At the A1 level, you usually learn the word 'eat' (يأكل). The word 'يقتات' is a bit more advanced, but you can think of it as a special way to say what animals eat. Imagine a picture of a bird eating seeds. Instead of just saying 'The bird eats', we use 'يقتات' to show that seeds are its main food. It is like saying 'This is what it lives on'. You will mostly see this word in simple books about animals or nature. Just remember the pattern: [Animal] + يقتات + على + [Food]. It's a great word to make your basic sentences sound more like a real Arabic speaker! Even at this level, knowing that 'ala' (على) comes after it is very helpful.
At the A2 level, you are starting to describe the world around you in more detail. 'يقتات' is perfect for describing the habits of animals or the simple lives of people in stories. You might use it to talk about a pet's diet or what people in a small village live on. It helps you move away from simple verbs like 'eat' and 'drink' towards more descriptive language. You should practice conjugating it in the present tense: 'أنا أقتات' (I subsist - though rare for humans), 'هو يقتات' (he subsists), 'هي تقتات' (she/it subsists). At this level, focus on using it for biological facts, like 'The camel subsists on desert plants'.
At the B1 level, you can start using 'يقتات' in more abstract and social contexts. You might read news articles about people in difficult situations who 'subsist on' (يقتاتون على) very little. You can also use it to describe the economy of a region, such as 'The city subsists on tourism' (المدينة تقتات على السياحة). This shows you understand that the word isn't just about physical food, but about whatever 'feeds' or supports a system. You should also be comfortable using the past tense 'اقتات' and the noun 'قوت' (sustenance) in your writing. It's a key word for discussing environment and society.
At the B2 level, 'يقتات' becomes a tool for sophisticated description and metaphor. You will encounter it in literature and complex journalism. You should understand the nuance that 'يقتات' implies a degree of necessity or minimalism. If a politician 'feeds on' the fears of the people, you would use 'يقتات على مخاوف الناس'. This level requires you to distinguish between 'يقتات' and synonyms like 'يتغذى' (to be nourished) or 'يستمد' (to derive from). You should be able to use it fluently in essays about ecology, sociology, or literary analysis, recognizing its power to convey dependency and essential survival.
At the C1 level, you should have a deep appreciation for the root Q-W-T and how 'يقتات' fits into the broader Arabic lexicon. You might explore its use in classical texts or philosophical treatises. For example, discussing how the soul 'subsists' on knowledge. You should be able to recognize subtle shifts in meaning when the word is used in different registers—from the dry, technical language of a biology paper to the rich, metaphorical language of a modern poem. Your usage should be flawless, especially regarding the preposition 'على' and the appropriate gender/number agreement for non-human subjects.
At the C2 level, 'يقتات' is a word you use with total precision and stylistic flair. You might use it in a critique of consumerist culture, describing how it 'feeds on' the desires of the individual. You are aware of the word's history and its connection to the concept of 'Al-Muqit' (The Sustainer), one of the names of God in Islamic tradition. You can use the word to create complex imagery in your own creative or academic writing, moving effortlessly between literal biological meanings and profound metaphysical ones. You understand all its derivations and can use them to add layers of meaning to your discourse.

يقتات em 30 segundos

  • A formal verb meaning 'to feed on' or 'to subsist on'.
  • Primarily used for biological diets and survival contexts.
  • Always paired with the preposition 'على' (on).
  • Derived from the root Q-W-T, meaning basic sustenance.
The Arabic verb يقتات (yaqtātu) is a precise and evocative term used to describe the act of feeding, subsisting, or living on a specific source of nourishment. While the common verb يأكل (ya'kulu) simply means 'to eat' in a general sense, يقتات implies a more fundamental, biological, or even meager level of consumption. It is derived from the root ق-و-ت (q-w-t), which refers to 'قوت' (qūt)—the basic sustenance or daily bread required to keep one alive. When you use this word, you are often highlighting what an organism relies on for its very existence.
Biological Context
In nature documentaries or scientific texts, this verb is the standard way to describe an animal's diet. For instance, 'The lion feeds on meat' translates to 'الأسد يقتات على اللحم'. It suggests a recurring, necessary pattern of feeding.

العصفور الصغير يقتات على الحبوب التي يجدها في الحديقة.

Socio-Economic Context
When applied to humans, it often carries a connotation of poverty or minimalism. To say someone 'يقتات على الخبز والماء' (subsists on bread and water) emphasizes that they have nothing else. It paints a picture of survival rather than enjoyment.

كان الفقير يقتات على ما يتصدق به الناس عليه من فتات الخبز.

Metaphorical Usage
In literature, authors use this verb metaphorically to describe intellectual or emotional sustenance. One might 'feed on hope' (يقتات على الأمل) or 'subsist on memories' (يقتات على الذكريات), suggesting these intangible things are what keep the person's spirit alive.

الشاعر يقتات على وحي خياله ليبدع قصائده الجميلة.

