حَلَّمَ
ḥalamtu (example); ḥalama (lemma)
/ħaˈlam.tu/
Definition
To dream; to see images or stories in your mind while you are sleeping.
Example
حَلَمْتُ بِأُمِّي كُلَّ لَيْلَة.
Show translation
I dreamed of my mother every night.
Etymology
From the root ح-ل-م (Ḥ-L-M), which carries the core meaning of dream and also of forbearance/wisdom. The noun حُلْم (ḥulm) means "a dream," and حَلِيم (ḥalīm) means "patient and wise" — ancient Arabic associated dreaming with the deeper, reflective mind.
Cultural note
Dreams (أَحْلَام, aḥlām) hold considerable significance in Arab and Islamic culture. Prophetic or "true" dreams (الرُّؤَى الصَّادِقَة) are considered a form of divine communication, and dream interpretation (تَعْبِير الرُّؤْيَا) is a respected tradition going back to Quranic stories such as the dream of Yusuf (Joseph). The root ح-ل-م also gives the popular name Ḥalīm, meaning "the forbearing one."