Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| طفل | tefl | /tˤifl/ | Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
| رَضِيع | raḍīʕ | masculine | |
| بيبي | bebīʕ | Egyptian Arabic, masculine | |
| نونو | nono | Egyptian Arabic, masculine |
In a broad sense, the term refers to a very young human being. Depending on whether you want to be formal or informal, or if you want to specify that the baby is still nursing, different words are used. For a newborn or an infant in formal contexts, you may use مَولود. The word طِفْل can mean 'child' in a general sense, but it is also used in formal speech to refer specifically to babies.
What does it mean word for word?
The formal term رَضِيع (raḍīʕ) is derived from a root meaning to suckle or nurse, specifically describing a nursing infant.
Which one should you use?
While طفل can refer generally to any child, رَضِيع is more specific to an infant who is still nursing. For an informal approach, the borrowed English word بيبي is also used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, use رَضِيع to mean an infant or مَولود to mean a newborn. The word طفل is also suitable for formal contexts. In informal settings, particularly in Egyptian Arabic, you can use the borrowed بيبي or the cutesy term نونو.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, you can use طفل, بيبي or the cutesy نونو.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form رَضِيع (raḍīʕ) changes to the feminine form رَضِيعَة (raḍīʕah) when referring to a female nursing baby. The plural of the standard word طفل is أَطْفَال.
How do you pronounce it?
tefl
Did you know?
- While بيبي is a loanword from English, it is often used in modern Arabic urban slang to refer to a romantic partner, similar to the English use of 'baby'.
- The formal word رَضِيع is an active participle, meaning it literally describes the baby as the person who is performing the act of nursing.
- The word نونو is an example of baby talk in Egyptian Arabic and is often used to describe something small or cute regardless of whether it is actually a human infant.
Examples in context
- هو نائم مثل طفلHe sleeps like a baby.This sentence shows how to use طفل in a simile regarding sleep.Tatoeba #7648967 by medben, translation #7646927 by deniko
- ياله من طفل لطيف!What a cute baby!This sentence uses طفل to describe a cute baby.Tatoeba #10291563 by alhamdi, translation #1912450 by CK
- يا له من طفل جميل.What a cute baby! Peek-a-boo!This sentence uses طفل to describe a beautiful baby.Tatoeba #398443 by saeb, translation #36098 by AlanF_US
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nour and Youssef are visiting a friend's house with a new baby.
- نور Nourالطفل ده جميل أوي.el tefel da gameel awy.This baby is very beautiful.
- يوسف Youssefفعلاً، هو طفل هادي.fe'lan, howa tefel hadi.True, he is a calm baby.
- نور Nourنايم ولا لسه صاحي؟nayem wala lissa sahi?Is he sleeping or still awake?
- يوسف Youssefالطفل لسه نايم.el tefel lissa nayem.The baby is still sleeping.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby” translations and entries طفل, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