هذه الكائنات المجهرية تقتات على الطفيليات الموجودة في المياه الراكدة.

لا يمكن للإنسان أن يقتات على الأوهام للأبد؛ فالحقيقة ستظهر يوماً ما.

This verb is a bridge between the physical necessity of life and the descriptive richness of the Arabic language. It allows speakers to categorize living beings not just by what they eat, but by what they depend upon for their very survival. Whether you are reading a textbook about the savanna or a novel about a struggling artist, يقتات provides a depth that simpler verbs cannot reach. It implies a cycle, a dependency, and a fundamental connection between the consumer and the consumed. In modern standard Arabic (MSA), it remains a high-frequency word in journalism and science, making it an essential addition to the vocabulary of any intermediate learner.
Using يقتات correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical structure and its specific semantic range. Unlike 'eat' (أكل), which is often transitive (taking a direct object), يقتات is almost exclusively intransitive and paired with the preposition على. This structure mirrors the English 'to subsist on'.
Basic Pattern
The pattern is: [Subject] + [Conjugated Verb] + على + [Source of Food]. Example: 'النحل يقتات على رحيق الأزهار' (Bees feed on flower nectar).

تلك القبائل البدائية تقتات على الصيد وجمع الثمار في الغابة.

Conjugation Notes
As a Form VIII verb (اقتات - يقتات), it follows the 'ifta'ala' pattern. In the present tense, it is 'يقتات' for masculine singular and 'تقتات' for feminine singular. In the past tense, it becomes 'اقتات'.

اقتاتَ المسافرون على التمر والماء طوال رحلتهم عبر الصحراء.

Negative and Modal Forms
You can use it with 'لا' for general truths or 'لن' for future impossibility. Example: 'لا يمكن للأسد أن يقتات على العشب' (A lion cannot feed on grass).

لن يقتات هذا الطائر إلا على نوع محدد من الحشرات.

هل تقتات هذه الأسماك على الطحالب في قاع البحر؟

يجب أن تقتات الماشية على أعلاف صحية لضمان جودة الحليب.

Using يقتات properly elevates your Arabic from basic communication to descriptive proficiency. It shows an awareness of biological and existential nuances. Whether you are describing the dietary habits of a species or the meager lifestyle of a hermit, this verb provides the necessary gravity and precision. In academic writing, it is preferred over 'ya'kulu' when discussing food chains, ecosystems, or economic survival. Remember that the source of food is the 'life-force' (qut) for the subject, which is why this verb is so powerful in its imagery.
You will encounter يقتات in several specific environments. It is not a word you would typically use in a casual conversation about what you had for lunch at a restaurant—unless you were being humorous or dramatic.
Nature Documentaries
If you watch National Geographic Abu Dhabi or similar channels, you will hear this word constantly. Narrators use it to describe the food chain. 'The predator feeds on the prey' (المفترس يقتات على الفريسة).

في أعماق المحيط، تقتات الحيتان الضخمة على الكريل الصغير.

News and Humanitarian Reports
In reports about famine, war zones, or extreme poverty, journalists use this verb to highlight the dire conditions. 'The displaced people are subsisting on leaves' (النازحون يقتاتون على أوراق الأشجار).

بسبب الحصار، أصبح السكان يقتاتون على وجبة واحدة بسيطة في اليوم.

Literature and Poetry
Modern and classical Arabic literature uses this verb to describe the 'nourishment' of the soul or mind. A writer might say they 'feed on the pain of the past' to create their art.

عاش الفيلسوف في عزلته يقتات على أفكاره وكتـبه.

البكتيريا التي تقتات على النفايات تساعد في عملية التحلل العضوي.

سمعتُ في الأخبار أن بعض الحيوانات البرية بدأت تقتات من القمامة بسبب زحف المدن.

In summary, يقتات is a word of substance. It is used when the source of food is a defining characteristic of the subject's life. Whether it is a biological necessity or a tragic consequence of circumstance, this verb captures the essence of survival. It is widely used in formal Arabic (Fusha) and is a key word for understanding academic and journalistic content.
Even for advanced learners, يقتات can be tricky due to its prepositional requirement and its similarity to other roots.
The Missing Preposition
The most common mistake is treating it like 'أكل' (to eat) and omitting the preposition 'على'. Incorrect: 'الأسد يقتات اللحم'. Correct: 'الأسد يقتات على اللحم'. Without 'على', the sentence feels incomplete to a native speaker.

خطأ: هو يقتات الخبز. / صح: هو يقتات على الخبز.

Confusion with 'يقتات' (from Q-T-T)
There is another rare root 'ق-ت-ت' which can relate to eavesdropping or spreading rumors (قَتَّ). While unlikely to be confused in context, learners should be aware that the 'waw' in the root Q-W-T is what gives 'يقتات' its meaning of nourishment.

لا تستخدم 'يقتات' لوصف وجبة شهية في مطعم، بل استخدم 'يستمتع بـ'.

