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A2 verb #550 más común 6 min de lectura

يَسْمَع

yasma'
Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos يَسْمَع en 30 segundos
Explicación يَسْمَع in your Level:
At the A1 level, you learn يَسْمَع as a basic action verb. You use it to describe simple sensory experiences. For example, 'I hear the teacher' or 'He hears the phone.' At this stage, you focus on the present tense conjugation for 'I' (أَسْمَع) and 'You' (تَسْمَع). You might use it to answer simple questions like 'Do you hear me?' (هل تسمعني؟). The focus is on immediate, physical hearing. You also learn the imperative form اِسْمَع (Listen!) which is very common in classroom settings. Vocabulary is kept simple, usually pairing the verb with common nouns like 'voice' (صوت), 'music' (موسيقى), or 'radio' (راديو). You are not yet expected to know the complex derived forms or the metaphorical meanings of the word.
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At the A2 level, you begin to use يَسْمَع in more varied contexts. You can talk about hearing news (يسمع الأخبار) or hearing about a friend's situation. You start to understand the difference between hearing a sound by chance and listening to something. You also learn the past tense سَمِعَ (sami'a), allowing you to say 'I heard a story yesterday.' At this level, you should be comfortable with all basic present tense conjugations (he, she, we, they). You also start to see the word in common social phrases, like 'I heard that you are traveling.' You begin to notice that 'hearing' can sometimes mean 'obeying' in family contexts, such as a child hearing their parents' words. Your sentences become slightly longer, often including adverbs like 'well' (جيداً) or 'clearly' (بوضوح).
At the B1 level, you move beyond simple sentences. You can use يَسْمَع to describe experiences in more detail, such as 'I heard a lecture about history.' You are expected to distinguish between يَسْمَع (to hear) and يَسْتَمِع (to listen) and use them correctly in context. You start to encounter the word in media, such as radio broadcasts or podcasts. You can also use the verb in conditional sentences, like 'If you hear the bell, come to the room.' You begin to learn the verbal noun (Masdar) سَمْع (hearing) and related words like سَمَّاعَة (headphones/hearing aid). You can participate in discussions about music or news where 'hearing' is a central action. You also start to understand the passive form يُسْمَع (is heard), such as 'The sound is heard from far away.'
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At the B2 level, you use يَسْمَع to express more abstract ideas. You might discuss the 'hearing' of a legal case in court or the 'hearing' of a political speech. You understand the nuances of the verb when it's used to mean 'to follow' or 'to comply.' You can use the verb in complex grammatical structures, such as with the particle أَنَّ to report indirect speech. You are familiar with common idioms involving the root S-M-A. You can follow a fast-paced conversation where people use the verb in various dialects. You also start to appreciate the use of the verb in literature to create atmosphere or to describe a character's internal state. You can distinguish between the active participle سَامِع (hearer) and the passive participle مَسْمُوع (audible/heard).
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At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the semantic field of يَسْمَع. You can analyze its use in classical texts, including the Quran and Hadith, where the attribute of 'The All-Hearing' (السَّمِيع) is a major theological concept. You understand the historical development of the word and its role in Arabic philosophy, particularly regarding the 'Sama'' (spiritual listening) in Sufi traditions. You can use the verb and its derivatives in academic writing and formal debates. You are sensitive to the subtle differences between يَسْمَع, يُنْصِت, and يُصْغِي. You can interpret metaphorical uses in complex poetry and modern literature. Your use of the verb is precise, and you can switch between formal and dialectal usage effortlessly depending on the social context.
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At the C2 level, your mastery of يَسْمَع is equivalent to that of a highly educated native speaker. You can engage in deep linguistic analysis of the root S-M-A and its various forms. You understand the most obscure idioms and archaic uses of the verb found in pre-Islamic poetry. You can use the verb to discuss complex theories of perception, acoustics, or communication. You are aware of the subtle sociolinguistic implications of using certain forms of the verb in different Arab regions. You can write sophisticated essays or give lectures where يَسْمَع is used as a central metaphor for understanding, empathy, or social harmony. You can play with the word's meanings in creative writing, using its various forms to create puns, alliteration, and deep layers of meaning.
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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

يَسْمَع en 30 segundos

  • The basic Arabic verb for 'to hear' or 'to listen.'
  • Used for physical sound perception and for obeying instructions.
  • Follows the Sami'a (past) / Yasma' (present) vowel pattern.
  • Essential for daily conversations, news, and religious contexts.

