Quranic root
ذكر
dh · k · r
The root centers on retaining or bringing something to mind, from which arise remembering, mentioning, reminding, revealed reminders, and honor through being remembered. A distinct branch concerns the male or masculine and extensions of that notion to strength and related qualities.
The root principle is described as two main developments: remembering what was forgotten and the resulting remembrance or speech; and the male/masculine branch, with figurative extensions to vigor, hardness, and sharpness.
- Maqāyīs · row 1906
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- 13
- Quran-attested forms
- 21
- Quran senses
- 292
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
- ذَكَرَVerb · Form I I · 84
- ذَكَّرَVerb · Form II II · 18
- تَذَكَّرَVerb · Form V V · 51
- اِدَّكَرَVerb · Form VIII VIII · 1
- ذَكَرٌNoun · 18
- ذِكْرٌVerbal noun · 76
- ذِكْرَىٰNoun · 23
- ذَاكِرٌActive participle · 3
- مُذَكِّرٌActive participle · 1
- مَذْكُورٌPassive participle · 1
- مُدَّكِرٌActive participle · 6
- تَذْكِرَةٌVerbal noun · 9
- تَذْكِيرٌVerbal noun · 1
ذَكَرَ
dhakara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 84 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To remember, recall, or bring something to mind.
Includes recollection after forgetting and keeping a person or thing mentally present.
- Lane · entry 21585
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:152word 1
“So remember Me”
To mention, tell, relate, or say something.
May refer to mentioning a person, event, or matter aloud; the contextual force may be neutral, favorable, or reproachful.
- Lane · entry 21585
- Lane · entry 21595
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:41word 1
“And mention”
To be mindful of something and not neglect it; to heed or attend to it.
Used with a right, claim, favor, instruction, or revealed teaching, with the sense of bearing it in mind and acting accordingly. Devotional remembrance may also include praising and glorifying God.
- Lane · entry 21585
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:24word 5
“And remember”
ذَكَّرَ
dhakkara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- Quran occurrences
- 18 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To remind or cause someone to remember something.
The object may be a person, event, teaching, or matter previously known or liable to be forgotten; in the testimony construction, one woman reminds the other.
- Lane · entry 21586
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 14:5word 12
“And remind them”
Quran 2:282word 69
“then will remind”
To admonish, exhort, or give a reminder.
Often involves urging obedience and recalling the consequences of conduct, including reward and punishment.
- Lane · entry 21586
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 88:21word 1
“So remind”
تَذَكَّرَ
tadhakkara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- Quran occurrences
- 51 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To remember, recall, or take heed.
The form commonly presents remembering as an inward response to a sign, teaching, warning, or prior knowledge, and may therefore be rendered “take heed,” “learn a lesson,” or “receive admonition.”
- Lane · entry 21589
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Selected Quran examples
اِدَّكَرَ
āiddakara
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form VIII
- Form
- VIII
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To remember or recollect, especially after forgetting.
The form is a phonologically assimilated recollective counterpart of the remembering branch of the root.
- Lane · entry 21591
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:45word 5
“and remembered”
ذَكَرٌ
dhakarun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 18 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A male; masculine, as opposed to female or feminine.
Used of human beings, animals, and in the Quranic male–female contrasts; the Quranic forms include singular, dual, and plural expressions.
- Lane · entry 21596
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Selected Quran examples
ذِكْرٌ
dhikrun
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 76 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Remembrance, recollection, or mention; the presence of something in the mind or its expression in speech.
May be remembrance in the heart, remembrance on the tongue, or continued retention rather than recollection after a lapse.
- Lane · entry 21595
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Devotional remembrance of God: praise, glorification, thanksgiving, obedience, prayer, supplication, or recitation.
This specialized devotional use is established by the surrounding religious construction rather than by a separate grammatical form.
- Lane · entry 21595
- Lane · entry 21585
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 13:28word 5
“in the remembrance”
A revealed book, religious message, or scripture, especially the Quran.
May refer to a prophetic book, a revealed reminder, or the Quran as a source of religious teaching and remembrance.
- Lane · entry 21595
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 15:9word 4
“the Reminder”
Honor, eminence, nobility, or renown conferred by being remembered.
In Quranic usage this can describe the honor of a person or people associated with the revelation.
- Lane · entry 21595
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 43:44word 2
“(is) surely, a Reminder”
An admonition, warning, or exhortation.
Used of discourse or revelation insofar as it admonishes and warns; this overlaps functionally with “reminder” but is a distinct result of the message.
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 26:5word 4
“reminder”
ذِكْرَىٰ
dhikrāā
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 23 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A repeated or intensified remembrance; a reminder, admonition, or bringing to remembrance.
