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A2 verb #3,000 most common 10 min read

يكسب

yaksib Top 3,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips يكسب in 30 Seconds

Explanation يكسب in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most basic meaning of 'يكسب' (yak-si-bu), which is 'to earn money'. Imagine you are talking about a job. You can say 'هو يكسب المال' (He earns money). This is a simple Subject-Verb-Object sentence. At this stage, don't worry about complex grammar. Just remember that 'يكسب' relates to work and getting paid. You might also hear it in very simple games where you 'earn points' (يكسب نقاطاً). Think of it as the opposite of 'spending' (يصرف). If you work, you earn; if you go to the market, you spend. It is one of the first verbs you will need to describe your daily life and profession. Try to practice it with simple subjects: 'أنا أكسب' (I earn), 'أنت تكسب' (You earn). Keep your sentences short and focused on tangible things like cash or coins. This will help you build a solid foundation for more abstract uses later on. Remember, the word starts with a 'Ya' because it is in the present tense for 'he'. If you want to say 'I earn', change the 'Ya' to an 'Alif': 'أكسب'. This pattern is common for all verbs you will learn at this level.

At the A2 level, you can begin to expand your use of 'يكسب' beyond just physical money. You will start to see it used for 'gaining' things like time or simple advantages. For example, 'يكسب الوقت' (to earn/save time). This is very useful when talking about travel or efficiency. You should also be comfortable with the past tense 'كسب' (ka-sa-ba). For instance, 'كسبتُ الجائزة' (I won/earned the prize). At this level, you are expected to understand basic subject-verb agreement for both masculine and feminine subjects. Remember that for a feminine subject like 'هي' (she) or 'البنت' (the girl), the verb becomes 'تكسب' (tak-si-bu). You can also start using the preposition 'من' (from) to describe where the earning comes from: 'يكسب المال من العمل' (He earns money from work). This adds more detail to your sentences. You might also encounter it in social contexts, like 'earning respect' (يكسب الاحترام), which is a common phrase in Arabic-speaking cultures. Focus on building these two-to-three word combinations (collocations) to sound more natural. You should also be able to negate the verb using 'لا' for the present tense: 'هو لا يكسب الكثير' (He doesn't earn much).

At the B1 level, you should be able to use 'يكسب' in more complex sentence structures and varied contexts. This includes business, sports, and social interactions. You will likely encounter the word in news articles or intermediate reading materials. You should understand the difference between 'يكسب' (to earn) and 'يربح' (to profit/win). For example, in a business context, a company 'يكسب أرباحاً' (earns profits). You can also use the verb with abstract nouns like 'خبرة' (experience) or 'ثقة' (trust). 'هو يكسب خبرة جديدة كل يوم' (He gains new experience every day). At this stage, you should also be familiar with the dual and plural forms of the verb. For example, 'هما يكسبان' (They [two] earn) and 'هم يكسبون' (They [many] earn). You should also start using the verb in conditional sentences: 'إذا عملت بجد، ستكسب الكثير' (If you work hard, you will earn a lot). This level requires a deeper understanding of how the verb functions as a 'transitive' verb, often taking a direct object without a preposition. You should also be aware of the passive form 'يُكسب' (to be earned), which is common in proverbs and formal writing, such as 'السمعة الطيبة تُكسب بالصدق' (A good reputation is earned through honesty).

At the B2 level, your usage of 'يكسب' should reflect an understanding of its rhetorical and stylistic potential. You can use it to describe nuanced social dynamics, such as 'earning someone's heart' (يكسب قلب شخص) or 'earning a reputation' (يكسب سمعة). You should be able to use the verb in the subjunctive mood (after 'أن', 'لن', etc.) and the jussive mood correctly. For example, 'يجب عليه أن يكسبَ ثقتهم' (He must earn their trust). At this level, you should also be able to distinguish between Form I 'كسب' and Form VIII 'اكتسب'. While 'كسب' is general, 'اكتسب' (ik-ta-sa-ba) often implies a more gradual or cumulative process, like acquiring a language or a habit. You should also be comfortable using 'يكسب' in the context of legal or economic discussions, such as 'earning interest' or 'earning a livelihood' (يكسب رزقه). Your vocabulary should include related nouns like 'مكسب' (gain/profit) and 'كاسب' (earner). You can use these to create more complex sentences: 'كان المكسب كبيراً' (The gain was large). You should also be able to discuss the word's usage in different registers—from the informal 'shopping' talk to the formal 'economic report' style. This includes understanding idiomatic expressions where 'يكسب' might not translate literally to 'earn' in English but conveys a similar sense of acquisition.

