فاعل

Arabic

Etymology

Derived from the active participle of the verb فَعَلَ‎ (faʿala, “to do, to affect”), from the root ف ع ل‎ (f-ʿ-l).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /faːʕil/

Participle

فَاعِل • (fāʿil) (form I, feminine فَاعِلَة‎ (fāʿila), masculine plural فَاعِلُون‎ (fāʿilūn) or فَعَلَة‎ (faʿala), feminine plural فَاعِلَات‎ (fāʿilāt) or فَوَاعِل‎ (fawāʿil))

1. active participle of فَعَلَ‎ (faʿala)
   • 609–632 C.E., Qur'an, 18:23:

     ‏وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَلِكَ غَدًا‎

     walā taqūlanna lišayʾin ʾinnī fāʿilun ḏalika ḡadan

     And do not say with certainty for a thing: surely I will be a doer of that tomorrow.

Declension

Declension of adjective فَاعِل (fāʿil)

Singular	Masculine		Feminine
	basic singular triptote		singular triptote in ـَة (-a)
	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Informal	فَاعِل fāʿil	الْفَاعِل‎ al-fāʿil	فَاعِلَة‎ fāʿila	الْفَاعِلَة‎ al-fāʿila
Nominative	فَاعِلٌ fāʿilun	الْفَاعِلُ‎ al-fāʿilu	فَاعِلَةٌ‎ fāʿilatun	الْفَاعِلَةُ‎ al-fāʿilatu
Accusative	فَاعِلًا‎ fāʿilan	الْفَاعِلَ‎ al-fāʿila	فَاعِلَةً‎ fāʿilatan	الْفَاعِلَةَ‎ al-fāʿilata
Genitive	فَاعِلٍ fāʿilin	الْفَاعِلِ‎ al-fāʿili	فَاعِلَةٍ‎ fāʿilatin	الْفَاعِلَةِ‎ al-fāʿilati
Dual	Masculine		Feminine
	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Informal	فَاعِلَيْن‎ fāʿilayn	الْفَاعِلَيْن‎ al-fāʿilayn	فَاعِلَتَيْن‎ fāʿilatayn	الْفَاعِلَتَيْن‎ al-fāʿilatayn
Nominative	فَاعِلَانِ‎ fāʿilāni	الْفَاعِلَانِ‎ al-fāʿilāni	فَاعِلَتَانِ‎ fāʿilatāni	الْفَاعِلَتَانِ‎ al-fāʿilatāni
Accusative	فَاعِلَيْنِ‎ fāʿilayni	الْفَاعِلَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilayni	فَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ fāʿilatayni	الْفَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilatayni
Genitive	فَاعِلَيْنِ‎ fāʿilayni	الْفَاعِلَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilayni	فَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ fāʿilatayni	الْفَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilatayni
Plural	Masculine		Feminine
	sound masculine plural‎; broken plural triptote in ـَة (-a)		sound feminine plural‎; basic broken plural diptote
	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Informal	فَاعِلِين‎‎; فَعَلَة‎ fāʿilīn‎; faʿala	الْفَاعِلِين‎‎; الْفَعَلَة‎ al-fāʿilīn‎; al-faʿala	فَاعِلَات‎‎; فَوَاعِل‎ fāʿilāt‎; fawāʿil	الْفَاعِلَات‎‎; الْفَوَاعِل‎ al-fāʿilāt‎; al-fawāʿil
Nominative	فَاعِلُونَ‎‎; فَعَلَةٌ‎ fāʿilūna‎; faʿalatun	الْفَاعِلُونَ‎‎; الْفَعَلَةُ‎ al-fāʿilūna‎; al-faʿalatu	فَاعِلَاتٌ‎‎; فَوَاعِلُ‎ fāʿilātun‎; fawāʿilu	الْفَاعِلَاتُ‎‎; الْفَوَاعِلُ‎ al-fāʿilātu‎; al-fawāʿilu
Accusative	فَاعِلِينَ‎‎; فَعَلَةً‎ fāʿilīna‎; faʿalatan	الْفَاعِلِينَ‎‎; الْفَعَلَةَ‎ al-fāʿilīna‎; al-faʿalata	فَاعِلَاتٍ‎‎; فَوَاعِلَ‎ fāʿilātin‎; fawāʿila	الْفَاعِلَاتِ‎‎; الْفَوَاعِلَ‎ al-fāʿilāti‎; al-fawāʿila
Genitive	فَاعِلِينَ‎‎; فَعَلَةٍ‎ fāʿilīna‎; faʿalatin	الْفَاعِلِينَ‎‎; الْفَعَلَةِ‎ al-fāʿilīna‎; al-faʿalati	فَاعِلَاتٍ‎‎; فَوَاعِلَ‎ fāʿilātin‎; fawāʿila	الْفَاعِلَاتِ‎‎; الْفَوَاعِلِ‎ al-fāʿilāti‎; al-fawāʿili

Adjective

فَاعِل • (fāʿil) (feminine فَاعِلَة‎ (fāʿila), elative أَفْعَل‎ (ʾafʿal))

