لدي أخوان
ladayya akhawān
The phrase "I have two brothers" in Arabic is لدي أخوان (ladayya akhawān).
This phrase is used to express that a person has two male siblings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word akhawān is the dual form of the singular noun أخ (brother). Depending on its grammatical role in a sentence, the form changes from the nominative akhawān to the accusative/genitive أخوين.
How do you pronounce it?
ladayya akhawān
Did you know?
- The word لدي literally means 'with me' or 'at my side'. In Arabic, possession is often expressed as something being present with the person rather than owned by them.
- While أخ means 'brother', it is frequently used in Arabic to refer to a close male friend or a fellow member of a community, even if there is no blood relation.
- While English uses the word 'brothers' to indicate plurality, the Arabic dual form أخوان is strictly limited to exactly two. If you had three, you would have to switch to a completely different grammatical system used for all other numbers.
Example conversation
Maryam and Ahmed are talking about their families.
- مريم Maryamهل لديك إخوة يا أحمد؟Hal ladayka ikhwa ya Ahmed?Do you have siblings, Ahmed?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، لدي أخوان. وأنتِ؟Na'am, ladayya akhawan. Wa anti?Yes, I have two brothers. And you?
- مريم Maryamأنا ليس لدي إخوة.Ana laysa ladayya ikhwa.I do not have any siblings.
- أحمد Ahmedأنتِ ابنة وحيدة إذاً.Anti ibna wahida idhan.You are an only child then.
