Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| أَشْتَاقُ إِلَيْكَ | ʔaštāqu ʔilayka | masculine |
| أَشْتَاقُ إِلَيْكِ | ʔaštāqu ʔilayki | feminine |
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to 'I long for you' or 'I yearn for you'.
Which one should you use?
The form أَشْتَاقُ إِلَيْكَ is used when addressing a male, while أَشْتَاقُ إِلَيْكِ is used when addressing a female.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can use أنا أشتاق إليك as a polite and formal way to express this feeling. For a more direct and polite expression used across the Arab world, أشتاق لك is a straightforward option. In casual conversation, the informal أشتاقلك is common. In Egyptian Arabic, the colloquial term وحشتني is much more common in daily conversation than the formal أَشْتَاقُ إِلَيْكَ.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal form أشتاقلك is prevalent in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a female, the final vowel of the second word changes from 'ka' to 'ki' (as in أَشْتَاقُ إِلَيْكِ).
How do you pronounce it?
ʔaštāqu ʔilayka
Did you know?
- The formal word for 'to miss' in the phrase, أَشْتَاقُ, comes from a root related to 'to be hot' or 'to burn', suggesting that longing is a burning sensation in the heart.
- In Egyptian Arabic, the common way to say 'I miss you', وحشتني, literally translates to 'You have made me lonely' or 'You have caused me a sense of longing'.
- In some poetic contexts, the feeling of 'missing' someone is described through the concept of 'ghurba', which usually refers to the feeling of being a stranger in a foreign land.
Examples in context
- أَشْتَاقُ إِلَيْكَ كَثِيرًا يَا صَدِيقِي.ashtāqu ilayka kathīran yā ṣadīqī.I miss you a lot, my friend.
- أَنَا أَشْتَاقُ إِلَيْكَ فِي كُلِّ لَحْظَةٍ.anā ashtāqu ilayka fī kulli laḥẓah.I miss you every single moment.
Example conversation
Yusuf calls Nour to express his feelings after a long time apart.
- يوسف Youssefمَرْحَبًا يَا نُور، أَنَا أَشْتَاقُ إِلَيْكِ.marḥaban yā nūr, anā ashtāqu ilayki.Hello Nour, I miss you.
- نور Nourأَهْلًا يَا يُوسُف، وَأَنَا أَيْضًا أَشْتَاقُ إِلَيْكَ.ahlan yā yūsuf, wa anā ayḍan ashtāqu ilayka.Hi Yusuf, I miss you too.
- يوسف Youssefمَتَى سَنَلْتَقِي؟matā sanaltaqī?When will we meet?
- نور Nourقَرِيبًا جِدًّا، أَعِدُكَ.qarīban jiddan, a‘iduka.Very soon, I promise.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i miss you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
