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 verb stem أُحِبُّ means "I love". The suffix -كَ is a masculine suffix used when the object of affection is male, while the suffix -كِ is a feminine suffix used when the object is female.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the gender of the person you are speaking to. Use أُحِبُّكَ when addressing a male and أُحِبُّكِ when addressing a female.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Different dialects offer unique ways to express this sentiment. In Egyptian Arabic, you can say "Ana bahebak" to say "I love you", while in Moroccan Arabic, a common way to say it is Kanbghik.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gender of the addressee is indicated by the suffix: أُحِبُّكَ is used when speaking to a male and أُحِبُّكِ is used when speaking to a female. Additionally, the phrase لقد وقعت في حبك can be used to mean "I have fallen in love with you".
How do you pronounce it?
ʔuḥibbuka
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the masculine -ka and feminine -ki endings when addressing a partner.
Did you know?
- The word حُب for 'love' shares a root with the word for 'seed' or 'grain', suggesting that love is something that is planted and grows over time.
- In some dialects, the phrase يا عيوني meaning 'oh my eyes' is used as a powerful substitute for أُحِبُّكَ because the eyes are considered the most precious part of the body.
- If you want to say 'I am crazy in love with you' in a more dramatic way, you can use the term مجنون (majnoon), which is the same word used for someone suffering from clinical insanity.
Examples in context
- أُحِبُّكَ كَثِيرًا.uḥibbu-ka kathīran.I love you very much.
- أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَقُولَ لَكَ أُحِبُّكَ.urīdu an aqūla laka uḥibbu-ka.I want to tell you that I love you.
- أَنَا أُحِبُّكَ يَا حَبِيبِي.anā uḥibbu-ka yā ḥabībī.I love you, my beloved.
Example conversation
A romantic dinner at a quiet restaurant.
- مريم Maryamأَنْتَ رَائِعٌ، أُحِبُّكَ.anta rāʾiʿun, uḥibbu-ka.You are wonderful, I love you.
- زياد Ziadوَأَنَا أُحِبُّكِ أَيْضًا يَا مَرْيَمُ.wa-anā uḥibbu-ki ayḍan yā maryamu.And I love you too, Maryam.
- مريم Maryamهَلْ أَنْتَ سَعِيدٌ هُنَا؟hal anta saʿīdun hunā?Are you happy here?
- زياد Ziadنَعَمْ، مَعَكِ أَنَا سَعِيدٌ جِدًّا.naʿam, maʿaki anā saʿīdun jiddan.Yes, with you I am very happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i love you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
