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A2 verb #3,000 mais comum 11 min de leitura

سَكَنَ

sakana Top 3,000

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas سَكَنَ em 30 segundos

Explicação سَكَنَ in your Level:

At the A1 level, the verb سَكَنَ (sakana) is one of the first verbs you will learn to talk about yourself. You will mostly use it in the present tense to say where you live. For example, 'I live in...' is أَنَا أَسْكُنُ فِي... (Ana askunu fī...). You will also learn to ask others where they live: أَيْنَ تَسْكُنُ؟ (Ayna taskunu?). At this stage, the focus is on the simple present tense and the use of the preposition فِي (fī). You should practice conjugating it for 'I', 'You' (male/female), and 'He/She'. It is a very helpful word because it allows you to share basic personal information during introductions. You will also see this word in basic forms when you have to write your address. Remember, it's about the house or city you stay in, not the life you live. Keep it simple and focus on the structure: Subject + Verb + 'fī' + Location.

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At the A2 level, you begin to use سَكَنَ in the past tense to describe your history. You might say سَكَنْتُ فِي المَغْرِبِ قَبْلَ سَنَتَيْنِ (I lived in Morocco two years ago). You will also learn to use it with more complex time expressions like 'for three years' or 'since I was a child'. You start to distinguish between سَكَنَ and عاشَ (ʿāsha), realizing that سَكَنَ is specifically for your address. You might also encounter the noun سَكَن (sakan), which means accommodation or housing. For example, 'university housing' is سَكَن جَامِعِيّ. At A2, you should be comfortable using the verb in both past and present tenses and understanding it when hearing it in basic conversations about family and home life. You'll also learn the active participle سَاكِن (sākin), which is very common in spoken Arabic to mean 'living' or 'dweller'.

At the B1 level, you move beyond basic facts and start using سَكَنَ in more descriptive contexts. You might describe your neighborhood or the type of housing you prefer. You will learn the word سُكَّان (sukkān), which means 'inhabitants' or 'population'. This is useful for discussing your city or country. You also start to see the verb's second meaning: 'to become still'. For instance, in a story, you might read سَكَنَ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ فِي اللَّيْلِ (Everything became still at night). You begin to handle more complex sentence structures, such as using the verb in the future tense with سَوْفَ or سَـ. You also learn to use it in relative clauses, like 'The house where I live' (البَيْتُ الذِي أَسْكُنُ فِيهِ). This level requires you to understand the verb in both its physical and slightly more abstract senses in everyday media and literature.

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At the B2 level, you explore the nuances of سَكَنَ in formal and academic contexts. You will encounter it in news reports about population growth (النُّمُوُّ السُّكَّانِيُّ) or residential zoning (مِنْطَقَة سَكَنِيَّة). You will also start to use the verb metaphorically, such as 'the pain subsided' (سَكَنَ الأَلَمُ). You can distinguish between سَكَنَ and more formal alternatives like أَقَامَ (aqāma) or قَطَنَ (qaṭana - a very formal word for residing). At this stage, you should be able to discuss housing issues, demographics, and urban planning using derivatives of the S-K-N root. You also understand the spiritual concept of Sakinah (tranquility) and how it relates to the verb. Your ability to use the verb and its family in professional or academic writing becomes more refined, focusing on correct prepositional usage and agreement with complex subjects.

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At the C1 level, you appreciate the deep etymological and poetic connections of سَكَنَ. You will read classical Arabic literature and poetry where the verb is used to describe the calming of the soul or the stillness of the desert. You understand the root's connection to the 'Sukūn' diacritic in grammar, signifying the 'rest' of a consonant. You can use the verb in highly sophisticated ways, such as in legal documents or philosophical essays. You might discuss the 'Sakinah' as a theological concept. You also become proficient in using the Form II verb سَكَّنَ (sakkana - to calm someone down or to house someone) and Form IV أَسْكَنَ (askana - to settle someone in). Your vocabulary includes rare derivatives and you can explain the subtle differences between سَكَنَ and its synonyms in classical versus modern contexts. You are also aware of regional dialect variations and how they treat this root differently in idioms.

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At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of سَكَنَ across all historical layers of the language. You can interpret the most complex Quranic verses or pre-Islamic poems that use the root S-K-N to convey profound stillness, divine presence, or the fleeting nature of dwellings. You can use the verb and its derivatives in any register, from the most technical demographic analysis to the most evocative creative writing. You understand the nuances of how the verb interacts with various prepositions in archaic texts and can debate the semantic shifts the word has undergone over centuries. You are comfortable with all derived forms (Form II, IV, X, etc.) and their specific legal and social implications. For you, سَكَنَ is not just a verb for 'living' but a gateway into the Arabic philosophy of peace, stability, and the human connection to place and time.

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Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

سَكَنَ em 30 segundos

A common verb meaning 'to live' or 'to reside' in a physical location.
Derived from a root meaning 'stillness' or 'calm', implying a place of rest.
Used with the preposition 'fī' (in) to indicate a city, house, or country.
Can also mean 'to subside' or 'to stop' when referring to pain, wind, or noise.

The Arabic verb سَكَنَ (sakana) is a foundational pillar of the Arabic language, primarily belonging to the first form (Form I) of the triliteral root system س-ك-ن. At its core, the word encapsulates the concept of settling, dwelling, or residing. However, to truly understand سَكَنَ, one must look beyond the mere physical act of inhabiting a building. The root itself is intrinsically tied to the idea of stillness and tranquility. In Arabic, when something 'sakanas', it ceases its motion and finds peace. Therefore, when you 'sakana' in a house, you aren't just occupying space; you are finding your point of rest and stability within the world. This duality of meaning—physical residence and spiritual or physical calm—makes it one of the most evocative verbs in the Levant, Gulf, and North African dialects, as well as in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA).

