فهم

Arabic

Root
ف ه م (f-h-m)

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fa.hi.ma/

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

فَهِمَ • (fahima) I, non-past يَفْهَمُ‎ (yafhamu)

1. to understand

   بِفَضْلِ الدُّرُوسِ الْجَيِّدَةِ، يُمْكِنُنِي فَهْمُ اللُّغَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّةِ بِشَكْلٍ أَفْضَلَ الْآنَ.

   bifaḍli d-durūsi l-jayyidati, yumkinunī fahmu l-luḡati l-ʕarabiyyati bišaklin ʔafḍala l-ʔāna.

   Thanks to the good lessons, I can understand the Arabic language better now.

   • a. 897, Al-Buḥturiyy, edited by Ḥasan Kāmil Al-Ṣayrafiyy, ديوان البحتري (Ḏaḵāʾir al-ʿArab), 3rd edition, volume 2, Dār al-Maʿārif, →ISBN, page 955:

     عَلَيَّ نَحْتُ ٱلْقَوَافِي مِنْ مَقَاطِعِهَا / وَمَا عَلَيَّ لَهُمْ أَنْ تَفْهَمَ ٱلْبَقَرُ

     ʕalayya naḥtu l-qawāfī min maqāṭiʕihā / wamā ʕalayya lahum ʔan tafhama l-baqaru

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. to learn
3. to observe
4. to comprehend

Conjugation

Conjugation of

فَهِمَ

(form-I sound, verbal noun فَهْم)

verbal noun الْمَصْدَر						فَهْم fahm
active participle اِسْم الْفَاعِل						فَاهِم fāhim
passive participle اِسْم الْمَفْعُول						مَفْهُوم mafhūm
active voice الْفِعْل الْمَعْلُوم
		singular الْمُفْرَد				dual الْمُثَنَّى			plural الْجَمْع
		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	فَهِمْتُ fahimtu	فَهِمْتَ fahimta	فَهِمَ fahima		فَهِمْتُمَا fahimtumā	فَهِمَا fahimā		فَهِمْنَا fahimnā	فَهِمْتُمْ fahimtum	فَهِمُوا fahimū
	f		فَهِمْتِ fahimti	فَهِمَتْ fahimat			فَهِمَتَا fahimatā			فَهِمْتُنَّ fahimtunna	فَهِمْنَ fahimna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أَفْهَمُ ʔafhamu	تَفْهَمُ tafhamu	يَفْهَمُ yafhamu		تَفْهَمَانِ tafhamāni	يَفْهَمَانِ yafhamāni		نَفْهَمُ nafhamu	تَفْهَمُونَ tafhamūna	يَفْهَمُونَ yafhamūna
	f		تَفْهَمِينَ tafhamīna	تَفْهَمُ tafhamu			تَفْهَمَانِ tafhamāni			تَفْهَمْنَ tafhamna	يَفْهَمْنَ yafhamna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أَفْهَمَ ʔafhama	تَفْهَمَ tafhama	يَفْهَمَ yafhama		تَفْهَمَا tafhamā	يَفْهَمَا yafhamā		نَفْهَمَ nafhama	تَفْهَمُوا tafhamū	يَفْهَمُوا yafhamū