At the C1 level, you are expected to handle 'يكسب' with the precision of a native speaker. This involves using it in academic, literary, and philosophical contexts. You should be able to discuss the concept of 'acquisition' (السب) in classical Arabic texts, including its theological implications regarding human actions and divine will. You will use the verb to describe complex socio-political gains, such as 'earning political capital' or 'earning a place in history'. You should be able to analyze the nuances between 'يكسب' and its many synonyms like 'ينال', 'يحظى', and 'يستقطب' in sophisticated writing. For example, why would an author choose 'يكسب' over 'يحصل على' in a specific poetic or rhetorical context? You should also be proficient in using the verb in complex grammatical structures, such as 'hal' (circumstantial) clauses or intricate relative clauses. Your use of the word should be idiomatic and natural, incorporating it into metaphors and proverbs seamlessly. You should also be aware of how the word's meaning can shift slightly in different Arabic dialects, even as you maintain mastery of its Modern Standard Arabic form. At this level, you can use the verb to express subtle irony or sarcasm, such as 'يكسب عداء الجميع' (earning everyone's enmity), where the 'gain' is actually a negative consequence. This level of mastery demonstrates a deep connection to the language's cultural and historical layers.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'يكسب' is complete and covers the full historical and linguistic spectrum of the Arabic language. You can interpret and use the word as it appears in pre-Islamic poetry, the Quran, classical jurisprudence (fiqh), and contemporary high-level journalism. You understand the intricate relationship between the root ك-س-ب and other roots with similar semantic fields. You can engage in deep linguistic analysis of the verb's morphology and its various derived forms (like Form II 'كسّب' - to make someone earn). In academic writing, you use 'يكسب' to describe the 'acquisition' of knowledge or 'epistemological gains' with absolute precision. You are familiar with rare and archaic uses of the word found in classical dictionaries like 'Lisan al-Arab'. You can also navigate the most subtle register shifts, knowing exactly when to use 'يكسب' for a dignified, formal tone versus when a more colloquial variant might be appropriate for stylistic effect. Your command of the word allows you to use it in creative writing to evoke specific cultural resonances, playing on its dual meaning of material wealth and moral responsibility. You are essentially at the level where you could teach the nuances of this word to others, explaining not just what it means, but how it has evolved and how it anchors various aspects of Arabic thought and expression.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

يكسب in 30 Seconds

A versatile verb meaning 'to earn' money, respect, or time through effort.
Commonly used in business, sports, and social contexts to describe acquisition.
Distinguished from 'winning' by the implication of work and merit.
Essential for describing jobs, salaries, and personal achievements in Arabic.

The Arabic verb يكسب (yak-si-bu) is a fundamental Form I verb derived from the root k-s-b (ك-س-ب). At its core, it signifies the act of obtaining, acquiring, or gaining something, typically through effort, labor, or merit. While most commonly associated with financial earnings, its semantic field is broad, encompassing the acquisition of abstract concepts like respect, experience, time, and even spiritual rewards. In the modern context, it is the primary word used to describe earning a salary or making a profit in business. However, to truly master this word, one must understand its nuance compared to words like 'win' or 'receive'. Unlike a gift, which is received without effort, or a lottery win, which is based on chance, يكسب implies an active participation or a trade-off of services for value.

Financial Context: In everyday conversation, this is the go-to verb for 'earning a living'. If you are talking about your job or how much someone makes per month, you use this verb. It connects the effort of work to the result of income.

الموظف المجتهد يكسب راتباً جيداً كل شهر.

The hardworking employee earns a good salary every month.

Beyond the wallet, يكسب thrives in the realm of social capital. In Arabic culture, reputation and respect are 'earned' through behavior and lineage. When someone says 'You earned my respect,' they are using this verb to signify that your actions have created a value that they now acknowledge. It is also used in competitive environments, such as sports or debates, where it can mean 'to win' a point or 'to gain' an advantage. In these cases, the 'earning' is the result of strategic play or superior skill.

Abstract Gain: This refers to non-tangible assets like trust (الثقة), time (الوقت), or experience (الخبرة). For instance, taking a shortcut might 'earn' you ten minutes of time.

Historically, the root also carries a heavy theological weight. In Islamic philosophy, the concept of 'Kasb' (acquisition) was central to debates about free will and predestination. Scholars argued over whether humans 'create' their actions or merely 'acquire' (yak-si-bu) the responsibility for them. This deep-seated history means that even in modern usage, the word carries a sense of personal accountability. What you 'earn' is yours to keep, but it is also something you are responsible for. Whether it is money from a trade or the consequences of an action, the verb links the doer directly to the outcome.

