حِرْباء
root: ح-ر-ب / noun / plural: حَرابي / definition: chameleon
There are many Arabic words from which multiple meanings bloom, taking on a certain one according to the context. A bit like how a chameleon adapts to its immediate environment.
Learning the meanings of these chameleon words is especially beneficial to us Arabic students because, well—and I’m sure there’s a more academic way of putting this—you get more bang for your buck.
One of these words is the form VIII geminate verb اِهتَمَّ / يَهتَمُّ from the root ه-م-م (related to concern and worry). It’s usually followed by بِـ
Let’s take a look at some of its many meanings then:
اِهتَمَّ / يَهتَمُّ بِـ
to worry or be concerned about
to be distressed by
to concern oneself with
to take an interest or be interested in
to attach importance to
to pay attention to or to take notice of
to bear something in mind
to take care of someone
to help or assist someone
to take someone under one’s wing
to go to great lengths to do something
to provide for
…and when followed by لِـ instead, it takes on the meaning of to be anxious or show concern about.
It’s a learn-one-get-a-ton scenario. Bargain.
Keep an eye out for more in this new series!
!مع السلامة
If you’d like to receive email notifications whenever a new post is published on The Arabic Pages, enter your email below and click “Subscribe”:
The Arabic Pages 
And here I am with my 1:1 word anki cards, genuinely thinking once you reach a certain stage of vocabulary you have to relearn it. It’s already taking time to make flash cards 1:1 finding resources and words for idk 1:5, I’ll spend more time making than learning.