The Quran is a profound Text composed with words that holds layers of meaning. At its core lie the Quran root words, usually consisting of three letters (rarely less or more), that form the basis of most Arabic vocabulary. These common root words carry essential meanings. From them come verbs, nouns, adjectives, and more!
Understanding these root words unlocks the richness of the Quran’s message. They are present in every Surah, forming the backbone of the Divine speech.
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ قُرۡءَٰنًا عَرَبِيّٗا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ
“Indeed, we have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.”
(Surah Yusuf, 12:2)
Every Arabic word in the Quran has layers of beauty, depth, and power. This guide is a small effort to unlock that treasure. I hope it brings you closer to understanding the Quran with love and reflection. With each root you learn, you’re not just building vocabulary, you’re uncovering a piece of the Quran.
We have intentionally omitted pronouns, nouns of pointing, and other grammatical elements, from our quran root words guide. these are important but will be discussed in more depth later. This initial collection highlights the root words most central to understanding Arabic language structure and meaning.
By studying these roots (and their opposites) with the highlighted examples, you can better appreciate the beauty, coherence, and depth of the Quran, enriching their recitation, reflection, and connection with the Divine message.
🌱 How to Use Quran Root Words PDF
- Print or Save this guide for easy reference during your study sessions.
- Focus on Patterns: Notice how words are derived from the root letters.
- Reflect using our Quran Root word analysis: Each root comes with a reflection to connect the language to its spiritual meaning.
- Don’t Rush: You don’t need to memorise everything now. Let this be a cornerstone for your ongoing journey inshaAllah
List of Quran root words:
1. Root: ع م ل (ʿamila) – to do / act / work
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
| عَمِلَ | ʿamila | He did / acted |
| يَعْمَلُ | yaʿmalu | He does / works |
| عَمَلٌ | ʿamalun or ‘amal | Deed / work / action |
| عَامِل | ʿāmil | Worker / doer |
| أَعْمَال | aʿmāl | Deeds / works |
| عَمِلْتُمْ | ʿamiltum | You (pleural) did |
💡 Reflection: The root ع م ل (عمل) reminds us that action and work are essential in both worldly life and spiritual growth. The Quran emphasises deeds alongside faith.
Opposite: كَسِلَ (kasila) – To be lazy
Surah Az-Zalzalah
فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ
“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”
2. Root: ب ش ر (bashshara) – to give good news OR human
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
| بَشَّرَ | Bashshara | He gave good news |
| يُبَشِّرُ | Yubashshiru | He gives good news |
| بُشْرَىٰ | Bushrā | Glad tidings |
| مُبَشِّرِينَ | Mubashshirīn | Bearers of good news |
| بَشَر | Bashar | Human being |
| نُبَشِّرُكَ | nubashshiruka | We give you good news |
💡 Reflection: This root emphasizes divine messages of joy, often linked to prophets and miracles.
Opposite: أَنْذَرَ (andhara) – To warn
إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنْهُ
“When the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good news of a word from Him.’”
3. Root: ج ع ل (ja‘ala) – to make / appoint
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
| جَعَلَ | ja‘ala | He made |
| نَجْعَلُ | naj‘alu | We make |
| جُعِلَ | ju‘ila | It was made |
| جَاعِلُ | jā‘il | Maker / one who appoints |
| لِيَجْعَلَهُ | liyaj‘alahu | So He may make it |
| جَعَلْنَاكُمْ | ja‘alnākum | We (royal we) made you |
💡 Reflection: This verb is often used when Allah designates something important, e.g., day/night, leadership, signs.
Opposite: أَزَالَ (azāla) – To remove
Surah An-Naba’
وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلَّيْلَ لِبَاسًا • وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلنَّهَارَ مَعَاشًا
“And We made the night as a garment, and We made the day for livelihood.”
4. Root: ح م د (ḥamada) – to praise / thank
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
| حَمْد | ḥamd | Praise |
| الْحَمْدُ | al-ḥamdu | The praise |
| حَمِيد | ḥamīd | Praiseworthy |
| يَحْمَدُ | yaḥmadu | He praises |
| نَحْمَدُ | naḥmadu | We praise |
| حَمِدَ | ḥamida | He praised |
💡 Tip: Every prayer begins with الحمد لله it’s the essence of gratefulness.