The form is stronger or more expressly resultative than ordinary ذِكْر and may denote a reminder that prompts recollection or moral heed.
- Lane · entry 21605
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Selected Quran examples
Repentance or remorseful return to awareness.
This interpretation is attached in the lexical tradition to a Quranic use of ذِكْرَى; the cited historical reference is not converted here into an unverified modern verse location.
- Lane · entry 21605
ذَاكِرٌ
dhākirun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 3 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
One who remembers, mentions, or engages in remembrance.
The supplied Quran occurrences are feminine plural and masculine plural forms of the same active participle; the citation headword is singular masculine.
- Lane · entry 21609
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:114word 14
“for those who remember”
Quran 33:35word 21
“and the men who remember”
Quran 33:35word 24
“and the women who remember”
مُذَكِّرٌ
mudhakkirun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
One who reminds or admonishes; a reminder-giver.
The Quranic occurrence is predicative and may be rendered “a reminder,” referring to one whose role is to remind.
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 88:21word 4
“(are) a reminder”
مَذْكُورٌ
madhkūrun
- Part of speech
- Passive participle
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Mentioned, spoken of, or brought into notice.
The Quranic use contrasts a state of not yet being an independently existing or mentioned thing with later existence; the participle itself denotes what has been mentioned.
- Lane · entry 21617
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 76:1word 11
“mentioned”
مُدَّكِرٌ
muddakirun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 6 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
One who remembers, takes heed, or receives admonition.
The participle denotes a person capable of responding to a reminder or lesson.
- Lane · entry 21591
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 54:15word 6
“who will receive admonition”
Quran 54:17word 7
“who will receive admonition”
تَذْكِرَةٌ
tadhkirahun
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 9 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A reminder or something by which a matter is brought to mind.
May denote revelation or admonitory discourse functioning as a means of recollection and moral heed.
- Lane · entry 21611
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:3word 2
“(as) a reminder”
Quran 74:54word 3
“(is) a Reminder”
Quran 80:11word 3
“(is) a reminder”
تَذْكِيرٌ
tadhkīrun
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Reminding, recalling, or admonishing.
Names the action expressed by Form II: causing someone to remember or exhorting them through a reminder.
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Selected Quran examples
Quran 10:71word 14
“and my reminding”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:40ٱذْكُرُوا۟Remember
- 2:47ٱذْكُرُوا۟Remember
- 2:63وَٱذْكُرُوا۟and remember
- 2:114يُذْكَرَbe mentioned
- 2:122ٱذْكُرُوا۟Remember
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 36 Classical meanings
ذَكَرَ
To seek a woman in marriage or address oneself to seeking her in marriage.
A specialized transitive use reported in Classical Arabic.
- Lane · entry 21585
ذَكَرَ
To strike a man on the penis.
A rare specialized verbal use.
- Lane · entry 21585
ذَاكَرَ
To call a story, discourse, or matter to mind with another; hence, to confer with him.
Form III expresses reciprocal or associated recollection.
- Lane · entry 21587
تَذَاكَرَ
To call something to mind together; to confer with one another.
A reciprocal Form VI use related to mutual recollection.
- Lane · entry 21590
ذِكْرٌ
Praise or good speech of another, and according to some usage, dispraise or evil speech.
The evaluative force is supplied by the accompanying expression or context; it is not inherent in the bare noun.
- Lane · entry 21595
ذِكْرٌ
Fame, renown, report, or reputation.
May be good or bad and refers to a person’s standing or public mention among people.
- Lane · entry 21595
ذِكْرُ حَقٍّ
A written obligation or written claim.
A fixed expression, synonymous with a written instrument or deed.
- Lane · entry 21595
ذَكَرٌ
The male organ of generation; the penis or male genitals.
Includes plural expressions such as مَذَاكِيرُ, which can denote the penis with its surrounding parts.
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ذَكَرٌ
Strong, courageous, ardent, vigorous, effective, stubborn, or disdainful.
A figurative description applied especially to a man; the comparative أَذْكَرُ means more or most acute and effective.
- Lane · entry 21596
- Lane · entry 21610
ذَكَرٌ
Tough, strong, and of the best quality, especially of iron or steel.
A figurative extension of the masculine/strong branch.
- Lane · entry 21596
ذَكَرٌ
A sword having a hard or steel edge, a sharp blade, or distinctive watered markings.
Applied to the construction and quality of a sword rather than to a male object.
- Lane · entry 21596
ذُكُورُ البَقْلِ
Herbs or leguminous plants that are thick, rough, hard, or somewhat bitter.