من خلال الصدق، يكسب التاجر ثقة الزبائن.

Through honesty, the merchant earns the trust of the customers.

Metaphorical Usage: You can 'earn' a war (win it), 'earn' a heart (win someone's love), or 'earn' a sin (commit a deed that results in spiritual loss). The versatility is immense.

Using يكسب correctly involves understanding its transitivity. It is a transitive verb, meaning it almost always takes a direct object—the thing being earned. The sentence structure typically follows the Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) or Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern. In modern standard Arabic (MSA), SVO is very common in news and casual writing. For example, 'The company earns profits' would be 'الشركة تكسب أرباحاً'. Notice how the verb changes to 'تكسب' (tak-si-bu) to agree with the feminine noun 'الشركة'.

Subject-Verb Agreement: The verb must agree in gender with the subject. هو يكسب (He earns), هي تكسب (She earns), نحن نكسب (We earn). In the plural, it becomes هم يكسبون (They earn).

نحن نكسب الخبرة من تجاربنا الفاشلة.

We gain experience from our failed trials.

When using يكسب in the context of money, you often specify the source using the preposition 'من' (from). For example, 'He earns money from his work' is 'يكسب المال من عمله'. If you are talking about winning a prize or a competition where the 'earning' is the result of the win, you can also use this verb, though 'يفوز' is more specific for the act of winning itself. يكسب focuses more on the acquisition of the prize.

The Passive Form: The passive 'يُكسب' (yuk-sa-bu) means 'to be earned'. For example, 'Respect is earned, not given' translates to 'الاحترام يُكسب ولا يُعطى'. This is a powerful rhetorical structure in Arabic.

In business reports, you will frequently see the present participle form 'كاسب' (earner/winner) or the noun 'مكسب' (gain/profit). However, the verb form يكسب is the engine of the sentence. It describes the ongoing process of generation. If you are describing a habitual action (e.g., 'He earns 50 dollars a day'), the present tense يكسب is perfect. If you want to describe a completed gain, you shift to the past tense 'كسب' (ka-sa-ba).

هل تكسب ما يكفي من المال للعيش؟

Do you earn enough money to live?

Negation: To negate the verb in the present, use 'لا'. Example: 'هو لا يكسب الكثير' (He doesn't earn much). To negate the future, use 'لن': 'لن يكسب شيئاً' (He will earn nothing).

You will encounter يكسب in a variety of high-frequency environments. Perhaps the most common is the world of finance and employment. If you tune into an Arabic news channel like Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya, the business segment (النشرة الاقتصادية) will be filled with this verb. They discuss companies 'earning' profits, stocks 'gaining' value, and countries 'earning' foreign currency. It is the language of the bazaar updated for the 21st-century global economy.

The Workplace: During job interviews or salary negotiations, you might hear 'كم ستكسب؟' (How much will you earn?). It is a direct and necessary word for professional life.

توقعات بأن يكسب القطاع السياحي مليارات الدولارات.

Expectations that the tourism sector will earn billions of dollars.

In the sporting world, commentators use يكسب to describe a team winning a match or gaining a point. While 'يفوز' (wins) is the standard for the victory itself, يكسب is often used for the 'points' or 'advantage' gained. For example, 'اللاعب يكسب نقطة' (The player earns a point). This usage highlights the 'accumulation' aspect of the verb—you are adding something to your tally.

Gaming and Apps: If you use apps or play games in Arabic, you will constantly see 'اكسب مكافأة' (Earn a reward) or 'يكسب نقاطاً' (Earning points). It is the standard term for gamified rewards.

Religious and moral discourse is another major arena for this word. In Friday sermons (خطبة الجمعة) or moral lessons, speakers often talk about how a person 'earns' (يكسب) good deeds (حسنات) or sins (سيئات). Here, life is viewed as a marketplace where every action has a 'gain' or 'loss' for the afterlife. This gives the word a profound weight that goes beyond just a paycheck; it is about the ultimate outcome of one's existence.

المؤمن يكسب الأجر من خلال مساعدة الآخرين.

The believer earns reward through helping others.

News Headlines: 'المرشح يكسب تأييد الناخبين' (The candidate earns the support of voters). This is a classic headline structure in political reporting.

One of the most frequent errors learners make is confusing يكسب (to earn) with يفوز (to win). While they overlap in English (e.g., 'He won the money' vs 'He earned the money'), Arabic maintains a sharper distinction. يفوز is used for competitions, races, or games where there is a winner and a loser. يكسب is used for the acquisition of the prize or the profit resulting from the effort. If you say 'يكسب السباق' (He earns the race), it sounds slightly off; you should say 'يفوز بالسباق' (He wins the race).

