Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| قُبْلَة | qubla | feminine | |
| بَوْسَة | bawsa | feminine | |
| بُوسَة | būsa | colloquial, feminine | |
| بوسة | bōsa | /baw.sa/ /buː.sa/ |
Egyptian Arabic, feminine |
The term refers to a touch with the lips. While قُبْلَة is the standard term, other forms exist depending on the level of formality and the specific dialect being spoken.
Which one should you use?
قُبْلَة is the standard term used in Modern Standard Arabic. In contrast, the forms derived from the root 'b-w-s', such as بَوْسَة and بُوسَة, are used in daily speech. Additionally, تَقْبِيلَة is a slightly more formal term that can carry a stronger sense of reverence.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
قُبْلَة is the most common and widely used term in formal Arabic. The forms بَوْسَة and بُوسَة are colloquial and used in informal, casual settings among friends or family. تَقْبِيلَة is also used in formal contexts to convey reverence.
Is it said differently in some regions?
بوسة is specifically common in the Egyptian dialect, while بوسة is used in Moroccan Arabic.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All the provided forms for 'a kiss' are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
qubla
Did you know?
- The formal word قُبْلَة shares the same root as the word قِبْلَة, which refers to the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca that Muslims face during prayer.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, kissing the hand of an elder or a person of high status is a common gesture of profound respect.
- The colloquial word بوسة is not originally Arabic but was borrowed from the Persian word 'bōsa'.
Examples in context
- شكرًا لك على تقبيلة اليد.Thank you for the hand-kiss.
- أعطيني بوسة.Give me a kiss.
- أعطتْني قُبْلَةً سريعةً.a'tatni qublatan sari'atan.She gave me a quick kiss.
- كانت قُبْلَةً رقيقةً جداً.kanat qublatan raqiqatan jiddan.It was a very gentle kiss.
- أريدُ قُبْلَةً قبلَ النومِ.uridu qublatan qabla al-nawm.I want a kiss before sleep.
Example conversation
A mother is saying goodnight to her son.
- مريم Maryamهيا يا عزيزي، وقتُ النومِ.hayya ya azizi, waqtu al-nawm.Come on darling, it's bedtime.
- عمر Omarهل سأحصلُ على قُبْلَةٍ؟hal sa'ahsulu 'ala qublatin?Will I get a kiss?
- مريم Maryamبالطبع، هذه قُبْلَةٌ لكَ.bi-ttawbi', hadhihi qublatun laka.Of course, here is a kiss for you.
- عمر Omarأنا أحبُّكِ يا أمي.ana uhibbuki ya ummi.I love you, mother.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kiss” translations and entries بوسة, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بوسة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
