How to say "to interpret, explain" in Arabic
CognateMeaningto interpret, explain
Arabic · Modern Standard Arabic
فَسَّرَ
fassaraפסר
فسر
Hebrew · Modern Hebrew
פירש
pereshپِرِش
How the two words are related
Cognate
Same Semitic root, same meaning — you already know this word.
Arabic root
ف-س-رHebrew root
פ-ש-רfassara = פשר, sound for sound (س↔ש). Hebrew פשר means both 'meaning' and 'compromise' — the Dead Sea pesharim were line-by-line interpretations, exactly what tafsīr does to the Qurʾān. Don't confuse it with פתרון, 'solution': that comes from a different root, פ-ת-ר, the one behind Joseph the dream-interpreter (פותר חלומות).
Related Hebrew word:פשרpesherپِشِر
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In a phrase
فَسَّرَ الْحُلْم لِصَاحِبِه
fassara al-ḥulm li-ṣāḥibihפסר אל-חלם ל-צאחבהHe interpreted the dream for its owner