The Arabic verb يَسْمَع (yasma') is a fundamental pillar of communication in the Arabic language, primarily translating to 'to hear' or 'to listen.' Rooted in the triliteral root س-م-ع (s-m-a), it encompasses the physiological act of perceiving sound as well as the cognitive act of paying attention. In everyday life, you will encounter this word in contexts ranging from simple auditory checks—like asking if someone can hear you on a phone call—to profound religious and philosophical discussions about divine perception. Unlike English, where 'hear' (passive) and 'listen' (active) are strictly separated, يَسْمَع often bridges both meanings, though the Form VIII variant يَسْتَمِع (yastami') is more specifically dedicated to 'listening' with intent.

Physical Perception
This is the most common usage. It refers to the ear's ability to catch sounds, such as noise in the street, music from a distance, or a person's voice. If you are in a crowded market and someone calls your name, you would use this verb to describe the moment the sound reaches your ears.
Obedience and Compliance
In many Arabic dialects and in Classical Arabic, 'hearing' is synonymous with 'obeying.' When a parent tells a child اِسْمَع الكَلام (isma' al-kalam), they aren't just asking the child to perceive the vibrations of their voice; they are commanding them to 'listen and obey' or 'follow the instructions.'
Social Reception
The verb is used to describe the act of receiving news or rumors. Phrases like 'I heard that...' use the past tense سَمِعْتُ أَنَّ (sami'tu anna), indicating that information has reached the subject through the social grapevine.

الطالب يَسْمَع نصيحة الأستاذ بعناية.

Translation: The student hears (and listens to) the teacher's advice carefully.

هل تَسْمَع هذا الصوت الغريب؟

Translation: Do you hear this strange sound?

The verb follows the pattern of Form I verbs (Fa'ala/Yaf'alu), specifically the 'bab' where the middle radical has a 'kasra' in the past tense (سَمِعَ - sami'a) and a 'fatha' in the present tense (يَسْمَع - yasma'). This vowel shift is crucial for learners to master, as it distinguishes it from other verb patterns. When using it in the present tense, you must be mindful of the subject prefixes: أَسْمَع (I hear), تَسْمَع (you/she hears), يَسْمَع (he hears), and نَسْمَع (we hear). In modern digital contexts, you'll hear this verb constantly during Zoom calls or phone conversations: هل تسمعني؟ (Hal tasma'uni? - Do you hear me?).

Using يَسْمَع correctly requires understanding its transitivity and its relationship with prepositions. Generally, the verb is transitive, meaning it takes a direct object (the thing being heard). However, when you want to emphasize the act of listening *to* someone or something with focus, you might see it used with the preposition إلى (ila), although this is more common with the derived form يَسْتَمِع.

Direct Object Usage
When you hear a sound, music, or a voice directly. Example: يَسْمَعُ الرَّجُلُ الأَذَانَ (The man hears the call to prayer). Here, 'the call to prayer' is the direct object in the accusative case (Mansub).
The 'An' Clause
Often used to report news. يَسْمَعُ النَّاسُ أَنَّ الأَسْعَارَ سَتَرْتَفِعُ (People hear that prices will rise). The particle أَنَّ (anna) introduces a nominal sentence acting as the object of hearing.

لا يَسْمَعُ الجَدُّ جَيِّداً بِدُونِ سَمَّاعَة.

Translation: The grandfather does not hear well without a hearing aid.

In negative sentences, use لا (la) for the general present: أنا لا أَسْمَعُ الموسيقى الصاخبة (I don't hear/listen to loud music). If you are referring to a specific moment in the past using the jussive, you would use لَمْ (lam) followed by the jussive form يَسْمَعْ: لَمْ يَسْمَعْ أَحَدٌ الانفجار (No one heard the explosion). For the future, use سَوْفَ or the prefix سـ: سَيَسْمَعُ العَالَمُ كُلُّهُ قِصَّتَنَا (The whole world will hear our story).

The verb يَسْمَع is ubiquitous across all registers of Arabic. From the streets of Cairo to the newsrooms of Al Jazeera, its presence is constant. In Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), it is the standard term for auditory perception. In dialects (Ammiya), the pronunciation might shift slightly (e.g., 'yisma' in Levantine or Egyptian), but the core meaning remains identical. You will hear it in the following common scenarios:

  • Telecommunications: 'Can you hear me?' is سامعني؟ (Saami'ni?) in dialect or هل تسمعني؟ in MSA.
  • Classrooms: Teachers often say اسمعوا جيداً (Isma'u jayyidan) - Listen well!
  • Media: News anchors say نسمع الآن إلى تقرير... (We are hearing/listening now to a report...).
  • Religious Contexts: The phrase سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه (Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah) - 'Allah hears those who praise Him' is recited by millions of Muslims daily during prayer.

