---
title: "عِلْم (ʿilm) meaning in Arabic: knowledge, science"
description: "عِلْم (ʿilm) means “knowledge, science”. Root ع·ل·م, pattern , level A1: forms, related words and how to read it letter by letter, from the Fasaha dictionary."
canonical: "https://fasaha.app/w/ilm"
language: "en"
direction: "ltr"
---

# عِلْم

*ʿilm* · **knowledge, science**

عِلْم (ʿilm) is an Arabic noun meaning “knowledge, science”. It is built on the root ع·ل·م. Fasaha’s library first uses it at level A1.

- Part of speech: Noun
- Root: ع·ل·م
- Level: A1

## Forms of عِلْم

- Plural: عُلُوم

## Words from the root ع·ل·م

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

- [عَلِمَ](https://fasaha.app/w/alima) — ʿalima, to know (A2)
- [عَالِم](https://fasaha.app/w/alim) — ʿālim, scholar, scientist (B1)
- [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 عِلْم, letter by letter

3 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
- ل — لام (lām): l
- م — ميم (mīm): m

## Questions about عِلْم

### What is the root of عِلْم?

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

### What is the plural of عِلْم?

The plural of عِلْم (ʿilm) is عُلُوم.

### What level is عِلْم?

Fasaha first uses عِلْم at level A1, on a scale from A0 (first words) to C2 (classical prose).


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