Participation and Basic-Form Equivalence

Seven Semantic Properties of Form III (Mufāʿalah): Participation, Equivalence, Causing a State, and Independent Uses

Textbook exampleFormFunctionMeaning
قَاتَلَ زَيْدٌ عَمْرًاIIIParticipationReciprocal combat
سَافَرَ زَيْدٌIIILike basic formTo travel

Both verbs carry an inserted long alif after the first radical. Both are Form III, but the semantic functions differ. Therefore Form III cannot invariably be translated “to do something to each other.”