أُحِبُّكَ
ʔuḥibbukaaddressee masculine
The phrase 'i love you' in Arabic is أُحِبُّكَ (ʔuḥibbuka). Wiktionary also lists أُحِبُّكِ (ʔuḥibbuki).
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| أُحِبُّكَ | ʔuḥibbuka | addressee masculine |
| أُحِبُّكِ | ʔuḥibbuki | addressee masculine |
This phrase is used as an affirmation of romantic feeling.
What does it mean word for word?
The first part of the word, أُحِبُّ, is the verb meaning 'I love'. The suffix –كَ (ka) or –كِ (ki) attached to the verb represents the object 'you'.
Which one should you use?
The distinction between the forms depends entirely on the gender of the person being spoken to, not the gender of the speaker.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form أُحِبُّكَ is used when speaking to a man, while the form أُحِبُّكِ is used when speaking to a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
ʔuḥibbuka
Did you know?
- The root of the verb أُحِبُّ is ح-ب-ب (h-b-b), which is also the root for the word 'seeds' or 'grains', suggesting a connection between love and something that grows or is essential.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, people avoid saying أُحِبُّكَ directly to parents or elders, instead using phrases that express respect, devotion and care.
- The concept of 'love' in Arabic is often categorized into different stages, such as 'al-hawā' (infatuation) or 'al-عِشْق' (passionate, intense love), which provides much more nuance than the English 'love'.
Examples in context
- أنا أحبك يا محمدI love you, Mohammed.
- أُحِبُّكَ كَثِيرًا يَا عُمَرُ.uḥibbukā kathīran yā 'umar.I love you very much, Omar.
- أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَقُولَ لَكَ: أُحِبُّكَ.urīdu an aqūla laka: uḥibbuk.I want to tell you: I love you.
- أَنَا أُحِبُّكَ وَأَحْتَرِمُكَ.anā uḥibbuk wa-aḥtarimuk.I love you and respect you.
Example conversation
A romantic dinner at a restaurant.
- نور Nourعُمَرُ، أَنَا أُحِبُّكَ.'umar, anā uḥibbuk.Omar, I love you.
- عمر Omarوَأَنَا أُحِبُّكِ أَيْضًا يَا نُورُ.wa-anā uḥibbukī ayḍan yā nūr.And I love you too, Noor.
- نور Nourهَذَا يُسْعِدُنِي جِدًّا.hādhā yus'idunī jiddan.That makes me very happy.
- عمر Omarأَنْتِ أَغْلَى مَا لَدَيَّ.anti aghlā mā ladayya.You are my most precious thing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i love you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
