Quranic root
لغو
l · gh · w
The root conveys two related orientations: something not reckoned with or significant, and habitual absorption in or repetition of something, especially speech.
These orientations yield terms for vain or unprofitable speech, speech uttered without deliberate intent, repeated or habitual utterance, and language as speech habitually used by a group. Quranic usage centers on idle or objectionable speech and its avoidance.
- Maqāyīs · row 4190
- Mufradāt · row 1308
- 3
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 11
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
لَغَا
laghā
- 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 speak idly or make distracting, unprofitable noise.
The Quranic occurrence is a plural imperative in a context of obstructing attentive listening; it belongs to the speech/noise branch of the root.
- Mufradāt · row 1308
Selected Quran examples
Quran 41:26word 8
“and make noise”
لَاغٍ
lāghin
- 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.
Vain or idle speech; speech of no account.
In the Quranic occurrence, the feminine form لَاغِيَةً is used adjectivally of speech that is heard; it is an active-participial expression for لَغْو.
- Mufradāt · row 1308
Selected Quran examples
Quran 88:11word 4
“vain talk”
لَغْو
laghw
- Part of speech
- 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.
Speech or utterance of no account: idle, vain, unprofitable, or objectionable talk.
It may describe speech produced without deliberation or thought. In Quranic avoidance constructions, it refers either to such speech or to encountering people engaged in it, without requiring a separate lexical sense.
- Lane · entry 20654
- Mufradāt · row 1308
Selected Quran examples
An oath uttered without deliberate inward resolve to contract a binding oath.
The Quranic construction لَغْوٌ فِي الأَيْمَان concerns habitual or mistaken oath-language that was not intentionally affirmed as an oath; it is distinct from a deliberately contracted oath.
- Mufradāt · row 1308
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:225word 4
“for (what is) unintentional”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:225بِٱللَّغْوِfor (what is) unintentional
- 5:89بِٱللَّغْوِfor the thoughtless utterances
- 19:62لَغْوًاvain talk
- 23:3ٱللَّغْوِthe vain talk
- 25:72بِٱللَّغْوِby futility
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
لَغْو
Something not reckoned with, of no account, or unprofitable.
A broader Classical Arabic application beyond the Quranic speech usages.
- Lane · entry 20654
لَغْو
Young camels not counted in a blood-money assessment.
A reported specialized usage in the terminology of blood-money compensation.
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- Mufradāt · row 1308
لَغًا
The chirping or vocal sound of sparrows and similar birds.
The bird-call sense provides the comparison for habitual or repeated utterance.
- Mufradāt · row 1308
لَغِيَ
To be absorbed in or habitually occupied with a matter; to keep repeating or dwelling on it.
Constructed with بِ; the usage describes habitual attachment to a subject or utterance.
- Mufradāt · row 1308
لَاغَاهُ
To jest or joke with someone.
Form III verb, with the person involved as the participant in the joking.
- Lane · entry 20653
اللُّغَة
The genuine or classical language of the Arabs.
A noun for the established language itself, not merely an isolated utterance.
- Lane · entry 20655
لُغَوِيّ
Relating to the genuine or classical Arabic language; lexicological or linguistic in meaning.
An adjectival derivative used of language-related matters or meanings.
- Lane · entry 20656
لُغَيَّة
A word or linguistic report of weak authority.
A depreciative classical usage concerning the reliability or authority of a word.
- Lane · entry 20657
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic verb is a plural imperative and is normalized to the Form I citation form لَغَا.
The Quranic لَاغِيَةً is a feminine active participle used of speech; the public headword is normalized to لَاغٍ.
The oath sense concerns unintentional or non-deliberately contracted oath-language, not deliberate false or binding oaths.
The discussion of the Quranic avoidance passage in 25:72 preserves two contextual explanations: avoiding explicit ugly speech and declining to engage with its speakers. These remain applications of the same vain/objectionable-speech sense.