Gender Agreement with Collective Nouns
When talking about a group of animals like 'الإبل' (camels) or 'الغنم' (sheep), use the feminine singular 'تقتات'. Beginners often use the masculine plural 'يقتاتون', which is reserved for humans.

الأغنام تقتات على العشب الأخضر في الربيع.

تجنب الخلط بين 'يقتات' و'يتقوّت'؛ فكلاهما صحيح لكن 'يقتات' أكثر شيوعاً في الفصحى المعاصرة.

Avoiding these mistakes will make your Arabic sound much more natural and precise. Pay close attention to the preposition 'على' and the context of survival or biological habit. This verb is a tool for description, not just a synonym for eating. By mastering its nuances, you demonstrate a higher level of linguistic sensitivity.
Arabic has a rich vocabulary for consumption, and choosing the right word depends on the nuance you want to convey.
أكل (Aka-la) vs. يقتات
'أكل' is the general verb for eating. It describes the physical action. 'يقتات' describes the source of life or a regular diet. You 'eat' an apple, but a worm 'subsists' on wood.
يتغذى (Yatadhagh-dha) vs. يقتات
'يتغذى' means 'to be nourished' or 'to feed'. It is very close to 'يقتات' but is often used in a more scientific sense regarding nutrients. You might say 'الجسم يتغذى على الفيتامينات' (The body is nourished by vitamins).

الفرق: يقتات يركز على المصدر، بينما يتغذى يركز على الفائدة الصحية.

يعيش على (Ya'ishu 'ala)
This is the most literal translation of 'lives on'. It is more common in daily speech than 'يقتات'. If you want to say 'I live on coffee', you would say 'أعيش على القهوة'.

الأسد حيوان يقتات على اللحم، فهو من المفترسات.

النبات يقتات (مجازاً) على ضوء الشمس والماء والتربة.

بدلاً من 'يقتات'، يمكن استخدام 'يتناول طعامه' للتعبير عن فعل الأكل المهذب.

Understanding these alternatives allows you to tailor your speech to the situation. Use 'أكل' for the act, 'يتغذى' for the nutrition, 'يعيش على' for casual dependency, and 'يقتات' for biological or survival-based subsistence. This level of synonym awareness is what distinguishes a fluent speaker from a beginner. Each word carries its own 'flavor' and emotional weight, and 'يقتات' is undoubtedly the word of survival and fundamental nature.

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

The word 'qut' (قوت) is mentioned in the Quran, and one of God's names in Islam is 'Al-Muqit' (المقيت), meaning The Sustainer or The Giver of Nourishment.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /jaq.taː.tu/
US /jæk.tæ.tu/
Stress is on the second syllable 'taː'.
Rima com
يقتات (yaqtat) نبات (nabat) ثبات (thabat) فرات (furat) مات (mat) هيهات (hayhat) صفات (sifat) أوقات (awqat)
Erros comuns
  • Pronouncing 'qaf' as 'kaf' (yak-ta-tu).
  • Shortening the long 'aa' vowel.
  • Failing to pronounce the 't' clearly.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 3/5

Easy to recognize in context, especially with 'على'.

Escrita 4/5

Requires remembering the Form VIII pattern and the preposition.

Expressão oral 4/5

Not common in daily speech, so it might feel 'stiff' if used incorrectly.

Audição 3/5

Clear pronunciation, usually easy to catch in documentaries.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

أكل طعام على حيوان حياة

Aprenda a seguir

يتغذى ينقرض يفترس بيئة نظام غذائي

Avançado

الأيض (Metabolism) التكافل (Symbiosis) السلسلة الغذائية (Food chain)

Gramática essencial

Form VIII Verbs (افتعل)

اقتات، اشترك، اختار

Prepositional Verbs

يقتات + على

Non-human Plural Agreement

الحيوانات تقتات (Feminine Singular)

Present Tense Conjugation of Hollow Roots in Form VIII

يقتات (The 'alif' remains)

The Use of 'Ma' (ما) as a Relative Pronoun

يقتات على ما يجده

Exemplos por nível

1

العصفور يقتات على الحبوب.

The bird feeds on seeds.

Simple present tense masculine singular.

2

القطة تقتات على اللحم.

The cat feeds on meat.

Feminine singular verb for the cat.

3

الأرنب يقتات على الجزر.

The rabbit feeds on carrots.

Subject + Verb + Preposition + Object.

4

النحل يقتات على الزهور.

Bees feed on flowers.

Plural non-human subject often takes masculine singular or feminine singular.

5

السمك يقتات على النباتات.

Fish feed on plants.

Collective noun 'fish' with singular verb.

6

هو يقتات على الخبز.

He subsists on bread.

Pronoun 'هو' followed by the verb.

7

أنا أقتات على الفواكه.

I subsist on fruits.

First person singular 'أقتات'.

8

البقرة تقتات على العشب.

The cow feeds on grass.

Feminine singular agreement.