1. effective
2. efficient

Declension

Declension of adjective فَاعِل (fāʿil)

Singular	Masculine		Feminine
	basic singular triptote		singular triptote in ـَة (-a)
	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Informal	فَاعِل fāʿil	الْفَاعِل‎ al-fāʿil	فَاعِلَة‎ fāʿila	الْفَاعِلَة‎ al-fāʿila
Nominative	فَاعِلٌ fāʿilun	الْفَاعِلُ‎ al-fāʿilu	فَاعِلَةٌ‎ fāʿilatun	الْفَاعِلَةُ‎ al-fāʿilatu
Accusative	فَاعِلًا‎ fāʿilan	الْفَاعِلَ‎ al-fāʿila	فَاعِلَةً‎ fāʿilatan	الْفَاعِلَةَ‎ al-fāʿilata
Genitive	فَاعِلٍ fāʿilin	الْفَاعِلِ‎ al-fāʿili	فَاعِلَةٍ‎ fāʿilatin	الْفَاعِلَةِ‎ al-fāʿilati
Dual	Masculine		Feminine
	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Informal	فَاعِلَيْن‎ fāʿilayn	الْفَاعِلَيْن‎ al-fāʿilayn	فَاعِلَتَيْن‎ fāʿilatayn	الْفَاعِلَتَيْن‎ al-fāʿilatayn
Nominative	فَاعِلَانِ‎ fāʿilāni	الْفَاعِلَانِ‎ al-fāʿilāni	فَاعِلَتَانِ‎ fāʿilatāni	الْفَاعِلَتَانِ‎ al-fāʿilatāni
Accusative	فَاعِلَيْنِ‎ fāʿilayni	الْفَاعِلَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilayni	فَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ fāʿilatayni	الْفَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilatayni
Genitive	فَاعِلَيْنِ‎ fāʿilayni	الْفَاعِلَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilayni	فَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ fāʿilatayni	الْفَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilatayni
Plural	Masculine		Feminine
	plural unknown		sound feminine plural
	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Informal	? ?	? ?	فَاعِلَات‎ fāʿilāt	الْفَاعِلَات‎ al-fāʿilāt
Nominative	? ?	? ?	فَاعِلَاتٌ‎ fāʿilātun	الْفَاعِلَاتُ‎ al-fāʿilātu
Accusative	? ?	? ?	فَاعِلَاتٍ‎ fāʿilātin	الْفَاعِلَاتِ‎ al-fāʿilāti
Genitive	? ?	? ?	فَاعِلَاتٍ‎ fāʿilātin	الْفَاعِلَاتِ‎ al-fāʿilāti

Synonyms

• فَعَّال‎ (faʿʿāl)

References

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

Noun

فَاعِل • (fāʿil) m (plural فَاعِلُون‎ (fāʿilūn) or فَعَلَة‎ (faʿala), feminine فَاعِلَة‎ (fāʿila))

1. doer, one who does something
2. worker

Declension

Declension of noun فَاعِل (fāʿil)