Confusing with 'ربح': 'يربح' (yar-ba-hu) specifically means 'to profit'. While 'يكسب' can mean profit, 'يربح' is more technical. Use 'يكسب' for wages and 'يربح' for the surplus in business deals.

خطأ: هو يفوز راتبه من الشركة. (Incorrect: He wins his salary). صح: هو يكسب راتبه.

Another common mistake involves the preposition. Learners often try to use 'يكسب بـ' (earns with) when they mean 'earns from'. In Arabic, the source of the earning is almost always 'من' (from). For example, 'يكسب المال من التجارة' (He earns money from trade). Using 'في' (in) is acceptable if you are describing the field (e.g., 'earns money in real estate'), but 'من' is the safest and most natural choice for the source.

Pronunciation Errors: The 'k' (ك) and 's' (س) are light letters. Beginners sometimes over-emphasize them, making them sound like 'q' (ق) or 's' (ص). Keep the sounds front-of-mouth and light.

A subtle mistake is using يكسب when 'يحصل على' (to obtain/get) is more appropriate. 'يحصل على' is a neutral 'getting'. If you got a letter in the mail, you wouldn't say 'كسبت رسالة' (I earned a letter) unless that letter was a hard-won prize. Use يكسب specifically when there is a sense of merit, work, or trading value. If it's just a passive acquisition, 'يحصل على' is your friend.

تجنب قول: يكسب هدية. (Avoid: He earns a gift). الأفضل: يحصل على هدية.

Agreement with Plurals: When the subject is a non-human plural (like 'The companies'), the verb should be feminine singular: 'الشركات تكسب' (The companies earn), not 'يكسبون'.

While يكسب is the most versatile word for 'earning', Arabic offers a rich palette of synonyms that can provide more specific meaning depending on the context. Understanding these alternatives will make your Arabic sound more sophisticated and precise. The most common alternative is يربح (yar-ba-hu), which focuses specifically on financial profit or 'winning' in a business sense. While you can 'يكسب' a salary, you 'يربح' from a stock market trade.

يربح (Yar-ba-hu): Focus: Financial profit/Winning. Use it when talking about business margins, competitions, or games of chance where money is involved.

التاجر الذكي يربح من كل صفقة.

The smart merchant profits from every deal.

Another important synonym is ينال (ya-naa-lu), which means 'to attain' or 'to get'. This is often used for rewards, honors, or degrees. It carries a more formal and slightly more passive tone than يكسب. While يكسب emphasizes the effort of earning, ينال emphasizes the moment of receiving the honor. For example, 'He attained (earned) the first prize' would be 'نال الجائزة الأولى'.

يحصل على (Yah-su-lu 'ala): Focus: General obtaining. This is the most neutral 'get'. It doesn't imply work or luck; it just means the object is now in your possession.

In political or social contexts, you might see يحظى بـ (yah-dha bi-), which means 'to enjoy' or 'to have the favor of'. If a leader 'earns' the support of the people, you could say 'يحظى بتأييد الشعب'. This implies that the support is a status they now enjoy. Finally, يقتني (yaq-ta-ni) is used for 'acquiring' physical items for a collection, like books or art, and wouldn't be used for money or respect.

البطل ينال تصفيق الجمهور.

The hero attains (earns) the applause of the audience.

يستحق (Yas-ta-hiq-qu): Focus: Deserving. Sometimes you 'deserve' something but haven't 'earned' it yet in terms of payment. 'يستحق' is 'to deserve'.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In the Quran, the word is used over 60 times, often referring to the moral 'acquisition' of deeds, highlighting the belief that humans are responsible for what they 'earn' through their choices.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈjak.si.bu/

US /ˈjæk.sɪ.bu/

The primary stress is on the first syllable: YAK-si-bu.

Rhymes With

يحسب (yah-si-bu) ينسب (yan-si-bu) يرسب (yar-si-bu) يسحب (yas-ha-bu) يشرب (yash-ra-bu) يضرب (yad-ri-bu) يقرب (yaq-ra-bu) يهرب (yah-ru-bu)

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'k' as a heavy 'q' (ق).
Pronouncing the 's' as a heavy 's' (ص).
Stretching the vowels too long (making it yak-see-boo).
Confusing the vowel on the 's' (saying yak-sa-bu instead of yak-si-bu).
Dropping the final 'u' in casual speech (yak-sib).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in texts due to common root.

Writing 3/5

Requires knowledge of present tense conjugation.

