What does it mean word for word?
بنت is shared with Standard Arabic, where it also means both 'girl' and 'daughter', so the Darija form keeps the same double meaning.
Which one should you use?
Context decides the meaning. بنتي means specifically 'my daughter', while بنت alone can mean any girl.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
بنت is used at every level of speech, with no separate formal word for 'girl'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word is the same across Morocco and across most Arabic dialects.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural is بنات (bnat), 'girls' or 'daughters', as in عندو جوج بنات, 'he has two daughters'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is short and quick, almost one syllable: bnt, with a very brief vowel sound.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Learners sometimes forget that بنت can mean 'daughter' as well as 'girl', so context matters when translating a sentence.
Did you know?
- بنت doing double duty for both 'girl' and 'daughter' is a feature shared across almost every Arabic dialect, not unique to Morocco.
- The plural بنات is also used informally to mean 'the girls', a group of female friends, the way English speakers say 'the girls' for a friend group.
Examples in context
- عندو بنت صغيرة.andu bnt sghira.He has a young daughter.
- هاد البنت كاتدرس فالجامعة.had lbnt kattedres f ljami3a.This girl studies at university.
- عندو جوج بنات وولد واحد.andu juj bnat w weld wahed.He has two daughters and one son.
Example conversation
Two neighbours, Aicha and Houria, talk about their children in the courtyard.
- Aichaشحال عندك من الدراري؟shhal 3andek men ddrari?How many children do you have?
- Houriaعندي بنت وولد.andi bnt w weld.I have a daughter and a son.
- Aichaشحال عندها من العمر البنت؟shhal 3andha men l3omr lbnt?How old is the girl?
- Houriaعندها سبعة سنين دابا.andha seb3a snin daba.She is seven years old now.
