فتى سيء
fata sayyi'
The English phrase 'bad boy' is translated into Arabic as فتى سيء (fata sayyi').
The phrase is used to describe a male child or young man who behaves poorly or breaks rules.
Which one should you use?
You might use ولد شقي if you want to convey that a boy is being mischievous or playful rather than truly bad. Use ولد سيئ for a more formal tone.
How do you pronounce it?
fata sayyi'
Did you know?
- The word فتى shares a linguistic ancestor with terms in Tigre and Ge'ez that mean 'to love' or be sexually attracted.
Examples in context
- هذا الطالب ولد سيئ في الفصلThis student is a bad boy in the classroom.
- هذا الولد ولد شقي في المدرسةThis boy is a mischievous kid at school.
- هو فتى سيء جداً.huwa fatan sayyi'un jiddan.He is a very bad boy.
Example conversation
Nour is talking to Ahmed about a child in the neighborhood.
- نور Nourهل رأيت ذلك الطفل؟hal ra'ayta dhalika al-tifl?Did you see that child?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، إنه فتى سيء.na'am, innahu fatan sayyi'.Yes, he is a bad boy.
- نور Nourأحمد، يجب أن نحذر منه.ahmad, yajibu an nahdhara minhu.Ahmed, we must be careful of him.
- أحمد Ahmedأنا أتفق معكِ يا نور.ana attafiqu ma'aki ya nur.I agree with you, Nour.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries فتى, CC BY-SA 4.0.
