اشتقت إليه
ishtaqtu ilayh
In Arabic, "I miss him" can be expressed as اشتقت إليه (ishtaqtu ilayh).
This phrase is used to express sadness because one is no longer with a person they care about.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb part اشتقت literally means "I longed" or "I yearned".
Which one should you use?
You may also use أشتاق إليه to mean "I long for him" or أنا أفتقده as a formal way to say "I miss him". Additionally, the phrase أنا مشتاق إليه uses an active participle to express a continuous state of missing someone, translated as "I am longing for him".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, "I miss him" is expressed as بفتقده.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous state of missing someone, you can use the phrase أنا مشتاق إليه.
How do you pronounce it?
ishtaqtu ilayh
Did you know?
- The root of اشتقت relates to the idea of splitting or tearing. Expressing that you miss someone suggests that your heart has been torn apart by their absence.
- In poetic Arabic contexts, saying you 'long' for someone can sometimes imply a spiritual longing for the Divine. The same linguistic structures used to miss a human companion are frequently used in Sufi literature to describe the soul's longing for God.
- While English speakers use 'miss' to mean both 'failing to hit a target' and 'feeling sadness', Arabic keeps these concepts strictly separate. You would never use the root of اشتقت to describe missing a target or a train.
Examples in context
- أشتاق إليه كثيراًI miss him a lot
- اشتقت إليه كثيراً.Ishtaqtu ilayhi kathiran.I miss him very much.
- هل اشتقت إليه؟Hal ishtaqti ilayhi?Do you miss him?
Example conversation
Sarah is talking to Ahmed about her brother who lives abroad.
- أحمد Ahmedكيف حال أخيك في الخارج؟Kayfa hala akhiki fil-kharij?How is your brother abroad?
- سارة Saraهو بخير، ولكن اشتقت إليه.Huwa bikhayr, walakin ishtaqtu ilayhi.He is fine, but I miss him.
- أحمد Ahmedهل ستزورينه قريباً؟Hal satazurinah qariiban?Will you visit him soon?
- سارة Saraنعم، سأزوره في الصيف.Na'am, sa-azuruhu fis-sayf.Yes, I will visit him in the summer.
