صَاحِب
ṣāḥibmasculine
The English word "companion" is translated into Arabic as صَاحِب (ṣāḥib). Wiktionary also lists صَاحِبَة (ṣāḥiba).
Meaning: someone with whom one spends time or keeps company (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| صَاحِب | ṣāḥib | masculine |
| صَاحِبَة | ṣāḥiba | feminine |
A companion is someone with whom one spends time or keeps company. Depending on the context, the word صَاحِب can also mean an owner or a possessor of something.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the phrase رَفِيق الدِرْب literally means "companion of the road".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes based on gender and number. The masculine singular is صَاحِب and the feminine singular is صَاحِبَة. For two masculine or mixed companions, use the dual form صَاحِبِينَ, while for two female companions, use صَاحِبَتَيْنِ. The feminine plural form is صَاحِبَات.
How do you pronounce it?
ṣāḥib
Did you know?
- The root letters of صاحب are associated with the act of 'accompanying', but they also relate to 'calling out' or 'shouting' in other linguistic contexts.
- The term رفيق (another word for companion) is often used in political contexts, particularly in socialist or communist circles, to mean 'comrade'.
- In Islamic history, the صحابة (plural of صاحب) refers specifically to the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, making the word carry a heavy spiritual and prestigious weight.
Examples in context
- هُوَ رَفِيقٌ طَيِّبٌ.He is a good companion.
- أَنَا أُرَافِقُهُ كَصَدِيقِ وَشَرِيكِ عَمَلٍ.I accompany him as a friend and a work companion.
- هَلْ يُمْكِنُنِي أَنْ أَكُونَ صَاحِبَكَ؟Can I be your companion?
- أَنَا بِحَاجَةٍ إِلَى جَلِيسٍ خَلَالَ السَّفَرِ.I need a companion during the trip.
- أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى صَاحِبٍ مُوثُوقٍ.aḥtāju ilā ṣāḥibin mawthūqin.I need a reliable companion.
- مَنْ هُوَ صَاحِبُكَ فِي السَّفَرِ؟man huwa ṣāḥibuka fī al-safar?Who is your companion during the trip?
Example conversation
Nour and Youssef are talking about a new colleague.
- نور Nourمَنْ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ يَا يُوسُف؟Man hādhā ar-rajulu yā Yūsuf?Who is this man, Youssef?
- يوسف Youssefإِنَّهُ صَاحِب قَدِيم مِنَ المَدْرَسَةِ.Innahu ṣāḥib qadīm min al-madrasah.He is an old companion from school.
- نور Nourهَلْ هُوَ شَخْصٌ لَطِيفٌ؟Hal huwa shakhṣun laṭīf?Is he a nice person?
- يوسف Youssefنَعَمْ، لَقَدْ كَانَ دَائِمًا صَاحِبًا رَائِعًا.Naʿam, laqad kāna dāʾiman ṣāḥiban rāʾiʿan.Yes, he has always been a wonderful companion.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “companion” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
