Verbs: Root and Stem
A verb is made up of a root (a set of consonants) and a stem (a prefix and the vowels between). There may be more than one verb derived from the same root- for example, starting with fhm, you can make fihim (to understand) and fahhim (to make somebody understand).
Most roots have three consonants: some have either two or four. For the purposes of this explanation, I have used the letters DKST- all uppercase- for consonants, and lowercase letters for all vowels except Y - alif layena. You can say these words if you wish, but they don't actually mean anything. Remember that Ain is a consonant.
There are five main roots, and each of these can make three main stem types, as per the following table.
| A | B | C | D | E | |
| 1 | DaaK DyK DwK | DaKy DaKY DaKaa | DaKK | DaKaS DaKis DiKis | DaKSaT DaKSiT |
| 2 | DayyiK DawwaK | DaKKY DaKKy | DaKKaK | DaKKaS DaKKiS | |
| 3 | DaayiK DaawiK | DaaKy DaaKY | DaaKiS |
From any of these main stems, it is possible to derive more stems by adding prefixes. Here are some examples:
| Prefix | Main stem | Derived stem | Meaning |
| iit- | DaKaS | iitDaKaS yitDaKaS | passive (be *-ed) reflexive (* oneself) |
| iit- | DaKKaS | iitDaKKaS yitDaKKaS | passive (be *-ed) reflexive (* oneself) |
| iit- | DaaKiS | iitDaaKiS yitDaaKiS | each other |
| iiDt- | DaKaS | iiDtaKaS yiDtaKaS | as iit- |
| iin- | DaKaS | iinDaKaS yinDaKaS | as iit- |
| iista- | DaKaS | iistaDaKaS yistaDaKaS | consider or seek |
There are also some verbs that are derived from classical arabic- the perfect generally begins with 'aaac أ or ta-ta_ تـَ.