كل يوم يَسْمَعُ الموظف شكاوى الزبائن.

Translation: Every day, the employee hears the customers' complaints.

In literature and poetry, يَسْمَع is used to describe the soul's reception of beauty or truth. It is not just about the ears; it's about the 'heart's hearing.' You might find a poet writing about how the earth 'hears' the footsteps of spring. This metaphorical usage is a hallmark of high-level Arabic prose. In legal contexts, a judge 'hears' a case (يَسْمَعُ القاضي القَضِيَّة), mirroring the English legal terminology.

Learners of Arabic often stumble on several points when using يَسْمَع. The most frequent error involves confusing it with its Form VIII counterpart يَسْتَمِع (yastami'). While يَسْمَع is often passive (hearing a noise), يَسْتَمِع is active (listening to a podcast). Using يَسْمَع when you mean 'to listen intentionally' can sometimes sound slightly unnatural in formal contexts.

Vowel Confusion
Many students try to say يَسْمِع (yasmi') with a kasra on the 'meem'. This is incorrect. The present tense must have a fatha: يَسْمَع (yasma'). The kasra belongs in the past tense: سَمِعَ (sami'a).
Preposition Overuse
English speakers often want to add 'to' (إلى) after يَسْمَع because of the English 'listen to.' While permissible in some contexts, يَسْمَع usually takes a direct object. Say أسمع الموسيقى (I hear the music), not necessarily أسمع إلى الموسيقى unless you are using the verb يستمع.

خطأ: هو يَسْمِع الخبر.
صح: هو يَسْمَعُ الخَبَرَ.

Arabic is a language of precision. While يَسْمَع is the general verb for hearing, several other verbs and forms offer more specific nuances. Understanding these will elevate your Arabic from basic to fluent.

يَسْتَمِع (Yastami')
Form VIII. This means 'to listen' with intention. Use this for listening to music, a lecture, or a friend's problems. It implies focus and effort.
يَتَسَمَّع (Yatasamma')
Form V. This often means 'to eavesdrop' or 'to listen secretly.' It carries a connotation of trying to catch sounds that aren't meant for you.
يُنْصِت (Yunsit)
This is a higher-level verb meaning 'to listen in silence and with total concentration.' It is often used in the context of listening to the Quran or a very important speech.

المقارنة:
1. يَسْمَع الضجيج (He hears the noise - passive).
2. يَسْتَمِع للأغنية (He listens to the song - active).

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"يَسْمَعُ سِيَادَةُ القَاضِي إِلى إِفَادَةِ الشَّاهِد."

Neutral

"يَسْمَعُ النَّاسُ الرَّادِيُو فِي الصَّبَاح."

Informal

"اِسْمَعْ يَا صَاحِبِي، عِنْدِي فِكْرَة."

Child friendly

"اِسْمَعْ كَلامَ مَامَا يَا حَبِيبِي."

Jerga

"سَمِّعْنَا سُكُوتَك! (Let us hear your silence - meaning: Shut up!)"

Dato curioso

The root S-M-A is the basis for the word 'Sama'', which in Sufi traditions refers to a spiritual concert or dance (like the Whirling Dervishes) where 'hearing' is a form of prayer.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /ˈjasməʕ/
US /ˈjasməʕ/
The stress is on the first syllable: YAS-ma'.
Rima con
يجمع (yajma' - to collect) يمنع (yamna' - to prevent) يرجع (yarja' - to return) يدفع (yadfa' - to push/pay) يقطع (yaqta' - to cut) يرفع (yarfa' - to raise) يصنع (yasna' - to make) يطمع (yatma' - to covet)
Errores comunes
  • Pronouncing the 'ayn' as a simple 'a' or 'h'.
  • Putting the stress on the second syllable.
  • Confusing the fatha on the 'meem' with a kasra (yas-mi').
  • Not making the 's' sharp enough.
  • Merging the 'ya' and 'seen' too quickly.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Easy to recognize the root, but must watch for short vowels.

Escritura 3/5

The 'ayn' at the end can be tricky for beginners to connect.

Expresión oral 4/5

The pharyngeal 'ayn' is a major hurdle for English speakers.

Escucha 2/5

Very common word, usually easy to pick out in speech.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

صوت أذن قال تكلم أنا

Aprende después

يستمع ينصت خبر نصيحة أغنية

Avanzado

السميع إصغاء تسمع مسموعية صمم

Gramática que debes saber

Present Tense Conjugation

أنا أَسْمَع، أنتَ تَسْمَع، هو يَسْمَع.

