Verbal noun in verbform 2 to 10
Verbal nouns are words that are used, for example, to describe an action, a state or a property. In Arabic, there are certain patterns for verbal nouns.
For verbalnomen i verbform 1, there are several different patterns. Verbform 2 and verbform 3 have two patterns each. Verbforms 4 to 10 have one pattern each. However, I have never encountered any verbal nouns in verbform 9. In general, the higher the verb form, the more specific is the meaning of the word.
Verbal noun in verbform 2
Verbal noun for verbform 2 has the pattern taf3iil. This includes, for example, the word tadriib which means practice, training.
Another example is the word tartiib that means arrangement, organization.
The second pattern for the verbal noun in verbform 2 is taf3ila. This includes, for example, the word taqdima which means gift.
Another example is the word tajriba that means trial.
Verbform 2 is often used for actions performed against someone else, for example to make someone do something or become something.
Verbal noun in verbform 3
Verbal noun for verbform 3 has the pattern fi3aal. This includes, for example, the word jiwaar which means neighbourhood, proximity.
Another example is the word jihaad that means struggle.
The second pattern for the verbal noun in verbform 3 is mufaa3ala. This includes, for example, the word mushaaraka which means participation, partnership.
Another example is the word musaa3ada that means help.
Verbform 3 is often used to describe an act you do against another person or involve someone in.
Verbal noun in verbform 4
Verbal noun for verbform 4 has the pattern 'if3aal. This includes, for example, the word 'ish3aar which means notice.
Another example is the word 'ilhaam that means inspiration.
Verbform 4 is often causative of verb form 1, ie it is about getting someone to do something.
Verbal noun in verbform 5
Verbal noun for verbform 5 has the pattern tafa33ul. This includes, for example, the word tanaffus which means respiration.
Another example is the word taTawwur that means development.
Verbform 5 is often reflexive to verb form 2, ie it is about getting oneself to do what verbform 2 refers to.
Verbal noun in verbform 6
Verbal noun for verbform 6 has the pattern tafaa3ul. This includes, for example, the word tabaadul which means exchange.
Another example is the word ta3aawun that means cooperation.
Verbform 6 is often a reflexive, mutual or stronger variant of verbform 3. It often describes an exchange between people or groups of people.
Verbal noun in verbform 7
Verbal noun for verbform 7 has the pattern infi3aal. This includes, for example, the word infijaar which means explosion.
Another example is the word indimaaj that means assimilation, fusion.
Verbform 7 is often reflexive or passive to verbform 1.
Verbal noun in verbform 8
Verbal noun for verbform 8 has the pattern ifti3aal. This includes, for example, the word imtiHaan which means examination, test.
Another example is the word intiZaar that means waiting.
Verbform 8 is often, like verbform 7, reflexive to verbform 1.
Verbal noun in verbform 10
Verbal noun for verbform 10 has the pattern istif3aal. This includes, for example, the word istismaa3 which means listening.
Another example is the word isti3maal that means usage.
Verbform 10 can for example be causative or reflexive to verbform 4.
Arabic word patterns
Arabic words follow certain patterns. The patterns make it easier to recognize, memorize and figure out the meaning of Arabic words.
Most Arabic words have a root consisting of three letters. In addition to the root letters, the words contain vowels and sometimes extra letters. The patterns show how the three root letters should be combined with vowels and sometimes extra letters to form words.
To represent the root letters of the word, the letters f, 3 and l are usually used. The letter f (fa) represents the first root letter, 3 (ayn) represents the second root letter and l (lam) represents the third root letter. Some words really have the root f,3 and l. But most words have different root letters.
Using Arabic patterns
As an example, we can look at the root k,t and b. That is, the first root letter is k (kaf), the second root letter is t (ta) and the third is b (ba).
The pattern fa3ala is a common Arabic pattern for verbs. This means that the verb is created by adding the short vowel (a) after each root letter. With the root (k,t,b), the verb becomes kataba that means to write.
The pattern maf3uul is a passive participle, that means that words with this pattern often describe the object of an action. The word is build by of the prefix (ma), the first root letter, the second root letter, the long vowel (uu) and the third root letter. With the root (k,t,b), the verb becomes maktuub that means written.
The patternmaf3al is used for words that describe places or times. You get the words by combining the prefix (ma), the first root letter, the second root letter, the short vowel (a) and the third root letter. With the root (k,t,b), the verb becomes maktab that means office.
Do I need to learn Arabic patterns?
If you think Arabic word patterns seem boring or hard to learn, then just ignore them. Most native Arabic speakers I have talked to about Arabic word patterns, have little or no knowledge of them. It is only at the university in Sweden where I read Arabic, and in textbooks by Western authors, that I have noticed interest in the Arabic word patterns.
Personally, I find the patterns very useful. I can guess the meaning of words I have never heard before, thanks to the patterns and the root letters. Above all, I think that Arabic word patterns are interesting and pleasant, actually therapeutic. When life feels chaotic and insecure, it's nice that every new Arabic word I encounter fits into the patterns I know.
More about Arabic patterns
On this website, you will find the most important Arabic patterns for forming words, and many more in addition to them. See all Arabic word patterns
This site contains thousands of words and each word has a page with detailed information about the word. Among many other things, you can see the pattern of the word. Learn more about Arabic word patterns