Tag Archives: learning

Root Exploration: ء-ب-د

دَهْر root: د-ه-ر / noun / plural: دُهور / definition: long period of time, epoch If you’ve been reading closely, you’ll have noticed that I’ve been talking about time a lot lately. My term of studying here in Doha officially ends next week, and it’s as though I’m inside an hourglass trying to grapple withContinue reading “Root Exploration: ء-ب-د”

The “Would-Be” Active Participle in Arabic

مُتَفَلْسِف root: ف-ل-س-ف / form II quadriliteral active participle / definition: philosophaster There’s something comforting about being in this library as the Sun goes down and spills through the vast windows in waves of golden orange light, deluging everything around me in a soft, forgiving glow. Or maybe I’m just a would-be academic romanticising thisContinue reading “The “Would-Be” Active Participle in Arabic”

Oman and an Ever-Nearing Return

لُبان root: ل-ب-ن / noun / definition: frankincense Land of frankincense, endless arches, and smiling eyes: Oman, where I spent the past week on a solo trip. And upon my return to Doha, I’m caught off guard by only two-and-a-half weeks left of class and forced to gulp down the reality of flying back toContinue reading “Oman and an Ever-Nearing Return”

Exploring Time in the Arabic Dictionary: “Tomorrow”

غَدًا root: غ-د-و / adverb of time / definition: tomorrow In the new Exploring Time series last week, we took a trip to yesterday. This week, we’re looking ahead: exploring how we can understand the notion of tomorrow through the Arabic dictionary. (Yes, we’re skipping today—call me future-thinking or something.)

Exploring Time in the Arabic Dictionary: “Yesterday”

أَمْسُ root: ء-م-س / noun / definition: yesterday Some places make you feel as though you’ve stepped back into a distant yesterday or an even further yesteryear. And walking through Souq al Wakra at night, past its cosy courtyards snuggled into alleys meandering towards the coast, I’d set foot into a yesterday I was livingContinue reading “Exploring Time in the Arabic Dictionary: “Yesterday””

Small Arabic Words with Conditional Powers

قُوّة root: ق-و-ي / noun / plural: قُوًى / definition: power, force Big things come in small packages—oh wait, that’s not how it goes. Nor is it what I meant actually. Maybe I meant “small but mighty” but didn’t want to sound like I’m advertising laundry detergent pods. Ahem… today we’re looking at a groupContinue reading “Small Arabic Words with Conditional Powers”

Arabic Observations: زوج and جوز

القَلْب root: ق-ل-ب / form I verbal noun / definition: transposition, alteration Something in this library is producing a noise that sits halfway between the whine of a hungry mosquito and the never-ending, impalpable ring of tinnitus, in both sound and annoyingness. I feel like it’s the fluorescent light directly above my head but letContinue reading “Arabic Observations: زوج and جوز”

Arabic’s Chameleon Words: أدّى

المَغرِب root: غ-ر-ب / proper noun / definition: Morocco This week, I’ve been missing Morocco and discovering Taiwanese fried chicken. I’m not sure there’s a direct link there, but who knows? It’s been six weeks in which the Sun has greened my eyes and I can’t fathom returning to London in ten. I’ve been embracingContinue reading “Arabic’s Chameleon Words: أدّى”

Nostalgia, the Library, and Extrapolation

اِسْتِقْراء root: ق-ر-ء / form X verbal noun / definition: extrapolation The three-day conference I attended over the weekend and the start of the week meant that my readings and homework took a backseat—or, more accurately, fell out the boot of the metaphorical car I was taking for a joyride. (Can something be more accurateContinue reading “Nostalgia, the Library, and Extrapolation”

Uncommon Arabic Words for Dates

تَطْريز root: ط-ر-ز / form II verbal noun / definition: embroidery September feels notably less hot and humid than August here, but maybe—just maybe—I’ve successfully acclimatised to Doha’s weather in these four short weeks. Or maybe it’s that I’ve been keeping myself busy with things like the Palestinian embroidery (التطريز الفلسطيني) workshop I attended onContinue reading “Uncommon Arabic Words for Dates”