1

تقتات الزرافة على أوراق الأشجار العالية.

The giraffe feeds on the leaves of tall trees.

Verb precedes the subject in a VSO sentence.

2

كانت القبيلة تقتات على الصيد.

The tribe used to subsist on hunting.

Past continuous using 'كانت' + present verb.

3

الجمال تقتات على أشواك الصحراء.

Camels feed on desert thorns.

Plural non-human 'الجمال' takes feminine singular 'تقتات'.

4

تقتات هذه الحشرة على الخشب القديم.

This insect feeds on old wood.

Demonstrative 'هذه' + noun + verb.

5

الفقراء في القرية يقتاتون على التمر.

The poor in the village subsist on dates.

Masculine plural 'يقتاتون' for human subjects.

6

هل تقتات الأسود على الغزلان؟

Do lions feed on gazelles?

Interrogative particle 'هل'.

7

لا يقتات الفيل على اللحم أبداً.

The elephant never feeds on meat.

Negative 'لا' + present tense.

8

يقتات الطفل الصغير على الحليب فقط.

The small baby subsists on milk only.

Adverb 'فقط' at the end of the sentence.

1

تقتات العديد من الدول النامية على المساعدات الخارجية.

Many developing countries subsist on foreign aid.

Metaphorical use for economic dependency.

2

يقتات هذا النوع من الفطر على المواد العضوية المتحللة.

This type of fungus feeds on decaying organic matter.

Scientific/biological context.

3

اقتات المسافرون التائهون على جذور النباتات للبقاء على قيد الحياة.

The lost travelers subsisted on plant roots to stay alive.

Past tense 'اقتات' with plural subject.

4

تقتات الحيتان الزرقاء على كميات هائلة من الكريل يومياً.

Blue whales feed on massive amounts of krill daily.

Use of 'كميات هائلة' (massive amounts).

5

لا يصح أن يقتات الإنسان على الكراهية والحقد.

It is not right for a person to feed on hatred and resentment.

Metaphorical/moral context.

6

تقتات بعض النباتات المفترسة على الحشرات الصغيرة.

Some carnivorous plants feed on small insects.

Adjective 'المفترسة' modifying 'النباتات'.

7

كان الناسك يقتات على ما تجود به الطبيعة حول صومعته.

The hermit used to subsist on what nature provided around his cell.

Relative clause 'ما تجود به الطبيعة'.

8

تقتات الطفيليات على دماء الكائنات الأخرى.

Parasites feed on the blood of other creatures.

Plural non-human subject.

1

تقتات الصحافة الصفراء على الفضائح وأخبار المشاهير.

Yellow journalism feeds on scandals and celebrity news.

Abstract metaphorical usage.

2

يقتات الاستبداد على جهل الشعوب وخوفها.

Tyranny feeds on the ignorance and fear of the people.

Political/philosophical context.

3

تقتات هذه البكتيريا اللاهوائية على الكبريت في أعماق البراكين.

This anaerobic bacteria feeds on sulfur in the depths of volcanoes.

Technical scientific vocabulary.

4

اقتاتت الحضارات القديمة على الزراعة في وديان الأنهار.

Ancient civilizations subsisted on agriculture in river valleys.

Past tense feminine singular for 'الحضارات'.

5

يقتات الفنان الحقيقي على تجاربه الشخصية ليصيغ أعماله.

The true artist feeds on his personal experiences to shape his works.

Subjunctive mood 'ليصيغ' (to shape).

6

تقتات بعض الشركات الكبرى على ابتكارات الشركات الناشئة.

Some large corporations feed on the innovations of startups.

Economic/business context.

7

لن يقتات المجتمع السليم على استغلال الضعفاء.

A healthy society will not feed on the exploitation of the weak.

Future negative 'لن'.

8

تقتات النار على كل ما تجده في طريقها من حطب يابس.

The fire feeds on all the dry wood it finds in its path.

Personification of fire.

1

تقتات الذاكرة الجمعية على الأساطير والبطولات المتخيلة.

Collective memory feeds on myths and imagined heroics.

Sociological term 'الذاكرة الجمعية'.

2

يقتات الفكر المتطرف على تهميش الآخر وإلغاء التعددية.

Extremist thought feeds on marginalizing the other and cancelling pluralism.

Complex abstract nouns.

3

تقتات الكائنات المجهرية في التربة على المواد الكيميائية المعقدة.

Soil microorganisms feed on complex chemical substances.

Precise biological description.

4

اقتاتت الرواية الحديثة على فتات الواقع لتخلق عالماً موازياً.

The modern novel subsisted on the crumbs of reality to create a parallel world.

Literary metaphor 'فتات الواقع'.

5

يقتات النظام الرأسمالي على الاستهلاك المستمر للموارد.

The capitalist system feeds on the continuous consumption of resources.

Political economy context.

6

تقتات الأرواح المتعبة على بصيص من الأمل في غد أفضل.

Tired souls feed on a glimmer of hope for a better tomorrow.