	f		تَفْهَمِي tafhamī	تَفْهَمَ tafhama			تَفْهَمَا tafhamā			تَفْهَمْنَ tafhamna	يَفْهَمْنَ yafhamna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أَفْهَمْ ʔafham	تَفْهَمْ tafham	يَفْهَمْ yafham		تَفْهَمَا tafhamā	يَفْهَمَا yafhamā		نَفْهَمْ nafham	تَفْهَمُوا tafhamū	يَفْهَمُوا yafhamū
	f		تَفْهَمِي tafhamī	تَفْهَمْ tafham			تَفْهَمَا tafhamā			تَفْهَمْنَ tafhamna	يَفْهَمْنَ yafhamna
imperative الْأَمْر	m		اِفْهَمْ ifham			اِفْهَمَا ifhamā				اِفْهَمُوا ifhamū
	f		اِفْهَمِي ifhamī							اِفْهَمْنَ ifhamna
passive voice الْفِعْل الْمَجْهُول
		singular الْمُفْرَد				dual الْمُثَنَّى			plural الْجَمْع
		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	فُهِمْتُ fuhimtu	فُهِمْتَ fuhimta	فُهِمَ fuhima		فُهِمْتُمَا fuhimtumā	فُهِمَا fuhimā		فُهِمْنَا fuhimnā	فُهِمْتُمْ fuhimtum	فُهِمُوا fuhimū
	f		فُهِمْتِ fuhimti	فُهِمَتْ fuhimat			فُهِمَتَا fuhimatā			فُهِمْتُنَّ fuhimtunna	فُهِمْنَ fuhimna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أُفْهَمُ ʔufhamu	تُفْهَمُ tufhamu	يُفْهَمُ yufhamu		تُفْهَمَانِ tufhamāni	يُفْهَمَانِ yufhamāni		نُفْهَمُ nufhamu	تُفْهَمُونَ tufhamūna	يُفْهَمُونَ yufhamūna
	f		تُفْهَمِينَ tufhamīna	تُفْهَمُ tufhamu			تُفْهَمَانِ tufhamāni			تُفْهَمْنَ tufhamna	يُفْهَمْنَ yufhamna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُفْهَمَ ʔufhama	تُفْهَمَ tufhama	يُفْهَمَ yufhama		تُفْهَمَا tufhamā	يُفْهَمَا yufhamā		نُفْهَمَ nufhama	تُفْهَمُوا tufhamū	يُفْهَمُوا yufhamū
	f		تُفْهَمِي tufhamī	تُفْهَمَ tufhama			تُفْهَمَا tufhamā			تُفْهَمْنَ tufhamna	يُفْهَمْنَ yufhamna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُفْهَمْ ʔufham	تُفْهَمْ tufham	يُفْهَمْ yufham		تُفْهَمَا tufhamā	يُفْهَمَا yufhamā		نُفْهَمْ nufham	تُفْهَمُوا tufhamū	يُفْهَمُوا yufhamū
	f		تُفْهَمِي tufhamī	تُفْهَمْ tufham			تُفْهَمَا tufhamā			تُفْهَمْنَ tufhamna	يُفْهَمْنَ yufhamna

