وقف
waqafa/wa.qa.fa/
To stand up in Arabic is وقف (waqafa).
The verb وقف is used to describe the act of rising from a sitting position. Note that in many contexts, this verb can also mean 'to stop', such as stopping a vehicle or an action.
Meaning: rise from a sitting position (verb)
Which one should you use?
While وقف is a general term, the synonym قام is very common when you specifically want to emphasize the act of rising from a seated or lying position.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Levantine dialect, the informal phrase Qoom/qommi (قوم/قومي) is used to say 'stand up.'
How does it change in a sentence?
The present tense form for 'he stands up' or 'he is standing up' is يقف. To tell a male to 'stand up' using the imperative, use قِفْ.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /wa.qa.fa/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word وقف (waqafa) is the root of the term 'waqf', which refers to an Islamic charitable endowment or trust used for public benefit.
- The word وقف was borrowed from Ge'ez, where the terms ወቅፍ and ውቅፍ referred to a 'bracelet' or 'armlet'.
- While وقف is the standard verb, the alternative قام (qāma) is used not just for standing up, but also to say someone 'started' a task or 'rose' to a challenge.
Examples in context
- أشعر بالدوار كلما وقفت.I feel dizzy every time I stand up.This sentence is useful for expressing how the form وقف relates to feeling dizzy.Tatoeba #4391566 by Safa_Alfulaij, translation #4387579 by CK
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry وقف, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries وقف, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