Poetic expression 'بصيص من الأمل'.

7

يقتات النقد الأدبي على النصوص الإبداعية ليحللها ويفككها.

Literary criticism feeds on creative texts to analyze and deconstruct them.

Deconstructionist terminology.

8

تقتات الأساطير على خوف الإنسان من المجهول وظواهر الطبيعة.

Myths feed on man's fear of the unknown and natural phenomena.

Anthropological context.

1

يقتات الوجود الإنساني على جدلية الفناء والبقاء.

Human existence feeds on the dialectic of extinction and survival.

Philosophical terminology 'جدلية'.

2

تقتات اللغة على انزياحات المعنى واستعارات الشعراء.

Language feeds on shifts in meaning and the metaphors of poets.

Linguistic concept 'انزياحات المعنى'.

3

اقتاتت الفلسفة العدمية على انهيار القيم الكبرى في العصر الحديث.

Nihilistic philosophy fed on the collapse of grand values in the modern era.

Intellectual history context.

4

يقتات التاريخ على صراعات القوى وتوازنات المصالح الجيوسياسية.

History feeds on power struggles and the balances of geopolitical interests.

Political science context.

5

تقتات القصيدة الرمزية على غموض الدلالة وتعدد التأويلات.

The symbolic poem feeds on the ambiguity of meaning and the multiplicity of interpretations.

Literary theory context.

6

يقتات الفساد المؤسسي على غياب الرقابة وضعف الوازع الأخلاقي.

Institutional corruption feeds on the absence of oversight and the weakness of moral deterrents.

Formal administrative language.

7

تقتات العولمة على محو الخصوصيات الثقافية للشعوب.

Globalization feeds on the erasure of the cultural specificities of peoples.

Sociological critique.

8

يقتات العقل البشري على التساؤل الدائم والبحث عن الحقيقة المطلقة.

The human mind feeds on constant questioning and the search for absolute truth.

Epistemological context.

Colocações comuns

يقتات على العشب
يقتات على اللحم
يقتات على الفتات
يقتات على الأمل
يقتات على الحشرات
يقتات على الذكريات
يقتات على رحيق الأزهار
يقتات على الأوهام
يقتات على الفضائح
يقتات على الجثث

Frases Comuns

بالكاد يقتات

— Barely subsisting; having just enough to survive.

هو بالكاد يقتات على معاشه البسيط.

يقتات من عرق جبينه

— To live by the sweat of one's brow; to earn an honest living.

العامل الشريف يقتات من عرق جبينه.

يقتات على حساب الآخرين

— To live at the expense of others.

الانتهازي يقتات على حساب الآخرين.

لا يجد ما يقتات به

— He finds nothing to subsist on; he is starving.

الفقير لا يجد ما يقتات به في هذا الشتاء.

يقتات على العلم

— To feed on knowledge; to be a lifelong learner.

طالب العلم يقتات على الكتب.

يقتات على الصيد

— To live by hunting.

كانت القبائل القديمة تقتات على الصيد.

يقتات على فتات الموائد

— To live on the crumbs of tables; to be very poor.

المشرد يقتات على فتات الموائد.

يقتات على الخيال

— To feed on imagination.

الروائي يقتات على خياله الواسع.

يقتات على ما يجد

— To subsist on whatever one finds.

في الغابة، يقتات الحيوان على ما يجد.

يقتات على الحقيقة

— To feed on the truth.

الباحث يقتات على الحقيقة المجردة.

Frequentemente confundido com

يقتات vs يقتت (from Q-T-T)

Refers to eavesdropping or spreading rumors. Very rare.

يقتات vs يقتات (Passive)

The passive form is rarely used, but could be confused with the active.

يقتات vs يقتاد

From the root Q-W-D, meaning 'to lead' or 'to take someone away'.

Expressões idiomáticas

"يقتات على جراح الآخرين"

— To profit or thrive from the suffering of others.

تجار الحروب يقتاتون على جراح الشعوب.

Literary/Political
"يقتات على فتات الماضي"

— To live in the past; to be unable to move on.

لا تكن شخصاً يقتات على فتات الماضي؛ انظر للمستقبل.

Metaphorical
"يقتات من قلمه"

— To earn a living from writing.

الكاتب الناجح يقتات من قلمه.

Formal
"يقتات على الهامش"

— To live on the margins of society.

كثير من المبدعين يقتاتون على الهامش.

Sociological
"يقتات على الخوف"

— To use fear as a means of control or survival.

الديكتاتور يقتات على خوف رعاياه.

Political
"يقتات على الأضواء"

— To live for fame and attention.

المشاهير يقتاتون على الأضواء والشهرة.

Modern/Journalistic
"يقتات على الصمت"

— To find strength or sustenance in silence.

الحكيم يقتات على الصمت والتأمل.

Poetic
"يقتات على الفوضى"

— To thrive in chaotic situations.

المجرمون يقتاتون على الفوضى الأمنية.

