---
title: "عَالِم (ʿālim) meaning in Arabic: scholar, scientist"
description: "عَالِم (ʿālim) means “scholar, scientist”. Root ع·ل·م, pattern فَاعِل, level B1: forms, related words and how to read it letter by letter, from the Fasaha dictionary."
canonical: "https://fasaha.app/w/alim"
language: "en"
direction: "ltr"
---

# عَالِم

*ʿālim* · **scholar, scientist**

عَالِم (ʿālim) is an Arabic noun meaning “scholar, scientist”. It is built on the root ع·ل·م in the pattern فَاعِل. Fasaha’s library first uses it at level B1.

- Part of speech: Noun
- Root: ع·ل·م
- Pattern: فَاعِل
- Level: B1

## Forms of عَالِم

- Plural: عُلَمَاء

## Words from the root ع·ل·م

Arabic builds families of words on one root. These share the root ع·ل·م with عَالِم; each opens its own entry.

- [عِلْم](https://fasaha.app/w/ilm) — ʿilm, knowledge, science (A1)
- [عَلِمَ](https://fasaha.app/w/alima) — ʿalima, to know (A2)
- [مُعَلِّم](https://fasaha.app/w/muallim) — muʿallim, teacher (A1)
- [تَعْلِيم](https://fasaha.app/w/talim) — taʿlīm, education, teaching (A2)
- [مَعْلُومَات](https://fasaha.app/w/malumat) — maʿlūmāt, information (A2)
- [عَالَم](https://fasaha.app/w/alam) — ʿālam, world (A1)

## How to read عَالِم, letter by letter

4 letters, read from right to left. The marks above and below the letters are the short vowels.

- ع — عين (ʿayn): a voiced squeeze of the throat, no English equivalent
- ا — ألف (ʾalif): a long a, or a seat for hamza
- ل — لام (lām): l
- م — ميم (mīm): m

## Questions about عَالِم

### What is the root of عَالِم?

The root of عَالِم is ع·ل·م. Words built on the same root include عِلْم (knowledge, science), عَلِمَ (to know), مُعَلِّم (teacher), تَعْلِيم (education, teaching).

### What is the plural of عَالِم?

The plural of عَالِم (ʿālim) is عُلَمَاء.

### What pattern does عَالِم follow?

عَالِم follows the pattern فَاعِل, with the root letters ع·ل·م poured into it.

### What level is عَالِم?

Fasaha first uses عَالِم at level B1, on a scale from A0 (first words) to C2 (classical prose).


[All words in the Fasaha dictionary](https://fasaha.app/w)