Ways to say it
| Lebanese Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بحبك | bhebbak | to a man |
| بحبك | bhebbek | to a woman |
| كتير بحبك | ktir bhebbak | very much |
To add weight, Lebanese speakers say كتير بحبك (ktir bhebbak), 'I love you a lot'. The phrase is used both for romantic love and, among close family, for a deep affection.
What does it mean word for word?
بحبك joins ب, a present tense marker, حب, the root for love, and ك, 'you'. The same spelling covers both genders, only the vowel on the final ك changes in speech.
Which one should you use?
بحبك is warm and direct, used with a partner or very close family. For a lighter compliment Lebanese people say عم بفكر فيك, 'I am thinking of you', which hints at affection without stating it outright.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There is no formal version. Saying بحبك to someone outside a close relationship, including a boss or a stranger, would sound out of place.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase is shared across the Levant, but in Lebanon it is often softened with French, as in je t'aime among younger, French-educated speakers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending ك is the part that changes: it is pronounced ak for a man and ek for a woman, the same pattern as every Lebanese verb with a 'you' object.
How do you pronounce it?
The stress falls on the first syllable, 'BHEB-bak', and the h is a light breath, not the rougher sound of kh.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Learners sometimes use the Standard Arabic أحبك (uhibbuka), which Lebanese speakers understand but find stiff and bookish. In speech, بحبك is what is actually said.
When do people say it?
Lebanese love songs and soap operas use بحبك constantly, so most learners hear it long before they can form a full sentence in the dialect.
Did you know?
- The same root حب gives Lebanese Arabic حبيبي (habibi), 'my love', one of the most widely recognised Arabic words outside the Arab world.
- Many Lebanese pop songs repeat بحبك as a refrain precisely because the word is short and fits any melody.
Examples in context
- بحبك كتير، ما تنساني.bhebbak ktir, ma tinsayni.I love you very much, do not forget me.
- من أول ما شفتك، بحبك.min awwal ma shiftik, bhebbek.Since the first time I saw you, I love you.
- بحبك أكتر من كل شي.bhebbak aktar min kil shi.I love you more than anything.
Example conversation
Rami tells his girlfriend Yara how he feels before she leaves for the airport.
- Ramiبحبك كتير، رجعي بسرعة.bhebbek ktir, irja3i bsur3a.I love you so much, come back soon.
- Yaraبحبك أنا كمان.bhebbak ana kaman.I love you too.
- Ramiرح تصلي لما توصلي؟rah tsalli lamma tusli?Will you call me when you arrive?
- Yaraطبعا، أول ما أوصل.tab'an, awwal ma awsal.Of course, as soon as I arrive.