Opposite: ذَمَّ (dhamma) – To blame
Surah Al-Fatiha
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
5. Root: ق ر أ (qara’a) – to read / recite
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
| قَرَأَ | qara’a | He read / recited |
| يَقْرَأُ | yaqra’u | He reads |
| اقْرَأْ | iqra’ | Read! (Command) |
| قُرْآن | qur’ān | The Qur’an |
| تَقْرَؤُهُ | taqra’uhu | You recite it |
| مَقْرُوء | maqrū’ | Something recited |
💡 Note: The first revelation to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ started with this root.
Opposite: سكت (sakata) – To stay quiet
Surah Al-Alaq
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ
“Read in the name of your Lord who created.”
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6. Root: ع ل م (‘alima) – to know / knowledge
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
| عَلِمَ | ‘alima | He knew |
| يَعْلَمُ | ya‘lamu | He knows |
| عَلِيم | ‘alīm | All-Knowing |
| عِلْم | ‘ilm | Knowledge |
| نَعْلَمُ | na‘lamu | We know |
| أَعْلَم | a‘lam | More knowing |
💡 Tip: Used hundreds of times, this root affirms Allah’s ultimate knowledge.
Opposite: جَهِلَ (jahila) – To be ignorant
Surah Al-Baqarah
قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا
“They said, ‘Glory to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us.’”
7. Root: ن ز ل (nazala) – to descend / send down
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
| نَزَلَ | Nazala | He descended |
| أَنزَلَ | Anzala | He sent down |
| تَنزِيل | Tanzīl | Revelation |
| نُزِّلَ | Nuzzila | It was sent down |
| يُنَزِّلُ | Yunazzilu | He sends down |
| نَزَّلْنَا | Nazzalnā | We sent down |
💡 Note: Used for Qur’anic revelation and rain.
Opposite: صَعِدَ (ṣaʿida) – To ascend
Surah Al-Qadr
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
“Indeed, We sent it [the Quran] down during the Night of Decree.”
8. Root: آ م ن (āman) – to believe / be safe
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
| آمَنَ | Āmana | He believed |
| يُؤْمِنُ | yu’minu | He believes |
| إِيمَان | Īmān | Faith |
| مُؤْمِن | mu’min | Believer |
| آمَنَّا | Āmannā | We believed |
| لِيُؤْمِنُوا | li-yu’minū | So they may believe |
💡 Reflection: Faith (iman) is the root of the believer’s identity.
Opposite: كَفَرَ (kafara) – To disbelieve
Quran Al-Baqarah
آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ
“The Messenger believes in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers.”
9. Root: ق ا ل (qāla) – to say / speak
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
| قَالَ | Qāla | He said |
| يَقُولُ | Yaqūlu | He says |
| قِيلَ | Qīla | It was said |
| نَقُولُ | Naqūlu | We say |
| مَقُول | Maqūl | Spoken / stated |
| قَوْل | Qawl | Statement / speech |
💡 Tip: Watch for this root – it appears in nearly every surah particularly in the immerative or command tense where Allah is telling prophet Muhammad to say/convey something to us. It is important to note that alif in the middle or end of the root word can and will change toو orي depending on where it is in the sentence.
Opposite: سَكَتَ (sakata) – To be quiet
Quran Al-Baqarah
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً
“And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successor.’”
10. Root: ز ا د (zāda) – to increase
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
| زَادَ | zāda | He increased |
| يَزِيدُ | yazīdu | He increases |
| زِيَادَة | ziyādah | Increase |
| مَزِيد | mazīd | More |
| لِيَزْدَادُوا | li-yazdādū | So they may increase |
| نَزِيدُ | nazīdu | We increase |
💡 Reflection: Often used for increasing guidance, faith, or punishment. Again note that alif in the middle or end of the root word can and will change toو orي depending on where it is in the sentence.
Opposite: نَقَصَ (naqaṣa) – To decrease
Surah Fatir
يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاءُ
“He increases in creation what He wills.”
Ready to Move Beyond Roots and Build Complete Understanding?
Mastering root words is a powerful first step. The next step is learning how these words fit together in sentences to convey the Quran’s profound meaning.
In our 28-Day Quranic Arabic Course, we take you from recognizing roots to reading Quranic sentences with comprehension. You’ll systematically learn the grammar that brings these words to life.
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