Physical Residency: The most common use is to describe where someone lives. It is followed by the preposition في (fī) to denote the location. For example, 'I live in Cairo' translates to أَسْكُنُ في القاهِرَة. It is used for permanent or long-term living situations, distinguishing it from temporary stays (like nazala in a hotel).
State of Stillness: In a more abstract or physical sense, it describes the cessation of movement. If the wind stops blowing, we say سَكَنَتِ الرِّيحُ (the wind became still). This usage is vital in classical literature and poetry to describe the calming of emotions or the environment.
Spiritual Peace: The derivative Sakinah refers to a divine tranquility or peace of mind. The verb سَكَنَ is used to describe a heart finding peace in remembrance or companionship. This is why the word for 'home' or 'dwelling' can also be maskan, a place where peace is found.

كُنْتُ أَسْكُنُ فِي قَرْيَةٍ صَغِيرَةٍ قَبْلَ الانْتِقَالِ إِلَى المَدِينَةِ.
(I used to live in a small village before moving to the city.)

Culturally, the choice of سَكَنَ over other verbs like ʿāsha (to live/exist) is significant. While ʿāsha refers to the biological and experiential act of living life, سَكَنَ specifically targets the geographical and structural anchor of one's existence. You will hear this word daily in administrative contexts, such as 'place of residence' (مَحَلُّ الإِقامَة or السَّكَن), and in social introductions. When meeting someone new, asking أَيْنَ تَسْكُنُ؟ (Where do you live?) is one of the most standard icebreakers. It bridges the gap between formal inquiry and friendly conversation.

سَكَنَ الأَلَمُ بَعْدَ تَنَاوُلِ الدَّوَاءِ.
(The pain subsided/became still after taking the medicine.)

Finally, the word appears frequently in the Quran and classical poetry to describe the night. The night is called a sakan because it is the time when the bustle of the world stops and people return to their homes to find rest. This deep connection between the physical house, the time of night, and the absence of pain or noise illustrates the holistic way Arabic perceives 'living'. It is not just about a roof over one's head; it is about the cessation of the world's chaos.

Using سَكَنَ correctly requires understanding its prepositional requirements and its various tense shifts. In Modern Standard Arabic, the verb is almost always followed by في (fī) when referring to a place. However, in some classical or poetic contexts, it can be transitive (taking a direct object), though this is rare in daily speech. To master this verb, you must practice its conjugation across the past, present, and future tenses, as it is a 'sound' verb (no weak letters like Alif, Waw, or Ya in the root) which makes it relatively straightforward for learners.

Past Tense Usage: When talking about where you lived in the past, use the past tense forms. سَكَنْتُ (sakantu - I lived), سَكَنُوا (sakanū - they lived). It often pairs with time markers like 'for ten years' (لِمُدَّةِ عَشْرِ سَنَوات) or 'since childhood' (مُنْذُ الطُّفُولَة).
Present and Continuous: To say where you currently live, use أَسْكُنُ (askunu). In Arabic, the present tense covers both 'I live' and 'I am living'. There is no separate continuous form for this specific verb in the way English uses 'ing'.
The Imperative (Command): The command form is اُسْكُنْ (uskun). This is rarely used to tell someone to 'live' somewhere but is frequently used in spiritual or poetic contexts to mean 'be still' or 'reside (in my heart)'.

هَلْ تَسْكُنُ فِي شَقَّةٍ أَمْ فِي بَيْتٍ؟
(Do you live in an apartment or in a house?)

One nuance to keep in mind is the difference between سَكَنَ and أَقَامَ (aqāma). While سَكَنَ is about dwelling and finding rest, أَقَامَ is more formal and often refers to legal residency or staying for a specific duration (like a residency permit). If you are filling out a government form, you will see مَحَلُّ الإِقامَة, but if you are talking to a friend about your neighborhood, you would always use سَكَنَ. Additionally, the word can be used for animals and metaphorical entities. For instance, 'The bird lived in the nest' would use سَكَنَ.

سَوْفَ نَسْكُنُ فِي الطَّابِقِ الثَّانِي.
(We will live on the second floor.)

In terms of sentence structure, سَكَنَ usually follows the VSO (Verb-Subject-Object) or SVO pattern. For beginners, SVO (e.g., أنا أَسْكُنُ...) is often easier to construct. However, in formal writing, you will frequently see the verb starting the sentence: سَكَنَ المَلِكُ فِي القَصْرِ (The King lived in the palace). Note how the verb remains singular even if the subject is plural, provided the verb comes first—a key rule in Arabic grammar that learners often find challenging but is essential for sounding native.

In the real world, سَكَنَ is ubiquitous. You will hear it from the moment you land in an Arabic-speaking country. At immigration, the officer might ask about your سَكَن (accommodation). In a taxi, the driver might ask وِين سَاكِن؟ (Where are you living? - using the active participle sākin, which is very common in dialects). It is a word that traverses all social classes, from the humblest rural village to the most modern skyscraper in Dubai.