The Jussive Mood (Majzum)

لَمْ يَسْمَعْ (He did not hear).

The Subjunctive Mood (Mansub)

أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْمَعَ (I want to hear).

Transitivity

يسمع الصوت (Takes a direct object).

The Root System

S-M-A is the root for all related words.

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Ejemplos por nivel

1

أنا أَسْمَعُ الأستاذ.

I hear the teacher.

First person singular present tense.

2

هل تَسْمَعُ الموسيقى؟

Do you hear the music?

Second person masculine singular question.

3

هو يَسْمَعُ صَوْتَ القِطَّة.

He hears the cat's voice.

Third person masculine singular.

4

نَحْنُ نَسْمَعُ الراديو.

We hear the radio.

First person plural.

5

اِسْمَعْ يا أَحْمَد!

Listen, Ahmed!

Imperative (command) form.

6

هِيَ تَسْمَعُ أُمَّهَا.

She hears her mother.

Third person feminine singular.

7

أنا لا أَسْمَعُ شَيْئاً.

I don't hear anything.

Negative present tense with 'la'.

8

هَلْ تَسْمَعِينَ الصَّوْتَ؟

Do you (f) hear the sound?

Second person feminine singular.

1

سَمِعْتُ خَبَراً جَمِيلاً اليَوْمَ.

I heard beautiful news today.

Past tense first person.

2

يَسْمَعُ الطُّلابُ الدَّرْسَ كُلَّ يَوْم.

The students hear the lesson every day.

Present tense with a plural subject.

3

أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْمَعَ رَأْيَكَ.

I want to hear your opinion.

Subjunctive mood after 'an'.

4

لَمْ يَسْمَعِ الوَلَدُ نَصِيحَةَ أَبِيهِ.

The boy did not hear (listen to) his father's advice.

Jussive mood after 'lam'.

5

تَسْمَعُ البِنْتُ القِصَّةَ قَبْلَ النَّوْم.

The girl hears the story before sleep.

Habitual present tense.

6

سَمِعْنَا أَنَّكَ سَتُسَافِرُ.

We heard that you will travel.

Past tense plural with 'anna'.

7

هل سَمِعْتَ هذا الألبوم الجديد؟

Have you heard this new album?

Past tense question.

8

يَسْمَعُ الجِيرانُ ضَجِيجاً في الشَّارِع.

The neighbors hear noise in the street.

Present tense with plural subject.

1

يَجِبُ أَنْ نَسْمَعَ لِكُلِّ الآراءِ قَبْلَ القَرار.

We must hear all opinions before the decision.

Modal construction with 'yajibu an'.

2

كُنْتُ أَسْمَعُ الموسيقى عِنْدَمَا اتَّصَلْتَ بِي.

I was hearing music when you called me.

Past continuous tense.

3

يَسْمَعُ المُدِيرُ شَكَاوَى المُوَظَّفِينَ بِصَبْر.

The manager hears the employees' complaints with patience.

Present tense describing a professional context.

4

هَلْ يُمْكِنُكَ أَنْ تُسْمِعَنِي صَوْتَكَ؟

Can you make me hear your voice? (Let me hear you)

Form IV causative 'usmi'a'.

5

سَمِعْتُ عَنْ هذا المَطْعَمِ الكَثِيرَ مِنَ المَدْح.

I heard a lot of praise about this restaurant.

Past tense with preposition 'an'.

6

يَسْمَعُ النَّاسُ فِي القَرْيَةِ أَخْبَارَ بَعْضِهِمْ.

People in the village hear each other's news.

Present tense describing social dynamics.

7

لا تَسْمَعْ لِكلامِ النَّاسِ السَّلْبِي.

Do not hear (listen to) people's negative talk.

Prohibitive 'la' with jussive.

8

سَمِعَ الجُمْهُورُ خِطَابَ الرَّئِيسِ باهْتِمَام.

The audience heard the president's speech with interest.

Past tense with abstract object.

1

يَسْمَعُ القَاضِي شَهَادَةَ الشُّهُودِ فِي المَحْكَمَة.

The judge hears the witnesses' testimony in court.

Legal context usage.

2

لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ الكَثِيرَ عَنْ إِنْجَازَاتِكَ العِلْمِيَّة.

I have heard a lot about your scientific achievements.

Present perfect sense with 'laqad'.

3

يَسْمَعُ المُثَقَّفُونَ إِلى نَقْدِ بَعْضِهِمْ البَعْض.

Intellectuals hear (listen to) each other's criticism.

Reflexive social context.

4

مَنْ يَسْمَعْ يَسْتَفِدْ مِنَ التَّجَارِب.