General
"يقتات على الكذب"

— To base one's life or success on lies.

المنافق يقتات على الكذب والخداع.

Moral
"يقتات على أحلامه"

— To live supported by one's dreams and aspirations.

الشاب الطموح يقتات على أحلامه الكبيرة.

Inspirational

Fácil de confundir

يقتات vs يقتاد (yaqtadu)

Similar spelling (only one letter difference: d vs t).

Yaqtatu (with t) means to feed/subsist. Yaqtadu (with d) means to lead or conduct, often by force.

الشرطي يقتاد اللص (The policeman leads the thief).

يقتات vs يقتتل (yaqtatilu)

Similar sounds and Form VIII pattern.

Yaqtatilu means 'to fight one another' (from the root Q-T-L).

الجنود يقتتلون في المعركة.

يقتات vs يقتني (yaqtani)

Form VIII and similar starting sounds.

Yaqtani means 'to acquire' or 'to own' (from the root Q-N-Y).

هو يقتني الكتب النادرة.

يقتات vs يقتبس (yaqtabisu)

Form VIII starting with 'yaq-'.

Yaqtabisu means 'to quote' or 'to derive' (from the root Q-B-S).

يقتبس الكاتب من المصادر.

يقتات vs يقتصد (yaqtasidu)

Form VIII starting with 'yaq-'.

Yaqtasidu means 'to save' or 'to be economical' (from the root Q-S-D).

يجب أن نقتصد في استهلاك الماء.

Padrões de frases

A2

[Animal] يقتات على [Food].

الجمل يقتات على العشب.

B1

كان [Subject] يقتات على [Food].

كان الرجل يقتات على التمر.

B1

[Subject] لا يقتات إلا على [Food].

هذا الطائر لا يقتات إلا على الحشرات.

B2

[Abstract Noun] يقتات على [Abstract Noun].

النجاح يقتات على العمل الجاد.

B2

بدأ [Subject] يقتات على [Food].

بدأت الأسماك تقتات على الطحالب.

C1

[Subject] يقتات على ما [Verb].

هو يقتات على ما تجود به يده.

C1

من الصعب أن يقتات المرء على [Noun].

من الصعب أن يقتات المرء على الأوهام.

C2

تقتات [Concept] على انقاض [Concept].

تقتات الحداثة على انقاض التقليد.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

قوت (Qut) - sustenance
أقوات (Aqwat) - plural of sustenance
اقتيات (Iqtiyat) - the act of feeding/subsisting
مقتات (Muqtat) - one who feeds/subsists

Verbos

اقتات (Iqtata) - Past tense
يقتات (Yaqtatu) - Present tense
تقوّت (Taqawwata) - To nourish oneself (Form V)

Adjetivos

قوتي (Quti) - relating to sustenance
مقتات (Muqtat) - feeding (as an active participle)

Relacionado

طعام (Ta'am) - food
غذاء (Ghidha') - nutrition
رزق (Rizq) - provision
أكل (Akl) - eating
معيشة (Ma'isha) - living/livelihood

Como usar

frequency

Common in written Arabic and formal media; rare in spoken dialects.

Erros comuns
  • يقتات اللحم يقتات على اللحم

    Omitting the preposition 'على' is the most frequent error.

  • الحيوانات يقتاتون الحيوانات تقتات

    Non-human plurals should take the feminine singular verb form.

  • يقتات في المطعم يأكل في المطعم

    Using 'يقتات' for a social/pleasurable meal is contextually inappropriate.

  • اقتت على اقتات على

    Confusing the root with Q-T-T and losing the 'alif' in the past tense.

  • يقتاد على العشب يقتات على العشب

    Confusing 'yaqtatu' (feeds) with 'yaqtadu' (leads).

Dicas

The 'Ala' Rule

Always pair 'يقتات' with 'على'. It's the most important rule for using this verb naturally.

Nature Docs

Watch Arabic nature documentaries to hear this word in its most natural environment.

Root Power

Learn the noun 'قوت' (sustenance) alongside the verb to understand the core concept of 'daily bread'.

Precision

Use 'يقتات' when you want to describe a fixed diet or a survival situation, not just a one-time meal.

Metaphorical Flair

Impress native speakers by using it metaphorically, like 'يقتات على الكتب' for a bookworm.

Detecting Nuance

When you hear 'يقتات' applied to a person, look for clues about their economic status—it usually implies they are poor.

Avoid Overuse

Don't use it for every instance of eating. It's a 'heavy' word that should be used for effect.

Rhyme Time

Rhyme it with 'Nabat' (plant) to remember that many things 'yaqtat' on 'nabat'.

Spiritual Link

Remember the name 'Al-Muqit' to connect the word to the idea of providing essential needs.

Yaqtatu vs Ya'kulu

Think: Ya'kulu is the 'what', Yaqtatu is the 'how they survive'.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of the 'Q' in 'Qut' as 'Quality'. 'Yaqtatu' is about the *quality* of what sustains your life.

