---
title: "كَانَ (kāna) meaning in Arabic: to be (past)"
description: "كَانَ (kāna) means “to be (past)”. Root ك·و·ن, pattern فَعَلَ, level A1: forms, related words and how to read it letter by letter, from the Fasaha dictionary."
canonical: "https://fasaha.app/w/kuntu"
language: "en"
direction: "ltr"
---

# كَانَ

*kāna* · **to be (past)**

كَانَ (kāna) is an Arabic verb meaning “to be (past)”. It is built on the root ك·و·ن in the pattern فَعَلَ. Fasaha’s library first uses it at level A1.

- Part of speech: Verb
- Root: ك·و·ن
- Pattern: فَعَلَ
- Level: A1

## Forms of كَانَ

- Present: يَكُونُ

## Words from the root ك·و·ن

Arabic builds families of words on one root. These share the root ك·و·ن with كَانَ; each opens its own entry.

- [مَكَان](https://fasaha.app/w/makan) — makān, place (A1)

## How to read كَانَ, letter by letter

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

- ك — كاف (kāf): k
- ا — ألف (ʾalif): a long a, or a seat for hamza
- ن — نون (nūn): n

## Questions about كَانَ

### What is the root of كَانَ?

The root of كَانَ is ك·و·ن. Words built on the same root include مَكَان (place).

### What pattern does كَانَ follow?

كَانَ follows the pattern فَعَلَ, with the root letters ك·و·ن poured into it.

### What level is كَانَ?

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


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