Singular	Masculine			Feminine
	basic singular triptote			singular triptote in ـَة (-a)
	Indefinite	Definite	Construct	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	فَاعِل fāʿil	الْفَاعِل‎ al-fāʿil	فَاعِل fāʿil	فَاعِلَة‎ fāʿila	الْفَاعِلَة‎ al-fāʿila	فَاعِلَة‎ fāʿilat
Nominative	فَاعِلٌ fāʿilun	الْفَاعِلُ‎ al-fāʿilu	فَاعِلُ fāʿilu	فَاعِلَةٌ‎ fāʿilatun	الْفَاعِلَةُ‎ al-fāʿilatu	فَاعِلَةُ‎ fāʿilatu
Accusative	فَاعِلًا‎ fāʿilan	الْفَاعِلَ‎ al-fāʿila	فَاعِلَ fāʿila	فَاعِلَةً‎ fāʿilatan	الْفَاعِلَةَ‎ al-fāʿilata	فَاعِلَةَ‎ fāʿilata
Genitive	فَاعِلٍ fāʿilin	الْفَاعِلِ‎ al-fāʿili	فَاعِلِ fāʿili	فَاعِلَةٍ‎ fāʿilatin	الْفَاعِلَةِ‎ al-fāʿilati	فَاعِلَةِ‎ fāʿilati
Dual	Masculine			Feminine
	Indefinite	Definite	Construct	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	فَاعِلَيْن‎ fāʿilayn	الْفَاعِلَيْن‎ al-fāʿilayn	فَاعِلَيْ‎ fāʿilay	فَاعِلَتَيْن‎ fāʿilatayn	الْفَاعِلَتَيْن‎ al-fāʿilatayn	فَاعِلَتَيْ‎ fāʿilatay
Nominative	فَاعِلَانِ‎ fāʿilāni	الْفَاعِلَانِ‎ al-fāʿilāni	فَاعِلَا‎ fāʿilā	فَاعِلَتَانِ‎ fāʿilatāni	الْفَاعِلَتَانِ‎ al-fāʿilatāni	فَاعِلَتَا‎ fāʿilatā
Accusative	فَاعِلَيْنِ‎ fāʿilayni	الْفَاعِلَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilayni	فَاعِلَيْ‎ fāʿilay	فَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ fāʿilatayni	الْفَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilatayni	فَاعِلَتَيْ‎ fāʿilatay
Genitive	فَاعِلَيْنِ‎ fāʿilayni	الْفَاعِلَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilayni	فَاعِلَيْ‎ fāʿilay	فَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ fāʿilatayni	الْفَاعِلَتَيْنِ‎ al-fāʿilatayni	فَاعِلَتَيْ‎ fāʿilatay
Plural	Masculine			Feminine
	sound masculine plural‎; broken plural triptote in ـَة (-a)			sound feminine plural‎; basic broken plural diptote
	Indefinite	Definite	Construct	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	فَاعِلِين‎‎; فَعَلَة‎ fāʿilīn‎; faʿala	الْفَاعِلِين‎‎; الْفَعَلَة‎ al-fāʿilīn‎; al-faʿala	فَاعِلِي‎‎; فَعَلَة‎ fāʿilī‎; faʿalat	فَاعِلَات‎‎; فَوَاعِل‎ fāʿilāt‎; fawāʿil	الْفَاعِلَات‎‎; الْفَوَاعِل‎ al-fāʿilāt‎; al-fawāʿil	فَاعِلَات‎‎; فَوَاعِل‎ fāʿilāt‎; fawāʿil
Nominative	فَاعِلُونَ‎‎; فَعَلَةٌ‎ fāʿilūna‎; faʿalatun	الْفَاعِلُونَ‎‎; الْفَعَلَةُ‎ al-fāʿilūna‎; al-faʿalatu	فَاعِلُو‎‎; فَعَلَةُ‎ fāʿilū‎; faʿalatu	فَاعِلَاتٌ‎‎; فَوَاعِلُ‎ fāʿilātun‎; fawāʿilu	الْفَاعِلَاتُ‎‎; الْفَوَاعِلُ‎ al-fāʿilātu‎; al-fawāʿilu	فَاعِلَاتُ‎‎; فَوَاعِلُ‎ fāʿilātu‎; fawāʿilu
Accusative	فَاعِلِينَ‎‎; فَعَلَةً‎ fāʿilīna‎; faʿalatan	الْفَاعِلِينَ‎‎; الْفَعَلَةَ‎ al-fāʿilīna‎; al-faʿalata	فَاعِلِي‎‎; فَعَلَةَ‎ fāʿilī‎; faʿalata	فَاعِلَاتٍ‎‎; فَوَاعِلَ‎ fāʿilātin‎; fawāʿila	الْفَاعِلَاتِ‎‎; الْفَوَاعِلَ‎ al-fāʿilāti‎; al-fawāʿila	فَاعِلَاتِ‎‎; فَوَاعِلَ‎ fāʿilāti‎; fawāʿila
Genitive	فَاعِلِينَ‎‎; فَعَلَةٍ‎ fāʿilīna‎; faʿalatin	الْفَاعِلِينَ‎‎; الْفَعَلَةِ‎ al-fāʿilīna‎; al-faʿalati	فَاعِلِي‎‎; فَعَلَةِ‎ fāʿilī‎; faʿalati	فَاعِلَاتٍ‎‎; فَوَاعِلَ‎ fāʿilātin‎; fawāʿila	الْفَاعِلَاتِ‎‎; الْفَوَاعِلِ‎ al-fāʿilāti‎; al-fawāʿili	فَاعِلَاتِ‎‎; فَوَاعِلِ‎ fāʿilāti‎; fawāʿili

Noun

فَاعِل • (fāʿil) m

1. (grammar) subject, agent

Declension

Declension of noun فَاعِل (fāʿil)

Singular	basic singular triptote
	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	فَاعِل fāʿil	الْفَاعِل‎ al-fāʿil	فَاعِل fāʿil
Nominative	فَاعِلٌ fāʿilun	الْفَاعِلُ‎ al-fāʿilu	فَاعِلُ fāʿilu
Accusative	فَاعِلًا‎ fāʿilan	الْفَاعِلَ‎ al-fāʿila	فَاعِلَ fāʿila
Genitive	فَاعِلٍ fāʿilin	الْفَاعِلِ‎ al-fāʿili	فَاعِلِ fāʿili

See also

• اِسْم فَاعِل‎ (ism fāʿil)

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Persian

Etymology

From Arabic فَاعِل‎ (fāʿil).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian): IPA^(key): /fɑːʔil/

• (Dari): IPA^(key): /fɒːʔɪl/

• (Iranian Persian): IPA^(key): /fɒːʔel/
• (Tajik): IPA^(key): /fɔːʔil/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

فاعل • (fâ'el) (plural فاعل‌ها‎ (fâ'el-hâ))

1. (grammar) subject
2. (sex, law) top, the penetrating partner in a male homosexual intercourse

   Antonym: مفعول‎ (maf'ul)

Related terms

• مفعول‎ (maf'ul)