Learn Arabic Verb Patterns: 5 Patterns Triliteral Mazid Augmented by Two Letters

Mastering Arabic Verbs: Adding Two Letters to the Root (مَزِيدُ الثُّلَاثِيِّ بِحَرْفَيْنِ)

If you've started studying Arabic verbs, you've probably noticed that Arabic has a beautiful system of building new words from basic roots.

[This topic is closely related to the 'Adding One Letter to the Root' material. Make sure to study it. Browse here A Beginner's Guide to 1-Letter Fi'il Mazid Verbs ]

Today, we're going to explore an important concept: the triliteral verb augmented by two letters (in Arabic: مَزِيدُ الثُّلَاثِيِّ بِحَرْفَيْنِ). When we add two extra letters to a basic three-letter root, we unlock five new standard patterns, known as أَوْزَان (Awzān).

Let's break down these five patterns, discover the hidden meanings they create, and look at some beginner-friendly examples!

What is a "Triliteral Verb Augmented by Two Letters"?

Before we dive in, let's break down what this term actually means:

• Triliteral verb (الفِعْلُ الثُّلَاثِيُّ) = A verb with three root letters (like كَتَبَ - kataba - "he wrote")
• Augmented by two letters (مَزِيدٌ بِحَرْفَيْنِ) = Two extra letters are added to the three root letters

So when we add two extra letters to a basic three-letter verb, we get new forms with different meanings. This is called مَزِيدُ الثُّلَاثِيِّ بِحَرْفَيْنِ (mazīdu ath-thulāthī bi-ḥarfayni).

The pattern of 2-Letters Fi'il Mazid Verbs

1. The Pattern: اِنْفَعَلَ (Infa‘ala)

How to build it: Add an أَلِف (Alif) and a نُون (Nūn) to the beginning of the root.

What does it mean?

• الُلُّزُوم (Al-Luzūm - Intransitivity): Verbs in this pattern are always intransitive (لَا يَكُونُ إِلَّا لَازِمًا), meaning they do not take a direct object. Example: اِنْطَلَقَ (Inṭalaqa - He set off / departed).
• المُطَاوَعَة (Al-Muṭāwa‘ah - Compliance / Passivity): This is cause and effect! When you add the Alif and Nūn to a transitive verb, it becomes the result of the action. The added Nūn is even called نُون المُطَاوَعَة (Nūn al-Muṭāwa‘ah - The Nūn of Compliance).

Sentence Examples:

• كَسَرْتُ الشَّيْءَ، فَانْكَسَرَ (Kasartu ash-shay'a, fa-nkasara) – "I broke the object, so it broke."
• وَفَتَحْتُهُ، فَانْفَتَحَ (Wa-fataḥtuhu, fa-nfataḥa) – "And I opened it, so it opened."

Vocabulary Examples:

2. The Pattern: اِفْتَعَلَ (Ifta‘ala)

How to build it: Add an أَلِف (Alif) at the beginning and a تَاء (Tā’) after the first root letter.

What does it mean?

• المُطَاوَعَة (Al-Muṭāwa‘ah - Compliance): Similar to the previous pattern, it shows the result of an action.
  • Example: جَمَعْتُهُ، فَاجْتَمَعَ (Jama‘tuhu, fa-jtama‘a) – "I gathered it, so it came together."
• الاِشْتِرَاك (Al-Ishtirāk - Reciprocity / Participation): Used when two or more people are doing something together.
  • Example: اقْتَتَلَ زَيْدٌ وَعَمْرٌو (Iqtatala Zaydun wa-‘Amrun) – "Zayd and ‘Amr fought each other."
• الإِتِّخَاذ (Al-Ittikhādh - Adoption / Taking): To take something for yourself.
  • Example: إِمْتَطَى (Imtaṭā) – "He took a mount/horse for himself."
• المُبَالَغَة (Al-Mubālaghah - Intensification): Doing the root action with strong effort.
  • Example: إِجْتَهَدَ (Ijtahada) – "To strive diligently."

