Ways to say it
| Jordanian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| اشتقتلك | ishtaqtillak | to a man |
| اشتقتلك | ishtaqtillek | to a woman |
| وحشتني | wahashtini | you made me miss you |
To a woman, the same spelling shifts in pronunciation to ishtaqtillek. وحشتني (wahashtini), 'you made me miss you' or 'you became scarce to me', is an alternative that has spread into Jordan through Egyptian media and is widely understood and used.
What does it mean word for word?
اشتقتلك comes from the root شوق, meaning 'longing'. وحشتني comes from a root meaning 'to be scarce' or 'absent', so it frames missing someone as their absence acting on you.
Which one should you use?
اشتقتلك is the native Levantine way to say 'I miss you', placing the feeling with the speaker. وحشتني flips the grammar, placing the missing person as the one causing the feeling, and feels a little more dramatic.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are warm, informal expressions for family, friends and partners, not formal writing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
اشتقتلك is the native Jordanian and Levantine form, while وحشتني is originally Egyptian but has become common across the region through film, television and music.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending changes for gender: لك to a man and لك pronounced differently to a woman, attached to the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
The ق in اشتقتلك is pronounced as a proper q in careful Jordanian speech, unlike the g sound heard in Iraqi or Gulf dialects.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Assuming وحشتني is the only correct phrase because it is famous from Egyptian songs would be a mistake. اشتقتلك is the genuinely native Jordanian expression.
When do people say it?
With many Jordanian families living between the country and the Gulf for work, اشتقتلك is a common line in phone calls and voice messages between relatives abroad.
Did you know?
- وحشتني, originally Egyptian, has become so common across the Levant through music and film that many Jordanians use it as naturally as the native اشتقتلك.
- The Arabic root شوق behind اشتقتلك also produces the word for 'craving', linking longing for a person to the same feeling as craving food.
Examples in context
- اشتقتلك كتير، وينك؟ishtaqtillak kteer, weinak?I miss you so much, where have you been?
- وحشتيني كتير يا ختي.wahashtini kteer ya khti.I missed you so much, sis.
- كل يوم بشتقلك أكتر.kul yom bishtaqlak aktar.Every day I miss you more.
Example conversation
Hala video calls her sister Rana, who moved to Dubai for work.
- Halaاشتقتلك كتير يا رنا.ishtaqtillek kteer ya Rana.I miss you so much, Rana.
- Ranaوحشتيني كتير، كيف الأهل؟wahashtini kteer, keef il-ahl?I missed you too, how is the family?
- Halaمنيحين، بس البيت فاضي بدونك.mnihin, bas il-beit fadi bidunik.They are good, but the house feels empty without you.
- Ranaإن شاء الله بزورهم الصيف.in sha' Allah bzurhum is-seif.God willing I will visit them in the summer.