Whoever hears (listens) benefits from experiences.

Conditional sentence with 'man'.

5

سَمِعْتُ أَنَّ الشَّرِكَةَ سَتُسَرِّحُ بَعْضَ العُمَّال.

I heard that the company will lay off some workers.

Reporting rumors/news.

6

يَسْمَعُ القَلْبُ مَا لا تَسْمَعُهُ الأُذُن.

The heart hears what the ear does not hear.

Metaphorical usage.

7

هَلْ سَمِعْتَ بِآخِرِ التَّطَوُّراتِ فِي المِنْطَقَة؟

Have you heard of the latest developments in the region?

Past tense with preposition 'bi'.

8

يَسْمَعُ الفَنَّانُ إِلْهَامَهُ فِي صَمْتِ اللَّيْل.

The artist hears his inspiration in the silence of the night.

Poetic/Literary usage.

1

يَسْمَعُ البَاحِثُ صَدَى التَّارِيخِ فِي الوَثَائِقِ القَدِيمَة.

The researcher hears the echo of history in old documents.

Highly metaphorical C1 level usage.

2

إِنَّ اللهَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ يَسْمَعُ دُعَاءَ المُضْطَرِّين.

Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing; He hears the prayer of the distressed.

Theological context with divine attributes.

3

يَسْمَعُ النَّاقِدُ مَا بَيْنَ السُّطُورِ فِي الرِّوَايَة.

The critic hears what is between the lines in the novel.

Abstract perception of meaning.

4

سَمِعْتُ لَهُ قَوْلاً لَمْ أَسْمَعْهُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ.

I heard from him a saying I haven't heard from anyone else.

Complex sentence structure with negation.

5

يَسْمَعُ الفَيْلَسُوفُ تَنَاغُمَ الكَوْنِ.

The philosopher hears the harmony of the universe.

Philosophical register.

6

لَمْ يَكُنْ يَسْمَعُ إِلا لِصَوْتِ ضَمِيرِهِ.

He used to hear nothing but the voice of his conscience.

Negative + 'illa' for restriction.

7

سَمِعْتُ بِأُذُنِي مَا لا يُصَدِّقُهُ عَقْل.

I heard with my own ear what a mind cannot believe.

Emphatic expression.

8

يَسْمَعُ المَرْءُ حَدِيثَ نَفْسِهِ فِي العُزْلَة.

One hears their inner monologue in solitude.

Psychological/Introspective usage.

1

يَسْمَعُ الصُّوفِيُّ فِي 'السَّمَاعِ' تَرَاتِيلَ الوُجُود.

The Sufi hears in the 'Sama' the hymns of existence.

Specialized spiritual terminology.

2

تَسْمَعُ الأَجْيَالُ القَادِمَةُ صَدَى قَرَارَاتِنَا اليَوْم.

Future generations will hear the echo of our decisions today.

Temporal metaphor.

3

يَسْمَعُ اللُّغَوِيُّ تَطَوُّرَ الدَّلالاتِ عَبْرَ العُصُور.

The linguist hears the evolution of meanings through the ages.

Academic/Specialized usage.

4

سَمِعْتُ الدَّهْرَ يُنَادِي بِالفَنَاء.

I heard Time calling out for annihilation.

Personification in high literature.

5

يَسْمَعُ العَالِمُ ذَبْذَبَاتِ الذَّرَّاتِ الصَّغِيرَة.

The scientist hears the vibrations of small atoms.

Scientific/Technical context.

6

لَوْ سَمِعْتَ أَنِينَ الأَرْضِ لَمَا ظَلَمْتَهَا.

If you heard the moaning of the earth, you would not have wronged it.

Hypothetical conditional with 'law'.

7

يَسْمَعُ الحَكِيمُ الصَّمْتَ كَمَا يَسْمَعُ الكَلام.

The wise man hears silence as he hears speech.

Paradoxical philosophical statement.

8

سَمِعْتُ فِي قَصَائِدِهِ نَبْضَ الشَّعْبِ المَقْهُور.

I heard in his poems the pulse of the oppressed people.

Literary analysis.

Colocaciones comunes

يسمع الصوت
يسمع الأخبار
يسمع النصيحة
يسمع الكلام
يسمع الموسيقى
يسمع نداء
يسمع شكوى
يسمع رأياً
يسمع صدى
يسمع همساً

Frases Comunes

سمعاً وطاعة

— I hear and obey. Used to show total compliance.

قال الجندي للقائد: سمعاً وطاعة.

هل تسمعني؟

— Do you hear me? Common on phone calls.

