No matter how many nouns you are already familiar with, Arabic sentences also require Arabic Basic Verbs. Even if you know how to say “school” in Arabic, what good is it if you can’t ask, “Where is the school?” Alternatively, you can pronounce Tuesday in Arabic, yet you cannot invite your buddies on a Tuesday. Fortunately, because Arabic Basic Verbs are based on a group of two, three, four, and occasionally even five (though mainly three) consonants termed as root, they adhere to the same rules as the rest of the languages’ vocabulary.
Any alterations to the vowels between the consonants and any prefixes or suffixes connected describe grammatical functions such as a person, gender, number, tense, mood, and voice. This root conveys the basic meaning of the verb, which is essential for understanding Arabic Basic Verbs and recognizing how Arabic Basic Verbs form different patterns.
Arabic Basic Verbs are the fundamental action words that form the core structure of the language. By studying Arabic Basic Verbs, learners understand how root letters create meaning and how patterns change between past and present forms. Mastering Arabic Basic Verbs builds a strong foundation that makes learning more advanced vocabulary and grammar much easier.
But there is something different. You would say “I Henry” rather than “I am Henry” because there is no verb “to be” (am, is, are, etc.) in the Arabic present tense. That means there is one fewer verb to learn, at least. We hope you will soon be able to construct some sentences using this collection of these basic Arabic verbs.
If you want to learn the basics of Arabic Grammar, turn to Quran Focus Academy. We offer introductory Arabic grammar, online Noorani Qaida, Quran reading, Quran recitation and Quran memorization courses for kids, adults and sisters at an affordable rate.
| English | Standard Arabic | Transliteration | Egyptian Arabic | Transliteration |
| to be (not used in present tense) | كان – يكون (كون) | kaana – yakuunu (koon) | كان – يكون (كون) | kaan – yikuun (koon) |
| to do; to make | فعل – يفعل (فعل) | fa’ala – yaf‘alu (fa‘ l) | عمل – يعمل | ʿamil – yaʿmal (ʿamal) |
| to work | عمل – يعمل (عمل) | ʿamala – yaʿmilu (ʿamal) | اشتغل – يشتغل (سغل) | ištaġal – yištaġil (šuġl) |
| to bring, fetch | أحضر – يحضر (احضار) | aHDara – yuHDiru (iHDaar) | جاب – يجيب (جيبان) | gaab – yigiib (gayabaan) |
| to take | أخذ – يأخذ (أخذ) | axada – ya’xudu (axd) | خد – ياخد (اخد) | xad – yaaxud (axd) |
| to put | وضع – يضع (وضع) | waDaʿa – yaDaʿu (waDʿ) | حطّ – يحطّ (حطّ) | HaTT – yiHoTT (HaTT) |
| to become | أصبح – يصبح (اصباح) | aSbaHa – yuSbiHu (iSbaaH) | بقى – يبقى | ba’a – yib’a |
| to change (s.t.) | غيّر – يغيّر (تغيير) | ġayyara – yuġayyiru (taġyiir) | ” | ġayyar – yiġayyar (taġyiir) |
| to count | عدّ – يعدّ (عدّ) | ʿadda – yaʿuddu (ʿadd) | ” | ʿadd – yiʿidd (ʿadd) |
| to go (to) | ذهب – يذهب (ذهاب) إلى | dahaba – yadhabu (dahaab) ila | راح – يروح (مرواح | روحان) | raaH – yiruuH (mirwaaH/rawaHaan) |
