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Bethought
ذكّر (dhakkara) is a Form II Arabic verb meaning 'to remind' or 'to bethink,' derived from the root ذ-ك-ر. It is a causative form that means to cause someone to remember or to bring something to someone's remembrance. This verb is commonly used in both classical and modern Arabic to express the action of reminding others or helping them recall something forgotten.
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ذكّرتني بصديقي القديم الذي لم أره منذ سنوات.
Dhakkaratni bi-sadeeqi al-qadeem alladhi lam arahu mundhu sanawat.
You reminded me of my old friend whom I haven't seen in years.
يجب أن أذكّر والدتي بموعد طبيبها غداً.
Yajib an adhakkira walidati bi-maw'id tabibiha ghadan.
I must remind my mother about her doctor's appointment tomorrow.
ذكّرني هذا المكان بأيام الطفولة السعيدة.
Dhakkarni hadha al-makan bi-ayyam al-tufula al-sa'ida.
This place reminded me of happy childhood days.
المعلم ذكّر الطلاب بقواعد الامتحان قبل البدء.
Al-mu'allim dhakkara al-tullab bi-qawa'id al-imtihan qabl al-bida'.
The teacher reminded the students of the exam rules before beginning.
هل تذكّرينني باسمك؟ أنا نسيت.
Hal tadhkkirina bi-ismik? Ana nasitu.
Will you remind me of your name? I've forgotten.
The verb ذكّر holds significant importance in Arabic culture and Islamic tradition, where remembrance (dhikr) is considered a spiritual and moral practice. In Islamic contexts, reminding others of faith and moral principles is highly valued, making this verb frequently used in religious and educational discourse. The concept of mutual reminding appears throughout Islamic literature and daily Arabic communication, emphasizing the communal responsibility to help others remember important values and commitments.
ذكّر is a transitive verb that typically requires an object (either a person being reminded or a thing being recalled). When used with a person, it's followed by the preposition 'bi' (ب) to indicate what the person is being reminded of, as in 'ذكّرته بالموعد' (I reminded him of the appointment). This verb is particularly useful in formal and informal contexts, and English speakers should note that it emphasizes the action of one party causing another to remember, rather than the act of remembering itself.
The Arabic verb ذكّر (dhakkara) is a Form II (doubled) verb derived from the root ذ-ك-ر (dh-k-r), which relates to remembrance and memory. This verb translates to "to remind" or "to cause someone to remember" in English. As a causative form, it emphasizes the active role of one party in prompting another's memory.
ذكّر follows the pattern of Form II verbs with gemination (doubling) of the middle root letter. In the present tense, it conjugates as:
The past tense follows: ذكّرت، ذكّرتم، ذكّرن، etc.
ذكّر is predominantly used as a transitive verb requiring both a subject (the one reminding) and an object (the person or thing being remembered). When indicating what someone is being reminded of, the preposition ب (bi-) is typically used:
This verb appears frequently in everyday Arabic conversations, particularly in:
Understanding ذكّر becomes easier when connected to related terms:
In Arabic and Islamic culture, the act of reminding holds deep significance. The concept of dhikr (remembrance of God) is a central Islamic practice, and the verb ذكّر embodies this tradition of helping others remember important spiritual and moral values. The Qur'an frequently emphasizes mutual reminding as a community responsibility, making this verb particularly prominent in religious and educational discourse.
English speakers learning Arabic often confuse ذكّر (to remind) with تذكّر (to remember). Remember that:
Also note that ذكّر requires clarity about what is being remembered. Avoid using it without the preposition ب when specifying the object of remembrance.
In modern Standard Arabic (Fusha) and dialects, you'll encounter phrases like: