بحبك
baḥebbakfriendly, Egyptian and Levantine
Arabic speakers do say بحبك (baḥebbak) to close friends, as a warm and not necessarily romantic sentence. Religious friends say أحبك في الله (uḥibbuka fillāh), "I love you for God's sake", to make clear the love is brotherly. It is also called بحبك يا صديقي (baḥebbak yā ṣadīqī).
Meaning: platonic affection toward a friend (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بحبك | baḥebbak | friendly, Egyptian and Levantine |
| أحبك في الله | uḥibbuka fillāh | Islamic, for the sake of God |
| بحبك يا صديقي | baḥebbak yā ṣadīqī | to a male friend |
Adding يا صديقي (yā ṣadīqī), "my friend", or يا صاحبي (yā ṣāḥbī) makes the friendly meaning clear.
When do people say it?
Affection between friends of the same sex is openly expressed in Arabic culture. The phrase أحبك في الله (uḥibbuka fillāh) comes from Islamic tradition and is used between friends of the same sex.
Did you know?
- The phrase أحبك في الله (uḥibbuka fillāh) is linked to a saying of the Prophet about people who love each other for God's sake.
Examples in context
- بحبك يا صديقيbaḥebbak yā ṣadīqīI love you, my friend
- أحبك في الله يا أخيuḥibbuka fillāh yā akhīI love you for God's sake, my brother
Example conversation
Khaled thanks his best friend Walid for helping him move to a new flat in Cairo.
- Khaledشكراً يا وليد، بحبك يا صاحبي.Shukran yā Walīd, baḥebbak yā ṣāḥbī.Thanks Walid, I love you, my friend.
- Walidوأنا كمان يا خالد.Wa ana kamān yā Khālid.Me too, Khaled.
- Khaledالعشاء عليّ.Al-ʿashā ʿalayy.Dinner is on me.
