قَوْل words in Arabic
قَوْل is how you say “words” in Arabic.
Root ق و ل q-w-l. noun (verbal noun / maṣdar). qawl.
Arabic
English
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Meaning of words in Arabic
- a saying; something said the general term for an utterance, statement, or piece of speech
- speech, diction used of the manner or faculty of speaking, e.g. diction being 'difficult' to someone
Example sentence
كم بين قوله لآدم إني جاعل في الأرض خليفة،
How vast is the difference between His words to Adam: 'I will place a vicegerent on earth,'
قَوْلِهِ His words
qawl means 'saying, words'; the ending '-hi' adds 'His' — 'His saying'; the noun after 'bayna'.
The English is machine-translated.
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How it is used
Qawl is the basic verbal noun of qāla ('he said') and functions as the general Arabic word for a saying, statement, or speech/diction, used both of everyday utterances and, in specialized contexts, extended (as in al-maqūlāt) into logical terminology for the Categories.
Words from the same root
- قَالَ to say, speak (form I verb; also extends to 'to assert a belief,' 'to signal with the hand/head,' 'to pour')
- تَقَوَّلَ to lie against someone, fabricate a saying about them (form V)
- اِقْتَالَ to arbitrate, pass judgment over someone (form VIII)
- قِيلٌ a saying, something said
- قَالَةٌ a saying, a piece of talk or report
- قَوَّالٌ one good in speech; loquacious, chaste and eloquent in expression
- مَقُولٌ the thing said, the content of an utterance (as in 'maqūl al-qawl')
- المَقُولَاتُ the Ten Categories/Predicaments, a logic term built on this root
More example sentences
وقوله له اذهب فمن تبعك منهم
And His words to him: 'Go, and whoever follows you among them.'
وَقَوْلُهُ and His words
wa- = 'and'; qawl means 'saying, words'; the ending '-hu' adds 'His' — 'and His saying'.
يا آدم، لا تجزع من قولي لك اخرج منها، فلك ولصالح ذريتك خلّفتها
O Adam, do not grieve over My saying to you: 'Get out of it,' for I created it for you and your righteous descendants.
قَوْلِي My saying
qawl means 'saying, words'; the ending '-i' adds 'my' — 'my saying'; the noun after 'min'.
وَهَذَا هُوَ التَّوْحِيد الْمَذْكُور فِي قَول المراغى
And this is the monotheism mentioned in the statement of Al-Maraghi.
قَوْلِ the statement of
'the saying of', genitive after 'fi' and the first term of an 'of' pairing with the name that follows — 'the statement OF al-Maraghi'. The owner's name comes next.
وَأما قَول النوري
As for the statement of Al-Nuri
قَوْلُ the statement of
'the statement of', nominative as the fronted topic, and head of an 'of' pairing with the name — 'al-Nuri's statement'. The owner follows.
يَقُول كل توجه إِلَى الله وَحده بقول أَو عمل فَهُوَ تَوْحِيد
He says that every orientation to Allah alone, whether by word or action, is monotheism.
بِقَوْلٍ by word
'by a word' — 'bi' of means plus an indefinite genitive noun. It names one channel of the turning, paired with 'or action' next.
كَمَا فِي قَول الْجَهْمِية والممثلة والقدرية وَنَحْوههم
As in the statements of the Jahmiyyah, the Mushabbihah, and the Qadariyyah and their likes.
قَوْلِ the statements of
'the saying of', genitive after 'fi' and head of an 'of' chain owned by the groups listed next — 'the statement OF the Jahmiyya...'.
هكذا تشهدُ لغةُ العرب؛ فلا يُحكى بالقولِ إلا كلامٌ تام
Thus, the language of the Arabs testifies; only complete speech is spoken.
بِالْقَوْلِ by speech
'by speech' — 'bi' of means plus the definite genitive 'the saying'. It names the channel: what counts as 'said aloud'.
كَقَوْل الْمُؤَذّن الله أكبر الله أكبر أشهد أَن لَا إِلَه إِلَّا الله أشهد أَن مُحَمَّدًا رَسُول الله
As the caller to prayer says: (Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, I testify that there is no deity but Allah, I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).
كَقَوْلِ as the saying of
'as the saying of' — 'ka' (like) of comparison plus 'qawl', genitive, and head of an 'of' pairing with 'the muezzin'. It introduces an example: 'as in what the caller says'.
وَقَول الْمُصَلِّي الله أكبر سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي الْعَظِيم سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي الْأَعْلَى سمع الله لمن حَمده رَبنَا وَلَك الْحَمد التَّحِيَّات لله
And the one praying says: (Allah is the Greatest, glory be to my Lord the Great, glory be to my Lord the Most High, Allah hears the one who praises Him, our Lord, to You belongs all praise, all greetings are for Allah).
وَقَوْلِ and the saying of
'and the saying of' — 'wa' plus 'qawl', genitive (still under the earlier 'as the saying of'), head of an 'of' pairing with 'the one praying'.
وَقَول الملبي لبيْك اللَّهُمَّ لبيْك
And the one responding to the pilgrimage call says: (Here I am, O Allah, at Your service).
وَقَوْلِ and the saying of
'and the saying of' — 'wa' plus 'qawl', genitive under the running 'as the saying of', head of an 'of' pairing with 'the pilgrim'.
وَهَذَا هُوَ الَّذِي يُسمى فِي اللُّغَة كلمة كَقَوْلِه
And this is what is called in language (a word) as his saying:
كَقَوْلِهِ as his saying
'as his saying' — 'ka' of comparison plus 'qawl' plus 'his', genitive. It introduces the supporting quotation; the 'his' points to the cited authority.
