Quranic root
صبو
ṣ · b · w
The root is oriented around youthful inclination: turning or yearning toward something, with related associations of youth and childish conduct.
The lexical evidence extends this orientation from yearning and youthful behavior to physical leaning, lowering or inversion, causative attraction, and the east wind. These developments describe the root's semantic range rather than the meaning of every derived form.
- Lane · entry 25347
- Mufradāt · row 810
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 3
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
صَبَا
ṣabā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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 incline or yearn toward someone or something.
The Quranic imperfect form occurs with إِلَى in a context where such inclination is associated with the possibility of youthful or ignorant conduct; the lexical core is turning or yearning toward the object.
- Lane · entry 25347
- Mufradāt · row 810
Selected Quran examples
Quran 12:33word 13
“I might incline”
صَبِيّ
ṣabiyy
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 2 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 child who has not reached puberty; a young child or youth.
The Quranic occurrences refer to a male child, while the broader lexical evidence also records wider use of the word.
- Lane · entry 25358
- Mufradāt · row 810
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:12word 7
“(when he was) a child”
Quran 19:29word 10
“a child”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 3 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 35 Classical meanings
صَبَا
To be or become youthful; to behave with the folly, silliness, or ignorance associated with youth.
This is a Classical use of the verb and is distinct from merely inclining or yearning.
- Lane · entry 25347
صَبَا
To show passionate love or desire, or to indulge in amorous dalliance.
Recorded especially in connection with the infinitives صِبًا and صَبَاءٌ.
- Lane · entry 25347
صَبَا
To incline or lean, said of a palm tree turning toward a distant male palm.
A specialized use describing natural inclination between palm trees.
- Lane · entry 25347
صَبَا
To incline the head toward the pasture, said of a grazing animal.
The object is the animal's own head, lowered onto the pasture.
- Lane · entry 25347
صَبَا
To blow, said of the east wind.
The verb is used of the wind called الصَّبَا.
- Lane · entry 25347
صَبَّى
To incline or lower the head toward the ground.
A Form II construction with the head as object.
- Lane · entry 25348
صَابَى
To incline or lower the head of a spear in preparation for piercing or thrusting.
The spear is directed downward or otherwise positioned for use in thrusting.
- Lane · entry 25349
صَابَى
To put a sword or knife into its case or sheath reversed or improperly.
The construction describes placing the implement with its orientation reversed or not in the proper manner.
- Lane · entry 25349
صَابَى
To make a building or a person incline, lean, or be overturned.
The use is causative and applies both to a structure and, in a reported use, to an old man.
- Lane · entry 25349
صَابَى
To invert the lips while drinking, said of a camel.
A specialized animal-behavior construction.
- Lane · entry 25349
صَابَى
To recite a verse incorrectly or make speech deviate from its proper course.
The use concerns defective meter, recitation, or expression.
- Lane · entry 25349
صَابَى
To turn away from a type of pasture or vegetation.
Recorded in the phrase صَابَيْنَا عَنِ الحَمْضِ.
- Lane · entry 25349
صَابَى
In a reported phrase, for girls or young women to look out from behind a curtain.
The wording and preposition are noted as possibly affected by transcription; the lexical interpretation is therefore reported cautiously.
- Lane · entry 25349
أَصْبَى
To bear or give birth to a child.
A Form IV use said of a woman who has a child, male or female.
- Lane · entry 25350
أَصْبَى
To excite or invite another's desire, make another incline toward youthful or foolish conduct, or beguile and captivate the heart.
The use is causative; it can describe attempting to draw another person's spouse toward oneself.
- Lane · entry 25350
أَصْبَى
To enter a period in which the east wind is blowing.
A Form IV use connected with the wind called الصَّبَا.
- Lane · entry 25350
اِسْتَصْبَى
To behave childishly or impudently, or to pass for a child.
These meanings are attributed to later authorities, and the usage is described as apparently post-Classical.