| to walk | مشى – يمشي (مشي) | maša – yamši (mašy) | مشي – يمشي (مشي) | miši – yimši (mašy) |
| to run | جرى – يجري (جري) | jara – yajri (jary) | ” | geri – yigri (gary) |
| to come | جاء – يجئ (جيئة) | jaa’a – yajii’u (jii’a) | جه – يجي (مجي) | geh – yiigi (migiyy) |
| أتى – يأتي (اتي) | ata – yaa’ti (aty) | |||
| to return | رجع – يرجع (رجوع) إلى | rajaʿa – yarjaʿu (rujuuʿ) | ” | rigiʿ – yirgaʿ (ruguuʿ) |
| عاد – يعود (عودة) إلى | ʿaada – yaʿuudu (ʿawda) | |||
| to arrive | وصل – يصل (وصول) إلى | waSala – yaSilu (wuSuul) ila | وصل – يوصل (وصول) | wiSil – yiwSil (wuSuul) |
| to sit | جلس – يجلس (جلوس) | jalasa – yajlisu (juluus) | قعد – يقعد (قعاد) | ‘aʿad – yu’ud (‘uʿaad) |
| to get up, rise | قام – يقوم (قيام) | qaama – yaquumu (qiyaam) | ” | ‘aam – yi’uum (‘iyaam) |
| to fall | وقع – يقع (وقوع) | waqaʿa – yaqaʿu (wuquuʿ) | وقع – يوقع (وقوع) | wi’iʿ – yiw’aʿ (wu’uuʿ) |
| سقط – يسقط (سقوط) | saqaTa – yasquTu (suquuT) | |||
| to go up | طلع – يطلع (طلوع) | Talaʿa – yaTlaʿu (Tuluuʿ) | ” | Tiliʿ – yiTlaʿ (Tuluuʿ) |
| to go down | نزل – ينزل (نزول) | nazila – yanzilu (nuzuul) | ” | nizil – yinzil (nuzuul) |
| to cook | طبخ – يطبخ (طبخ) | Tabaxa – yaTbuxu (Tabx) | ” | Tabax – yiTbux (Tabx) |
| to eat | أكل – يأكل (أكل) | akala – yaa’kulu (akl) | كل – ياكل (أكل) | kal – yaakul (akl) |
| to drink | شرب – يشرب (شرب) | šariba – yašrabu (šurb) | ” | širib – yišrab (šurb) |
| to wake up | صحى – يصحو (صحو) | SaHa – yaSHu (SaHw) | صحي – يصحى (صحو) | SaHa – yiSHa (SaHw) |
| استيقظ – يستيقظ (استيقاظ) | istayqaZa – yastayqiZu (istiiqaaZ) | |||
| to sleep | نام – ينام (نوم) | naama – yanaamu (nawm) | ” | naam – yinaam (noom) |
| to wash | غسل – يغسل (غسل) | ġasala – yaġsilu (ġasl) | ” | ġasal – yiġsil (ġasl/ġasiil) |
| to clean | نظّف – ينظّف (تنظيف) | naZZafa – yunaZZifu (tanZiif) | ” | naZZaf – yinaZZaf (tanZiif) |
| to study | درس – يدرس (دراسة) | darasa – yadrusu (diraasa) | ” | daras – yidris (diraasa) |
| to learn | تعلّم – يتعلّم (تعلّم) | taʿallama – yataʿallamu (taʿallum) | اتعلّم – يتعلّم (تعلّم) | itʿallim – yitʿallim (taʿallum) |
| to understand | فهم – يفهم (فهم) | fahima – yafhamu (fahm) | ” | fihim – yifham (fahm) |
| to know | عرف – يعرف (معرفة) | ʿarafa – yaʿrifu (maʿrifa) | ” | ʿirif – yiʿraf (maʿrifa) |
| to remember | تذكر – يتذكر (تذكر) | tadakkara – yatadakkaru (tadakkur) | افتكر – يفتكر (افتكار) | iftakar – yiftikir (iftikaar) |
| to forget | نسي – ينسى (نسي) | nasiya – yansaa (nasi) | ” | nisi – yinsa (nasi) |
| to describe | وصف – يصف (وصف) | waSafa – yaSifu (waSf) | وصف – يوصف (وصف) | waSaf – yiwSif (waSf) |
| to try, test (s.t) | جرّب – يجرّب (تجريب) | jarraba – yujarribu (tajriib) | ” | garrab – yigarrib (tagriib) |
| to try, attempt to do s.t. | حاول – يحاول (محاولة) أن | Haawala – yuHaawilu (muHaawala) an | ” | ” |
| to be able to do s.t. | قدر – يقدر (قدرة) أن | qadara – yaqdiru (qudra) an | ” | ‘idir – yi’dir (‘odra) |
| استطاع – يستطيع (استطاعة) أن | istaTaaʿa – yastaTiiʿu (istiTaaʿa) an | |||
| to read | قرأ – يقرأ (قراءة) | qara’a – yaqra’ (qiraa’a) | قرأ – يقرأ (قراية) | ‘ara – yi’ra (‘iraaya) |