Daily Socializing: In casual conversation, the active participle سَاكِن (sākin) often replaces the conjugated verb أَسْكُنُ. You'll hear 'Ana sākin fī...' (I am living in...). It's the standard way to describe your current neighborhood or city during a 'get-to-know-you' phase.
News and Media: On news channels like Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya, you'll hear the word in reports about displaced populations (السُّكَّان - the residents/inhabitants) or urban development projects. The term أَزْمَة السَّكَن (housing crisis) is a frequent headline in many Arab capitals.
Religious and Spiritual Contexts: In Friday sermons (Khutbah) or spiritual gatherings, the concept of Sakinah (tranquility) derived from the root S-K-N is often invoked. It describes the peace that descends upon the believers' hearts. Here, the word moves from the physical to the metaphysical.

مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ؟ وَأَيْنَ تَسْكُنُ الآنَ؟
(Where are you from? And where do you live now?)

If you are a student, you will encounter السَّكَن الجَامِعِيّ (university housing/dormitories). If you are looking for an apartment, real estate agents will use terms like سَكَنِيّ (residential) to describe the zone or the type of building. The word is also central to the concept of the census (تَعْدَاد السُّكَّان), where 'sukkan' means the population or the inhabitants of a country. Understanding this word allows you to navigate everything from basic social interactions to complex sociological discussions about demographics.

هَذِهِ المِنْطَقَةُ سَكَنِيَّةٌ وَهَادِئَةٌ جِدًّا.
(This area is residential and very quiet.)

Even in modern technology, you might see this root. For example, a 'static' or 'fixed' element in a user interface might be described using words derived from the same root because it is 'still' and doesn't move. The versatility of سَكَنَ ensures that once you learn it, you will see and hear its influence in almost every facet of Arabic life, from the physical walls of a house to the stillness of a digital icon.

While سَكَنَ is a relatively simple verb, English speakers often fall into several traps due to direct translation or grammatical nuances. One of the most frequent errors involves the confusion between 'living' as in 'being alive' (ʿāsha) and 'living' as in 'residing' (سَكَنَ). In English, 'I live in London' and 'I live a happy life' use the same verb. In Arabic, using سَكَنَ for 'a happy life' would be incorrect and confusing.

Confusion with 'ʿĀsha' (عاش): Use سَكَنَ for your address or physical location. Use ʿāsha for the experience of life. Mistake: سَكَنْتُ حَيَاةً طَوِيلَةً (Incorrect). Correct: عِشْتُ حَيَاةً طَوِيلَةً (I lived a long life).
Preposition Errors: Learners often forget the في (fī). Arabic requires the preposition to link the verb to the location. Mistake: أَسْكُنُ دُبَي (Incorrect). Correct: أَسْكُنُ فِي دُبَي (I live in Dubai).
Conjugation of the Present Tense: The 'u' sound in the present tense يَسْكُـنُ (yaskunu) is often replaced by an 'a' or 'i' by beginners. Remember the pattern faʿala - yafʿulu for this specific verb to maintain Modern Standard Arabic accuracy.

Mistake: أَنَا سَكَنَ فِي المَدِينَةِ. (I he-lived in the city.)
Correct: أَنَا أَسْكُنُ فِي المَدِينَةِ. (I live in the city.)

Another subtle mistake is using سَكَنَ for very short stays. If you are staying at a hotel for two nights, Arabs typically use nazala (literally: descended/stayed at) or baqiya (remained). سَكَنَ implies a level of permanence or at least a 'settling in'. Using it for a weekend trip might sound slightly 'heavy' or overly permanent to a native speaker's ear. Lastly, be careful with the word Sukūn. While it comes from the same root, in grammar it refers to the diacritic marking the absence of a vowel, not the act of living. Don't confuse the grammatical term with the verb!

Incorrect: سَكَنْتُ فِي الفُنْدُقِ لِيَوْمَيْنِ.
Better: نَزَلْتُ فِي الفُنْدُقِ لِيَوْمَيْنِ. (I stayed at the hotel for two days.)

Understanding these distinctions—between life and residence, between permanent and temporary, and between the verb and its grammatical cousins—will elevate your Arabic from a 'translated' level to a truly 'fluent' level. Pay attention to how native speakers use the active participle sākin as well, as it is often the 'safe' middle ground in many spoken contexts where the strict tense of the verb might feel too formal.

Arabic is a language of immense precision, and while سَكَنَ is the standard for 'living', several other verbs and nouns offer specific shades of meaning. Choosing the right one depends on the context of the stay, the level of formality, and the nature of the dwelling. Here we compare سَكَنَ with its closest relatives to help you choose the most appropriate term for your situation.

Sakana vs. ʿĀsha (عاش): As mentioned, سكن is about the 'where' (residence), while عاش is about the 'how' or the 'fact' of being alive. You sakana in a house, but you ʿāsha a happy life. ʿĀsha can also mean to live in a certain era or time period.
Sakana vs. Aqāma (أقام): سكن is used in daily life and has a sense of 'comfort/stillness'. أقام is more formal and administrative. You use aqāma for residency permits (Iqama) or when staying in a place for a specific purpose (like a business trip).
Sakana vs. Istamarra (استمر): Sometimes people use 'living' to mean 'continuing'. In Arabic, سكن never means 'to continue'. For that, you would use istamarra or baqiya.

Comparison:
1. أَسْكُنُ فِي لَنْدَن. (I reside in London.)
2. أَعِيشُ حَيَاةً جَيِّدَةً. (I live a good life.)
3. أُقِيمُ فِي هَذَا الفُنْدُقِ. (I am staying/residing in this hotel.)

Furthermore, consider the nouns derived from these verbs. A Maskan is a dwelling or a place of rest. A Manzil (from the verb nazala, to descend) is a house, literally the place where you 'descend' from your travels. A Bayt is a home, literally the place where you spend the night (bāta). While all three can mean 'house', Maskan is the most formal and is directly tied to the verb سَكَنَ. Using these synonyms correctly will make your Arabic sound much more sophisticated and nuanced.

