Ways to say it
| Emirati Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مشتاق لك | mishtaag lak | said by a man |
| مشتاقة لك | mishtaaga lak | said by a woman |
This phrase is said to a friend, family member or partner you have not seen in a while, often over a phone call or message.
What does it mean word for word?
مشتاق is a participle meaning 'longing' or 'yearning', and لك means 'to you', so the phrase literally means 'longing for you'.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, the word changes with the speaker's own gender rather than the listener's, مشتاق if the speaker is a man and مشتاقة if a woman.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase is warm and personal, used with people you are close to.
Is it said differently in some regions?
This construction is typical of Gulf Arabic, including Emirati Arabic, differing from the idiom used in some other dialects.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending لك changes to لچ or لكي when speaking to a woman in some Gulf speech, often simplified to لك in writing.
How do you pronounce it?
مشتاق is said 'mish-TAAG', with a long stressed middle vowel.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Learners sometimes change the word to match the person being missed instead of their own gender as the speaker, which reverses the correct agreement.
Did you know?
- The Gulf word وايد, meaning 'a lot', appears constantly in Emirati Arabic and distinguishes it from the word كتير used in Egyptian Arabic for the same meaning.
Examples in context
- مشتاق لك وايد، تعال بسرعة.mishtaag lak wayed, ta'al bisur'a.I miss you a lot, come quickly.
- مشتاقة لكم كلكم في البيت.mishtaaga lakom kolkom fi el-beit.I miss all of you at home.
- من ساعة ما سافرت، أنا مشتاق لك.min sa'at ma safart, ana mishtaag lak.Since you traveled, I've been missing you.
Example conversation
Saeed calls his sister Mozah, who is studying abroad.
- Saeedمشتاق لك وايد يا موزة.mishtaag lak wayed ya Mozah.I miss you a lot, Mozah.
- Mozahوأنا مشتاقة لكم كلكم.w ana mishtaaga lakom kolkom.And I miss all of you too.
- Saeedمتى بترجعين بالضبط؟mita betarje'een bel-dabt?When exactly will you be back?
- Mozahبعد شهرين إن شاء الله.ba'd shahrain inshallah.After two months, God willing.
