Learn Arabic › B2 › عَجِز
عَجِز
to be unable, incapable (of doing something) /ˈʕa.dʒa.za/
verbB2#3762 most common
Also: to lack the power or means, to fail to do, to be powerless
Example sentences
عَجَزَ الوَلَدُ عَنِ الرَّكْضِ.
The boy was unable to run.
عَجَزْتُ عَنْ حَلِّ الوَاجِبِ المَنْزِلِيِّ.
I was unable to solve the homework.
يَعْجِزُ الطِّفْلُ الصَّغِيرُ عَنْ حَمْلِ الحَقِيبَةِ الثَّقِيلَةِ.
The small child is unable to carry the heavy bag.
عَجَزَتِ الحُكُومَةُ عَنْ إِيجَادِ حَلٍّ لِلْأَزْمَةِ الاِقْتِصَادِيَّةِ.
The government was unable to find a solution to the economic crisis.
مَهْمَا حَاوَلْنَا، سَنَعْجِزُ عَنْ إِقْنَاعِهِ بِتَغْيِيرِ رَأْيِهِ.
No matter how hard we try, we will be unable to convince him to change his mind.
أَقَرَّ الوَزِيرُ بِأَنَّ الدَّوْلَةَ عَجَزَتْ عَنِ الوَفَاءِ بِالْتِزَامَاتِهَا المَالِيَّةِ رَغْمَ الإِصْلَاحَاتِ الَّتِي أُجْرِيَتْ.
The minister admitted that the state had been unable to meet its financial obligations despite the reforms that had been carried out.
Conjugation
| Present Active | Simple Past Active | Simple Future Active | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1sg | أَعْجِزُ | عَجَزْتُ | سَأَعْجِزُ |
| 2sg | تَعْجِزُ | عَجَزْتَ | سَتَعْجِزُ |
| 3sg | يَعْجِزُ | عَجَزَ | سَيَعْجِزُ |
| 1pl | نَعْجِزُ | عَجَزْنَا | سَنَعْجِزُ |
| 2pl | تَعْجِزُونَ | عَجَزْتُمْ | سَتَعْجِزُونَ |
| 3pl | يَعْجِزُونَ | عَجَزُوا | سَيَعْجِزُونَ |
Word family
عَجْزinability, incapacity
عَاجِزincapable, powerless (person)
مُعْجِزَةmiracleعَجُوزold man or womanإِعْجَازinimitability, rendering others powerless to match something
Etymology
This verb comes from the Arabic triliteral root ع-ج-ز (ʿ-j-z), a native Semitic root. Its core sense is to fall behind in strength or ability, to lack what is needed to do something. The same root produces عَجُوز (ʿajūz, an old man or woman, someone whose powers have failed with age) and مُعْجِزَة (muʿjiza, a miracle, literally something that leaves others powerless to match it).
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