سَكَنَ vs. هَدَأَ (hada'a):
Both can mean 'to become quiet'. Use سكن for the wind or pain, and هدأ for a person's temper or a noisy crowd.

In summary, while سَكَنَ is your 'go-to' verb for living, always keep ʿāsha for the experience of life and aqāma for formal residency in your back pocket. This triad of verbs covers almost every scenario involving human presence and existence in the Arabic-speaking world.

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

The grammatical mark 'Sukūn' (the small circle over a letter) comes from this same root because it indicates that the letter is 'at rest'—it has no vowel following it.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ˈsa.ka.na/

US /ˈsɑːkənə/

Primary stress is on the first syllable: SA-ka-na.

Rima com

Madana Wazana Hasana Zamana Fatana Lakana Amana Kawana

Erros comuns

Pronouncing it as 'sa-KAA-na' (wrong stress).
Making the vowels too long like 'saa-kaa-naa'.
Confusing it with the present tense 'yaskunu'.
Swapping the 's' for a heavy 'S' (Sad).
Dropping the final 'a' in formal reading.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 1/5

Very easy to recognize the root letters.

Escrita 2/5

Simple triliteral verb structure.

Expressão oral 1/5

Common word with clear pronunciation.

Audição 2/5

Can be confused with 'ʿāsha' if not careful.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

بَيْت أَنَا فِي مَدِينَة أَيْنَ

Aprenda a seguir

عَاشَ أَقَامَ انْتَقَلَ بَنَى اشْتَرَى

Avançado

سَكِينَة مُسْتَوْطَن تَعْدَاد قَطَنَ اسْتَكَنَ

Gramática essencial

Form I Verb Pattern

سَكَنَ (Past) - يَسْكُنُ (Present)

Preposition 'fi'

أَسْكُنُ فِي دُبَي. (Must use 'fi')

Verb-Subject Agreement

سَكَنَ الطُّلابُ... (Verb remains singular if it starts the sentence)

Active Participle

أَنَا سَاكِنٌ... (Used as 'I am living')

Subjunctive Mood

أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْكُنَ... (Ending changes to -a after 'an')

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Exemplos por nível

أَنَا أَسْكُنُ فِي بَيْتٍ صَغِيرٍ.

I live in a small house.

Uses the present tense first-person singular 'askunu'.

أَيْنَ تَسْكُنُ يَا أَحْمَدُ؟

Where do you live, Ahmed?

Question form using the second-person masculine 'taskunu'.

هِيَ تَسْكُنُ فِي مَدِينَةِ دُبَي.

She lives in the city of Dubai.

Third-person feminine singular 'taskunu'.

هَلْ تَسْكُنُ فِي شَقَّةٍ؟

Do you live in an apartment?

Yes/No question with 'hal'.

نَحْنُ نَسْكُنُ فِي القَاهِرَةِ.

We live in Cairo.

First-person plural 'naskunu'.

أَخِي يَسْكُنُ مَعَ صَدِيقِهِ.

My brother lives with his friend.

Third-person masculine singular 'yaskunu'.

أُمِّي تَسْكُنُ فِي قَرْيَةٍ.

My mother lives in a village.

Subject 'ummi' (my mother) takes the feminine verb form.

هُمْ يَسْكُنُونَ فِي لَنْدَن.

They live in London.

Third-person plural 'yaskununa'.

سَكَنْتُ فِي الرِّيَاضِ لِمُدَّةِ سَنَةٍ.

I lived in Riyadh for a year.

Past tense first-person singular 'sakantu'.

هَلْ سَكَنْتَ فِي هَذَا الحَيِّ مِنْ قَبْلُ؟

Have you lived in this neighborhood before?

Past tense second-person masculine 'sakanta'.

سَكَنَ جَدِّي فِي هَذَا البَيْتِ لِخَمْسِينَ سَنَةً.

My grandfather lived in this house for fifty years.

Past tense third-person masculine singular 'sakana'.

كُنْتُ أَسْكُنُ فِي بَارِيس عِنْدَمَا كُنْتُ طَالِبًا.

I used to live in Paris when I was a student.

Used the 'kana + present' structure for habitual past.

سَوْفَ نَسْكُنُ فِي بَيْتٍ جَدِيدٍ الشَّهْرَ القَادِمَ.

We will live in a new house next month.

Future tense using 'sawfa'.

لِمَاذَا سَكَنْتُمْ فِي تِلْكَ المَدِينَةِ البَعِيدَةِ؟

Why did you (plural) live in that distant city?

Past tense second-person plural 'sakantum'.

سَكَنَتْ أُخْتِي فِي بَيْرُوت لِلدِّرَاسَةِ.

My sister lived in Beirut for studies.

Past tense third-person feminine singular 'sakanat'.

لَمْ أَسْكُنْ فِي هَذَا المَكَانِ مِنْ قَبْلُ.

I haven't lived in this place before.

Negation using 'lam' + jussive.

يُفَضِّلُ الكَثِيرُ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَنْ يَسْكُنُوا فِي الضَّوَاحِي.

Many people prefer to live in the suburbs.

Subjunctive mood 'yaskunu' after 'an'.

سَكَنَ الهُدُوءُ فِي المَكْتَبَةِ بَعْدَ انْصِرَافِ الطُّلابِ.

Quietness settled in the library after the students left.

Metaphorical use of 'sakana' meaning 'to settle/become still'.

