Quranic root
نعم
n · ʿ · m
The root centers on flourishing, ease, pleasant living, and a good or sound condition, extending to bestowed benefit, prosperity, enjoyment, and valued livestock.
The lexical branches develop from thriving and pleasant life to favor or blessing conferred on another, abundant enjoyment or bliss, and livestock understood as a valuable form of prosperity. Several specialized and figurative uses arise through resemblance or association with softness, flourishing, or ease.
- Maqāyīs · row 4687
- Mufradāt · row 1461
- 9
- Quran-attested forms
- 9
- Quran senses
- 140
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
نِعْمَ
niʿma
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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 formula of commendation: excellent, very good, or best is …
Used in the fixed praise construction نِعْمَ, opposed to بِئْسَ in blame; it may be followed by a noun or predicate identifying what is praised.
- Lane · entry 32316
- Mufradāt · row 1461
Selected Quran examples
نَعَّمَ
naʿʿama
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form II
- Form
- II
- 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 cause someone to enjoy ease, prosperity, and a pleasant state of life; to make comfortable or favored.
The Quranic use presents a person as being placed in a condition of نعمة, ease, and plentiful living.
- Lane · entry 32309
- Mufradāt · row 1461
Selected Quran examples
Quran 89:15word 8
“and favors him”
أَنْعَمَ
ʾanʿama
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 17 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 bestow a favor, benefit, or grace upon someone; to confer благation or benefaction.
Commonly construed with عَلَى and a recipient. In the explicitly described Quranic usage, the recipient is a rational or speaking being.
- Lane · entry 32311
- Mufradāt · row 1461
Selected Quran examples
Quran 1:7word 3
“You have bestowed (Your) Favors”
Quran 4:69word 8
“has bestowed (His) Favor”
Quran 27:19word 12
“You have bestowed”
نَعِيم
naʿīm
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 17 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.
Abundant enjoyment, bliss, delight, or prosperous ease.
Often denotes the abundant or enduring enjoyment associated with blessed life, including the Quranic gardens of bliss.
- Lane · entry 32322
- Mufradāt · row 1461
Selected Quran examples
نَعْمَاء
naʿmāʾ
- 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.
Prosperity, favor, or a favorable condition, especially as contrasted with adversity or affliction.
Used as the counterpart of ضرّاء or بأساء, including the state of well-being that follows hardship.
- Lane · entry 32318
- Lane · entry 32320
- Mufradāt · row 1461
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:10word 3
“(of) favor”
نِعْمَة
niʿmah
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 50 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 benefit, favor, blessing, bounty, or other good bestowed upon someone; a beneficial or well-being-producing condition.
The form can denote one favor or the category of favor generally, whether small or abundant. Quranic uses commonly present the favor as bestowed by God.
- Lane · entry 32318
- Mufradāt · row 1461
Selected Quran examples
نَاعِم
nāʿim
- 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.
Soft, pleasant, or enjoying ease and comfort.
The Quranic occurrence is the feminine singular form modifying faces; the adjective itself is not restricted to that object class.
- Lane · entry 32324
- Mufradāt · row 1461
Selected Quran examples
Quran 88:8word 3
“(will be) joyful”
أَنْعَام
ʾanʿām
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 33 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.
Livestock or domesticated grazing animals, including camels, cattle, sheep, and goats.
In Quranic usage the plural term is broad and may refer to livestock generally, while the related singular نَعَمٌ is especially associated with camels or pastoral livestock.
- Lane · entry 32315
- Mufradāt · row 1461
Selected Quran examples
نَعْمَة
naʿmah
- 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.
Ease, pleasant living, comfort, or pleasant things.
This vocalized noun belongs to the branch of enjoying a soft and comfortable life, distinct from نِعْمَةٌ in the sense of a bestowed favor or blessing.
- Lane · entry 32317
- Mufradāt · row 1461
Selected Quran examples
Quran 44:27word 1
“And pleasant things”
Quran 73:11word 4
“(of) the ease”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 1:7أَنْعَمْتَYou have bestowed (Your) Favors
- 2:40نِعْمَتِىَMy Favor
- 2:40أَنْعَمْتُI bestowed
- 2:47نِعْمَتِىَMy Favor
- 2:47أَنْعَمْتُI bestowed
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 27 Classical meanings
نَعِمَ
To be or become plentiful, easy, good, or pleasant in life.
Used of life or a person's condition; this is distinct in vocalization and meaning from the Quranic praise formula نِعْمَ.
- Lane · entry 32308
نَعُمَ
To be or become soft or tender, especially to the feet.
- Lane · entry 32308
نَعَّمَ
To nourish well, pamper, or indulge someone or something.
This broader causative use is distinct from placing someone in a generally comfortable or prosperous state.
- Lane · entry 32309
أَنْعَمَ
To do something thoroughly or well, including kneading it well, bruising or powdering it finely, or cooking it well.
These are task-oriented uses of Form IV, distinct from conferring a favor.
- Lane · entry 32311
تَنَعَّمَ
To enjoy or lead a plentiful, pleasant, soft, and easy life; to live in comfort and ease.
Also used in the general sense of enjoying what provides ease and good living.
