jarr 'Umaru al-'arabata al-saghirah.Omar pulled the small cart.
- ليلى Laylaهَلْ هِيَ ثَقِيلَةٌ؟hal hiya thaqilah?Is it heavy?
- عمر Omarلَا، لَيْسَتْ ثَقِيلَةً.la, laysat thaqilah.No, it is not heavy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pull” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