Speaking 3/5

Distinguishing from synonyms like 'yarbah' is key.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation makes it easy to hear.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

مال (money) عمل (work) هو (he) من (from)

Learn Next

يربح (to profit) يفوز (to win) خسارة (loss) راتب (salary)

Advanced

اكتساب (acquisition) مكتسبات (achievements) استحقاق (merit/deserving)

Grammar to Know

Present Tense Conjugation (Form I)

أكسب، نكسب، تكسب، يكسب، يكسبون.

Transitive Verbs (Double Object)

يكسبني العملُ خبرةً (The work earns me experience).

Subjunctive Mood

لن يكسبَ (He will not earn).

Passive Voice (Mudari')

يُكسب (It is earned).

Masdar (Verbal Noun)

الكسب الحلال (Halal earning).

Examples by Level

هو يكسب المال.

He earns money.

Simple SVO structure with present tense verb.

أنا أكسب نقاطاً في اللعبة.

I earn points in the game.

First person singular 'أكسب'.

كم تكسب في الشهر؟

How much do you earn per month?

Interrogative sentence using 'كم' (how much).

هي تكسب القليل من المال.

She earns a little money.

Feminine singular agreement 'تكسب'.

نحن نكسب من عملنا.

We earn from our work.

First person plural 'نكسب'.

الولد يكسب جائزة.

The boy earns a prize.

Present tense used for a result of effort.

هل تكسب مالاً كثيراً؟

Do you earn a lot of money?

Yes/No question with 'هل'.

هم يكسبون كل يوم.

They earn every day.

Third person masculine plural 'يكسبون'.

يكسب الموظف احترام مديره.

The employee earns his manager's respect.

Abstract object 'احترام' (respect).

هذا الطريق يكسبنا الوقت.

This road saves (earns) us time.

Verb with two objects: 'نا' (us) and 'الوقت' (time).

كسبتُ خبرة في السفر.

I gained experience in traveling.

Past tense first person 'كسبتُ'.

هي تكسب عيشها من الخياطة.

She earns her living from sewing.

Idiomatic phrase 'يكسب عيشه' (earning one's living).

التاجر يكسب ربحاً بسيطاً.

The merchant earns a small profit.

Financial context with 'ربح' (profit).

لن نكسب شيئاً إذا تأخرنا.

We will earn nothing if we are late.

Future negation with 'لن'.

كيف يكسب الناس المال هنا؟

How do people earn money here?

Interrogative 'كيف' (how).

كسب الفريق المباراة بصعوبة.

The team won (earned) the match with difficulty.

Past tense 'كسب' used for winning.

الشركة تكسب ملايين الدولارات سنوياً.

The company earns millions of dollars annually.

Feminine singular verb for a corporate entity.

عليك أن تكسب ثقة والديك.

You must earn your parents' trust.

Subjunctive mood after 'أن' (to earn).

يكسب اللاعبون مهارات جديدة بالتدريب.

The players gain new skills through training.

Plural subject with verb in plural form.

من الصعب أن تكسب قلوب الجميع.

It is hard to win (earn) everyone's hearts.

Metaphorical use of 'hearts'.

يكسب الكاتب شهرة واسعة بعد روايته.

The writer earns wide fame after his novel.

Object 'شهرة' (fame).

هذه التجربة ستكسبك القوة.

This experience will gain (earn) you strength.

Future tense with prefix 'سـ'.

لا يكسب المرء إلا ما يسعى إليه.

A person earns nothing except what he strives for.

Negative 'لا' with 'إلا' for emphasis.

يكسب المهندس راتباً مجزياً في هذه الشركة.

The engineer earns a rewarding salary in this company.

Adjective 'مجزي' (rewarding) modifying salary.

يُكسب العلم صاحبه مكانة مرموقة.

Knowledge earns its owner a prestigious status.

Double object: 'صاحبه' and 'مكانة'.

الاحترام لا يُعطى بل يُكسب.

Respect is not given, but earned.

Passive voice 'يُكسب' (is earned).

يكسب المحامي القضية بفضل الأدلة.

The lawyer wins (earns) the case thanks to the evidence.

Legal context for winning/earning a case.

الاستثمار الناجح يكسبك أرباحاً طويلة الأمد.

Successful investment earns you long-term profits.

Compound adjective 'طويلة الأمد' (long-term).

يكسب المرشح أصوات الناخبين بالوعود.

The candidate earns the voters' votes through promises.

Political context.

يكتسب الطفل اللغة من محيطه.

The child acquires (earns/gains) the language from his surroundings.

Note: Using Form VIII 'يكتسب' for acquisition.

لا يكسب المسيء إلا الندم.

The wrongdoer earns nothing but regret.

Moral/philosophical context.

