(تحصّن) – Arabic Word A Day

(تحصّن) – taHaSSana, verb

Meanings

1. to guard, protect
2. to be chaste

Examples

1. taHaSSana ‘l-jundi bi tursihi
   (تحصّن الجنديُّ بترسه);
   The soldier guarded himself with his shield.
2. taHaSSana ‘l-mar’u raghma dawa_i ‘l-fa_Hishati
   (تحصّن المرء رغم دواعي الفاحشة);
   The man was chaste despite the improper urges.

(هي) – Hiya – Arabic Word A Day

(هي) – Hiya – pronoun

Meanings

1. She (when referring to the female human)
2. It (when referring to an feminine inanimate object

Examples

1. Hiya muni_rah
   (هي منيرة);
   She is Munirah.
2. Ayna firsha_tu asna_ni? hiya ‘inda ‘l-hanafiyyah.
   (أين فرشاة أسناني؟ هي عند الحنفية.);
   Where is my toothbrush? It is near the faucet.

 

(زار) – Arabic Word A Day

(زار) Za_ra – verb

Meanings:

1. to visit

Examples

1. za_ra ‘amrun mari_Dan
   (زار عمروٌ مريضًا);
   Amr visited a sick person
2. za_rani_ sadi_qi
   (زارني صديقي);
   My friend visited me.

(بلغ) balagha – Arabic Word A Day

(بلغ) balagha – verb

Meanings 

1. To reach
2. to obtain a status; to reach puberty

 

Examples

1. balagha ‘l-saylu ‘l-zuba_
   (بلغ السيل الزبى);
   The flood waters have reached the [edge of ] the lion trap.
2. balagha al-sikki_nu ‘l-aZma
   (بلغ السكين العظم);
   The knife struck bone.
3. balagha ‘l-waladu
   (بلغ الولد);
   The boy reached puberty.

 

 

 

 

(غريب) Ghari_b – Arabic Word A Day

(غريب) Ghari_b –noun, pl. Ghuraba_a’ (غرباء), fem. (ـة), pl. (غريبات ، غرائب)

Meanings

1. strange
2. foreign
3. wonderous

Examples

1. innahu rajulun ghari_bun
   (إنه رجل غريب);
   He is a strange man!
2. wajadna_ hadhihi al-ma_data ghari_bata fi ‘l-ma_i’
   (وجدنا هذه المادة الغريبة في الماء);
   We found this foreign substance in the water.
3. Sali_mun rajulun ghari_bu ‘l-Taba’
   (سليم رجل غريب الطبع);
   Salim is a person of a wonderous nature.

(هو) – Huwa – Arabic Word A Day

(هو) – Huwa – pronoun

Meanings

1. He (when referring to the male human)
2. It (when referring to an masculine inanimate object)

Examples

1. Huwa kha_lid (هو خالد); He is Khalid.
2. Ayna ‘l-kita_b? huwa ala ‘l-raff.
   (أين الكتاب؟ هو على الرف);
   Where is the book? It is on the shelf.

(مسّ) massa – Arabic Word A Day

(مسّ) massa – verb

Definitions

1. to feel
2. to touch
3. to handle
4. to befall, to hit, strike with calamity

Examples

1. ma_ masastu ma_an mundhu laylatayni (ما مسست ماء منذ ليلتين); I haven’t bathed for two nights.
2. al-mujrimu qad massa al-rajula bi ‘adha_b (المجرم قد مس الرجل بعذاب); The criminal applied torture to the man.
3. ma_ masastu hari_ran wa la_ di_ba_jan alyana min kaffi rasu_lillah.
   (ما مسست حريرا ولا ديباجا ألين من كف النبى); I’ve never touched silk or brocade softer than the palm of the Messenger of God. – Bukhari from Anas
4. al-waladu uSi_ba bi mass ‘l-Humma_ (الولد أصيب بمس الحمّى); the child was striken with an attack fever.

Etymology:

n/a

(شُجَاعٌ) – Shuja_’un – Arabic Word A Day

(شُجَاعٌ) – Shuja_’^un – noun, pl. shuj’a_n (شُجْعَان)

Definitions

1. brave
2. valiant
3. bold
4. hero
5. a snake

Examples

1. Shuja_’un ka ‘l-asad – (شجاع كالأسد);As brave as a lion.
2. kharaja ‘l-insa_nu min da_rihi, wa baraza ‘l-shuja_’u min makmanihi.
   (خرج الإنسان من داره برز الشجاع من مكمنه); The man exited his home, while the hero appeared from his secret hideout.
3. man a_ta_hu ‘llahu ma_lan , tlam yu’addi zaka_tahu , muththila lahu yawm ‘l-qiya_mati shuja_’un ‘aqra’…
   (من آتاه الله مالا ، فلم يؤد زكاته مثل له يوم القيامة شجاعا أقرع ، له زبيبتان ، يطوقه يوم القيامة); He who is given wealth by God, and does not give the charity due on it , it will come to him on the day of judgment in the form of a bald snake… – Bukhari from Abu hurayrah.

 

Etymology:

The three letter base (ش ج ع) carries the meanings of audacity and boldness in approach. [Ibn Fa_ris, Maqa_yi_s al-lugha]

(فِي) – Fi – Arabic Word A Day

(فِي) – Fi – particle

Definitions:

1. In; at; on;
2. near, by
3. within, during
4. for the sake of, on behalf of
5. times (as in multiplied by)

Examples:

1. al-ma_’u fi ‘l-ka’s (الماءُ في الكأس); The water is in the glass.
2. Allahu nu_ru ‘l-sama_wa_ti wa ‘l-‘ard; Mathalu nu_rihi ka mishka_tin fi_ha_ miSba_H, al-miSba_H fi zujajah…
   (اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ)
   God is the light of the heavens and the earth; the likeness of his light is like that of a niche with a lamp inside; the lamp is in a glass… – Nur, 24:25
3. hal laka fi jawlatin fi ‘l-balad? (هل لك في جولة في البلد؟); Would you like take a trip to town?
4. thala_thatun fi ithnayni yusa_wi sittah (ثلاثة في اثنين يساوي ستة); Three times two equals six.

Etymology:

n/a

(كمل) – kamula – Arabic Word A Day

(كمل) – kamula, Kamila, & Kamala* – verb

Definitions:

1. to become whole, entire
2. to be finished, done
3. to be concluded, come to a close, to reach

Examples:

1. kamala al-kitab (كمل الكتاب); The book has finished.
2. kamula Nisa_bu ‘l-Zakati ‘indi (كمل نصاب الزكاة عندي); I’ve reached the limit for zakat liability.
3. Kamula min al-Rijal Kathir wa ma kamula min al-nisa_’ illa maryamu bintu ‘imra_n (كمل من الرجال كثير ، وما كمل من النساء إلا مريم بنت عمران …) – Bukhari from Abu Musa.

Etymology:

n/a

* Nuances between the three were not discussed.