غُلَام
ḡulāmmasculine
The English phrase 'little boy' is translated into Arabic as غُلَام (ḡulām). Wiktionary also lists صَبِيّ (ṣabiyy).
Meaning: a diminutive male child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| غُلَام | ḡulām | masculine |
| صَبِيّ | ṣabiyy | masculine |
Which one should you use?
غُلَام is often associated with classical Arabic or historical contexts, frequently referring to a youth or a young servant. صَبِيّ is more commonly used in formal or literary contexts to refer to a young boy. فَتًى is a formal term for little boy used for a boy who is pre-adolescent or in his early teenage years.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of غُلَام is غِلْمَان, while the plural form of صَبِيّ is صِبْيَة.
How do you pronounce it?
ḡulām
Did you know?
- A child might be called شِبْل ('lion cub') in certain Arabic contexts to emphasize his strength or potential, rather than using a standard word for boy.
- The term فَتًى can carry a connotation of bravery or chivalry in classical poetry, making a 'boy' sound more like a 'young hero'.
- While these terms are formal, in many spoken Arabic dialects, people rarely use them to address children, preferring more affectionate nicknames or terms of endearment.
Examples in context
- رحت البارحة لمناسبة عائلية، وشفت ولد صغير يلعب في الحديقة.Yesterday, I went to a family gathering and saw a little boy playing in the park.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Maryam are at a family gathering.
- أحمد Ahmedمن هذا الغُلَام الصغير؟Man hadha al-ghulamu al-saghir?Who is this little boy?
- مريم Maryamإنه ابن أخي يا أحمد.Innahu ibnu akhi ya Ahmad.He is my nephew, Ahmed.
- أحمد Ahmedإنه غُلَام ذكي جدًا.Innahu ghulamun dhakiun jiddan.He is a very smart little boy.
- مريم Maryamنعم، هو يحب القراءة.Na'am, huwa yuhibbu al-qira'ah.Yes, he loves reading.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “little boy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
