Quranic root
همس
h · m · s
The root centers on the concealment or extreme faintness of sound and sensory trace.
This orientation extends from inaudible speech to barely perceptible footfall and soft movement; a classical figurative development associates it with a lion whose tread or bite is quiet.
- Maqāyīs · row 4938
- Mufradāt · row 1533
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
هَمْس
hams
- Part of speech
- 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.
A low, faint, barely audible sound; in the Quranic occurrence, the subdued sound of footsteps.
The Quranic expression is understood as the faint sound of feet moving toward the gathering, with an alternative explanation referring to the soft pattering of feet. The broader lexical sense covers any sound of extreme faintness.
- Lane · entry 10659
- Mufradāt · row 1533
Selected Quran examples
Quran 20:108word 13
“a faint sound”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 20:108هَمْسًۭاa faint sound
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
هَمَسَ
To speak inaudibly or in a low, faint, gentle manner, so as to be scarcely intelligible; of a devil, to whisper or suggest vain thoughts inwardly.
The verb may be used with speech or with إِلَى to indicate speaking softly to someone; the whispering or suggestion use is specifically applied to the devil.
- Lane · entry 10656
هَمَسَ
To make the faintest sound while treading; to walk softly.
Used of the barely audible sound made by feet or other treading movement.
- Lane · entry 10656
هَمَسَ
To make a sound, voice, or speech low, faint, gentle, or soft.
This is the transitive construction in which the sound or speech is made low.
- Lane · entry 10656
هَمَسَ الطَّعَامَ
To chew food with the mouth closed, without opening it.
The verb may also be used absolutely of chewing without opening the mouth.
- Lane · entry 10656
هَامَسَ
To speak or converse secretly with another; to discourse privately.
The construction may mean speaking secretly to someone or conversing secretly together.
- Lane · entry 10657
هَمْس
A faint or gentle vocal sound formed in the mouth without chest resonance or loudness.
This is a specialized description of the quality of a subdued voice.
- Lane · entry 10659
كَلَامٌ مَهْمُوسٌ
Speech uttered inaudibly, in a low or faint manner, or not spoken openly.
An adjectival description of speech that is quiet or private rather than openly voiced.
- Lane · entry 10661
حَرْفٌ مَهْمُوسٌ
A consonant articulated with the breath alone, without vocal voicing.
A technical phonetic term for the traditionally recognized whispered or non-vocal letters.
- Lane · entry 10661
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The printed classical citation associated with the Quran discussion is historical notation; the modern example location used here is the independently supplied QAC location 20:108.
The Quranic faint sound is explained both as barely audible footfall and as the soft pattering of feet; these are interpretive variants within the same lexical sense.