Descendants

• Maltese: fehem
• → Persian: فهمیدن (fahmidan) (partly also from the noun below)
• → Swahili: -fahamu

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fah.ha.ma/

Verb

فَهَّمَ • (fahhama) II, non-past يُفَهِّمُ‎ (yufahhimu)

1. (ditransitive) to cause to understand
   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 21:79:

     فَفَهَّمۡنَـٰهَا سُلَيۡمَـٰنَ

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Conjugation

Conjugation of

فَهَّمَ

(form-II sound)

verbal noun الْمَصْدَر						تَفْهِيم tafhīm
active participle اِسْم الْفَاعِل						مُفَهِّم mufahhim
passive participle اِسْم الْمَفْعُول						مُفَهَّم mufahham
active voice الْفِعْل الْمَعْلُوم
		singular الْمُفْرَد				dual الْمُثَنَّى			plural الْجَمْع
		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	فَهَّمْتُ fahhamtu	فَهَّمْتَ fahhamta	فَهَّمَ fahhama		فَهَّمْتُمَا fahhamtumā	فَهَّمَا fahhamā		فَهَّمْنَا fahhamnā	فَهَّمْتُمْ fahhamtum	فَهَّمُوا fahhamū
	f		فَهَّمْتِ fahhamti	فَهَّمَتْ fahhamat			فَهَّمَتَا fahhamatā			فَهَّمْتُنَّ fahhamtunna	فَهَّمْنَ fahhamna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أُفَهِّمُ ʔufahhimu	تُفَهِّمُ tufahhimu	يُفَهِّمُ yufahhimu		تُفَهِّمَانِ tufahhimāni	يُفَهِّمَانِ yufahhimāni		نُفَهِّمُ nufahhimu	تُفَهِّمُونَ tufahhimūna	يُفَهِّمُونَ yufahhimūna
	f		تُفَهِّمِينَ tufahhimīna	تُفَهِّمُ tufahhimu			تُفَهِّمَانِ tufahhimāni			تُفَهِّمْنَ tufahhimna	يُفَهِّمْنَ yufahhimna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُفَهِّمَ ʔufahhima	تُفَهِّمَ tufahhima	يُفَهِّمَ yufahhima		تُفَهِّمَا tufahhimā	يُفَهِّمَا yufahhimā		نُفَهِّمَ nufahhima	تُفَهِّمُوا tufahhimū	يُفَهِّمُوا yufahhimū
	f		تُفَهِّمِي tufahhimī	تُفَهِّمَ tufahhima			تُفَهِّمَا tufahhimā			تُفَهِّمْنَ tufahhimna	يُفَهِّمْنَ yufahhimna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُفَهِّمْ ʔufahhim	تُفَهِّمْ tufahhim	يُفَهِّمْ yufahhim		تُفَهِّمَا tufahhimā	يُفَهِّمَا yufahhimā		نُفَهِّمْ nufahhim	تُفَهِّمُوا tufahhimū	يُفَهِّمُوا yufahhimū
	f		تُفَهِّمِي tufahhimī	تُفَهِّمْ tufahhim			تُفَهِّمَا tufahhimā			تُفَهِّمْنَ tufahhimna	يُفَهِّمْنَ yufahhimna
imperative الْأَمْر	m		فَهِّمْ fahhim			فَهِّمَا fahhimā				فَهِّمُوا fahhimū
	f		فَهِّمِي fahhimī							فَهِّمْنَ fahhimna
passive voice الْفِعْل الْمَجْهُول
		singular الْمُفْرَد				dual الْمُثَنَّى			plural الْجَمْع
		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	فُهِّمْتُ fuhhimtu	فُهِّمْتَ fuhhimta	فُهِّمَ fuhhima		فُهِّمْتُمَا fuhhimtumā	فُهِّمَا fuhhimā		فُهِّمْنَا fuhhimnā	فُهِّمْتُمْ fuhhimtum	فُهِّمُوا fuhhimū
	f		فُهِّمْتِ fuhhimti	فُهِّمَتْ fuhhimat			فُهِّمَتَا fuhhimatā			فُهِّمْتُنَّ fuhhimtunna	فُهِّمْنَ fuhhimna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أُفَهَّمُ ʔufahhamu	تُفَهَّمُ tufahhamu	يُفَهَّمُ yufahhamu		تُفَهَّمَانِ tufahhamāni	يُفَهَّمَانِ yufahhamāni		نُفَهَّمُ nufahhamu	تُفَهَّمُونَ tufahhamūna	يُفَهَّمُونَ yufahhamūna
	f		تُفَهَّمِينَ tufahhamīna	تُفَهَّمُ tufahhamu			تُفَهَّمَانِ tufahhamāni			تُفَهَّمْنَ tufahhamna	يُفَهَّمْنَ yufahhamna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُفَهَّمَ ʔufahhama	تُفَهَّمَ tufahhama	يُفَهَّمَ yufahhama		تُفَهَّمَا tufahhamā	يُفَهَّمَا yufahhamā		نُفَهَّمَ nufahhama	تُفَهَّمُوا tufahhamū	يُفَهَّمُوا yufahhamū
	f		تُفَهَّمِي tufahhamī	تُفَهَّمَ tufahhama			تُفَهَّمَا tufahhamā			تُفَهَّمْنَ tufahhamna	يُفَهَّمْنَ yufahhamna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُفَهَّمْ ʔufahham	تُفَهَّمْ tufahham	يُفَهَّمْ yufahham		تُفَهَّمَا tufahhamā	يُفَهَّمَا yufahhamā		نُفَهَّمْ nufahham	تُفَهَّمُوا tufahhamū	يُفَهَّمُوا yufahhamū
	f		تُفَهَّمِي tufahhamī	تُفَهَّمْ tufahham			تُفَهَّمَا tufahhamā			تُفَهَّمْنَ tufahhamna	يُفَهَّمْنَ yufahhamna

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fahm/

Noun

فَهْم • (fahm) m (plural فُهُوم (fuhūm) or أَفْهَام (ʔafhām))

1. verbal noun of فَهِمَ (fahima) (form I)
2. understanding, comprehension

Declension

Declension of noun فَهْم (fahm)