- Lane · entry 32312
تَنَعَّمَ
Of a tree or plant, to become flourishing, fresh, luxuriant, succulent, soft, or tender.
Applied to growing vegetation and its fresh or sappy condition.
- Lane · entry 32312
نُعْم
Ease, prosperity, or a good condition, the opposite of hardship; also a plural form is associated with أَنْعُم.
A distinct noun from the affirmation نَعَمْ and from the cattle term نَعَمٌ.
- Lane · entry 32313
نَعَمْ
Yes, indeed, or even so.
An affirmative response particle, distinct from the livestock noun نَعَمٌ and the praise formula نِعْمَ.
- Lane · entry 32314
- Mufradāt · row 1461
نِعْمَة
Wealth or property.
The cited lexical distinction associates this sense especially with the form used with the definite article, whereas the unmarked form commonly denotes a benefit or favor.
- Lane · entry 32318
نُعْمَة
The act or state of rejoicing in something; joy, pleasure, or comfort of the eye in related expressions.
Distinct from نِعْمَةٌ ‘favor’ and نَعْمَةٌ ‘ease or pleasant living’.
- Lane · entry 32319
- Mufradāt · row 1461
نُعْمَى
Prosperity, ease, or well-being, the opposite of misery or hardship.
The paired noun نَعْمَاءُ denotes favorable condition in contrast with بأساءُ.
- Lane · entry 32320
نُعَامَى
A gentle south wind.
- Mufradāt · row 1461
تَنَعَّمَ
To walk lightly.
A specialized bodily-motion use, distinct from living in ease.
- Mufradāt · row 1461
تَنَعَّمَ
To walk barefoot.
A specialized usage reported for the verb; it should not be merged with the meaning ‘to live comfortably’.
- Maqāyīs · row 4687
تَنَعَّمَ
Of a place or land, to suit or accord with someone.
Used of a person's finding a place agreeable or fitting.
- Maqāyīs · row 4687
نَعَامَة
The blackness of night.
- Lane · entry 32323
نَعَامَة
An ostrich; in some usage, specifically a female ostrich.
- Lane · entry 32323
- Mufradāt · row 1461
نَعَامَة
In the idiom شَالَتْ نَعَامَتُهُمْ, the dispersal or breaking up of a group.
An idiomatic figurative use, not a general meaning of the bird noun.
- Lane · entry 32323
ابْنُ النَّعَامَة
A compound term for the shank-bone or a vein of the leg, the middle or beaten track of a road, a brisk horse, or the water-drawer at the head of a well.
These senses occur in the compound ابن النعامة and are not general meanings of نَعَامَة alone.
- Lane · entry 32323
- Mufradāt · row 1461
نَعَامَة
A shade or shelter made on a mountain, and a structure at a well, by resemblance in form.
A figurative or comparative extension based on the appearance of the ostrich or livestock-related form.
- Mufradāt · row 1461
نَعَامَة
A wooden support or framework of a well; نَعَامَتَانِ may denote the paired well supports.
A technical well-related use.
- Lane · entry 32323
النَّعَائِم
A group of stars and the twentieth lunar mansion, traditionally divided into two groups of stars.
A specialized astronomical term.
- Lane · entry 32323
- Mufradāt · row 1461
النَّعَائِم
Wooden pieces erected over a well to suspend the water-drawing apparatus when fixed supports are absent.
A technical well-related plural term, distinct from the astronomical name.
- Maqāyīs · row 4687
نَعْمَة
Softness, tenderness, bloom, or flourishing freshness of youth, youthfulness, a branch, or similar growth.
A classical specialization of the نَعْمَة branch; the Quranic occurrences support ease and pleasant living rather than this object-specific use.
- Lane · entry 32317
نَاعِم
Soft, tender, smooth, or sleek, especially of a plant or tree.
An adjectival use applied to vegetation or its texture, distinct from the Quranic description of faces enjoying comfort.
- Lane · entry 32324
مُنَعَّل
Of a horse, white on the forelegs.
A specialized descriptive term for a horse's markings.
- Lane · entry 32325
أَنَاعِيم
A plural of a plural of نَعَمٌ, referring to cattle or livestock.
A grammatical and lexical plural formation related to the livestock noun.
- Lane · entry 32326
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic praise formula نِعْمَ, the affirmative particle نَعَمْ, and the livestock noun نَعَمٌ/أَنْعَامٌ are distinct lexical items despite their shared consonants.
نِعْمَةٌ ‘favor or blessing’ and نَعْمَةٌ ‘ease or pleasant living’ are kept distinct by vocalization and lexical evidence.
The active-participle Quranic form نَاعِمَةٌ is normalized under the citation form نَاعِمٌ; its Quranic occurrence is feminine singular.
The cited Quranic evidence for نَعْمَاءُ is assigned using the supplied QAC location and lexical explanations; no historical Lane bracket notation has been converted into a modern verse location.
Unassigned or ambiguous evidence
The expression نَعِمَ اللَّهُ بِكَ عَيْنًا / نَعِمَكَ عَيْنًا is preserved in the evidence, but its explanation is incomplete or supplied only by a redirect, so it is not assigned an independent meaning.
The Mufradat discussion ends with an incomplete gloss after this eye-related idiom; the missing completion cannot be reconstructed confidently from the packet.