ألو، هل تسمعني جيداً؟

سمعتُ أنَّ...

— I heard that... Used to report news or rumors.

سمعتُ أنك نجحت في الامتحان.

على مسمع من...

— Within earshot of someone.

قال ذلك على مسمع من الجميع.

أسمعُكَ جيداً

— I hear you well.

تكلم، أنا أسمعك جيداً.

لم يسمع به أحد

— No one has heard of it/him. Refers to something obscure.

هذا كاتب جديد لم يسمع به أحد.

يسمع دبيب النمل

— He hears the ants' footsteps. Refers to very sharp hearing.

جدي سمعه قوي، يسمع دبيب النمل.

سمع به القاصي والداني

— Everyone far and near heard about it.

سمع بخبر فوزه القاصي والداني.

أسمع جعجعة ولا أرى طحناً

— I hear a lot of noise but see no action/results.

الوعود كثيرة، لكنني أسمع جعجعة ولا أرى طحناً.

من سَمِعَ ليس كمن رأى

— Hearing is not like seeing (Seeing is believing).

وصف لي المدينة، ولكن من سمع ليس كمن رأى.

Se confunde a menudo con

يَسْمَع vs يَسْمُ

Means 'to transcend' or 'to be high'. Very different meaning.

يَسْمَع vs يَسْمَح

Means 'to allow' or 'to permit'. Only one letter difference (ح vs ع).

يَسْمَع vs يَسِم

Means 'to brand' or 'to characterize'.

Modismos y expresiones

"ألقى السمع"

— To listen very carefully or pay close attention.

ألقى السمع للخطيب.

Literary
"سمع له"

— To obey someone.

سمع له القوم.

Formal
"أسمعه ما يكره"

— To insult someone or say things that upset them.

غضب منه وأسمعه ما يكره.

Neutral
"صمّ أذنيه عن"

— To refuse to hear or ignore something intentionally.

صم أذنيه عن النصيحة.

Neutral
"بملء سمعه"

— With his own ears (hearing it clearly).

سمع الخبر بملء سمعه.

Formal
"طرق سمعه"

— Something reached his ears (he heard it by chance).

طرق سمعه خبر غريب.

Literary
"أذن سامعة"

— A listening ear (someone willing to listen).

أحتاج إلى أذن سامعة.

Neutral
"سمع رنين"

— To hear a ring (often used for a phone or a bell).

سمعت رنين الهاتف.

Neutral
"يسمع لقلبه"

— To follow one's heart.

هو دائماً يسمع لقلبه.

Poetic
"أسمع العالم"

— To make the whole world hear (to become famous or make a big statement).

سأسمع العالم صوتي.

Metaphorical

Fácil de confundir

يَسْمَع vs يَسْتَمِع

Both mean listening/hearing.

Yastami' is intentional and active; Yasma' is often passive or general.

أسمع الضجيج ولكن أستمع للموسيقى.

يَسْمَع vs يُسْمِع

Small vowel change.

Yusmi' means 'to make someone hear' (Causative).

أسمعني صوتك.

يَسْمَع vs يُنْصِت

Both involve ears.

Yunsit is much more formal and implies silence and deep focus.

ينصت المسلمون للقرآن.

يَسْمَع vs يُصْغِي

Synonyms.

Yusghi implies 'tilting the ear' or paying close attention to a person.

يصغي الطبيب للمريض.

يَسْمَع vs يَتَسَمَّع

Same root.

Yatasamma' often implies eavesdropping or listening in a sneaky way.

لا تتسمع على جيرانك.

Patrones de oraciones

A1

أنا أسمع [Noun]

أنا أسمع الموسيقى.

A1

هل تسمع [Noun]؟

هل تسمع الصوت؟

A2

سمعتُ أن [Sentence]

سمعتُ أنك مريض.

A2

لا أسمع [Noun] جيداً

لا أسمع الأستاذ جيداً.

B1

يجب أن تسمع لـ [Person]

يجب أن تسمع لوالديك.

B1

كنتُ أسمع [Noun] عندما [Verb]

كنتُ أسمع الراديو عندما نمت.

B2

سمعتُ بـ [Event/News]

سمعتُ بوفاة الملك.