Singular	basic singular triptote
	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	فَهْم fahm	الْفَهْم al-fahm	فَهْم fahm
Nominative	فَهْمٌ fahmun	الْفَهْمُ al-fahmu	فَهْمُ fahmu
Accusative	فَهْمًا fahman	الْفَهْمَ al-fahma	فَهْمَ fahma
Genitive	فَهْمٍ fahmin	الْفَهْمِ al-fahmi	فَهْمِ fahmi
Dual	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	فَهْمَيْن fahmayn	الْفَهْمَيْن al-fahmayn	فَهْمَيْ fahmay
Nominative	فَهْمَانِ fahmāni	الْفَهْمَانِ al-fahmāni	فَهْمَا fahmā
Accusative	فَهْمَيْنِ fahmayni	الْفَهْمَيْنِ al-fahmayni	فَهْمَيْ fahmay
Genitive	فَهْمَيْنِ fahmayni	الْفَهْمَيْنِ al-fahmayni	فَهْمَيْ fahmay
Plural	basic broken plural triptote
	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	فُهُوم‎; أَفْهَام fuhūm‎; ʔafhām	الْفُهُوم‎; الْأَفْهَام al-fuhūm‎; al-ʔafhām	فُهُوم‎; أَفْهَام fuhūm‎; ʔafhām
Nominative	فُهُومٌ‎; أَفْهَامٌ fuhūmun‎; ʔafhāmun	الْفُهُومُ‎; الْأَفْهَامُ al-fuhūmu‎; al-ʔafhāmu	فُهُومُ‎; أَفْهَامُ fuhūmu‎; ʔafhāmu
Accusative	فُهُومًا‎; أَفْهَامًا fuhūman‎; ʔafhāman	الْفُهُومَ‎; الْأَفْهَامَ al-fuhūma‎; al-ʔafhāma	فُهُومَ‎; أَفْهَامَ fuhūma‎; ʔafhāma
Genitive	فُهُومٍ‎; أَفْهَامٍ fuhūmin‎; ʔafhāmin	الْفُهُومِ‎; الْأَفْهَامِ al-fuhūmi‎; al-ʔafhāmi	فُهُومِ‎; أَفْهَامِ fuhūmi‎; ʔafhāmi

Descendants

• → Armenian: ֆահմ (fahm), ֆայմ (faym)
• → Azerbaijani: fəhm
• → Kazakh: пайым (paiym)
• → Kyrgyz: баам (baam)
• → Malay: faham, paham
  • Indonesian: faham → paham
  • → Urak Lawoi': ปาฮับ (pahap)
• → Persian: فهم (fahm)
• → Swahili: fahamu
• → Tajik: фаҳм (fahm)
• → Ottoman Turkish: فهم (fehm)
  • Turkish: fehim
• → Uzbek: fahm

References

• Wehr, Hans (1979) “فهم”, in J. Milton Cowan, editor, A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, 4th edition, Ithaca, NY: Spoken Language Services, →ISBN

Azerbaijani

Noun

فهم (usually uncountable, definite accusative فهمی)

1. Arabic spelling of fəhm (“understanding”)

Egyptian Arabic

Root
ف ه م
1 term

Etymology

From Arabic فَهِمَ (fahima).

Verb

فهم • (fihim) I (non-past يفهم (yifham))

1. to understand

   انتي بتفهمي؟ (to a woman) ― inti bitifhami? ― Do you understand?

   انت بتفهم؟ (to a man) ― inta bitifham? ― Do you understand?

   أنا مبفهمش. ― ana mabafhamš. ― I don't understand.

Conjugation

Conjugation of فهم (form-I sound)

verbal noun
active participle				فاهم (fāhim)
passive participle				مفهوم (mafhūm)
		singular				plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
past	m	فهمت (fihimt)	فهمت (fihimt)	فهم (fihim)		فهمنا (fihimna)	فهمتوا (fihimtu)	فهموا (fihmu)
	f		فهمتي (fihimti)	فهمت (fihmit)
present subjunctive	m	افهم (afham)	تفهم (tifham)	يفهم (yifham)	نفهم (nifham)	تفهموا (tifhamu)	يفهموا (yifhamu)
	f		تفهمي (tifhami)	تفهم (tifham)
present indicative	m	بفهم (bafham)	بتفهم (bitifham)	بيفهم (biyifham)	بنفهم (binifham)	بتفهموا (bitifhamu)	بيفهموا (biyifhamu)
	f		بتفهمي (bitifhami)	بتفهم (bitifham)
future	m	حفهم (ḥafham)	حتفهم (ḥatifham)	حيفهم (ḥayifham)	حنفهم (ḥanifham)	حتفهموا (ḥatifhamu)	حيفهموا (ḥayifhamu)
	f		حتفهمي (ḥatifhami)	حتفهم (ḥatifham)
imperative	m		افهم (ifham)			افهموا (ifhamu)
	f		افهمي (ifhami)

