K-T-B

K-T-B (; ) is a triconsonantal root of a number of Semitic words, typically those having to do with writing.

The words for "office", "writer" and "record" all reflect this root. Most notably, the Arabic word kitab ("book") is also used in a number of Semitic and Indo-Iranian languages, as well as Turkish. One cultural example would be the Mishnaic expression Katuv or the cognate Arabic expression transliterated as Maktoub, which may be translated as "it is written". Another would be the Kutubiyya Mosque of Marrakesh, whose name is taken from the librarians and booksellers who once occupied that area.

Arabic derivatives

A full account of derivatives could be extensive, but some of them are these:

kataba ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ "he wrote" (masculine)

katabat ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂª or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂª "she wrote" (feminine)

katabtu ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂª "I wrote" (f and m)

kutiba ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ "it was written" (masculine)

kutibat ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂª or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂª "it was written" (feminine)

katabÃÂ« ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ§ "they wrote" (masculine)

katabna ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂ "they wrote" (feminine)

katabnÃÂ ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ§ "we wrote" (f and m)

yaktub(u) ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ "he writes" (masculine)

taktub(u) ÃÂªÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂªÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ "she writes" (feminine)

naktub(u) ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ "we write" (f and m)

aktub(u) ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂ£ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ "I write" (f and m)

yuktab(u) ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ "being written" (masculine)

tuktab(u) ÃÂªÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂªÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ "being written" (feminine)

yaktubÃÂ«n(a) ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ "they write" (masculine)

yaktubna ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂ "they write" (feminine)

taktubna ÃÂªÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂÃÂ or ÃÂªÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂ "you write" (feminine)

yaktubÃÂn(i) ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂ§ÃÂ "they both write" (masculine) (for 2 males)

taktubÃÂn(i) ÃÂªÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ or ÃÂªÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂ§ÃÂ "they both write" (feminine) (for 2 females)

kÃÂtaba ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂ¨ "he exchanged letters (with sb.)"

yukÃÂtib(u) ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ "he exchanges (with sb.)"

yatakÃÂtabÃÂ«n(a) ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ "they write to each other" (masculine)

iktataba ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ or ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂªÃÂªÃÂ¨ "he is registered" (intransitive) or "he contributed (a money quantity to sth.)" (ditransitive) (the first t is part of a particular verbal transfix, not part of the root)

istaktaba ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ or ÃÂ§ÃÂ³ÃÂªÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ "to cause to write (sth.)"

kitÃÂb ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ "book" (the hyphen shows end of stem before various case endings)

kutub ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ "books" (plural)

kutayyib ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ "booklet" (diminutive)

kitÃÂbat ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ© or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ÃÂ© "writing"

kÃÂtib ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂ¨ "writer" (masculine)

kÃÂtibat ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ© or ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂ© "writer" (feminine)

kÃÂtibÃÂ«n(a) ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ "writers" (masculine)

kÃÂtibÃÂt ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ§ÃÂª or ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂ§ÃÂª "writers" (feminine)

kuttÃÂb ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ "writers" (broken plural)

katabat ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂÃÂ© or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂ© "clerks" (broken plural)

maktab ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ "desk" or "office"

makÃÂtib ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂ¨ "desks" or "offices"

maktabat ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ© or ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ¨ÃÂ© "library" or "bookshop"

maktÃÂ«b ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ "written" (participle) or "postal letter" (noun)

katÃÂ«bat ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ© or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ÃÂ© "squadron" or "document"

katÃÂÃ¢ÂÂib ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ§ÃÂ¦ÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂªÃÂ§ÃÂ¦ÃÂ¨ "squadrons" or "documents"

iktitÃÂb ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂªÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ or ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂªÃÂªÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ "registration" or "contribution of funds"

muktatib ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂªÃÂÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂªÃÂ¨ "subscriber"

muktatab ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂªÃÂ¨ or ÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ§ÃÂªÃÂ¨ is "subscription"

istiktÃÂb ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂªÃÂÃÂÃÂªÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ or ÃÂ§ÃÂ³ÃÂªÃÂÃÂªÃÂ§ÃÂ¨ "causing to write"

