خِطْبَة
ḵiṭbafeminine
The English word 'engagement' (referring to the period of time when marriage is planned or promised) is translated into Arabic as خِطْبَة (ḵiṭba) or خُطُوبَة.
Meaning: period of time when marriage is planned or promised (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| خِطْبَة | ḵiṭba | feminine |
| خُطُوبَة | ḵuṭūba | feminine |
In Arabic, these terms describe the period of time during which a marriage is being planned or promised.
Which one should you use?
The form خِطْبَة often refers to the formal act or the specific event of the engagement ceremony.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both forms are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
ḵiṭba
Did you know?
- The root of خِطْبَة is shared with the word for 'speech' or 'sermon', خُطْبَة, though the vowels differ. This reflects the historical importance of the formal proposal speech made by the groom.
- Depending on the dialect, people may use the word مَخْطُوبِين to describe a couple who are 'engaged', which literally means they are 'the ones who have been asked for'.
- In some regions, an engagement is not considered official until a فاتحة is read, where the opening chapter of the Quran is recited to bless the union.
Example sentences for Arabic are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Layla and Omar are talking about a friend's upcoming news.
- ليلى Laylaهل سمعت عن خِطْبَة سارة؟Hal sami'ta 'an khitbat Sara?Did you hear about Sara's engagement?
- عمر Omarنعم، أنا سعيد جداً لأجلها.Na'am, ana sa'id jiddan li-ajliha.Yes, I am very happy for her.
- ليلى Laylaالحفل سيكون في الشهر القادم.Al-hafl sayakun fi al-shahr al-qadim.The party will be next month.
- عمر Omarسأحضر بالتأكيد يا ليلى.Sa-ahduru bi-ta'kid ya Layla.I will definitely attend, Layla.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “engagement” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
