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كيف

Root entry · 2 derived lemmas

This root primarily concerns interrogative particles used to inquire about states, conditions, or manner. It can also express astonishment or be used conditionally when combined with 'ma'.

Derived headwords

كَيْفَparticle
  1. 1.
    an indefinite, indeclinable nounboth

    an indefinite, indeclinable noun

  2. 2.
    for asking about states/conditionsboth

    for asking about states/conditions

  3. 3.
    it can mean wonder/astonishmentboth

    it can mean wonder/astonishment

كَيْفَمَاparticle
  1. 1.
    a conditional particleboth

    a conditional particle

Parallel reading

اسم مبهم غير متمكن
an ambiguous, uninflected noun
وإنما حرك أخره لالتقاء الساكنين
and its end was vocalized only because of the meeting of two quiescent letters
وبني على الفتح دون الكسر لمكان الياء
and it was constructed with a fatha, not a kasra, because of the presence of the yaa
وهو للإستفهام عن الأحوال
and it is for inquiring about states
وقد يقع بمعنى " التعجب "
and it may occur with the meaning of 'astonishment'
كيف تكفرون بالله
how do you disbelieve in Allah
وإذا ضممت إليه " ما " صح أن يجازي به
and if you attach 'ma' to it, it is valid to use it for retribution
تقول: كيفما تفعل أفعل
you say: however you do, I will do