In Arabic, it is very important to know the verbs, as you can derive other words from the verbs. Since Arabic is a Semitic language, it is usually constructed from a root of three letters, from which other words can be derived.
In Arabic, for example, we have fa3ala (the so-called model structure). If you use it differently, you get different nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.
If you understand this model structure, you can (in theory) derive the names of places and many professions. The following table offers some examples. However, this article is not intended to be exhaustive. Hopefully, it will make it easier for you to learn Arabic or derive some words.
Persons or professions can be established by slightly changing the root fa3ala. One adds a long alif to get the name of a person / profession. In addition, one can derive a person by adding mu to fa3alla. If you write a long a alif after the second letter you also get a person. The resulting personal descriptions are all male. If one wants to make the professional groups / names female, one puts an a (ta’amarbuTa) at the end of the word.
Examples:
| faa3il (فاعِل) | female Form | mufa33l(مُفعِّل) | female Form | |
| كابت kaatib writerكَتَبَ Verb: to write |
كاتبة female writer |
مُمَرض mumariDH male nurse مَرَض Verb: to get ill |
مُمرضة female nurse |
|
| قاتل qaatil murdererقَتَلَ Verb: to murder |
قاتلة female murderer |
مغني mughannee singerغنى Verb: to sing |
مُغنية female singer |
|
| سائق saa’iq driverساق Verb: to drive |
سائقة female driver |
مُدرّس mudarris teacherدَرَّس Verb:to teach |
مُدرسة female teacher |
|
| بائع baa‘3i seller باع Verb: to sell |
بائعة female vendor |
مُخرج mukhrij stage directorجَرَخ Verb: to take out |
مجرخة female stage director |
|
| طالِب Taalib student طَلَب Verb: to demand |
طالبة female student |
مُوظف muwaDDaf civil servantوظّف Verb: to employ |
مةظفة female civil servant |
You can also use the female Form of fa3aal, i.e. fa3aala.
Examples.
| fa33aal (فعّال) | female Form |
| طباخ Tabbaakh cook / chefطَبَخَ Verb: to cook |
طباخة female chef |
| فنان fannaan artistفنّ Verb: to vary |
فنانة female artist |
| رسام rassaam artistرسم Verb: to draw |
رسامة female artist |
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