فعل
fi'l
The Arabic word for the English phrase "verb" is فعل (fi'l).
The root for "write" is "k-t-b."
How do you pronounce it?
fi'l
Did you know?
- In Arabic, the word فعل can refer to a moral 'deed' or a 'crime' when paired with specific adjectives, moving beyond grammar to describe a person's conduct.
- While English 'verbs' are defined by tense, an Arabic فعل is categorized by 'aspect', meaning whether an action is completed or ongoing.
- The word فعل is a cognate of the Hebrew word pa'ál, meaning 'to do', sharing a common ancestral root.
Examples in context
- لماذا تقول إنه فعل؟Why do you say it's a verb?This sentence is useful for asking why someone is categorizing a word as a فعل.Tatoeba #1296341 by Eldad, translation #1293734 by Eldad
- هذا فعل ماضٍ.hadha fi'l madin.This is a past tense verb.
- هل هذا فعل أم اسم؟hal hadha fi'l am ism?Is this a verb or a noun?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariam and Ziad are studying Arabic grammar together.
- مريم Maryamهل تعرف نوع هذا الفعل؟hal ta'rif naw' hadha al-fi'l?Do you know the type of this verb?
- زياد Ziadنعم، إنه فعل مضارع.na'am, innahu fi'l mudari'.Yes, it is a present tense verb.
- مريم Maryamأنت ذكي جداً يا زياد.anta dhaki jiddan ya Ziad.You are very smart, Ziad.
- زياد Ziadشكراً لكِ يا مريم.shukran laki ya Mariam.Thank you, Mariam.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries فعل, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
