Ways to say it
| Egyptian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| جوز | goz | |
| زوج | zoog | more formal |
زوج (zoog) is the more formal, written equivalent, closer to how 'husband' or 'spouse' appears in official Arabic. In speech, جوز is used far more often.
What does it mean word for word?
جوز and زوج come from the same Arabic root for 'pairing' or 'joining', the same root behind the word for 'pair' in general.
Which one should you use?
جوز is the word used in conversation, whether talking about your own husband or someone else's. زوج appears in legal documents, news reports and formal writing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
جوز is informal but completely standard in daily speech. زوج sounds more official or literary.
How does it change in a sentence?
With a possessive ending, جوز becomes جوزي, 'my husband', or جوزها, 'her husband'. On its own, جوز usually needs a possessor to make full sense, much like 'wife' does in English.
How do you pronounce it?
جوز is said with a hard Cairo-style g, GOZ, rhyming roughly with the English word 'rose'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Standard Arabic زوج is understood everywhere but using it constantly in casual talk about family can sound stiff compared to the natural جوز.
When do people say it?
In everyday Egyptian conversation, people usually say جوزها or جوز فلانة, 'so-and-so's husband', rather than using جوز entirely on its own.
Did you know?
- جوز and زوج share the same Arabic root meaning 'pairing', the same root that gives Arabic its word for an even number.
- In casual Egyptian speech, جوز almost always appears with a possessive ending, such as جوزي or جوزها, rather than standing completely alone.
Examples in context
- جوزها بيشتغل دكتور.gozha biyeshtaghal doktor.Her husband works as a doctor.
- جوز سارة سافر امبارح.goz Sara safar embareh.Sara's husband traveled yesterday.
- ده جوز خالتي منى.da goz khalti Mona.This is my aunt Mona's husband.
Example conversation
Dalia asks her friend Hana about Hana's husband's new job.
- Daliaجوزك بدأ الشغل الجديد؟gozek bada esh-shoghl el-gedeed?Did your husband start the new job?
- Hanaآه، من يومين بس.aah, men yomein bas.Yes, just two days ago.
- Daliaمبروك عليه، إن شاء الله يبقى كويس.mabrouk aleih, inshallah yeb'a kwayyes.Congratulations to him, hope it goes well.
- Hanaمتشكرة، هو مبسوط جدا.mitshakkira, howwa mabsoot gedan.Thank you, he's very happy.