هَذَا السَّكَنُ الجَامِعِيُّ مَرِيحٌ جِدًّا.

This university housing is very comfortable.

Using the noun 'sakan' meaning housing.

كَيْفَ تَسْكُنُ فِي هَذِهِ الضَّوْضَاءِ؟

How can you live in this noise?

Present tense used to express a state of being.

سَكَنَتِ الرِّيحُ بَعْدَ العَاصِفَةِ القَوِيَّةِ.

The wind died down after the strong storm.

Verb used for physical stillness of nature.

أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْكُنَ فِي مَكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ مِنَ العَمَلِ.

I want to live in a place close to work.

Subjunctive 'askuna' after 'an'.

سَكَنَ الخَوْفُ فِي قَلْبِهِ لَحْظَةً.

Fear settled in his heart for a moment.

Abstract usage of the verb for emotions.

هَلْ تَعْرِفُ مَنْ يَسْكُنُ فِي الطَّابِقِ الأَعْلَى؟

Do you know who lives on the top floor?

Relative clause 'man yaskunu'.

تُعَانِي المَدِينَةُ مِنْ نَقْصٍ حَادٍّ فِي السَّكَنِ.

The city suffers from a sharp shortage in housing.

Noun 'sakan' used in a socio-economic context.

سَكَنَ الأَلَمُ قَلِيلًا بَعْدَ أَنْ تَنَاوَلَ المَرِيضُ الدَّوَاءَ.

The pain subsided a little after the patient took the medicine.

The verb describes the 'calming' of physical pain.

زَادَ عَدَدُ السُّكَّانِ فِي هَذِهِ المِنْطَقَةِ بِشَكْلٍ كَبِيرٍ.

The number of inhabitants in this area has increased significantly.

Plural noun 'sukkan' meaning population/inhabitants.

يَجِبُ عَلَى الدَّوْلَةِ تَوفِيرُ سَكَنٍ لائِقٍ لِلمُوَاطِنِينَ.

The state must provide decent housing for the citizens.

Administrative use of 'sakan'.

سَكَنَ الشَّعْبُ إِلَى الوُعُودِ الجَدِيدَةِ.

The people felt reassured by the new promises.

The verb 'sakana ila' means to feel tranquil/reassured by something.

هَذِهِ العِمَارَةُ لَمْ يَسْكُنْهَا أَحَدٌ مُنْذُ سَنَوَاتٍ.

No one has lived in this building for years.

Transitive use with object suffix '-ha' (it).

نَحْنُ نَبْحَثُ عَنْ مِنْطَقَةٍ سَكَنِيَّةٍ هَادِئَةٍ.

We are looking for a quiet residential area.

Adjective 'sakaniyya' (residential).

سَكَنَتِ الضَّجَّةُ فَجْأَةً فِي الشَّارِعِ.

The noise suddenly died down in the street.

Verb describing the cessation of sound.

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا.

And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may find tranquility in them.

Quranic usage expressing spiritual/emotional tranquility.

سَكَنَ الطَّائِرُ فِي عُشِّهِ بَعْدَ يَوْمٍ طَوِيلٍ مِنَ الطَّيَرَانِ.

The bird settled in its nest after a long day of flying.

Literary use for animals finding rest.

إِنَّ السَّكِينَةَ تَنْزِلُ عَلَى القُلُوبِ المُطْمَئِنَّةِ.

Tranquility descends upon the hearts that are at peace.

Noun 'Sakinah' (divine tranquility) derived from the root.

سَكَنَتِ الحَرَكَةُ فِي المِينَاءِ بَعْدَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ.

Movement in the port became still after sunset.

Formal description of cessation of activity.

يُعْتَبَرُ هَذَا الحَيُّ مَسْكَنًا لِلأُدَبَاءِ وَالفَنَّانِينَ.

This neighborhood is considered a dwelling for writers and artists.

Noun 'maskan' (dwelling/abode).

سَكَنَ الغَضَبُ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَبَدَأَ يُفَكِّرُ بِعَقْلانِيَّةٍ.

The anger subsided within him, and he began to think rationally.

Metaphorical use for the calming of emotions.

لا بُدَّ مِنْ سُكُونٍ تَامٍّ لإِجْرَاءِ هَذِهِ التَّجْرِبَةِ العِلْمِيَّةِ.

Total stillness is necessary to conduct this scientific experiment.

Noun 'sukūn' (stillness/silence).

سَكَنَ إِلَى جِوَارِ المَسْجِدِ لِيَكُونَ قَرِيبًا مِنَ الصَّلاةِ.

He took up residence next to the mosque to be near the prayer.

Form I verb used for choosing a location.

سَكَنَتْ رِيَاحُ الثَّوْرَةِ لَكِنَّ الجَمْرَ مَا زَالَ تَحْتَ الرَّمَادِ.

The winds of revolution died down, but the embers are still under the ashes.

Highly metaphorical use in political discourse.

فِي هَذِهِ القَصِيدَةِ، يَسْكُنُ الشَّاعِرُ فِي ذِكْرَيَاتِ المَاضِي.

In this poem, the poet dwells within the memories of the past.

Abstract usage: 'living' inside memories.

تَجَلَّتِ السَّكِينَةُ الإِلَهِيَّةُ فِي المَكَانِ المَقْدِسِ.

Divine tranquility manifested in the holy place.

Spiritual/Theological derivative 'Sakinah'.

سَكَنَ الظَّلامُ الدَّامِسُ أَرْجَاءَ المَدِينَةِ المَهْجُورَةِ.

