Level A1

Essential Verbs

15 words · ~15 min

Grammar focus

Arabic verbs are built from three-letter roots. The present tense is formed by adding prefixes and sometimes suffixes to the root. These verbs are presented in the 'he does' form, which is the standard dictionary citation form in Arabic. Verbs of perception (hearing, seeing) and desire (wanting, liking) are included here.

Lesson overview

Essential Verbs is a level A1 lesson of 15 words: 15 verbs. Its words come from 15 Arabic roots, listed below with links to each root family.

Builds on: Personal Pronouns (A1)
Leads to: Action Verbs - Movement & Travel (A1)
Previous lesson: This & That - Demonstratives & First Nouns (A1)
Next lesson: Nature, People & The World Around Us (A1)

Word list

Arabic	Meaning	Type	Root
يَكْتُبُ yaktubu	he writes	verb	ك-ت-ب
يَقْرَأُ yaqraʾu	he reads	verb	ق-ر-أ
يَذْهَبُ yadhhabu	he goes	verb	ذ-ه-ب
يَأْكُلُ yaʾkulu	he eats	verb	أ-ك-ل
يَشْرَبُ yashrabu	he drinks	verb	ش-ر-ب
يَنَامُ yanāmu	he sleeps	verb	ن-و-م
يَفْعَلُ yafʿalu	he does / he makes	verb	ف-ع-ل
يُرِيدُ yurīdu	he wants	verb	ر-و-د
يَعْرِفُ yaʿrifu	he knows	verb	ع-ر-ف
يَتَكَلَّمُ yatakallamu	he speaks / he talks	verb	ك-ل-م
يَسْمَعُ yasmaʿu	he hears / he listens	verb	س-م-ع
يَرَى yarā	he sees	verb	ر-أ-ي
يَجِدُ yajidu	he finds	verb	و-ج-د
يُحِبُّ yuḥibbu	he loves / he likes	verb	ح-ب-ب
يَأْتِي yaʾtī	he comes	verb	أ-ت-ي

Themes these words belong to: Verbs (15), Basics (13), Food (2)