Author Archives: thearabicpages

Arabic Observations: ج and the Body

جَسَد root: ج-س-د / noun / plural: أَجْساد / definition: body We’ve looked at word twins before—that is, two words with the same meaning that differ only in a single letter, like ضَجّة and لَجّة, or بُقْعة and رُقْعة, or سَهِرَ and سَهِدَ. But there’s more to the story; synonyms carry similar sounds in differentContinue reading “Arabic Observations: ج and the Body”

Dictionary Finds: Lawlessness and the Last Child

جَريمة root: ج-ر-م / noun / plural: جَرائِم / definition: crime What do youngest siblings have in common with lawlessness? A few ideas might spring to your mind (although I, as the youngest child myself, see no relation whatsoever…). But Arabic dictionaries hold the two definitions under the same term. Let’s see why.

A New App: ArabyBuddy

تَطْبيق root: ط-ب-ق / form II verbal noun / plural: تَطْبيقات / definition: app, application I n three Tuesdays it’ll be autumn—but no one has time to dwell on that because, here in London, we’re being pulled into the swell of a fifth heatwave and our fridge is still full of pink-red watermelon. So, we’reContinue reading “A New App: ArabyBuddy”

Arabic’s Chameleon Words: قام

أَجْوَف root: ج-و-ف / adjective / definition: hollow Two weeks ago, in one of our Academic Arabic posts, we looked at the form I, hollow verb قامَ which—when followed by بِـ—means “to carry out or undertake”. But قام holds many meanings. And its meaning in any given place is dictated by the semantic and syntacticContinue reading “Arabic’s Chameleon Words: قام”

The Many Meanings of وَ

فَلَك root: ف-ل-ك / noun / plural: أَفْلاك / definition: celestial orbit July is waning and August, only four moonrises away, awaits expectantly. And I, in four new moons, reach 29 (or 30, Turkish-ly speaking) and all this talk of moons is sending me into an orbital spin. Whatever that may mean. And speaking ofContinue reading “The Many Meanings of وَ”

Academic Arabic: Carrying Out, Conducting, Doing

كادَ root: ك-و-د / form I past tense verb / definition: almost When was the last time I wrote an Academic Arabic post? Too long ago, clearly, because I almost forgot this series existed. But since my memory has been jogged, we’re getting back into it. And today, we’re looking at two widely-applicable Arabic verbsContinue reading “Academic Arabic: Carrying Out, Conducting, Doing”

Dictionary Finds: Come Rain or Shine

يَصيفُ root: ص-ي-ف / form I present tense, hollow verb / definition: to be summery It’s mid-July. Summer’s peak. And while most have their faces stubbornly positioned in a fan’s airpath, my own spectacled one has been nestled warmly into the dictionary’s pages. It seems that, come rain or shine, my mind will always beContinue reading “Dictionary Finds: Come Rain or Shine”

Arabic Observations: Warm Hearts, Cool Eyes

قُرّ root: ق-ر-ر / noun / definition: cold, coolness I’ve been napping a lot lately. Sometimes two or three times a day. My body feels heavy with a fatigue that pulls down my eyelids and drags my centre of gravity to the nearest flat surface to search for rest in the land of nod. ButContinue reading “Arabic Observations: Warm Hearts, Cool Eyes”

Pins, Needles, and a Pause

تَنْميل root: ن-م-ل / form II verbal noun / definition: pins and needles I never thought I’d have to send a sick leave request with “pins and needles” as the reason—but each season homes realisations of the unexpected, and I submitted my GP note with bated breath and tingling limbs. A four-week PhD pause, onContinue reading “Pins, Needles, and a Pause”

Exploring Time in the Arabic Dictionary: “Season”

هَنْهونة root: ه-ن-ه-ن / noun / definition: lullaby Tuesday’s early-hours London sky boomed and ignited in thunderstorm, and I—with my passionate affection for summer storms—heard the rumbles and roars as cradlesong and slipped effortlessly back into sleep after dawn prayer. I was, however, mildly fearful that the “triangle of death” would fly into my room;Continue reading “Exploring Time in the Arabic Dictionary: “Season””