أحب كرة القدم
uhibbu kurat al-qadam
The English phrase "I like football" is expressed in Arabic as أحب كرة القدم (uhibbu kurat al-qadam).
This phrase is a statement used to express a personal fondness for the sport of football. The verb أحب can mean both "I like" or "I love".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of uhibbu (I love/like), kurat (ball) and al-qadam (the foot).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, you can say بحب الكورة to mean "I like football".
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb أحب is the first-person singular present tense form, where the initial أ indicates the subject "I".
How do you pronounce it?
uhibbu kurat al-qadam
Did you know?
- The word for 'ball' كرة may have its roots in the Sumerian word GUR, which described a rolled up bundle of barley.
- The verb أحب is closely linked to the word حبيب, meaning 'beloved'. This connects the act of liking a sport to the same root used for deep romantic or familial love.
- Because the verb أحب can mean both 'to like' and 'to love', the intensity of your feeling is often determined by context rather than the word choice itself.
Examples in context
- أحب كرة القدم كثيراً.Uhibbu kurat al-qadam kathīran.I like football very much.
- أحب كرة القدم وألعبها دائماً.Uhibbu kurat al-qadam wa al'abuha dā'iman.I like football and I always play it.
Example conversation
Yousef and Layla are talking about their hobbies.
- يوسف Youssefهل تحبين الرياضة يا ليلى؟Hal tuhibbīna al-riyāḍa yā Laylā?Do you like sports, Layla?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، أنا أحب كرة القدم.Na'am, ana uhibbu kurat al-qadam.Yes, I like football.
- يوسف Youssefوأنا أيضاً أحب كرة القدم.Wa ana ayḍan uhibbu kurat al-qadam.And I like football too.
- ليلى Laylaرائع، هل نشاهد مباراة معاً؟Rā'i', hal nushāhid mubārah ma'an?Great, shall we watch a match together?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries أحب, كرة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