Pitch darkness inhabited every corner of the abandoned city.

Personification using 'sakana' for darkness.

لَمْ يَكُنْ سُكُونُهُ عجزًا، بَلْ كَانَ تَرَيُّثًا وَحِكْمَةً.

His silence/stillness was not weakness, but rather deliberation and wisdom.

Noun 'sukūn' used for character traits.

سَكَنَتْ نَفْسُهُ بَعْدَ طُولِ اغْتِرَابٍ وَتَرْحَالٍ.

His soul found rest after long estrangement and wandering.

Emotional resolution expressed through the S-K-N root.

إِنَّ الحَقَّ يَسْكُنُ فِي التَّفَاصِيلِ الصَّغِيرَةِ.

Truth dwells in the small details.

Philosophical usage.

سَكَنَ النَّزِيفُ بَعْدَ تَدَخُّلِ الأَطِبَّاءِ السَّرِيعِ.

The bleeding stopped after the quick intervention of the doctors.

Medical use for the cessation of flow.

Sinônimos

قَطَنَ أَقَامَ عَاشَ

Antônimos

رَحَلَ غَادَرَ

Colocações comuns

سَكَنَ فِي

سَكَنَ الأَلَمُ

سَكَنَتِ الرِّيحُ

سَكَنٌ جَامِعِيٌّ

مِنْطَقَةٌ سَكَنِيَّةٌ

عَدَدُ السُّكَّانِ

سَكَنَ إِلَى

أَزْمَةُ سَكَنٍ

سَكَنٌ لائِقٌ

سُكُونُ اللَّيْلِ

Frases Comuns

أَيْنَ تَسْكُنُ؟

— The standard way to ask 'Where do you live?'.

أَهْلًا، أَيْنَ تَسْكُنُ الآنَ؟

سَكَنَ مَعَ

— To live with someone (roommate, family).

أَسْكُنُ مَعَ عَائِلَتِي.

مَحَلُّ السَّكَنِ

— Place of residence (found on forms).

اُكْتُبْ مَحَلَّ السَّكَنِ هُنَا.

سَكَنٌ خَاصٌّ

— Private housing.

هَذَا سَكَنٌ خَاصٌّ لِلْمُوَظَّفِينَ.

سَكَنَ لِوَحْدِهِ

— To live alone.

هُوَ يَسْكُنُ لِوَحْدِهِ فِي الشَّقَّةِ.

بَدَلُ سَكَنٍ

— Housing allowance (employment benefit).

تُعْطِي الشَّرِكَةُ بَدَلَ سَكَنٍ جَيِّدًا.

سَكَنَ فِي الإِيجَارِ

— To live in a rented place.

نَحْنُ نَسْكُنُ فِي الإِيجَارِ حَالِيًّا.

سَكَنَ فِي الضَّوَاحِي

— To live in the suburbs.

أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْكُنَ فِي الضَّوَاحِي.

سَكَنَ فِي الطَّابِقِ...

— To live on the ... floor.

تَسْكُنُ فِي الطَّابِقِ العَاشِرِ.

سَكَنَ عِنْدَ

— To stay at someone's place (informal).

سَأَسْكُنُ عِنْدَ خَالِي هَذَا الأُسْبُوعَ.

Frequentemente confundido com

سَكَنَ vs عَاشَ

Asha means to live life/exist. Sakana means to reside in a house.

سَكَنَ vs سَكِين

Sikkin means knife. It sounds similar but the root is different (S-K-N vs S-K-N, wait, actually Sikkin is usually S-K-N but it's a noun).

سَكَنَ vs سَكَّرَ

Sakkara means to close (in dialect) or sugar. Don't confuse the 'n' with 'r'.

Expressões idiomáticas

"سَكَنَ فِي القَلْبِ"

— To be deeply loved or cherished (literally: to live in the heart).

حُبُّ الوَطَنِ يَسْكُنُ فِي القَلْبِ.

Poetic

"سَكَنَ إِلَيْهِ"

— To find peace and comfort in someone's presence.

الرَّجُلُ يَسْكُنُ إِلَى زَوْجَتِهِ.

Formal/Literary

"سَكَنَتْ نَفْسُهُ"

— To become calm or find inner peace after a period of worry.

سَكَنَتْ نَفْسُهُ بَعْدَ سَمَاعِ الخَبَرِ.

Formal

"سَكَنَ الرِّيحُ"

— Often used to mean that a conflict or trouble has quieted down.

سَكَنَتِ الرِّيحُ بَيْنَ القَبِيلَتَيْنِ.

Literary

"سَكَنَ الدَّهْرُ"

— Refers to a period of stability or lack of change in time.

سَكَنَ الدَّهْرُ بِهِمْ فِي ذَلِكَ الوَادِي.

Archaic/Poetic

"سَكَنَ الغُبَارُ"

— The dust settled (meaning a situation has become clear).

انْتَظِرْ حَتَّى يَسْكُنَ الغُبَارُ لِنَعْرِفَ الفَائِزَ.

Metaphorical

"سَكَنَ فِي عَيْنِهِ"

— To be constantly on someone's mind/sight.

تَسْكُنُ صُورَتُكِ فِي عَيْنِي.

Poetic

"سَكَنَ صَوْتُهُ"

— To become silent or lose one's voice/influence.

سَكَنَ صَوْتُ المُعَارَضَةِ.

Formal

"سَكَنَ المَكَانَ"

— To haunt a place (used for spirits or ghosts).

يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الأَرْوَاحَ تَسْكُنُ هَذَا البَيْتَ.

