Verb of the Day
Rakaḍa
رَكَضَ
Hello, and welcome to another exciting entry in our Arabic Verb of the Day series!
Today, we’re focusing on the verb ركض (Rakaḍa), which means “to run.”
In the blog, we will examine the main meaning of the verb, common everyday examples, instances of the verb in the Holy Quran and the Hadith, and opposites and derivations of the verb.
Are you ready?
Let’s start with the main meaning of the verb رَكَضَ /Rakaḍa/
Main Meaning
The Arabic verb رَكَضَ /Rakaḍa/ primarily means “to run.” It is a common verb used in everyday speech to describe the action of running, whether it’s for exercise, racing, or simply moving quickly from one place to another.
Let’s look at some examples of the verb:
The racer ran.
Rakaḍa almutasābiq
ركض المتسابق
I ran towards the train station.
Rakaḍa almutasābiq
ركضتُ نحو محطة القطار
Verb Conjugation with Pronouns
Now, let’s break down how to conjugate رَكَضَ /Rakaḍa/ with different pronouns. Understanding the conjugation of this verb across different pronouns is crucial for effective communication.
This table provides a quick reference to ensure you use the correct form depending on the subject.
English
Transcription
Arabic
I run / I ran
Anā arkuḍu / anā rakaḍtu
أَنَا أَرْكُضُ / أَنَا رَكَضْتُ
We run/ we ran
Naḥnu narkuḍu / naḥnu rkaḍnā
نَحنُ نَركُضُ / نَحنُ ركضْنَا
He runs/He ran
Huwa yarkḍu / huwa rakaḍa
هُوَ يَركضُ / هُوَ رَكَضَ
They run/ they ran (P/M)
Hum yarkuḍūn / hum rakaḍuwā
هُم يَرْكُضُون / هُم رَكَضُوا
She runs/ she ran
Hya tarkuḍu / hya rakaḍat
هيَ تَركضُ / هيَ رَكضَتْ
They run/ they ran (P/F)
Hunn yarkuḍna / hunn rakaḍna
هُنّ يَركضنَ/ هُنّ ركضْنَ
You run/ you ran (S/M)
Anta tarkuḍu / anta rakaḍta
أنتَ تَركضُ / أنتَ ركضَتَ
You run/ you ran (P/M)
Antum tarkuḍūna / antum rakaḍtum
أَنْتُمْ تَرْكُضُونَ / أَنْتُمْ رَكَضْتُمْ
You run/ you ran (S/F)
Anti tarkuḍin / anti rakaḍti
أنتِ تَركُضين / أنتِ ركضْتِ
You run/ you ran (P/F)
Antunna tarkuḍna / antunna rakaḍtunna
أَنتُنَّ تَركضنَ / أَنتُنّ ركضتُنَّ
You run/ you ran (D/M)
Antumā tarkuḍān / antumā rakaḍtumā
أنتما تركضان / أنتما ركضتما
They run/ they ran (D/M)
Humā yarkuḍān / humā rakaḍā
هما يركضان / هما ركضا
*P: Plural S: Singular D: Dual F: Feminine M: Masculine
Verb in the Quran
An example of the verb ركض can be read in the Holy Quran in Surat Al-Anbyaa. The verse reads as follows:
Idhā hum minhā yarkuḍwn
قول الله تعالى: (فَلَمَّآ أَحَسُّوا۟ بَأْسَنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَرْكُضُونَ ) الأنبياء: 12
In English, the verse is translated to: “When the wrongdoers sensed ˹the arrival of˺ Our torment, they started to run away from their cities.” – Al-Anbya: 12
Other examples
Now, we will look at further examples of the verb from everyday conversations. Pay attention to how the verb changes form depending on whether it is in the past or present and also with different pronouns.
My brother ran to catch the bus
Rakaḍa Akhī lyrkba fī alḥāfilah
ركض أخي ليركب في الحافلة
I ran rejoicing at my success.
Rakaḍtu faraḥān fī Najāḥī
ركضت فرحًا في نجاحي
Time is running so fast
Wālwqtu yarkuḍu musrʻān binnā
والوقت يركض مسرعا بنا
Derivations
Let’s explore some derivations of رَكَضَ /Rakaḍa/. Derivations expand your understanding of how verbs can transform into different parts of speech, enriching your ability to express more complex ideas.
Words derived from the same root of this verb include:
A runner
Rākiḍ
راكِض
A run
Rakḍah
رَكْضة
Examples
I found the miser running after money.
Wajadtu albakhyla rākiḍān warāʼ al-māli
وجدتُ البخيل راكِضًا وراء المال
I saw the horses running (a) fast (run).
Raʼaytu alkhyla tarkuḍu rakḍatan sarīʻahtan
رأيتُ الخيلَ تركُضُ رَكْضةً سريعة
Synonyms
Synonyms provide alternative ways to express the same action, allowing for more nuanced communication. Each synonym has slight variations in meaning and usage.
Check the following synonyms of the verb رَكَضَ /Rakaḍa/:
to race
ʻAdī
عَدى
to jog
jari
جَرى
Now read the following examples and notice how the two verbs have the same meaning and they can be interchangeable without altering the intended meaning of the sentence.
Example 1
The thief ran for fear of the policeman.
Rkḍ alllṣ khwfan min alshurṭī
رَكَضَ اللّصُ خوفًا من الشّرطيّ
The thief jogged for fear of the policeman.
Jará alllṣ khwfan min alshurṭī
جَرى اللّصُ خوفًا من الشّرطيّ
Example 2
The goalkeeper ran to catch the ball.
Yrkuḍu ḥārsu almarmá lyumsika al-kurah
يركضُ حارسُ المرمى ليُمسكَ الكرة
The goalkeeper raced to catch the ball.
Yʻdw ḥārsu almarmá lyumsika al-kurah
يَعدو حارسُ المرمى ليمسك الكرة
Opposites
Understanding opposites or antonyms is essential for building a rich vocabulary. It enriches your language and helps you contrast actions. In this case, the verb مشى “Mashá” offers a slower, more leisurely action compared to the swift movement of ركض “Rakaḍa.”
Look at the following examples:
He ran to the station so he could get on the train.
Rakaḍa ilá al-maḥaṭṭah fāstaṭāʻ al-ṣuʻūda bilqiṭār
ركض إلى المحطة فاستطاع الصعود بالقطار
He walked to the station, so he could not get on the train.
mshá ilá al-maḥaṭṭah fa lam yastaṭʻ al-ṣuʻūda bilqiṭār
مشى إلى المحطة فلم يستطع الصعود بالقطار
Conclusion
I hope you liked our verb for the day. Learning the verb ركض “Rakaḍa” (to run) opens up numerous possibilities for expressing movement and speed in Arabic. From daily activities to religious texts, understanding the verb’s conjugations, synonyms, and antonyms ensures you can accurately and effectively communicate various aspects of running in different contexts.
As we wrap up our exploration of this verb, remember that mastering any new word empowers your Arabic communication, making your speech and writing more dynamic and precise.
As you expand your verb knowledge, make sure to continue building your vocabulary by reading our blogs (Read about other verbs in the Verb of the Day series) and downloading our learning app, where you will find many exercises and activities to help you learn and remember words in your everyday conversations.
Keep learning and wait for our new Verb of the Day!