The expression contrasts these plants with finer or sweeter varieties.
- Lane · entry 21596
ذُكُورَةُ الطِّيبِ
Perfume regarded as proper for men.
The cited examples include musk, aloes-wood, camphor, and similar scents that leave little stain or dissipate.
- Lane · entry 21596
ذَكَرٌ
Eminently excellent, strong, or firm; of the Quran, a saying, or poetry.
A figurative Classical Arabic application; it is not assigned to the Quranic male occurrences merely because the headword is homographic.
- Lane · entry 21596
ذَكَرٌ
Something disliked or unwelcome.
A figurative use associated with the traditional dislike of a female animal bearing a male.
- Lane · entry 21596
ذَكَرٌ
Violent rain falling in large drops and bringing intense cold or torrents.
Used of severe or forceful rain.
- Lane · entry 21596
مُذَكَّرٌ
Severe, distressing, or hard to endure; of a day in which severe fighting or slaughter has occurred.
A figurative adjective applied to difficult times.
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- Lane · entry 21615
الذَّكَرُ
A name reportedly applied by some Arabs to the star al-Simāk al-Rāmiḥ.
A rare and tentatively reported lexical use.
- Lane · entry 21596
ذُكْرَةٌ
A piece of steel added to the edge of a sword or the head of an axe.
A technical noun associated with the hard or sharp component of a tool or weapon.
- Lane · entry 21601
ذُكْرَةٌ
Sharpness of a sword or of a man.
Used figuratively for a person’s acuteness or forcefulness as well as literally for a blade.
- Lane · entry 21601
ذُكْرٌ
A cutting or sharp sword.
A specialized nominal use distinct from the ordinary remembrance noun.
- Lane · entry 21594
ذَكِيرٌ
A man possessing an excellent memory.
A descriptive adjective or noun for strong recollective ability.
- Lane · entry 21606
ذَكِيرٌ
A man possessing fame, renown, glory, or boastfulness.
A figurative characterization derived from ذِكْر in the sense of public renown.
- Lane · entry 21606
ذُكَّارَةٌ
The male parts or male-bearing trees of palm trees.
A botanical use referring to male palm trees.
- Lane · entry 21608
أَذْكَرَ
To beget a male; of a woman, to give birth to a male.
The verb may be used of the father or, in the feminine form, of the mother who bears a male child.
- Lane · entry 21588
مُذْكِرٌ
A female that gives birth to a male, or to male children.
The term may also be applied to a female that usually produces male offspring in related usage.
- Lane · entry 21614
مُذْكِرٌ
A desert that produces thick or hard herbs of the kind called ذُكُور.
A figurative land-description based on the botanical sense.
- Lane · entry 21614
مُذْكِرٌ
A road that is feared.
A figurative description of a dangerous or difficult route.
- Lane · entry 21614
مِذْكَارٌ
A woman or other female that habitually bears males; also a man who usually begets male children.
Expresses a recurring tendency rather than a single birth.
- Lane · entry 21616
مِذْكَارٌ
Land that produces thick or hard herbs of the kind called ذُكُور.
The more common of the reported land-related senses.
- Lane · entry 21616
مِذْكَارٌ
A terrible desert traversable only by strong, courageous, or stubborn men.
A figurative extension from the strength branch of the root.
- Lane · entry 21616
مُذَكَّرٌ
Resembling a male in build, character, or disposition; of a female animal or woman.
Includes a she-camel resembling a he-camel and a woman who makes herself like a male.
- Lane · entry 21615
مُذَكَّرَةٌ
A severe calamity or misfortune, or one that only strong and stubborn people can withstand.
A figurative feminine adjective associated with severity and force.
- Lane · entry 21615
تَذْكِرَةٌ
A memorandum, biographical memoir, official note, passport, permit, or similar written reminder.
These documentary senses are Classical and later administrative extensions, distinct from the Quranic sense of a reminder or admonitory means.
- Lane · entry 21611
مَذْكَرٌ
A place of remembrance; reportedly, in a related expression, the Black Stone or corner of the Kaaba.
A specialized place noun attested in a traditional expression.
- Lane · entry 21612
مَذْكُورٌ
Praised or spoken of well.
A figurative passive-participle use distinct from the Quranic neutral sense “mentioned.”
- Lane · entry 21617
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Historical Lane Quran citations are retained only as lexical evidence; they have not been mechanically converted into modern verse locations.
The repentance interpretation of ذِكْرَىٰ is explicitly reported in the lexical evidence, but its historical citation does not securely identify a supplied modern word location.
The Quranic male noun is kept separate from Classical figurative uses such as strength, sharpness, and excellence.