Roots

Arabic words grow from 3-letter roots. Discover how one root gives rise to dozens of related words — verbs, nouns, and adjectives.

Try searching in Arabic (كتب), transliteration (ktb), or English (write) — or browse all roots

Common roots to explore

كتبktbto write علمElmto know, knowledge قرأqrAto read ذهب*hbto go أكل>klto eat شرب$rbto drink فهمfhmto understand عملEmlto work سمعsmEto hear رأىr>yto see قولqwlto say, speech حمدHmdto praise

How does the root system work?

Arabic words are built on a system of roots — typically three consonants that carry a core meaning. By applying different patterns of vowels and affixes to the same root, the language generates entire families of related words.

For example, the root كتب (k-t-b) gives us: كَتَبَ (kataba, to write), كِتَاب (kitāb, book), كَاتِب (kātib, writer), مَكْتَبَة (maktaba, library) and more.