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Bought
اشترى (ishtarā) is the third-person masculine singular past tense of the verb شراء (shirāʾ), meaning 'he bought' or simply 'bought'. This is one of the most commonly used verbs in Arabic for transactions and everyday commerce. It's a regular past tense verb that can be conjugated to express different subjects and time references.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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اشترى محمد كتاباً من المكتبة أمس.
Ishtarā Muhammad kitāban min al-maktabah ams.
Muhammad bought a book from the library yesterday.
اشترت هند فستاناً جميلاً في السوق.
Ishtarat Hind fustānan jamīlan fī al-sūq.
Hind bought a beautiful dress in the market.
اشتروا منزلاً كبيراً في الحي الجديد.
Ishtarū manzilan kabīran fī al-hayy al-jadīd.
They bought a large house in the new neighborhood.
لماذا اشتريت هذا الشيء الغالي؟
Limādhā ishtarayta hādhā al-shayʾ al-ghālī?
Why did you buy this expensive thing?
In Arabic culture, shopping and bargaining are important social activities, especially in traditional souks and markets. The verb اشترى is frequently used in daily conversations about purchases, from groceries to real estate. Negotiation over prices is a culturally significant practice, and knowing how to discuss purchases properly is essential for anyone engaging with Arab communities.
Remember that اشترى is the past tense form for 'he/it bought'. For other subjects, you need to conjugate it accordingly (اشترت for 'she', اشتروا for 'they', اشتريت for 'I', etc.). When using this verb, it typically takes a direct object (the thing being bought) and can be followed by 'من' (from) to indicate the seller or place of purchase.
اشترى (ishtarā) is the third-person masculine singular past tense form of the verb شراء (shirāʾ), which means 'to buy' or 'to purchase'. In Arabic, this is one of the most frequently used verbs for expressing the action of acquiring goods or services in exchange for money. The word literally translates to 'he bought' or simply 'bought' when used in context.
The root of this verb is ش-ر-ي (sh-r-y), which is classified as a hollow verb in Arabic due to the presence of the vowel ا (alif) in the middle. This root undergoes specific conjugation patterns based on the subject performing the action.
The past tense conjugation of شراء (shirāʾ) includes:
The verb اشترى is used to describe completed purchases in the past. It takes a direct object to indicate what was bought, and often includes prepositional phrases to specify location or seller. For example:
Shopping and commerce play an important role in Arab culture, particularly in traditional markets (souqs) where bargaining is an expected social interaction. The verb اشترى is integral to daily conversations about purchases, from food at the marketplace to major acquisitions like property. Understanding how to use this verb correctly demonstrates respect for cultural practices and facilitates meaningful interactions with native speakers.
When using اشترى, you'll often encounter related vocabulary:
The opposite action is expressed by باع (bāʿa), meaning 'he sold'. Understanding both buying and selling verbs is essential for commercial conversations. Other related but distinct verbs include أعار (aʿāra), meaning 'he lent', and استأجر (istaʾjara), meaning 'he rented'.
When learning to use اشترى, remember that it is a past tense verb that must be conjugated based on the subject. Pay attention to the vowel patterns, as this hollow verb has specific rules. Practice using it with direct objects and prepositional phrases to describe complete purchase scenarios. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the present and future tenses of this verb to express ongoing or future purchasing activities.
Some frequently used expressions with اشترى include:
Mastering this essential verb will significantly enhance your ability to discuss purchases and engage in commercial interactions in Arabic-speaking communities.