28 May The different ways of expressing your love for someone in Arabic

Arabic is among the most generally communicated languages in the world. The chances of you being with someone or will be meeting someone that speaks Arabic is quite high. The Arabic language is famous for being an expressive language and speaking Arabic usually engulfs emotions, feelings, and facial and body expressions.  If you have a significant other that speaks Arabic, it would be a nice surprise, to express your feelings in their native language.

Saying “I love you” in different Arabic dialects

Bhebak – بحِبَّك (Male) / Bhebik – بَحِبِّك (Female)

Translation: Love you

“Bhebak or bhebik” can be said whenever you feel you want to express your love to someone, be it a friend, significant other, or relative. It is used mostly in the Levantine Arabic dialect. On the other hand, a reply would be “Ana kamen bhebak أنا أيضاً بحِبَّك (M)” or “Ana bhebik kamen أنا أيضاً بَحِبِّك (F)” which translates to “I love you too.”

Ana Ouhibouk – أنا أحبك (Male) / Ana Ouhibouki – أنا بَحِبِّك (Female)

Translation: I love you

“Ana Ouhibouk / Ana Ouhibouki” can be said whenever you feel you want to express your love to someone in a formal situation, be it a friend, significant other, or relative. It is more used in MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) and it is understood around all Arabic dialects. A typical reply would be “Ana kamen bhebak أنا أيضاً بحِبَّك (M)” or “Ana bhebik kamen أنا أيضاً بَحِبِّك (F)” which translates to “I love you too.”

OuHiboukom – أحبكم

Translation: I love you (plural)

“Ouhiboukom” can be said whenever you feel you want to express your love to a group of people. The group of people can be family or friends. It is communicated using the MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) and it is understood around all Arabic dialects. A reply would be “Wa nehna nouhebak – و نحن نحبك (M)” or “Wa nehna nouhebik – و نحن نحبك (F)” which translates to “we love you too”.

Kanəbġīk – كنبغيك

Translation: I love you 

“Kanəbġīk” is said using the Morrocan Arabic dialect, and can be said whenever you feel you want to express your love to someone. It can be used in intimate and spontaneous situations. A typical reply would be “Hetta ana – حتى أنا ” which translates to “me too”.

Bəhibbək – بحبك

Translation: I love you 

“Bəhibbək” can be said whenever you want someone to know that you love them, be it a friend, significant other, or relative. Yet, it is more specific to the Syrian Arabic Dialect. A reply would be “Ana kamen Bəhibbək – أنا أيضاً بحِبَّك” which means “I love you too”.

I love you expressions in Arabic 

To’borny – تقبرني

Literal Translation: Bury me

To’borny is a word used frequently in Levantine countries especially by parents saying it to their children. It’s like saying to someone you really love them to an extent that you want them to bury you before losing them. A typical reply would be “Habibe inta – حبيبي إنت (M) or habibe inte – حبيبي إنتِ (F)” which means “my love.”

Ya eedami – يا عظامي

Literal Translation: My bones

Used mostly in informal and sarcastic situations by all Levantine Arabic Dialect speakers. It’s saying to someone you really love them to an extent that they are your bones and everything that makes you, you. A typical reply would be “Habibe inta – حبيبي إنت (M) or habibe inte – حبيبي إنتِ (F)”.

Hobik Ghali – حبك غالي

Literal Translation: Your love is expensive

It said in both formal and informal situations and used mostly between couples mostly in Levantine countries and Levantine dialect speakers. It’s like saying to someone you love  them so much and your love for them is invaluable. A typical reply would be “hobak ghali – حبَّك أغلى (M) or hobik ghali – حبِّك أغلى (F)”

Bdoub feek – بدوب فيك

Literal Translation: I melt in you

Said mostly in informal situations and in Levantine Arabic speaking countries. Showing love and affection. You love someone so much, they make you melt. A typical reply would be “Ana kamen Bdoob feek – أنا أيضاً مغرم فيك (M) / Ana kamen Bdoob feekee – أنا اأيضاً مغرم فيكي (F)” which means “I love you too.”

Bmout feek – بموت فيك

Literal Translation: I die in you

Said mostly in informal situations. It is usually said by someone who wants to show a huge amount of love and used mostly in Levantine Arabic speaking countries. It means you love someone so much, you would die for them (doesn’t have to be literal though). A reply would be “Ana kamen moghram feek – أنا أيضاً مغرم فيك (M) ana kamen moghram feekee – أنا اأيضاً مغرم فيكي (F)” which means “I am in love with you”.

Fadaituk – فَدَيْتُك

Literal Translation: I shield you

The word Fadaituk is used in formal and informal situations when showing appreciation. It is mostly used in Gulf countries, yet understood all around. You are telling the person that you love them so much you are willing to give your life up for them. A typical reply would be “Habibe inta – حبيبي إنت (M) or habibe inte – حبيبي إنتِ (F)” which means “you are my love”.

Rouhi – رُوحِي

Literal Translation: My soul

Said mostly in informal situations. Usually said by someone who is trying to express another person’s importance. “Rouhi” is used across all Arabic dialects and understood by all in both informal and formal situations. You are telling someone you love them so much they are your soul.  A typical reply would be “Habibe inta – حبيبي إنت (M) or habibe inte – حبيبي إنتِ (F)” which means “you are my love”.

Aalbi – قَلْبِي

Translation: My heart

A way to express unconditional love to someone by telling them they are your heart or your heart belongs to them. “Aalbi” can be used in all Arabic speaking countries in both formal and informal situations. A typical reply would be “ Inta aalbi – إنت قلبي (M) or inte aalbi – إنتِ قلبي (F)” which means “you are my heart”.

Ouyouni – عُيُونِي

Translation: My eyes

It is usually used in informal, formal, and sometimes sarcastic situations. It is understood and used across all Arabic dialects and it means that someone is your eyes, or that you love someone so much they are your eyes. A typical reply would be “Habibe inta – حبيبي إنت (M) or habibe inte – حبيبي إنتِ (F)” which means “you are my love”.

Conclusion 

Arabic love words and phrases usually include important body parts such as the eyes, heart, bones, and soul to signify how much the other person means to you. It makes the person feel so special and loved and that is the beauty of the Arabic language.