يكسب المشروع زخماً كبيراً هذا الشهر.

The project is gaining (earning) great momentum this month.

Abstract object 'زخم' (momentum).

يكسب الخطيب ود الجمهور ببلاغته.

The orator earns the audience's affection with his eloquence.

Nuanced object 'ود' (affection/friendship).

يكسب هذا الاكتشاف العلماء وقتاً ثميناً.

This discovery earns the scientists precious time.

Scientific/Academic context.

يكسب الموقف السياسي تعقيداً جديداً.

The political situation is gaining (earning) a new complexity.

Abstract metaphorical 'earning' of complexity.

يكسب الفرد هويته من خلال تفاعله الاجتماعي.

The individual earns (acquires) his identity through social interaction.

Sociological context.

يكسب العمل الفني قيمته من ندرته.

The artwork earns (derives) its value from its rarity.

Artistic/Economic theory.

يكسب الصمت أحياناً ما لا يكسبه الكلام.

Silence sometimes earns what speech cannot.

Philosophical/Rhetorical comparison.

يكسب النظام الجديد شرعية شعبية.

The new system earns popular legitimacy.

Political science terminology 'شرعية' (legitimacy).

يكسب التواضع الإنسان محبة القلوب.

Humility earns a person the love of hearts.

Traditional moral wisdom.

يكسب النص الأدبي خلوده من صدق مشاعره.

The literary text earns its immortality from the sincerity of its emotions.

Literary criticism context.

يكسب الفقيه ملكة الاستنباط بالدربة.

The jurist earns (acquires) the faculty of deduction through practice.

Classical Islamic scholarship terminology.

يكسب الوجود معناه من خلال الفعل الإنساني.

Existence earns its meaning through human action.

Existential philosophical context.

يكسب الصراع بعداً أيديولوجياً عميقاً.

The conflict is gaining (earning) a deep ideological dimension.

High-level political analysis.

يكسب المصطلح دلالات جديدة بمرور الزمن.

The term earns (acquires) new connotations over time.

Linguistic/Semantics context.

يكسب القرار سيادة الدولة هيبة دولية.

The decision earns the state's sovereignty international prestige.

Diplomatic/Geopolitical register.

يكسب الزاهد في الدنيا راحة البال.

The ascetic in this world earns peace of mind.

Sufi/Spiritual context.

يكسب البحث العلمي مصداقيته من المنهجية.

Scientific research earns its credibility from methodology.

Academic/Epistemological context.

Common Collocations

يكسب المال

يكسب الثقة

يكسب الوقت

يكسب عيشه

يكسب الخبرة

يكسب أرباحاً

يكسب الاحترام

يكسب نقاطاً

يكسب القضية

يكسب تأييداً

Common Phrases

يكسب رزقه

— To earn one's daily sustenance or livelihood.

خرج الأب ليكسب رزق عياله.

يكسب قلوب الناس

— To win the affection and love of people.

بتواضعه، استطاع أن يكسب قلوب الناس.

يكسب الرهان

— To win a bet or prove one's prediction correct.

لقد كسب الرهان في النهاية.

يكسب سمعة طيبة

— To establish a good reputation through actions.

الشركة تكسب سمعة طيبة في السوق.

يكسب المعركة

— To win a battle (literal or metaphorical).

الجيش يكسب المعركة ضد العدو.

يكسب وده

— To win someone's friendship or favor.

حاول أن يكسب ود جاره الجديد.

يكسب ثواباً

— To earn spiritual reward from God.

من يطعم المسكين يكسب ثواباً عظيماً.

يكسب الوداد

— To win affection/love (poetic).

بالكلمة الطيبة تكسب الوداد.

يكسب الجولة

— To win a round in a fight or negotiation.

المفاوض الذكي يكسب الجولة الأولى.

يكسب رضاه

— To earn someone's satisfaction or approval.

يسعى الابن ليكسب رضا والديه.

Often Confused With

يكسب vs يفوز

Used for winning a race or competition; 'يكسب' is for earning the prize or profit.

يكسب vs يربح

Specifically means 'to profit' in business; 'يكسب' is more general.

يكسب vs يحصل على

Means 'to get' or 'obtain' generally; 'يكسب' implies effort or merit.

Idioms & Expressions

"يكسب من عرق جبينه"

— To earn through hard physical labor (literally: from the sweat of his brow).

هو رجل شريف يكسب ماله من عرق جبينه.

Neutral

"يكسب الدنيا والآخرة"

— To succeed in both this life and the afterlife.

العمل الصالح يجعلك تكسب الدنيا والآخرة.

Religious

"يكسب ذهباً"

— To earn a huge amount of money (literally: to earn gold).