Malay

Noun

فهم

1. Jawi spelling of faham.

Verb

فهم

1. Jawi spelling of faham.

Persian

Etymology

From Arabic فَهْم (fahm).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [fahm]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [fäɦm]

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [fäɦm]
  • (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [fɑːm]
  • (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [fɔːm]

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [fæɦm]

• (Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [fäɦm]

Readings
Classical reading?	fahm
Dari reading?	fahm
Iranian reading?	fahm
Tajik reading?	fahm

Noun

Dari	فهم
Iranian Persian
Tajik	фаҳм

فَهم • (fahm)

1. understanding
2. comprehension
3. intellect

Synonyms

• ادراک (edrâk)
• شعور (šo'ur)

Derived terms

• فهمیدن (fahmidan, verb)
• فهمیده (fahmide)
• نفهم (nafahm)
• خرفهم (xarfahm)

Related terms

• فهیم (fahim)
• فهیمه (fahime)
• مفهوم (mafhum)
• تفهیم (tafhim)
• تفاهم (tafâhom)

South Levantine Arabic

Root
ف ه م
3 terms

Etymology 1

From Arabic فَهِمَ (fahima).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fi.him/, [ˈfi.hɪm]

• Audio (al-Lidd):

  (file)

Verb

فهم • (fihim) I (present بفهم (bifham), active participle فاهم (fāhem))

1. to understand

   بتفهم عربي؟

   btifham ʕarabi?

   Do you understand Arabic?

   فاهم علي؟

   fāhem ʕalay?

   Do you see what I mean?

   (literally, “Do you understand me?”)

   أهلي ما بفهموش علي.

   ahli ma bifhamūš ʕalay.

   My parents don't understand me.

   ما فهمتش ولا كلمة.

   ma fhimtš wala kilme.

   I didn't understand a single word.

Conjugation

Conjugation of فهم (fihim)
		singular				plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
past	m	فهمت (fhimt)	فهمت (fhimt)	فهم (fihim)		فهمنا (fhimna)	فهمتو (fhimtu)	فهمو (fihmu)
	f		فهمتي (fhimti)	فهمت (fihmat)
present	m	بفهم (bafham)	بتفهم (btifham)	بفهم (bifham)		منفهم (mnifham)	بتفهمو (btifhamu)	بفهمو (bifhamu)
	f		بتفهمي (btifhami)	بتفهم (btifham)
subjunctive	m	أفهم (ʔafham)	تفهم (tifham)	يفهم (yifham)		نفهم (nifham)	تفهمو (tifhamu)	يفهمو (yifhamu)
	f		تفهمي (tifhami)	تفهم (tifham)
imperative	m		افهم (ifham)				افهمو (ifhamu)
	f		افهمي (ifhami)

See also

• فهمان (fahmān, “knowledgeable”)

Etymology 2

From Arabic فَهَّمَ (fahhama).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fah.ham/, [ˈfah.ham]

• Audio (al-Lidd):

  (file)

Verb

فهّم • (fahham) II (present بفهّم (bifahhem))

1. (transitive) to make someone understand

   Synonym: شرح (šaraḥ, “to explain”)

Conjugation

Conjugation of فهّم (fahham)
		singular				plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
past	m	فهّمت (fahhamt)	فهّمت (fahhamt)	فهّم (fahham)		فهّمنا (fahhamna)	فهّمتو (fahhamtu)	فهّمو (fahhamu)
	f		فهّمتي (fahhamti)	فهّمت (fahhamat)
present	m	بفهّم (bafahhem)	بتفهّم (bitfahhem)	بفهّم (bifahhem)		منفهّم (minfahhem)	بتفهّمو (bitfahhmu)	بفهّمو (bifahhmu)
	f		بتفهّمي (bitfahhmi)	بتفهّم (bitfahhem)
subjunctive	m	افهّم (afahhem)	تفهّم (tfahhem)	يفهّم (yfahhem)		نفهّم (nfahhem)	تفهّمو (tfahhmu)	يفهّمو (yfahhmu)
	f		تفهّمي (tfahhmi)	تفهّم (tfahhem)
imperative	m		فهّم (fahhem)				فهّمو (fahhmu)
	f		فهّمي (fahhmi)