Vocabulary Examples:

3. The Pattern: تَفَاعَلَ (Tafā‘ala)

How to build it: Add a تَاء (Tā’) to the beginning and an أَلِف (Alif) after the first root letter.

What does it mean?

• المُشَارَكَة (Al-Mushārakah - Mutual Participation): Just like the previous pattern, this shows two or more people acting together.
  • Example: تَجَادَلَ زَيْدٌ وَعَمْرٌو وَعَلِيٌّ (Tajādala Zaydun wa-‘Amrun wa-‘Aliyyun) – "Zayd, ‘Amr, and ‘Alī argued with one another."
• التَّظَاهُر (At-Taẓāhur - Feigning / Pretending): To pretend to be doing the root verb!
  • Example: تَنَاوَمَ (Tanāwama) – "He feigned/pretended to sleep."
• التَّدَرُّج (At-Tadarruj - Gradualness): Doing something step by step.
  • Example: تَزَايَدَ المَطَرُ (Tazāyada al-maṭar) – "The rain gradually increased."

Vocabulary Examples:

4. The Pattern: تَفَعَّلَ (Tafa‘‘ala)

How to build it: Add a تَاء (Tā’) to the beginning and double the middle root letter, which is called تَضْعِيف العَيْن (Taḍ‘īf al-‘Ayn).

What does it mean?

• المُطَاوَعَة (Al-Muṭāwa‘ah - Compliance): Shows the result of being taught or acted upon.
  • Example: عَلَّمْتُهُ فَتَعَلَّمَ (‘Allamtuhu fa-ta‘allama) – "I taught him, so he learned."
• التَّكَلُّف (At-Takalluf - Affectation / Self-Exertion): Forcing yourself to do a praiseworthy trait (الصِّفَات الحَمِيدَة).
  • Example: تَشَجَّعَ (Tashajja‘a) – "He forced himself to be courageous."
• التَّجَنُّب (At-Tajannub - Avoidance): Distancing yourself from the root action.
  • Example: تَهَجَّدَ (Tahajjada) – "He abandoned sleep (usually to pray at night)."

Vocabulary Examples:

5. The Pattern: اِفْعَلَّ (If‘alla)

How to build it: Add an أَلِف (Alif) to the beginning and double the last root letter, called تَضْعِيف اللَّام (Taḍ‘īf al-Lām).

What does it mean?

This pattern is very specific! It is strictly intransitive (الُلُّزُوم) and is almost entirely used to describe الأَلْوَان وَالعُيُوب (Al-Alwān wa al-‘Uyūb - Colors and Physical Defects). It expresses intensity (المُبَالَغَة).

Vocabulary Examples:

Quick Reference Summary

Here's a handy summary of all five patterns and their main meanings:

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Tips for Beginners

1. Start with the most common patterns: Ifta'ala and Tafā'ala appear very frequently, so focus on recognizing them first.
2. Look for the added letters: When you see a verb, try to identify the root letters. The extra letters are usually the ones that "don't belong" to the basic meaning.
3. Practice with example sentences: The best way to internalize these patterns is to see them in context. Try creating your own simple sentences!
4. Don't memorize everything at once: There's a lot of information here! Take it one pattern at a time.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've just learned about the five patterns of triliteral verbs augmented by two letters (مَزِيدُ الثُّلَاثِيِّ بِحَرْفَيْنِ). These patterns are essential for understanding Arabic at a deeper level and will dramatically improve your vocabulary comprehension.

Remember:

• These patterns add meaning to basic verbs
• Each pattern has specific functions (compliance, reciprocity, pretending, etc.)
• Recognizing these patterns helps you understand new words you encounter

Keep practicing, and soon you'll be spotting these patterns everywhere in Arabic texts!

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Have questions? Feel free to leave a comment below! And don't forget to share this article with other Arabic learners. 📚✨