Arabic word sheet
اِسْتَطَاعَ
To be able to, can
- Type
- verb
- Root
- ط و ع
Meaning and usage
To be able to, can
To have the strength, the means or the opportunity to do something. Said of a person, about an act he or she manages to carry out.
اِسْتَطَاعَ سَامِي أَنْ يَحْمِلَ الصُّنْدُوقَ وَحْدَهُ.
Sami was able to carry the box by himself.
To afford, to manage to get
Followed directly by a thing: to be in a position to obtain it, to pay for it or to bear it.
اِسْتَطَاعَتْ سَلْمَى ثَمَنَ التَّذْكِرَةِ.
Salma could afford the price of the ticket.
Word family
What the root means ط و ع
The root carries the idea of yielding willingly, of complying with what is asked. From it come “to obey” and, in this verb, “to be able”, “ability”.
ability, capacity
اِسْتِطَاعَةٌ
to obey
أَطَاعَ
Synonyms
to be able, to bear
أَطَاقَ
It is said of any being or thing that has the strength to bear a load, whereas the headword is said of a person who has the means to act.
to be able, to have power over
قَدَرَ
It stresses the power one holds over a thing, and it is broader than the headword.
Opposites
to be unable
عَجَزَ