يحب
yuhibb
To like in Arabic is يحب (yuhibb).
The verb is used to express finding someone or something pleasant or attractive. Note that in Arabic, this same verb can mean both 'to like' and 'to love', with the level of intensity usually being determined by the context of the conversation.
Which one should you use?
While يحب can cover both liking and loving, different forms and words are used to specify the subject or the register. In some contexts, you might use أحب for 'I like' or تحب for 'she likes' or 'you like'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Gulf Arabic, the word مثل is used to express 'like'. In Egyptian Arabic, the word عاوز is used to convey 'I want' or 'I'd like'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form يحب is the third person masculine singular present tense form, meaning 'he likes'. Use أحب for the first person singular 'I like', and تحب for either the third person feminine 'she likes' or the second person masculine singular 'you like'.
How do you pronounce it?
yuhibb
Did you know?
- Asking if someone يحب another person is often interpreted as a romantic inquiry rather than a question about a platonic friendship.
- A common poetic exaggeration used in songs to show that something has captured one's interest is the phrase خطف قلبي, meaning it 'stole my heart'.
- The root of يحب is shared with the word for 'beloved' or 'darling', making the act of 'liking' and the person 'liked' linguistically inseparable.
Examples in context
- هل يحب توم ماري؟Does Tom like Mary?This sentence is useful for asking if someone likes a person.Tatoeba #10515090 by Amghar, translation #1030147 by CK
- هو لا يحب أختها.He doesn't like her sister.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone does not like a person's sister.Tatoeba #12000823 by dididodo, translation #8614220 by Amastan
- هو لا يحب الكسكس.He doesn't like couscous.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone does not like a specific food.Tatoeba #12000468 by dididodo, translation #8314202 by Amastan
- أنا أحب القراءة كـ هوايةI like reading as a hobby.
- أنا أحب الفنونI like arts.
- بحب الموسيقىI like music.
- الفيلم عاجبني كثيراًI really like the movie.
- 100 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Omar and Noor are talking about a new movie.
- عمر Omarهل يحب صديقك هذا الفيلم؟Hal yuhibbu sadiquka hadha al-film?Does your friend like this movie?
- نور Nourنعم، هو يحب القصص الرومانسية.Na'am, huwa yuhibbu al-qisas al-rumansiyya.Yes, he likes romantic stories.
- عمر Omarأنا أيضاً أحب هذا النوع.Ana aidan uhibbu hadha al-naw'I also like this genre.
- نور Nourإذن دعنا نشاهده معاً.Idhan da'na nushahiduhu ma'an.Then let's watch it together.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