C1

ما إن سمعتُ [Noun] حتى [Verb]

ما إن سمعتُ الخبر حتى بكيت.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

سَمْع Hearing (the sense)
سَمَّاعَة Headphones / Hearing aid / Stethoscope
مَسْمَع Earshot / Place of hearing
سَمَاع Listening / Audition / Spiritual music
سَامِع Hearer / Listener
مَسْمُوع Audible / Heard

Verbos

سَمِعَ To hear (Past)
أَسْمَعَ To make someone hear / To broadcast
اسْتَمَعَ To listen
تَسَمَّعَ To eavesdrop

Adjetivos

سَمِيع All-Hearing (Divine attribute) / Good listener
سَمْعِيّ Auditory / Acoustic
مَسْمُوع Audible

Relacionado

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Extremely high; top 500 verbs.

Errores comunes
  • Saying 'yasmi'' instead of 'yasma''. → يَسْمَع (yasma')

    The present tense of this verb must have a fatha on the middle letter.

  • Using 'yasma' for listening to music in a formal essay. → يَسْتَمِع (yastami')

    'Yastami'' is more appropriate for intentional, focused listening.

  • Adding 'ila' (to) after 'yasma' unnecessarily. → يسمع الصوت (He hears the sound)

    'Yasma' is usually transitive and doesn't need 'ila' like the English 'listen to'.

  • Pronouncing the 'ayn' as a 'hamza' (yasma'). → يَسْمَع (with a deep 'ayn')

    The 'ayn' and 'hamza' are different letters; confusing them can change the meaning of words.

  • Using the past tense 'sami'a' with a fatha (sama'a). → سَمِعَ (sami'a)

    The past tense of this specific verb group always has a kasra on the middle letter.

Consejos

Vowel Shift

Remember the vowel shift: Sami'a (Past) has a kasra, but Yasma' (Present) has a fatha. This is a common pattern for Form I verbs.

Obedience

In many Arab cultures, 'hearing' is the first step to 'obeying.' If a child is called 'someone who doesn't hear,' it means they are naughty.

The Ayn

Don't ignore the 'ayn' at the end. It should be a clear, voiced sound from the middle of the throat, not just a breathy 'h'.

Context Clues

If you hear 'yasma' followed by 'anna,' expect news or a rumor to follow.

Direct Object

Usually, you don't need a preposition after 'yasma'. Just put the thing you hear directly after the verb.

Word Family

Learn 'Samma'a' (headphones) at the same time. It makes the verb easier to remember.

Yes Ma!

Use the 'Yes Ma!' trick to remember that hearing leads to obeying.

Politeness

When you want someone to listen to you, say 'Law samaht, isma'ni' (Please, listen to me) to be polite.

News

Watch the news and listen for 'Sami'na' (We heard) to see how journalists report information.

Divine Attribute

Knowing that 'Al-Sami'' is one of the names of God helps you understand the importance of this root in Arabic.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of 'YASMA' as 'Yes, Ma!'—what a child says when they HEAR and OBEY their mother.

Asociación visual

Imagine a giant ear (the 'seen' and 'meem' shapes) catching a sound wave (the 'ayn').

Word Web

Ear Sound Radio Obey Listen Headphones News Voice

Desafío

Try to use 'yasma' in three different ways today: hearing a noise, hearing the news, and telling someone to listen to you.

Origen de la palabra

From the Proto-Semitic root *š-m-ʿ, which is found in almost all Semitic languages including Hebrew (shama) and Syriac (shma'). It has always carried the dual meaning of physical hearing and obedience.

Significado original: To perceive sound and to respond to a command.

Afroasiatic -> Semitic -> Central Semitic -> Arabic.

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using the imperative 'Isma'!' (Listen!) as it can sound rude if not accompanied by 'please' or a soft tone.

English speakers often distinguish 'hear' and 'listen' more strictly than Arabic speakers do with 'yasma'.

The Divine Name 'Al-Sami'' (The All-Hearing). The phrase 'Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah' in prayer. The Sufi 'Sama'' ceremonies.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Phone Calls

  • هل تسمعني؟
  • الصوت غير مسموع
  • أسمعك بوضوح
  • لا أسمع شيئاً

Education

  • اسمعوا الدرس
  • هل سمعتم السؤال؟
  • سمعتُ الإجابة
  • يسمع الطالب نصيحة المعلم

Socializing

  • سمعتُ عنك كل خير
  • أريد أن أسمع قصتك
  • هل سمعت الخبر؟
  • اسمع مني

Music/Media

  • أسمع الموسيقى
  • نسمع الأخبار
  • سمعتُ هذه الأغنية
  • هل تسمع الراديو؟

Law/Formal

  • يسمع القاضي القضية
  • جلسة سماع
  • سمع الأقوال
  • على مسمع من الجميع

Inicios de conversación

"هل تسمع الموسيقى العربية عادة؟"

"ما هو آخر خبر سمعته اليوم؟"

"هل تسمع نصيحة أصدقائك دائماً؟"

"ماذا تفعل عندما تسمع ضجيجاً في الليل؟"

"هل تحب أن تسمع القصص القديمة؟"

Temas para diario

اكتب عن صوت جميل تحب أن تسمعه كل يوم ولماذا.

