Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عَمَّة | ʕamma | feminine |
| زَوْجةُ العَمّ | zawjatu l-ʕamm | |
| زَوْجةُ الخال | zawjatu l-ḵāl | |
| خَالَة | ḵāla | feminine |
Arabic uses different words for aunts based on their relationship to the speaker. عَمَّة refers specifically to a paternal aunt (your father's sister), while خَالَة refers specifically to a maternal aunt (your mother's sister). Both of these terms are also commonly used as a respectful way to address older women who are not related to you. Additionally, in Egyptian dialects, some speakers use the colloquial term Tant (تانت) to refer to an aunt.
What does it mean word for word?
To refer to an aunt by marriage, you can use phrases that describe her relationship to your uncle. زَوْجةُ العَمّ literally means 'wife of the paternal uncle', and زَوْجةُ الخال literally means 'wife of the maternal uncle'.
Which one should you use?
Use عَمَّة when speaking about your father's sister and خَالَة when speaking about your mother's sister. For aunts by marriage, use زَوْجةُ العَمّ for the wife of your paternal uncle and زَوْجةُ الخال for the wife of your maternal uncle.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term Tant (تانت) is a colloquialism used mostly in Egyptian dialects.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms عَمَّة and خَالَة are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
ʕamma
When do people say it?
It is a common custom in many Arabic-speaking cultures to use terms like عَمَّة or خَالَة to address older women as a sign of respect, even if there is no biological relation.
Did you know?
- The Egyptian use of تانت is a linguistic loanword from the French 'tante', reflecting the strong influence of French culture on the Egyptian upper class during the 19th and 20th centuries.
- The word خَالَة shares the same root as the word for 'maternal uncle' خَال, which distinguishes them from the paternal side's root linked to عَمّ.
- Depending on the social class in Cairo, choosing between خَالَة and تانت can signal the speaker's own educational background or social standing.
Examples in context
- أحب قضاء الوقت مع عمتي.I love spending time with my aunt.
- تانتي رح تيجي تزورنا الأسبوع الجاي.My aunt is coming to visit us next week.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “aunt” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
