Learn Arabic › A1 › كِتاب
كِتاب
book /kiˈtaːb/
nounA1#393 most common
Also: scripture, written document, the Quran (with the definite article)
Example sentences
هٰذا كِتابٌ.
This is a book.
عِنْدي كِتابٌ جَميلٌ.
I have a beautiful book.
قَرَأْتُ الكِتابَ كُلَّهُ في يَوْمٍ واحِدٍ.
I read the whole book in one day.
هَلْ يُمْكِنُني أَنْ أَسْتَعيرَ كِتابَكَ؟
Can I borrow your book?
لَمْ أَجِدِ الكِتابَ الَّذي طَلَبْتَهُ مِنّي في أَيِّ مَكْتَبَةٍ.
I did not find the book you asked me for in any bookshop.
يَتَناوَلُ هٰذا الكِتابُ قَضايا فَلْسَفِيَّةً مُعَقَّدَةً بِأُسْلوبٍ واضِحٍ وَمُمْتِعٍ.
This book addresses complex philosophical questions in a clear and engaging style.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | كِتابٌ (kitābun) | كُتُبٌ (kutubun) |
| Genitive | كِتابٍ (kitābin) | كُتُبٍ (kutubin) |
| Accusative | كِتاباً (kitāban) | كُتُباً (kutuban) |
| Vocative | يا كِتابُ (yā kitābu) | يا كُتُبُ (yā kutubu) |
Word family
كَتَبَ (kataba)to write
كاتِب (kātib)writer
مَكْتَب (maktab)office, desk
مَكْتَبة (maktaba)library, bookshop
كُتُب (kutub)books (plural)
Etymology
Kitāb comes from the Semitic root k-t-b, to write, and means a thing that is written. It is built on the fiʿāl pattern, which often marks the product or result of an action. The same root gives Hebrew katav and Aramaic kətav, both tied to writing. Through Arabic the word spread into Turkish, Persian, Urdu, Malay, and Swahili, where forms like kitap, ketāb, and kitabu still mean book.
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