Hebrew derivatives

The same root is present in Hebrew:

kÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯aÃ¡Â¸Âti "I wrote"

kÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯aÃ¡Â¸ÂtÃÂ "you (m) wrote"

kÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯aÃ¡Â¸Â "he wrote"

kattÃÂÃ¡Â¸Â "reporter" (m)

katteÃ¡Â¸ÂeÃ¡Â¹Â¯ "reporter" (f)

kattÃÂÃ¡Â¸ÂÃÂ "article" (plural kattÃÂÃ¡Â¸ÂÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯ )

miÃ¡Â¸ÂµtÃÂÃ¡Â¸Â "postal letter" (plural miÃ¡Â¸ÂµtÃÂÃ¡Â¸ÂÃÂ«m )

miÃ¡Â¸ÂµtÃÂÃ¡Â¸ÂÃÂ "writing desk" (plural miÃ¡Â¸ÂµtÃÂÃ¡Â¸ÂÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯ )

kÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯ÃÂÃ¡Â¸ÂeÃ¡Â¹Â¯ "address" (plural kÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯ÃÂÃ¡Â¸ÂÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯ )

kÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯ÃÂÃ¡Â¸Â "handwriting"

kÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯ÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â "written" (f kÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯ÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸ÂÃÂ )

hiÃ¡Â¸ÂµtÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â "he dictated" (f hiÃ¡Â¸ÂµtÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸ÂÃÂ )

hiÃ¡Â¹Â¯kattÃÂÃ¡Â¸Â "he corresponded (f hiÃ¡Â¹Â¯kattÃÂÃ¡Â¸ÂÃÂ )

niÃ¡Â¸ÂµtaÃ¡Â¸Â "it was written" (m)

niÃ¡Â¸ÂµtÃÂÃ¡Â¸ÂÃÂ "it was written" (f)

kÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯ÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â "spelling" (m)

taÃ¡Â¸ÂµtÃÂ«Ã¡Â¸Â "prescript" (m)

mÃÂÃ¡Â¸ÂµuttÃÂÃ¡Â¸Â "addressee" (meÃ¡Â¸ÂµutteÃ¡Â¸ÂeÃ¡Â¹Â¯ f)

kÃÂÃ¡Â¹Â¯ubbÃÂ "ketubah (a Jewish marriage contract)" (f)

The Hebrew fricatives transcribed as "Ã¡Â¸Âµ" and "Ã¡Â¸Â" can also be transcribed in a number of other ways, such as "ch" and "v", which are pronounced and , respectively. They are transliterated "Ã¡Â¸Âµ" and "Ã¡Â¸Â" on this page to retain the connection with the pure consonantal root k-t-b. Also in Modern Hebrew, there is no gemination. In Hebrew, the root is used with the meaning of 'writing' but not for the noun for 'book', which is sefer. To a lesser extent in Hebrew, the word "Katuv" as a noun refers to the Tanakh.

Contrastive Hebrew-Arabic

A contrastive presentation of part of this can be as follows:

Other languages

In Maltese, the same root is present, and commonly used, similar to that in Arabic and Hebrew, such as (I wrote), (a book), (writing), and (m. writer) amongst many more.

In modern Tigrinya and Amharic, this root survives only in the noun , meaning "amulet", and the verb "to vaccinate", it used to be used widely but it is now seen as an archaic form. Ethiopic-derived languages like these usually use a different root (Ã¡Â¹Â£-Ã¡Â¸Â¥-f) for the verb "to write" (this root exists in Arabic and is used to form words with a close meaning to "writing", such as "journalism", and "newspaper" or "parchment").

In the Persian language family (Farsi, Dari, Tajik, etc.) the borrowed word kitab is the most commonly used word for "book". This word has also made its way into the Malay language as "kitab", and into Swahili as "kitabu", both meaning "book".

In languages like Pashto, the borrowed word kitab is also commonly used. The word kitab is also used in Indo-Aryan languages like Urdu, Hindi, Bhojpuri, Magahi, Awadhi, Nepali, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Dogri, and others.

K-T-B

Arabic derivatives

Hebrew derivatives

Contrastive Hebrew-Arabic

Other languages

References