Arabic word sheet
يَدٌ
Hand
- Type
- noun
- Root
- ي د ي
Meaning and usage
Hand
The part of the body from the fingertips to the wrist, with which one takes and holds things.
غَسَلَ سَامِي يَدَهُ قَبْلَ الْأَكْلِ.
Sami washed his hand before eating.
Arm
Also said of the whole limb, from the shoulder to the fingertips.
رَفَعَتْ لَيْلَى يَدَهَا فِي الصَّفِّ.
Layla raised her arm in class.
Handle
The part of a tool that is held in the hand: the handle of an axe, of a hand mill.
اِنْكَسَرَتْ يَدُ الْفَأْسِ فِي الْحَدِيقَةِ.
The handle of the axe broke in the garden.
Favour, kindness
A good turn done to someone, a service or favour for which he remains obliged.
لِلْجَارِ يَدٌ عَلَى سَامِي.
The neighbour has done Sami a favour.
Power, authority
The strength or power one has over something; what is “under someone's hand” is under his control.
الْمَدْرَسَةُ تَحْتَ يَدِ الْمُدِيرِ.
The school is under the headmaster's authority.
Plural
أَيْدٍ / أَيَادٍ
Word family
What the root means ي د ي
The root names the hand, with which one gives and acts. A favour is called a “hand” because giving is done with the hand; hence also “manual”, “a little hand” and “skilled with the hands”.
manual, done by hand
يَدَوِيٌّ
a little hand
يُدَيَّةٌ
skilled with the hands
يَدِيٌّ
Synonyms
palm, hand
كَفٌّ
It names more precisely the palm with the fingers, never the arm.
a favour, a benefit
نِعْمَةٌ
It matches only the sense of a favour and has nothing to do with the body.