Associação visual

Imagine a tiny bird (العصفور) eating a single grain. That grain is its 'qut' (sustenance), and the bird 'yaqtat' (subsists) on it.

Word Web

قوت طعام حياة بقاء تغذية على حيوان فقر

Desafio

Try to write three sentences describing what different animals in your country 'يقتات' on. For example: 'The squirrel feeds on nuts'.

Origem da palavra

Derived from the Arabic root Q-W-T (ق و ت). This root is ancient and central to Semitic languages, relating to the essential needs for life.

Significado original: The original meaning of 'qut' is the minimum amount of food needed to sustain life, especially that which is stored.

Semitic / Afroasiatic.

Contexto cultural

None, but be careful using it for wealthy people as it can sound sarcastic.

The English equivalent 'subsist' is also formal, making 'يقتات' a perfect translation in academic or literary settings.

Al-Ghazali's 'Ihya Ulum al-Din' discusses the 'qut' of the heart. Modern Arabic documentaries on Al Jazeera Documentaries use this word frequently. Classical poetry often uses 'qut' to contrast with 'khayr' (abundance).

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Biology Class

  • على ماذا يقتات هذا الحيوان؟
  • تقتات الكائنات المجهرية على...
  • حيوانات تقتات على العشب
  • حيوانات تقتات على اللحم

News Report

  • يقتاتون على المساعدات
  • لا يجدون ما يقتاتون به
  • يقتات السكان على وجبة واحدة
  • أزمة في القوت اليومي

Literature

  • يقتات على أحزانه
  • يقتات على ذكريات الماضي
  • يقتات على الأمل
  • يقتات من فنه

Economy

  • تقتات الدولة على الضرائب
  • يقتات السوق على الاستهلاك
  • تقتات الشركات على الابتكار
  • يقتات الموظف على راتبه

Daily Metaphor

  • يقتات على الإشاعات
  • يقتات على المشاكل
  • يقتات على تعب غيره
  • يقتات على الكلام

Iniciadores de conversa

"على ماذا تقتات الحيوانات الأليفة في بلدك عادة؟"

"هل تعتقد أن الإنسان يمكن أن يقتات على الأمل وحده؟"

"في رأيك، هل تقتات الصحافة اليوم على الفضائح أكثر من الحقائق؟"

"ما هو القوت الأساسي الذي يقتات عليه الناس في منطقتك؟"

"كيف تقتات النباتات في الأماكن التي لا تصلها الشمس؟"

Temas para diário

اكتب عن حيوانك المفضل وعلى ماذا يقتات في بيئته الطبيعية.

تحدث عن فترة في حياتك كنت تقتات فيها على شيء معنوي (مثل الصبر أو الحلم).

هل تظن أن التكنولوجيا تقتات على وقتنا وخصوصيتنا؟ اشرح وجهة نظرك.

صف حياة شخص فقير يقتات على القليل، وكيف يجد السعادة في ذلك.

تخيل عالماً يقتات فيه الناس على الطاقة الشمسية فقط، كيف ستكون الحياة؟

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

No, it can apply to humans (usually implying poverty or minimalism) and metaphors (like 'feeding on hope'). However, it is most common in biological descriptions of animals.

Not really. It sounds strange or sarcastic because 'يقتات' implies basic survival or a regular, fixed diet rather than the enjoyment of a feast.

'يقتات' emphasizes the source of food for survival (subsistence), while 'يتغذى' focuses on the process of being nourished or the health aspect of food.

It is rarely used in daily spoken dialects. People usually say 'بياكل' (bi-yakul) or 'عايش على' (ayesh 'ala). It is a Fusha (Modern Standard Arabic) word.

Yes, 'مقتات' (muqtat), but it is very technical and rarely used outside of scientific biology contexts (e.g., 'مقتات على اللحوم' for a carnivore).

It is 'كائن ذاتي الاقتيات' (Kā'in dhātī al-iqtiyāt), literally 'a self-subsisting being'.

Sometimes 'من' is used to show the source (e.g., يقتات من عرق جبينه), but 'على' is much more common for the actual food item.

Linguistically, they are different roots (Q-W-T vs Q-W-Y), but conceptually, 'qut' (sustenance) is what provides 'quwwa' (strength).

The past tense is 'اقتات' (iqtata). Example: 'اقتات الأسد على الغزال' (The lion fed on the gazelle).

It would be a very creative metaphor, but normally you would use 'تستهلك' (consumes) or 'تعمل بـ' (works with).

Teste-se 200 perguntas

writing

Write a sentence about what a bird feeds on using 'يقتات'.

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writing

Describe a poor person's diet using 'يقتات'.

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writing

Use 'يقتات' metaphorically with the word 'hope' (الأمل).

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writing

Write a sentence about a lion's diet.

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writing

Translate: 'The tribe subsists on hunting.'

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writing

Use the past tense 'اقتات' in a sentence.