Neutral/Spooky

"سَكَنَ الوَجَعُ"

— The pain has stopped completely.

سَكَنَ الوَجَعُ بَعْدَ العَمَلِيَّةِ.

Neutral

Fácil de confundir

سَكَنَ vs عَاشَ

Both translate to 'live' in English.

Asha is for the biological act of living or experiencing life. Sakana is for the location of your home.

أَعِيشُ حَيَاةً جَمِيلَةً وَأَسْكُنُ فِي بَيْتٍ صَغِيرٍ.

سَكَنَ vs أَقَامَ

Both mean to reside.

Aqama is more formal and often implies a temporary or official stay (like residency permits). Sakana is more natural for 'home'.

أُقِيمُ فِي الفُنْدُقِ لَكِنِّي أَسْكُنُ فِي الأُرْدُنِ.

سَكَنَ vs نَزَلَ

Both can mean staying somewhere.

Nazala is specifically for temporary stays like hotels or as a guest. Sakana is for permanent dwelling.

نَزَلْتُ ضَيْفًا عِنْدَ صَدِيقِي.

سَكَنَ vs بَقِيَ

Can mean 'staying' in a place.

Baqiya means to remain or stay behind. Sakana is about making a place your home.

بَقِيتُ فِي المَكْتَبِ لَيْلًا.

سَكَنَ vs قَطَنَ

Formal synonym for live.

Qatana is very literary and used in history books. Sakana is used in modern daily life.

قَطَنَتِ القَبَائِلُ هَذِهِ المِنْطَقَةَ.

Padrões de frases

[Subject] + [Verb-Present] + فِي + [City]

أَنَا أَسْكُنُ فِي دُبَي.

[Subject] + [Verb-Past] + فِي + [Place] + [Time]

سَكَنْتُ فِي لَنْدَن لِسَنَةٍ.

أُرِيدُ أَنْ + [Verb-Subjunctive] + فِي + [Place]

أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْكُنَ فِي بَيْتٍ جَدِيدٍ.

سَكَنَ + [Abstract Noun] + فِي + [Location]

سَكَنَ الأَلَمُ فِي جِسْمِهِ.

[Verb-Present] + إِلَى + [Person]

تَسْكُنُ النَّفْسُ إِلَى خَالِقِهَا.

[Metaphorical Subject] + [Verb-Past] + [Object]

سَكَنَ الصَّمْتُ المَكَانَ.

هَلْ + [Verb-Present-You] + فِي + [Place]؟

هَلْ تَسْكُنُ فِي شَقَّةٍ؟

كُنْتُ + [Verb-Present] + فِي + [Place]

كُنْتُ أَسْكُنُ فِي مِصْرَ.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

مَسْكَن Dwelling/Abode

سَكَن Housing/Accommodation

سُكَّان Inhabitants/Population

سَكِينَة Tranquility/Peace

سُكُون Stillness/Silence

Verbos

سَكَّنَ To house someone / To calm someone down (Form II)

أَسْكَنَ To settle someone / To give residence (Form IV)

تَسَاكَنَ To cohabit / live together (Form VI)

اسْتَكَنَ To be submissive / To find rest (Form X)

Adjetivos

سَاكِن Still / Dweller / Living

سَكَنِيّ Residential

مَسْكُون Inhabited / Haunted

Relacionado

بَيْت

مَنْزِل

إِقَامَة

حَيّ

شَقَّة

Cadastre-se grátis para ver todos os exemplos

Como usar

frequency

Extremely high in daily speech, administrative forms, and literature.

Erros comuns

أَسْكُنُ حَيَاةً سَعِيدَةً → أَعِيشُ حَيَاةً سَعِيدَةً
You cannot 'reside' a life; you 'live' (ʿāsha) a life.
أَسْكُنُ دُبَي → أَسْكُنُ فِي دُبَي
Arabic requires the preposition 'fī' (in) after the verb 'sakana'.
سَكَنْتُ فِي الفُنْدُقِ لِيَوْمٍ → نَزَلْتُ فِي الفُنْدُقِ لِيَوْمٍ
'Sakana' implies long-term residency. For a hotel, 'nazala' is more appropriate.
يَسْكَنُ (yaskana) → يَسْكُنُ (yaskunu)
The present tense vowel on the middle root letter is 'u', not 'a'.
سَكَنَتِ النَّاسُ → سَكَنَ النَّاسُ
If the verb comes before the plural masculine subject, it remains singular.

Dicas

The 'u' sound

Remember the present tense vowel is 'u'. It's yaskunu, not yaskana or yaskina. Practice the sound: ya-sku-nu.

Home vs Life

Always keep 'sakana' for your address and 'ʿāsha' for your life experience. This is a very common mistake for English speakers.

Use 'Sākin'

If you want to sound more natural in conversation, use the active participle 'sākin'. 'Ana sākin fī...' is very common.

The Peace of S-K-N

The root S-K-N is all about peace. When you learn 'sakana', remember that a home in Arabic culture is a place of 'stillness' and 'peace'.

Preposition Check

Don't forget the 'fī'! In English we say 'I live there', but in Arabic you must say 'I live in there' or 'I live in London'.

Form II: Sakkana

If you want to say 'to house someone' (like a refugee or a guest), use the Form II verb 'sakkana' with a shadda on the kaf.

Sukkan vs Population

When reading the news, 'Sukkan' is the word for population. It literally means 'the dwellers'.

Listen for the Root

Whenever you hear S-K-N, think 'stillness' or 'dwelling'. This will help you guess the meaning of many related words.

