Learn Arabic › B2 › تَدَبَّر
تَدَبَّر
to ponder, to reflect deeply upon /tɑˈdɑb.bɑ.rɑ/
verbB2#3869 most common
Also: to contemplate, to consider carefully, to meditate upon
Example sentences
هُوَ يَتَدَبَّرُ الْآيَةَ.
He reflects on the verse.
تَدَبَّرْتُ الْكِتَابَ قَبْلَ النَّوْمِ.
I reflected on the book before sleeping.
يَجِبُ أَنْ نَتَدَبَّرَ مَعَانِيَ الْقُرْآنِ.
We must ponder the meanings of the Quran.
تَدَبَّرَ الْفَيْلَسُوفُ عَوَاقِبَ قَرَارِهِ طَوِيلًا.
The philosopher pondered the consequences of his decision for a long time.
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا؟
Then do they not reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon their hearts?
تَدَبَّرْنَا فِي هُدُوءٍ تَامٍّ الْعِبَرَ الْمُسْتَخْلَصَةَ مِنْ تَجَارِبِ الْأُمَمِ السَّابِقَةِ قَبْلَ صِيَاغَةِ السِّيَاسَةِ الْجَدِيدَةِ.
In complete calm, we reflected deeply on the lessons drawn from the experiences of past nations before drafting the new policy.
Conjugation
| Present Active | Simple Past Active | Simple Future Active | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1sg | أَتَدَبَّرُ | تَدَبَّرْتُ | سَأَتَدَبَّرُ |
| 2sg | تَتَدَبَّرُ | تَدَبَّرْتَ | سَتَتَدَبَّرُ |
| 3sg | يَتَدَبَّرُ | تَدَبَّرَ | سَيَتَدَبَّرُ |
| 1pl | نَتَدَبَّرُ | تَدَبَّرْنَا | سَنَتَدَبَّرُ |
| 2pl | تَتَدَبَّرُونَ | تَدَبَّرْتُمْ | سَتَتَدَبَّرُونَ |
| 3pl | يَتَدَبَّرُونَ | تَدَبَّرُوا | سَيَتَدَبَّرُونَ |
Word family
تَدْبِيرmanagement, planning
مُدَبِّرmanager, administrator
مُتَدَبِّرone who ponders or reflects
دُبُرback, rear part
أَدْبَرَto turn away, retreat
Etymology
تَدَبَّر belongs to the Arabic triliteral root د-ب-ر (d-b-r), whose core sense is 'back' or 'that which comes after.' The Form V pattern تَفَعَّل adds a reflexive, effortful quality to the root, so the verb literally suggests turning a matter over to look at its rear or its end. Over time this became the standard word for weighing something's outcome or deeper meaning before acting, a sense reinforced by its frequent use in Quranic commentary for reflecting on scripture.
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