Ways to say it
| Syrian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| اشتقتلك | ishtaktillak | to a man |
| اشتقتلك | ishtaktillik | to a woman, same spelling |
This is the natural way to tell someone you miss them, used with partners, friends and family, in person, on the phone or in a message.
What does it mean word for word?
اشتقتلك joins the verb اشتقت, 'I longed', with لك, 'to you', so it literally means 'I longed for you'.
Which one should you use?
There is no separate casual or formal version, the ending simply changes with the gender of the person you are speaking to.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This phrase is personal and used informally, the same way it would be in English between people close to each other.
Is it said differently in some regions?
اشتقتلك and this verb pattern are shared across the Levant, including Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending on لك changes sound, not spelling, depending on whether a man or a woman is being addressed: 'lak' to a man and 'lik' to a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
The q in اشتقتلك is often softened toward a glottal stop in casual Syrian speech, closer to 'ishta2tillak'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Mixing up the ending for the person addressed is an easy slip, since nothing in the spelling shows which one is meant.
Did you know?
- اشتقتلك comes from the same root as شوق, 'longing', the same word that gives the common Arabic name Shawqi its meaning.
- The ending of اشتقتلك changes in sound but not in spelling depending on whether a man or a woman is being spoken to.
Examples in context
- اشتقتلك كتير هالأسبوع.ishtaktillak ktir hal-usbu3.I missed you a lot this week.
- اشتقتلك، متى رح نتقابل؟ishtaktillik, mata rah ntqabal?I miss you, when will we meet?
- كل يوم اشتقتلك أكتر.kil youm ishtaktillak aktar.Every day I miss you more.
Example conversation
Noura talks to her brother Sami, who lives abroad, on a video call.
- Nouraاشتقتلك كتير سامي.ishtaktillak ktir Sami.I miss you so much, Sami.
- Samiوأنا اشتقتلك أكتر نورا.w ana ishtaktillik aktar Noura.And I miss you even more, Noura.
- Nouraمتى رايح تزورنا؟mata rayeh tzurna?When will you visit us?
- Samiالصيف الجاي ان شاء الله.es-sayf ej-jay in sha allah.Next summer, God willing.