| to write | كتب – يكتب (كتابة) | kataba – yaktubu (kitaaba) | ” | katab – yiktib (kitaaba) |
| to translate | ترجم – يترجم (ترجمة) | tarjama – yutarjimu (tarjama) | ” | targam – yitargim (targama) |
| to talk (reflexive) | تكلّم – يتكلّم (كلام | تكلّم) | takallama – yatakallamu (kalaam/takallum) | اتكلّم – يتكلّم (كلام) | itkallim – yitkallim (kalaam) |
| تحدّث – يتحدّث (تحدّث) | taHaddata – yataHaddatu (taHaddut) | |||
| to say, tell | قال – يقول (قول) | qaala – yaquulu (qawl) | ” | ‘aal – yi’uul (‘awl) |
| to ask (a question) | سأل – يسأل (سؤال) | sa’ala – yas’alu (su’aal) | ” | ” |
| to request | طلب – يطلب (طلب) | Talaba – yaTlubu (Talab) | ” | ” |
| to reply, answer (to) | أجاب – يجيب (اجابة) على | ajaaba – yujiibu (ijaaba) ʿala | ” | agaab – yigiib (igaaba) ʿala |
| ردّ – يردّ (ردّ) على | radda – yarudd (radd) ʿala | ” | ” | |
| to thank | شكر – يشكر (شكر) | šakara – yaškuru (šukr) | ” | šakar – yiškur (šukr) |
| to complain (about) | شكى – يشكو (شكوى) من | šaka – yašku (šakwa) min | اشتكى – يشتكي (شكوى) من | ištaka – yištiki (šakwa) min |
| to promise | وعد – يعد (وعد) بـ | waʿada – yaʿidu (waʿd) bi | وعد – يوعد (وعد) | waʿad – yiwʿid (waʿd) bi |
| to see | رأى – يرى (رؤية) | ra’a – yara (ru’ya) | شاف – يشوف (شوفان | شوف) | šaaf – yišuuf (šawafaan/šoof) |
| to look at | نظر – ينظر (نظر) إلى | naZara – yanZuru (naZar) ila | بصّ – يبصّ (بصّ | بصصان) على | baSS – yibuSS (baSS/baSaSaan) ʿala |
| to look for | بحث – يبحث (بحث) عن | baHata – yabHatu (baHt) ʿan | دوّر – يدوّر (تدوير) على | dawwar – yidawwar (tadwiir) ʿala |
| to find | وجد – يجد (وجود) | wajada – yajidu (wujuud) | لاقى – يلاقي | laa’a – yilaa’i (la’ayaan) |
| to lose (s.t.) | ضيّع – يضيّع (تضييع) | Dayyaʿa – yuDayyiʿu (taDyiiʿ) | ” | ” |
| to organize | نظّم – ينظّم (تنظيم) | naZZama – yunaZZimu (tanZiim) | ” | ” |
| to organize, tidy up | رتّب – يرتّب (ترتيب) | rattaba – yurattibu (tartiib) | ” | ” |
| to smoke (in general) | دخّن – يدخّن (تدخين) | daxxana – yudaxxinu (tadxiin) | ” | ” |
| to happen | حدث – يحدث (حدوث) | Hadata – yaHdutu (Huduut) | حصل – يحصل (حصول) | HaSal – yiHSal (HuSuul) |
| to watch | شاهد – يشاهد (مشاهدة) | šaahada – yušaahidu (mušaahada) | اتفرّج – يتفرّج على | itfarrag – yitfarrag ʿala |
| to hear | سمع – يسمع (سمع | سماعة) | samiʿa – yasmavu (samʿ/samaaʿa) | ” | simiʿ – yismaʿ (samaʿ) |
| to listen to | استمع – يستمع (استماع) إلى | istamava – yastamiʿu (istimaaʿ) ila | سمع – يسمع (سمع) | simiʿ – yismaʿ (samaʿ) |
| to give | أعطى – يعطي (اعطاء) | aʿaTa – yaʿaTi (iʿTaa’) | ادّى – يدّي (مدّية) | idda – yiddi (middiyya) |
| to carry | حمل – يحمل (حمل) | Hamala – yaHmilu (Haml) | شال – يشيل (شيل | شيلان) | šaal – yišiil (šeil/šayalaan) |
| to love | أحبّ – يحبّ (حبّ) | aHabba – yuHibbu (Hubb) | حبّ – يحبّ (حبّ) | Habb – yiHibb (Hubb) |
| to hate | كره – يكره (كره | كراهة) | kariha – yakrahu (karh/karaaha) | ” | karah – yikrah (karh/karaaha) |
| to be born | وُلد – يُولد (ولادة) | wulida – yuuladu (wilaada) | اتولد – يتولد | itwalad – yitwalad |
| to live | عاش – يعيش (معيشة) | ʿaaša – yaʿiišu (maʿiiša) | ” | ” |
