Ways to say it
| Egyptian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بحبك | baheebak | said to a male |
| بحبك | baheebik | said to a female |
| بموت فيك | bamoot feek | romantic, playful |
| بعشقك | ba'ashekak | stronger, adoring, to a male |
The same written word is said baheebik when speaking to a female, since Egyptian script does not mark the short vowel that carries the gender. For something stronger and more playful, lovers say بموت فيك (bamoot feek), 'I'm dying for you', or بعشقك (ba'ashekak), 'I adore you'.
What does it mean word for word?
بحب is the present tense of 'to love', and the ending ak/ik means 'you', masculine or feminine. بموت means 'I die' and فيك means 'in you', together an exaggerated way to express strong feeling.
Which one should you use?
بحبك is the everyday, sincere way to say it, used between couples, close family and even for a beloved pet or child. بموت فيك and بعشقك are more intense and romantic, not said casually to relatives.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
'I love you' is inherently intimate in Egyptian culture. بحبك can be said to parents, children and siblings too, while the stronger phrases are kept for romantic partners.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending changes only with the gender of the person addressed, not the speaker: baheebak to a man and baheebik to a woman. The verb itself does not mark the speaker's own gender.
How do you pronounce it?
Many Egyptians pronounce the first vowel lightly, so بحبك can sound like 'ba-heeb-bak' with a slightly held b.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Saying بحبك to a casual acquaintance can sound overly intense, since Egyptians usually keep it for family and close relationships, not new friends.
When do people say it?
Egyptian families say بحبك freely between parents and children, and it is common in songs, films and everyday phone calls, not only between romantic partners.
Did you know?
- Egyptian films and songs made بحبك one of the most recognisable phrases of spoken Arabic far beyond Egypt, thanks to Egypt's large film and music industry.
- بموت فيك, literally 'I die in you', is a common exaggeration in Egyptian Arabic, where dying or burning are playful ways to express strong love.
Examples in context
- بحبك أكتر من أي حاجة.baheebak aktar men ay haga.I love you more than anything.
- بحبك يا ماما.baheebak ya mama.I love you, mom.
- إنتي حياتي، بعشقك.enti hayati, ba'ashekik.You are my life, I adore you.
Example conversation
Youssef tells his wife Nour how he feels before she leaves for a trip.
- Youssefبحبك يا نور، ارجعي بالسلامة.baheebik ya Nour, erga'i bis-salama.I love you, Nour, come back safe.
- Nourوأنا بحبك أكتر.w ana baheebak aktar.And I love you more.
- Youssefهاتصل بيكي كل يوم.hatasel beeki kol yom.I'll call you every day.
- Nourتمام، بعشقك.tamam, ba'ashekak.Okay, I adore you.