وَقَوله أفضل كلمة قَالَهَا الشَّاعِر كلمة لبيد أَلا كل شَيْء مَا خلا الله بَاطِل
And his saying: "The best word said by a poet is the word of Labid: Behold, everything other than Allah is futile."
وَقَوْلُهُ and his saying
'and his saying' — 'wa' plus 'qawl' plus 'his', nominative as a fresh topic. The 'his' points to the cited authority; it sets up another quotation.
وَمِنْه قَوْله تَعَالَى ٥ الْكَهْف ﴿كَبرت كلمة تخرج من أَفْوَاههم﴾ الْآيَة
And from it His, the Exalted, saying: 'Grievous is the word that comes out of their mouths.'
قَوْلُهُ His saying
'His saying' — 'qawl' with 'His' attached, nominative as the fronted subject. The 'His' points to God; it introduces a Quranic verse.
وَقَوله ١١٥ الْأَنْعَام ﴿وتمت كلمة رَبك صدقا وعدلا﴾
And His saying: 'And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and justice.'
وَقَوْلُهُ And His saying
'and His saying' — 'wa' plus 'qawl' plus 'His', nominative, a fresh topic introducing another verse. The 'His' points to God.
وَكَذَلِكَ مَا شرع للْمُسلمين فِي صلَاتهم وأذانهم وحجهم وأعيادهم من ذكر الله تَعَالَى إِنَّمَا هُوَ بِالْجُمْلَةِ التَّامَّة كَقَوْل الْمُؤَذّن
Likewise, what has been legislated for Muslims in their prayers, calls to prayer, pilgrimage, and festivals, as a remembrance of Allah the Almighty, is indeed in complete sentences like the statement of the caller:
كَقَوْلِ like statement
'as the saying of' — 'ka' of comparison plus 'qawl', genitive, head of an 'of' pairing with 'the muezzin'. It introduces the example.
وَقَول الْمُصَلِّي الله أكبر سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي الْعَظِيم سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي الْأَعْلَى سمع الله لمن حَمده رَبنَا وَلَك الْحَمد التَّحِيَّات لله
And the statement of the one praying: (Allah is the Greatest. Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great. Glory be to my Lord, the Most High. Allah listens to the one who praises Him. Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise. All greetings are for Allah.)
وَقَوْلُ and statement of
'and the saying of' — 'wa' plus 'qawl', nominative as a fresh topic (parallel to the muezzin's), head of an 'of' pairing with 'the one praying'.
وَقَول الملبي لبيْك اللَّهُمَّ لبيْك وأمثال ذَلِك
And the statement of the one performing the Talbiyah: (Here I am, O Allah, here I am) and similar phrases.
وَقَوْلُ and statement of
'and the saying of' — 'wa' plus 'qawl', nominative, head of an 'of' pairing with 'the pilgrim'.
وَهَذَا هُوَ الَّذِي يُسمى فِي اللُّغَة كلمة كَقَوْلِه
And this is what is called in the language a 'word', as in his saying:
كَقَوْلِهِ as in his saying
'as his saying' — 'ka' of comparison plus 'qawl' plus 'his', genitive. It introduces the supporting quote.
وَمِنْه قَوْله تَعَالَى ٥ الْكَهْف ﴿كَبرت كلمة تخرج من أَفْوَاههم﴾ الْآيَة
And among them is His saying the Exalted: 'Grave is the word that comes out of their mouths.'
قَوْلُهُ His saying
'His saying' — 'qawl' with 'His' attached, nominative as the fronted subject. The 'His' points to God; it introduces a verse.
وَقَوله ١١٥ الْأَنْعَام ﴿وتمت كلمة رَبك صدقا وعدلا﴾
And His saying: 'And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and justice.'
وَقَوْلُهُ And His saying
'and His saying' — 'wa' plus 'qawl' plus 'His', nominative, a fresh topic introducing another verse.
وكان أحياناً يدعو بعد التحميد بقوله اللهم باعد بيني وبين خطاياي
And sometimes he would supplicate after the praise by saying: 'O Allah, distance me from my sins.'
بِقَوْلِهِ by saying
'with his saying' — 'bi' (with) plus 'qawl' plus 'his'; it introduces the quoted words.
وأمر أيضاً بالحمد بقوله فإذا قال سمع الله لمن حمده فقولوا ربنا ولك الحمد
And he also commanded praise saying: 'When he says: Allah hears the one who praises Him. You say: Our Lord, to You is the praise.'
بِقَوْلِهِ by saying
'by his saying' — 'bi' plus 'qawl' plus 'his'; it introduces the quote.
فإنما أوجبه بعد التشهد الذي هو ثناء، وهو قول طاووس ووجه في مذهب أحمد
It is only obligated after the tashahhud, which is praise, according to Tawus and in one view within Ahmad's school.
قَوْلُ opinion
'the saying, opinion of', nominative predicate, head of an 'of' pairing with 'Tawus'.
Common questions
- How do you say "words" in Arabic?
- قَوْل (qawl) — though qawl more precisely means 'a saying' or 'speech,' the verbal noun of qāla, 'to say.'
- What does the root ق و ل mean in Arabic?
- It centers on saying and speaking, giving rise to words like qāla ('he said'), qawl ('a saying'), and qawwāl ('eloquent speaker').
Related words
Definitions summarised from Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon (E. W. Lane, 1863–1893).