| to live (in a place) | سكن – يسكن (سكن) في | sakana – yaskunu (sakan) fi | ” | ” |
| to die | مات – يموت (موت) | maata – yamuutu (moot) | ” | ” |
| to pass away | توفّي – يتوفي (وفاة) | tuwuffiya – yutawaffayu (wafaah) | اتوفى – يتوفي (وفاة) | itwaffa – yitwaffi (wafaah) |
| to wait | انتظر – ينتظر (انتظار) | intaZara – yantaZiru (intiZaar) | استنى – يستني | istinna – yistinni |
| to buy | اشترى – يشتري (شراء) | ištara – yaštari (širaa’) | ” | ištara – yištiri |
| to sell | باع – يبيع (بيع) | baaʿa – yabiiʿu (biiʿ) | ” | ” |
| to pay; to push | دفع – يدفع (دفع) | dafaʿa – yadfaʿu (dafʿ) | ” | dafaʿ – yidfaʿ |
| to push | زق – يزق (زق) | za” – yizu” (za”) | ||
| to open (s.t.) | فتح – يفتح (فتح) | fataHa – yaftaHu (fatH) | ” | fataH – yiftaH (fatH) |
| to close (s.t.) | غلق – يغلق (غلق) | ġalaqa – yaġliqu (ġalq) | قفل – يقفل | ‘afal – yi’fil |
| to begin, start (s.t.) | بدأ – يبدأ (بدء) | bada’a – yabda’u (bad’) | ” | bada’ – yibda’ |
| to end (reflexive) | انتهى – ينتهي (انتهاء) | intaha – yantahi (intihaa’) | ” | ” |
| to stop (reflexive); to stand up | وقف – يقف (وقف | وقوف) | waqafa – yaqifu (waqf/wuquuf) | ” | wi’if – yiw’af (wa’f) |
| to finish (s.t.) | خلّص – يخلّص (تخليص) | xallaSa – yuxalliSu (taxliiS) | ” | xallaS – yixallaS (taxliiS) |
| شطّب – يشطّب (تشطيب) | šaTTab – yišaTTab (tašTiib) | |||
| to stop (reflexive); to stand up | وقف – يقف (وقف | وقوف) | waqafa – yaqifu (waqf/wuquuf) | ” | wi’if – yiw’af (wa’f) |
| to play | لعب – يلعب (لعب) | laʿaba – yalʿibu (liʿb) | ” | ” |
| to use (s.t.) | استخدم – يستخدم (استخدام) | istaxdama – yastaxdimu (istixdaam) | ” | ” |
| استعمل – يستعمل (استعمال) | istaʿmala – yastaʿmilu (istiʿmaal) | ” | ” | |
| to enter | دخل – يدخل (دخول) | daxala – yadxulu (duxuul) | ” | daxal – yudxul |
| to go out | خرج – يخرج (خروج) | xaraja – yaxruju (xuruuj) | ” | xarag – yixrag |
| to leave | غادر – يغادر (مغادرة) | ġaadara – yuġaadiru (muġaadara) | ساب – يسيب | saab – yisiib |
| to ride (ex. a taxi) | ركب – يركب (ركوب) | rakiba – yarkabu (rukuub) | ” | rikib – yirkab |
| to send | أرسل – يرسل (ارسال) | arsala – yursilu (irsaal) | بعت – يبعت | baʿat – yibʿat |
| to receive | استلم – يستلم (استلام) | istalama – yastalimu (istilaam) | ” | istalam – yistilim (istilaam) |
| to think (about s.t.) | فكّر – يفكّر (تفكير) | fakkara – yufakkiru (tafkiir) | ” | fakkar – yifakkar (tafkiir) fi |
| to think (that) | ظنّ – يظنّ (ظن) أن | Zanna – yaZunnu (Zann) anna | افتكر – يفتكر | iftakar – yiftikir |
| to believe (that) | اعتقد – يعتقد (اعتقاد) | iʿtaqada – yaʿtaqidu (iʿtiqaad) anna | ” | ” |
| to need (s.t.) | احتاج – يحتاج (احتياج) إلى | iHtaaja – yaHtaaju (iHtiyaaj) ila | ” | iHtaag – yiHtaag |
| to want (to) | أراد – يريد (ارادة) | araada – yuriidu (iraada) an | عايز – عايزة | ʿaayiz/ʿaayza (or ʿaawiz/ʿaawza) – active participle |
| to succeed | نجح – ينجح (نجاح) | najaHa – yanjaHu (najaaH) | ” | nagaH – yingaH (nagaaH) |
| to fail | فشل – يفشل (فشل) | fašila – yafšalu (fašal) | ” | ” |
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