هذا المشروع الجديد سيكسب ذهباً.

Informal

"يكسب عداوة"

— To unnecessarily make enemies (literally: to earn enmity).

بسبب لسانه السليط، يكسب عداوة الجميع.

Neutral

"ما يكسبه باليمين يصرفه بالشمال"

— To spend money as fast as one earns it (easy come, easy go).

هو مبذر، ما يكسبه باليمين يصرفه بالشمال.

Informal

"يكسب لقمة عيشه"

— To earn his 'morsel of life' (basic livelihood).

يعمل ليلاً ونهاراً ليكسب لقمة عيشه.

Neutral

"يكسب ثقة عمياء"

— To earn blind (absolute) trust.

استطاع المحتال أن يكسب ثقة الناس العمياء.

Neutral

"يكسب الرهان على حصان خاسر"

— To win a bet on a losing horse (to succeed against the odds).

لقد كسب الرهان على حصان خاسر بتعيين هذا الموظف.

Informal

"يكسب القوت"

— To earn basic food/sustenance.

يسعى الفقير ليكسب قوته اليومي.

Formal

"يكسب مكاناً تحت الشمس"

— To earn a place in the world (to succeed and be recognized).

كافح الشاب ليكسب مكاناً تحت الشمس.

Literary

Easily Confused

يكسب vs يفوز

Both can mean 'to win' in English.

'يفوز' is the act of victory; 'يكسب' is the acquisition of the result/reward.

فاز بالسباق وكسب الجائزة.

يكسب vs يحسب

Sounds similar (yak-si-bu vs. yah-si-bu).

'يحسب' means 'to calculate' or 'to think'.

هو يحسب الأرقام ليعرف كم يكسب.

يكسب vs ينسب

Sounds similar (yak-si-bu vs. yan-si-bu).

'ينسب' means 'to attribute' or 'to relate'.

ينسب الفضل لنفسه فيما يكسبه.

يكسب vs يخصب

Visual similarity in script.

'يخصب' means 'to fertilize'.

المطر يخصب الأرض.

يكسب vs يكتسب

Same root (Form VIII).

'يكتسب' often implies a gradual, internal acquisition like a skill or habit.

يكتسب مهارة اللغة بينما يكسب المال.

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] يكسب المال.

أبي يكسب المال.

يكسب [Subject] [Object] من [Source].

يكسب الولد الجائزة من المدرسة.

يجب أن يكسب [Subject] [Abstract Object].

يجب أن يكسب الموظف ثقة الإدارة.

[Something] يكسب [Someone] [Object].

هذا المشروع يكسبنا أرباحاً كثيرة.

لا يكسب [Subject] إلا [Result].

لا يكسب الظالم إلا الكراهية.

يكسب [Subject] [Possessive Object] من [Nuanced Source].

يكسب البحث مصداقيته من دقة المنهج.

هل تكسب [Object]؟

هل تكسب عيشك من الفن؟

[Subject] لا يكسب شيئاً.

هو لا يكسب شيئاً من هذا العمل.

Word Family

Nouns

كسب Earning/Acquisition

مكسب Gain/Profit

كاسب Earner/Winner

مكتسبات Acquisitions/Achievements

Verbs

كسب To earn (Past)

اكتسب To acquire (Form VIII)

كسّب To make someone earn (Form II)

Adjectives

كاسب Profitable/Earning

مكتسب Acquired (e.g., acquired immunity)

رزق (sustenance)

مال (money)

عمل (work)

ربح (profit)

تجارة (trade)

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in both spoken and written Arabic.

Common Mistakes

Using 'يفوز' for a salary. → يكسب راتباً.
You earn a salary through work; you win a game or a race.
Using 'في' for the source of earnings. → يكسب من عمله.
The source is indicated by 'من' (from), not 'في' (in).
Saying 'يكسب هدية'. → يحصل على هدية.
A gift is received (يحصل على), not earned (يكسب), unless it's a reward for effort.
Forgetting verb-subject agreement with feminine plurals. → الشركات تكسب.
Non-human plurals take feminine singular verbs.
Confusing 'يكسب' (earn) with 'يحسب' (calculate). → يكسب المال.
The roots K-S-B and H-S-B are distinct; pay attention to the first letter.

Tips

Agreement

Always check the gender of the subject. 'The company earns' is 'الشركة تكسب', not 'يكسب'.

Context

Use 'يكسب' for wages and 'يربح' for business profits to sound more like a native speaker.

Cash Box

Remember K-S-B as 'Keep Some Bucks' to link it to earning money.