هل سمعت نصيحة غيرت حياتك؟ من قالها؟

صف ما تسمعه الآن في الغرفة التي تجلس فيها.

هل تعتقد أن الناس يسمعون لبعضهم البعض جيداً في هذه الأيام؟

اكتب قصة قصيرة تبدأ بجملة: 'سمعتُ صوتاً غريباً خلف الباب'.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

It can mean both. In general contexts, it's 'hear.' In social contexts like 'listen to your parents,' it means 'listen/obey.' For active listening like music, 'yastami' is better.

You say 'Sami'tu' (سَمِعْتُ). The 'tu' at the end indicates 'I'.

Yes, 'Hal tasma'uni?' (Do you hear me?) is the standard way to check the connection.

The root is S-M-A (س-م-ع). All words related to hearing come from this root.

For 'we,' you say 'nasma' (نَسْمَع).

Yes, especially in the phrase 'isma' al-kalam' (listen to the words), which means 'be obedient'.

'Yasma' is the basic act of hearing. 'Yastami' is the intentional act of listening.

You use the passive participle 'masmu'' (مَسْمُوع).

Yes, it is one of the most essential verbs in the Arabic language.

The imperative is 'Isma'!' (masculine), 'Isma'i!' (feminine), and 'Isma'u!' (plural).

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Ponte a prueba 180 preguntas

writing

Translate to Arabic: 'I hear the music.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'Do you hear me?'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'He heard the news yesterday.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'Listen to your father.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'We will hear the result soon.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'I want to hear your voice.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'She does not hear well.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'Did you hear what happened?'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'The students are hearing the lesson.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'I heard that you are traveling.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'Listen (f) to me carefully.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'No one heard the sound.'

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¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'He is a good listener.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'I love hearing the birds.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'The judge hears the witness.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'They (f) hear the radio.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'Have you (pl) heard the story?'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'I hear and obey.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'The sound is audible.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Arabic: 'Don't listen to him.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Pronounce 'يَسْمَعُ' correctly.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Pronounce 'سَمِعْتُ' correctly.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Pronounce 'اِسْمَعْ' correctly.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Pronounce 'سَمَّاعَة' correctly.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Pronounce 'مَسْمُوع' correctly.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Pronounce 'يَسْتَمِعُ' correctly.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Pronounce 'يَسْمَعُونَ' correctly.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Pronounce 'نَسْمَعُ' correctly.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Pronounce 'تَسْمَعِينَ' correctly.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Pronounce 'سَمِيعٌ' correctly.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'I hear you' in Arabic.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'Listen to me' in Arabic.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'We heard the news' in Arabic.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'Do you hear the music?' in Arabic.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'He doesn't hear' in Arabic.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'I heard that you are here' in Arabic.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'Listen (pl) to the teacher' in Arabic.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'I can't hear anything' in Arabic.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'The sound is very clear' in Arabic.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Say 'He obeys his parents' using 'yasma''.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Identify the verb: 'يَسْمَعُ' or 'يَسْمَحُ'?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Identify the tense: 'سَمِعَ' (Past) or 'يَسْمَعُ' (Present)?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Is the speaker saying 'أَسْمَعُ' (I hear) or 'نَسْمَعُ' (We hear)?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Is the word 'سَمَّاعَة' or 'سَاعَة'?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Is the speaker saying 'اِسْمَعْ' (Command) or 'سَمِعَ' (Past)?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Identify the subject: 'تَسْمَعُ' (You/She) or 'يَسْمَعُ' (He)?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Is the word 'مَسْمُوع' or 'مَمْنُوع'?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Identify the vowel on 'meem': 'yasma'u' or 'yasmi'u'?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Is the speaker saying 'يَسْتَمِعُ' or 'يَتَسَمَّعُ'?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Is the word 'سَمِيع' or 'سَرِيع'?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Identify the plural: 'يَسْمَعُونَ' or 'يَسْمَعْنَ'?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Is the speaker saying 'لَمْ يَسْمَعْ' or 'لا يَسْمَعُ'?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Identify the word: 'سَمْع' or 'شَمّ'?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Is the word 'أَسْمَعَ' (Form IV) or 'سَمِعَ' (Form I)?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Is the phrase 'سَمْعاً وَطَاعَةً' or 'سَهْلاً وَمَرْحَباً'?

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:

/ 180 correct

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