Arabic word sheet
كَبِيرٌ
great, big; old
- Type
- adjective
- Root
- ك ب ر
Meaning and usage
Big, great
Beyond the ordinary in size, amount, importance or rank. Said of an object, a place, a person of high standing. It is the opposite of “small”.
يَسْكُنُ سَامِي فِي بَيْتٍ كَبِيرٍ.
Sami lives in a big house.
Old, grown-up
Advanced in age, or simply past childhood. Said of a person in relation to younger ones.
جَدُّ لَيْلَى كَبِيرٌ فِي السِّنِّ.
Layla's grandfather is old.
Serious, hard to bear
Heavy in consequences or hard to bear. Said of a mistake, a matter, a hardship.
هَذَا خَطَأٌ كَبِيرٌ.
This is a serious mistake.
Plural
كِبَارٌ
Word family
What the root means ك ب ر
The root carries the idea of greatness: in size, in age or in rank. From it come “to grow up, to grow old”, “old age”, “greater”, “very big”, “great in rank” and “haughty”, one who makes himself out greater than he is.
to grow up, to grow old
كَبِرَ
old age
كِبَرٌ
greater, older
haughty, proud
مُتَكَبِّرٌ
very big
كُبَارٌ
great in rank, noble
كَابِرٌ
Synonyms
great, immense, mighty
Stronger: it speaks of a greatness that impresses, in importance or worth, rather than mere size or age.
Opposites
small, young
صَغِيرٌ