- Lane · entry 25353
صَبَا
The east wind, or an easterly wind.
It is variously described by its direction from sunrise and by traditional regional wind bearings; it is also associated with a gentle, pleasant gale.
- Lane · entry 25354
صِبًا
Youth, boyhood, or childhood.
It denotes the state or period of being a صَبِيّ.
- Lane · entry 25355
صِبًا
Youthful folly or silliness, including amorous dalliance.
This is a derived use distinct from the basic designation of the period of childhood.
- Lane · entry 25355
صَبِيّ
A young woman, girl, or female child.
This wider use is explicitly recorded in the Classical lexical evidence alongside the more usual male-child use.
- Lane · entry 25358
أُمُّ الصِّبْيَانِ
A condition of flatulence or wind affecting children.
A fixed expression; other later explanations of the expression are also reported in the lexical tradition.
- Lane · entry 25358
صَبِيّ
The pupil of the eye.
This is marked as a figurative or assumed-tropical use and is attributed by one authority to vulgar usage.
- Lane · entry 25358
الصَّبِيَّانِ
The extremities or outward-curving edges of the two jaw-bones, especially those of an animal.
An anatomical plural expression with variant descriptions of the precise portion intended.
- Lane · entry 25358
الصَّبِيَّانِ
The bone below the lobe of each ear.
An anatomical use with a more specific description identifying the head of that bone.
- Lane · entry 25358
صَبِيّ
The edge or central ridge of a sword, and likewise of a spearhead.
A figurative or assumed-tropical extension to a weapon's projecting edge or ridge.
- Lane · entry 25358
صَبِيّ
The head or upper part of the human foot, between the instep region and the toes.
An anatomical use; the source corrects a transmitted wording concerning the foot.
- Lane · entry 25358
الصَّبِيَّانِ
The two sides of a camel's saddle.
A specialized assumed-tropical plural expression.
- Lane · entry 25358
صِبْيَانُ الجَلِيدِ / صِبْيَانُ المَطَرِ
In disputed expressions, grains of hoarfrost resembling pearls or small drops of rain.
The attribution is explicitly contested: another authority reads the word as صِئْبَان, from a different form.
- Lane · entry 25358
صَابٍ
One who indulges in youthful folly or amorous dalliance.
A derived nominal describing a person characterized by صَبْوَة.
- Lane · entry 25361
صُبَّى
People who incline toward conflicts, factions, seditions, or similar disturbances and like to be foremost in them.
A plural expression derived from صَابٍ.
- Lane · entry 25361
الصَّابِيَةُ
An oblique wind blowing between the east and the north.
It is described as cold and boisterous and as lacking rain or beneficial effect.
- Lane · entry 25362
مُصْبٍ
Having children or a child.
Applied especially to a woman, and also recorded for a man.
- Lane · entry 25364
مُصْبِيَةٌ
Metaphorically, wine whose sealed covering has been broken.
A figurative use of the feminine derived form.
- Lane · entry 25364
مُصَابِيَةٌ
A calamity or misfortune.
A distinct derived nominal meaning.
- Lane · entry 25366
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic verb form أَصْبُ is presented under the normalized Form I citation headword صَبَا.
A Lane and Mufradat discussion of الصَّابِئُونَ and reported readings such as الصَّابِينَ is not assigned to a supplied Quranic form here because its derivation from صبو versus صبأ is not secure.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
lane:entry:25361 contains a reported Quranic variant-reading and lexical attribution involving الصَّابِينَ/الصَّابِيُونَ; the evidence does not securely establish that this material belongs to the صبو root rather than the صبأ root, and no corresponding QAC form group is supplied.
mufradat:row:810 discusses الصَّابِئُونَ and the possible derivation of reported الصَّابِينَ readings from صَبَا; this cross-root and variant-reading issue is preserved but is not presented as a Quranic sense of either supplied QAC form.