Quranic root
بكي
b · k · y
The root centers on grief expressed outwardly through weeping, whether by shedding tears, uttering a lamenting cry, or experiencing grief without both of these manifestations.
The lexical evidence distinguishes audible lamentation from tears, while allowing either to predominate or occur alone. Derived forms extend the field to causing, competing in, feigning, or soliciting weeping.
- Lane · entry 36973
- Mufradāt · row 152
- Lane · entry 36976
- Lane · entry 36977
- Lane · entry 36978
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 7
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
بَكَى
bakā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 5 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 weep or grieve, through shedding tears, uttering a lamenting cry, or either occurring alone.
Audible lamentation and tears may occur together or separately, and grief need not entail both. The verb can describe weeping as an expression of grief without requiring a particular bodily manifestation.
- Lane · entry 36973
- Mufradāt · row 152
Selected Quran examples
Quran 9:82word 3
“and let them weep”
To weep for or over someone or something; to mourn or lament.
The person or thing mourned may be introduced with لِ or عَلَى. In the Quranic expression concerning the sky and earth weeping over them, the statement is understood either literally or figuratively; the construction is not restricted to a human subject.
- Lane · entry 36973
- Mufradāt · row 152
Selected Quran examples
Quran 44:29word 2
“wept”
أَبْكَى
ʾabkā
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- 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 make or cause someone to weep.
A causative construction in which the person caused to weep may be stated or understood.
- Lane · entry 36976
Selected Quran examples
Quran 53:43word 4
“and makes (one) weep”
بَاكٍ
bākin
- Part of speech
- Active participle · Quranic plural بُكِيًّا
- 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.
A weeper; one who weeps.
The supplied Quran occurrence is the plural form بُكِيًّا, used substantivally and rendered contextually as “weeping” or “weepers.”
- Lane · entry 36981
- Mufradāt · row 152
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:58word 29
“and weeping”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 9:82وَلْيَبْكُوا۟and let them weep
- 12:16يَبْكُونَweeping
- 17:109يَبْكُونَweeping
- 19:58وَبُكِيًّۭا ۩and weeping
- 44:29بَكَتْwept
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 8 Classical meanings
بَكَى
Of a cloud, to rain.
A tropical or figurative use predicated of a cloud.
- Lane · entry 36973
بَكَى
To sing.
Reported especially of a pigeon and similar creatures, and also attested of a person.
- Lane · entry 36973
بَاكَى
To vie with another in weeping and surpass him in it; to be the greater weeper.
A Form III comparative or competitive construction concerning relative ability or intensity in weeping.
- Lane · entry 36975
أَبْكَى
To prompt or provoke mourning for someone dead or for something lost.
A specialized causative construction with عَلَيْهِ; this classical mourning context is distinct from the general Quran-attested causative sense.
- Lane · entry 36976
تَبَاكَى
To affect or feign weeping, or to strive or force oneself to weep.
A Form VI reflexive or affected-weeping construction; the outward display need not reflect spontaneous grief.
- Lane · entry 36977
اِسْتَبْكَى
To seek, request, or require weeping from someone.
A Form X construction expressing a desire or requirement that another person weep.
- Lane · entry 36978
بَكِيّ
One who weeps much; a habitual or frequent weeper.
An intensive descriptive adjective or noun for a person characterized by abundant weeping.
- Lane · entry 36979
أَبْكَى
More given to weeping than another; a greater weeper.
A comparative adjective, distinct from the homographic Form IV causative verb.
- Lane · entry 36982
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic nominal occurrence is the plural بُكِيًّا; it is presented under the supported singular active-participial citation form بَاكٍ.
أَبْكَى is represented both as the Quranic Form IV causative verb and, separately, as a classical comparative adjective meaning “more given to weeping.”
A Lane discussion of Form VI تَبَاكَى is retained as a classical derived-form meaning because no corresponding Form VI QAC form group is supplied.
No Maqayis entry was supplied; the root orientation is therefore based on the available direct lexical discussions.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
lane-unit:bky:36979:g2:main reports بَكِيٌّ for “a man unable to speak,” but the same unit suggests that the form may instead be بَكِئٌ from the separate root بكأ; the meaning is not assigned confidently to بكي.