عَزِيز
ʕazīzmasculine
The Arabic word for "dear" is عَزِيز (ʕazīz), which also carries the sense of being precious or valuable. Wiktionary also lists عَزِيْزَة (ʕaziyza).
Meaning: loved, lovable (adj)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عَزِيز | ʕazīz | masculine |
| عَزِيْزَة | ʕaziyza | feminine |
This adjective is used to describe someone who is loved or lovable. You can create the specific phrase "my dear" by adding the suffix -ī to the word, resulting in عَزِيزِي.
Which one should you use?
While عَزِيز translates to "dear" in an affectionate sense, it also carries the connotation of being "precious" or "valuable" in Arabic.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes based on the gender and number of the people you are describing. The feminine form عَزِيزَة is used when the person being described is female. To address or describe a group of males or a mixed-gender group, you can use the masculine plural form عَزِيزُونَ.
How do you pronounce it?
ʕazīz
Did you know?
- The word عَزِيز is one of the 99 names of God in Islam, where it translates to 'The Almighty' or 'The Irresistible'.
- The concept of being 'dear' or 'precious' is deeply linked to the root meaning of 'strength' or 'might' in many Semitic contexts.
- The word عَزِيز is used in the phrase عزيز النفس, which describes someone who is 'dear to themselves' meaning they have great self-respect and dignity.
Examples in context
- هذا صَدِيقٌ عَزِيزٌ لِي.hadha sadīqun ‘azīzun lī.This is a dear friend of mine.
- هُوَ شَخْصٌ عَزِيزٌ جِدًّا.huwa shakhsun ‘azīzun jiddan.He is a very dear person.
- أَبِي رَجُلٌ عَزِيزٌ.abī rajulun ‘azīz.My father is a dear man.
Example conversation
Ahmad and Maryam are talking about a mutual friend at a cafe.
- أحمد Ahmedكَيْفَ حَالُ صَدِيقِكِ الْعَزِيزِ؟kayfa hālu sadīqiki al-‘azīz?How is your dear friend?
- مريم Maryamهُوَ بِخَيْرٍ، شُكْرًا لَكَ يَا أَحْمَدُ.huwa bikhayrin, shukran laka yā ahmad.He is well, thank you Ahmad.
- أحمد Ahmedأَنَا سَعِيدٌ لِأَجْلِهِ.anā sa‘īdun li-ajlihi.I am happy for him.
- مريم Maryamأَنْتَ صَدِيقٌ عَزِيزٌ أَيْضًا.anta sadīqun ‘azīzun ayḍan.You are a dear friend too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dear” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