Stillness in Sakan

Associate 'Sakan' with 'Silence'. A house is where it is silent and you can rest.

Residential Areas

The adjective 'sakaniyya' is essential if you are looking for an apartment. 'Mintaqa sakaniyya' = Residential area.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of the word 'Sakinah' which many people know as a name meaning peace. You 'Sakana' (live) where you have 'Sakinah' (peace).

Associação visual

Imagine a person sitting perfectly still (Sukūn) inside a house. The house is their 'Maskan'.

Word Web

Sakan (Housing) Sakin (Still) Sukkan (People) Maskan (Home) Sakinah (Peace) Yaskunu (He lives) Sakantu (I lived) Sukūn (Silence)

Desafio

Try to use 'sakana' in three different ways today: once for your house, once for a quiet room, and once for a pain that stops.

Origem da palavra

The root is the Proto-Semitic *š-k-n, which originally meant 'to settle' or 'to lie down'. In Arabic, it evolved to encompass both physical residency and the state of being quiet or still. This dual meaning is unique and reflects a cultural philosophy where 'home' is synonymous with 'peace'.

Significado original: To settle down or become still.

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

Contexto cultural

When asking 'Where do you live?', be aware that in some conservative contexts, people might be private about their specific address.

In English, 'live' is broad. In Arabic, remember to separate 'living life' from 'living in a house'.

The Quranic concept of Sakinah. Fairuz songs mentioning 'al-bayt' and 'sakan'. The diacritic 'Sukūn' in Arabic calligraphy.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Social Introduction

أَيْنَ تَسْكُنُ؟
أَسْكُنُ فِي...
مُنْذُ مَتَى تَسْكُنُ هُنَا؟
أَسْكُنُ مَعَ عَائِلَتِي.

Real Estate

أَبْحَثُ عَنْ سَكَنٍ.
هَلْ هَذِهِ مِنْطَقَةٌ سَكَنِيَّةٌ؟
كَمْ الإِيجَارُ لِهَذَا السَّكَنِ؟
السَّكَنُ بَعِيدٌ عَنِ المَرْكَزِ.

Travel/Immigration

عُنْوَانُ السَّكَنِ.
أَيْنَ سَتَسْكُنُ؟
سَأَسْكُنُ فِي فُنْدُقٍ.
مَحَلُّ الإِقَامَةِ وَالسَّكَنِ.

Medical/Health

هَلْ سَكَنَ الوَجَعُ؟
سَكَنَ الأَلَمُ بَعْدَ الدَّواءِ.
أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى سُكُونٍ.
سَكَنَ النَّزِيفُ.

Academic/Sociology

النُّمُوُّ السُّكَّانِيُّ.
كَثَافَةُ السُّكَّانِ.
السَّكَنُ العَشْوَائِيُّ.
تَوْزِيعُ السُّكَّانِ.

Iniciadores de conversa

"أَيْنَ تَسْكُنُ فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ العَظِيمَةِ؟"

"هَلْ تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَسْكُنَ فِي الرِّيفِ أَمْ فِي المَدِينَةِ؟"

"مُنْذُ مَتَى وَأَنْتَ تَسْكُنُ فِي هَذَا الحَيِّ؟"

"هَلْ تَسْكُنُ فِي شَقَّةٍ أَمْ فِي بَيْتٍ مُسْتَقِلٍّ؟"

"مَنْ يَسْكُنُ مَعَكَ فِي المَنْزِلِ؟"

Temas para diário

اُكْتُبْ عَنِ المَكَانِ الذِي تَسْكُنُ فِيهِ الآنَ وَمَاذَا تُحِبُّ فِيهِ.

صِفْ بَيْتَ أَحْلامِكَ الذِي تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَسْكُنَ فِيهِ مُسْتَقْبَلًا.

تَحَدَّثْ عَنْ مَدِينَةٍ سَكَنْتَ فِيهَا فِي المَاضِي وَتَفْتَقِدُهَا.

هَلْ تُفَضِّلُ السَّكَنَ لِوَحْدِكَ أَمْ مَعَ الآخَرِينَ؟ لِمَاذَا؟

كَيْفَ تَجِدُ السَّكِينَةَ وَالهُدُوءَ فِي حَيَاتِكَ اليَوْمِيَّةِ؟

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

No, for living life in an experiential or biological sense, you must use 'ʿāsha'. 'Sakana' is strictly for residing in a location or the state of being still.

In Modern Standard Arabic, yes, the present tense follows the pattern 'yafʿulu'. However, in many dialects, it might sound like 'yiskun' or 'yuskun'.

Both can mean house/home. 'Bayt' is the most common word for a physical house. 'Maskan' is more formal and literally means 'a place of rest/dwelling'.

Yes! They share the same root. The 'Sukun' mark indicates a consonant has no vowel and is 'at rest' or 'still'.

Arabic doesn't have a separate continuous tense like English. 'Askunu' means both 'I live' and 'I am living'. You can also use the active participle 'Ana sākin'.

Yes, you can use it for animals living in nests, dens, or specific habitats. For example: 'The lion lives (yaskunu) in the cave'.

Yes, a haunted house is called 'bayt maskūn', literally 'an inhabited house' (inhabited by spirits).

The most common and correct preposition is 'fī' (in). In some spiritual contexts, 'ilā' (towards/to) is used to mean finding peace in someone.

Frequently. It is used to describe the night as a time of rest and the tranquility that God sends down to believers.

'Sukkān' is already the plural form of 'sākin'. It is used as a collective noun meaning 'inhabitants' or 'population'.

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