فهم
fahima/fa.hi.ma/
To understand in Arabic is فهم (fahima).
This verb is used to express the act of grasping the meaning of something.
Meaning: to grasp the meaning of (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /fa.hi.ma/. It has three syllables and is romanized as fahima.
Did you know?
- While فهم is the standard verb for understanding, Arabic speakers often use the phrase وصلت الفكرة ('the idea arrived') to signal that a point has finally been grasped.
- Arabic has a related word فهمان ('fahman') used to describe someone who is not just educated, but possesses a sharp, intuitive street-smarts or 'savviness'.
- In classical Arabic literature, 'understanding' is often described as a light or a clarity that enters the heart, rather than just a process of the brain.
Examples in context
- لن أقدر على فهمه.I won't be able to understand it.This sentence shows how to use فهم to express an inability to understand something.Tatoeba #11996676 by dididodo, translation #9994985 by Amastan
- لا أدعي فهم النساء.I don't pretend to understand women.This sentence uses فهم to describe a lack of pretense in understanding.Tatoeba #2604920 by Samer, translation #1102369 by CK
- لم يستطع فهم الجملة.He couldn't understand the sentence.This sentence demonstrates the use of فهم regarding the inability to grasp a specific sentence.Tatoeba #586905 by saeb, translation #284687 by CK
- من فضلك، هل تفهم تعليماتي؟Please, do you understand my instructions?
- هل فهمت ما قلت؟Did you understand what I said?
- عارف إيه بيحصل دلوقتي؟Do you understand what's happening now?
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ahmed and Layla are studying together.
- أحمد Ahmedهل استطعتِ فهم هذا الدرس يا ليلى؟Hal istata'ti fahm hadha al-dars ya Layla?Were you able to understand this lesson, Layla?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، لقد كان من السهل فهمه.Na'am, laqad kana min al-sahl fahmuhu.Yes, it was easy to understand.
- أحمد Ahmedأنا لا أستطيع فهم هذه النقطة.Ana la astati' fahm hadhihi al-nuqta.I cannot understand this point.
- ليلى Laylaسأشرحها لك حتى تستطيع فهمها.Sa-ashrahuha laka hatta tastati' fahmaha.I will explain it to you so you can understand it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry فهم, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
