Ways to say it
| Syrian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بحبك | bhebbak | to a man |
| بحبك | bhebbik | to a woman, same spelling |
بحبك is used between partners, close family and sometimes close friends, said directly to the person you love.
What does it mean word for word?
بحبك joins the present-tense prefix ب- with حب, 'to love', and the ending for 'you'.
Which one should you use?
There is no separate word for romantic versus family love in this phrase, the warmth of the relationship is understood from context, not from a different word.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This phrase is personal and informal by nature, not used with strangers or in business settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
بحبك is shared across Syria and the wider Levant, including Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine, with only small accent differences.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending changes sound depending on who is addressed, 'bhebbak' to a man and 'bhebbik' to a woman, even though the written word بحبك looks the same.
How do you pronounce it?
The b at the start is soft, and the stress falls on the first syllable, 'BHEB-bak'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Mixing up the ending for the person addressed is an easy slip, since nothing in the spelling signals which one to use.
When do people say it?
Saying بحبك out loud between family members, not only romantic partners, is normal and common in Syrian households.
Did you know?
- The written word بحبك hides which gender is being addressed, so context or the spoken vowel is needed to know if it means 'bhebbak' or 'bhebbik'.
- Syrians say بحبك openly to parents and siblings, not only romantic partners, more than some English speakers expect from the direct translation 'I love you'.
Examples in context
- بحبك كتير يا أمي.bhebbik ktir ya ammi.I love you very much, mom.
- بحبك وما رح تغير هالشي.bhebbak w ma rah tghayyer hash-shi.I love you and nothing will change that.
- انا كتير بحبك.ana ktir bhebbik.I love you so much.
Example conversation
Hassan tells his wife Lamis how he feels before leaving for a trip.
- Hassanبحبك كتير، بتصل لما أوصل.bhebbik ktir, batisel lamma awsal.I love you so much, I'll call when I arrive.
- Lamisبحبك، سافر بالسلامة.bhebbak, safer bis-salame.I love you, travel safely.
- Hassanرح أشتقلك من هلأ.rah eshtaklek min halla.I'll miss you starting now.
- Lamisوأنا كمان، احكيني لما توصل.w ana kaman, ehkini lamma tuwasal.Me too, talk to me when you arrive.
