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Accelerate
سرّع (sarraʿa) is a verb meaning 'to accelerate' or 'to speed up,' used when increasing the pace or velocity of an action, movement, or process. It conveys the sense of moving faster or making something happen more quickly than before. This word is commonly used in both literal contexts (driving faster) and figurative ones (accelerating progress or work).
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سرّعت السيارة على الطريق السريع.
Sarraʿat al-sayyāra ʿalā al-ṭarīq al-sarīʿ.
The car accelerated on the highway.
يجب أن نسرّع خطواتنا لننصل في الموعد.
Yajib an nasarriʿ khuṭuwātnā li-nanṣil fī al-mawʿid.
We need to speed up our pace to arrive on time.
سرّع الفريق عملهم لإنهاء المشروع.
Sarraʿa al-farīq ʿamalahum li-inhāʾ al-mashruʿ.
The team accelerated their work to finish the project.
لا تسرّع القيادة، فالطريق خطرة.
Lā tusarriʿ al-qiyāda, fa-al-ṭarīq khāṭira.
Don't speed up your driving; the road is dangerous.
نحن نحاول تسريع العملية لتحقيق الأهداف.
Nahnu nuhāwil tasrīʿ al-ʿamaliyya li-tahqīq al-ahdāf.
We are trying to accelerate the process to achieve our goals.
In Arabic-speaking countries, the concept of speed and efficiency is often expressed through سرّع in modern contexts, particularly regarding transportation and business. Traffic safety campaigns frequently use this term in warnings about excessive speeding. The word reflects both practical daily usage in driving contexts and broader metaphorical applications in professional and academic settings.
Remember that سرّع is a transitive verb (Form II), so it typically requires a direct object—you accelerate something. When using it with driving, you can say 'سرّع السيارة' (accelerate the car) or reflexively 'سرّع نفسه' (he sped himself up). In context, native speakers often use it figuratively to mean 'speed up work' or 'move faster,' so the meaning depends on what object follows the verb.
The Arabic verb سرّع (sarraʿa) is a Form II derived verb meaning 'to accelerate,' 'to speed up,' or 'to hasten.' It comes from the root س-ر-ع (s-r-ʿ), which relates to speed and quickness. As a transitive verb, سرّع requires a direct object and is used to describe the action of increasing the speed or pace of something.
سرّع follows the pattern of Form II verbs in Arabic, where the middle radical is doubled. This doubling typically intensifies the meaning of the root. The verb conjugates as follows:
Transportation and Movement: The most common use of سرّع is in driving contexts. When someone presses the accelerator, they are 'سرّع السيارة' (accelerating the car). This is frequently heard in traffic situations, traffic safety discussions, and driving instructions.
Metaphorical and Figurative Uses: Beyond literal speed, سرّع is widely used figuratively in business, academic, and professional settings. For example, 'سرّع العمل' (speed up the work), 'سرّع الإنجاز' (accelerate completion), or 'سرّع وتيرة العملية' (accelerate the pace of the process).
Emotional and Physical Contexts: The verb can also describe quickening of the heart, pulse, or breath—'سرّع النبض' (quickened pulse) or 'سرّع التنفس' (faster breathing)—commonly used in medical or literary contexts.
The root س-ر-ع generates several important related words:
While سرّع is the most common term for acceleration, several synonyms exist with subtle differences:
The choice between these terms depends on context and the degree of urgency or intensity being conveyed.
The opposite of سرّع can be expressed through:
In modern Arabic, سرّع appears frequently in:
In Arabic-speaking cultures, the concept of speed is nuanced. While efficiency is valued in modern business contexts, traditional values sometimes emphasize patience and deliberate action. Traffic safety is a significant concern across Arab nations, making سرّع a word frequently encountered in public safety announcements warning against excessive speeding.
English speakers learning Arabic should remember that سرّع is a transitive verb requiring a direct object. Unlike English, where 'accelerate' can sometimes stand alone, in Arabic you must specify what is being accelerated. Additionally, the Form II structure (doubled middle radical) is a productive pattern in Arabic, so learning سرّع helps reinforce understanding of verb patterns and their intensifying effects. Practice using سرّع with common objects like السيارة (the car), الخطى (the pace), or العمل (the work) to build fluency.