بنت
bint
In Arabic, the phrase 'daughter of' is expressed as بنت (bint).
This phrase is used to indicate that a female person is the offspring of a specific parent.
Which one should you use?
The word ابنة is a more formal alternative to بنت when specifically meaning 'daughter of' in a genealogical or legal context.
How does it change in a sentence?
In formal written Arabic, the word بنت is used to mean 'daughter of' when followed by the father's name to establish lineage.
How do you pronounce it?
bint
Did you know?
- In classical Arabic poetry, the term بنت is sometimes used metaphorically to describe things that 'spring' from a source, such as 'daughter of the clouds' to mean rain.
- The word بنت is a cognate with the Hebrew word בת (bat), reflecting their shared origin in the ancient Proto-Semitic language.
- In some dialects, adding the word بنت before a city name creates a term for a woman born in that city, effectively using 'daughter of' to mean 'native of'.
Examples in context
- Sarah ibnat Ali. (سارة ابنة علي)Sarah is the daughter of Ali.
- Ibnat as-safir tahadir al-haflah. (ابنة السفير تحضر الحفلة)The daughter of the ambassador is attending the event.
- هي بنت أحمد.hiya bint Ahmad.She is the daughter of Ahmad.
- أنا بنت هذا الرجل.ana bint hadha al-rajul.I am the daughter of this man.
- هل أنت بنت سارة؟hal anti bint Sarah?Are you the daughter of Sarah?
Example conversation
Two people are meeting at a social gathering and discussing a mutual acquaintance.
- يوسف Youssefهل أنتِ بنت جيراننا القدامى؟hal anti bint ji-ran-na al-qudama?Are you the daughter of our old neighbors?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، أنا بنت عائلة منصور.na'am, ana bint 'a'ilat Mansour.Yes, I am the daughter of the Mansour family.
- يوسف Youssefأهلاً بكِ يا بنت منصور.ahlan biki ya bint Mansour.Welcome, daughter of Mansour.
- ليلى Laylaشكراً لك يا يوسف.shukran laka ya Yusuf.Thank you, Yusuf.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry بنت, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بنت, CC BY-SA 4.0.