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writing

Create a sentence using 'يقتاتون' (plural).

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writing

Write a sentence about bees and flowers.

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writing

Describe yellow journalism using 'يقتات'.

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writing

Use 'يقتات' in a scientific sentence about bacteria.

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writing

Write a sentence about what camels eat in the desert.

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writing

Use 'يقتات' metaphorically with 'memories' (الذكريات).

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writing

Translate: 'The baby feeds on milk only.'

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writing

Write a negative sentence using 'لن' (future negative).

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writing

Create a question using 'هل'.

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writing

Use 'يقتات' to describe a writer's livelihood.

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writing

Write a sentence about a tyrant and fear.

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writing

Describe how a healthy society should not function.

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writing

Use 'يقتات' in a sentence about collective memory.

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writing

Write a philosophical sentence about existence.

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speaking

Tell me what your favorite animal feeds on using 'يقتات'.

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speaking

Describe the diet of a camel in one sentence.

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speaking

Can a person live on hope? Answer in Arabic using 'يقتات'.

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speaking

What do bees feed on? Answer in Arabic.

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speaking

Discuss the impact of yellow journalism.

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speaking

Why do some plants eat insects?

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speaking

What does a bookworm 'feed' on metaphorically?

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speaking

Describe a poor person's struggle for food.

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speaking

How does fire spread in a forest?

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speaking

What do parasites do to their hosts?

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speaking

Do you think social media feeds on our privacy?

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speaking

What was the sustenance of ancient tribes?

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speaking

Discuss the 'qut' of the soul.

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speaking

How do whales eat?

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speaking

Can logic exist without facts?

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speaking

What do birds do in winter?

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speaking

Is it good to live on memories?

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speaking

What do desert animals eat?

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speaking

How does a writer stay creative?

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speaking

Summarize the meaning of 'يقتات' in one sentence.

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listening

Listen and identify the food: 'الأسد ملك الغابة، وهو يقتات على اللحوم الطازجة.'

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listening

Listen and identify the subject: 'تقتات الفراشات الجميلة على رحيق الأزهار في فصل الربيع.'

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listening

Is the person rich or poor? 'كان الرجل يقتات على فتات الخبز الذي يجمعه من الشوارع.'

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listening

What is the bird eating? 'هذا الطائر الصغير يقتات على الحبوب والديدان.'

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listening

What is the metaphorical fuel? 'يقتات الشاعر على أحزانه ليكتب قصائد تلمس القلوب.'

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listening

Listen for the preposition: 'الجمال تقتات على أشواك الصحراء.'

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listening

What is the whale eating? 'تقتات الحيتان على الكريل في المحيطات الباردة.'

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listening

Is it a past or present action? 'اقتات المسافرون على التمر والماء.'

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listening

Identify the noun from the root: 'القوت اليومي ضروري لكل إنسان.'

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listening

What does the fire consume? 'تقتات النيران على الحطب اليابس في المدفأة.'

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listening

What is the baby's diet? 'يقتات الرضيع على الحليب فقط في شهوره الأولى.'

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listening

What do parasites feed on? 'تقتات الطفيليات على دماء الكائنات الأخرى.'

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listening

What does the opportunistic person feed on? 'الانتهازي يقتات على تعب الآخرين.'

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listening

What is the source of news? 'هذه القناة تقتات على الإشاعات والأكاذيب.'

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listening

What does the mind feed on? 'يقتات العقل على القراءة والتعلم المستمر.'

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error correction

الأسد يقتات اللحم.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: الأسد يقتات على اللحم.

Missing preposition 'على'.

error correction

الحيوانات يقتاتون على العشب.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: الحيوانات تقتات على العشب.

Non-human plural takes feminine singular verb.

error correction

اقتت المسافر على التمر.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: اقتات المسافر على التمر.

Incorrect past tense spelling; should be 'اقتات'.

error correction

هو يقتات في الفواكه.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: هو يقتات على الفواكه.

Wrong preposition; use 'على' instead of 'في'.

error correction

أنا يقتات على القهوة.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: أنا أقتات على القهوة.

Incorrect conjugation for the first person.

error correction

السمك يقتاتون على الطحالب.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: السمك يقتات على الطحالب.

Collective noun 'السمك' usually takes a singular verb.

error correction

يقتاد الطائر على الديدان.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: يقتات الطائر على الديدان.

Confusing 'yaqtadu' (leads) with 'yaqtatu' (feeds).

error correction

تقتات الناس على الأمل.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: يقتات الناس على الأمل.

The word 'ناس' (people) is masculine plural, use 'يقتات' or 'يقتاتون'.

error correction

كانوا يقتات على القليل.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: كانوا يقتاتون على القليل.

Subject-verb agreement in plural.

error correction

لا يقتت الفيل على اللحم.

Correto! Quase. Resposta certa: لا يقتات الفيل على اللحم.

Incorrect present tense form.

/ 200 correct

Perfect score!

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