Dignity

Using 'يكسب رزقه' (earns his sustenance) conveys a sense of respect for labor in Arabic culture.

Light Sounds

Keep the 'k' and 's' sounds light and forward in the mouth for correct pronunciation.

Prepositions

Use 'من' (from) to specify the source of earnings, e.g., 'يكسب من التجارة'.

News Keywords

When you hear 'أرباح' (profits) or 'نمو' (growth), look out for 'يكسب' in the sentence.

Sweat of Brow

Learn 'من عرق جبينه' to describe someone who earns their money through hard work.

Form VIII

Move from 'كسب' to 'اكتسب' when talking about learning languages or professional skills.

Formality

Use 'يتقاضى' in official documents or contracts instead of the more general 'يكسب'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Cash-Box' (K-S-B). You put what you 'earn' (يكسب) into your 'Kasb' (earning) box.

Visual Association

Imagine a person working at a desk, and with every hour, a coin drops into a jar labeled 'K-S-B'.

Word Web

المال الاحترام الخبرة الوقت الرزق الثقة الربح النقاط

Challenge

Try to write three sentences about three different things you earned this week: one financial, one social, and one personal (like time or skill).

Word Origin

From the Semitic root K-S-B, which primarily relates to gathering, collecting, or acquiring. In ancient Arabic, it was used for gathering wood or food.

Original meaning: To collect or gather for oneself.

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

Cultural Context

Be careful when asking about earnings in social settings; it is often considered a private matter.

English speakers often use 'win' for money (lottery/bet), but Arabic uses 'يكسب' or 'يربح'. English 'earn' is strictly for work, whereas 'يكسب' covers more ground.

Quranic verse: 'لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ' (For it [the soul] is what it has earned, and against it is what it has acquired). The term 'Kasb' in Ash'ari theology. Modern Arabic business news segments.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Job Interview

كم سأكسب؟
هل يكسب الموظفون حوافز؟
كيف يمكنني كسب خبرة؟
أريد أن أكسب ثقتكم.

Business Meeting

المشروع يكسب أرباحاً.
علينا كسب حصة في السوق.
كيف نكسب الوقت؟
الشركة تكسب سمعة جيدة.

Sports

الفريق يكسب نقطة.
كسبنا المباراة.
من سيكسب الرهان؟
اللاعب يكسب ود الجمهور.

Daily Life

أكسب عيشي من التدريس.
هو لا يكسب الكثير.
يكسب وقتاً بالباص.
كسبتُ صديقاً جديداً.

Religion/Morals

يكسب حسنات.
يكسب رضا الله.
كسب ثواباً.
لا تكسب إثماً.

Conversation Starters

"كيف يكسب الشباب المال في بلدك هذه الأيام؟"

"هل تعتقد أن الاحترام يُكسب بالمال أم بالأخلاق؟"

"ما هو أصعب شيء كسبته في حياتك؟"

"كيف يمكن للمرء أن يكسب الوقت في مدينة مزدحمة؟"

"هل من السهل كسب أصدقاء جدد في مدينتك؟"

Journal Prompts

اكتب عن وظيفة أحلامك وكم تود أن تكسب منها ولماذا.

صف موقفاً كسبت فيه ثقة شخص ما بعد جهد طويل.

هل تفضل أن تكسب الكثير من المال أم الكثير من وقت الفراغ؟ ناقش ذلك.

اكتب عن مهارة جديدة اكتسبتها مؤخراً وكيف غيرت حياتك.

ما هي الأشياء التي لا يمكن للمال أن يكسبها؟

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is better to use 'يفوز بالمباراة'. However, you can say 'يكسب ثلاث نقاط' (earns three points) or 'يكسب الكأس' (earns/wins the cup).

It is neutral and used in all registers. In very formal legal documents, 'يتقاضى' is used for salaries, and in slang, 'بيكسّب' is common.

The main noun is 'كسب' (earning) or 'مكسب' (gain/profit). For example, 'كسب العيش' means earning a living.

Usually, yes, but it can be used ironically, like 'يكسب عداء' (earning enmity) or 'يكسب سيئات' (earning sins).

You say 'أنا أكسب' (Ana aksibu).

The past tense is 'كسب' (kasaba), e.g., 'كسبتُ المال' (I earned money).

In the context of time, yes. 'يكسب الوقت' can mean to save time by being efficient.

Yes, 'اكتسب' is Form VIII and usually refers to acquiring skills, habits, or traits over time.

Use 'لن' followed by the verb in the subjunctive: 'لن يكسبَ شيئاً' (He will earn nothing).

The imperative is 'اكسب' (iksib), meaning 'Earn!' or 'Win!'.