حب
hobb
In Egyptian Arabic, 'love' is حب (hobb).
حب is used for romantic love, family love and even love for a place or a food, much like English 'love' used broadly.
Meaning: the feeling of love (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The noun comes from the same root as the verb يحب, 'to love, to like', shared closely with Standard Arabic.
Which one should you use?
There is no separate casual or formal word, حب is used the same way everywhere.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word is neutral and used across every register, from songs to daily conversation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
It is standard across Egypt and the wider Arab world.
How does it change in a sentence?
حب is masculine and generally treated as uncountable, so 'a love story' is قصة حب (qessat hobb).
How do you pronounce it?
Said with a doubled b sound, 'HOBB', held slightly longer than a single consonant.
When do people say it?
حب is a constant theme in Egyptian songs and films, which have shaped the romantic vocabulary used across the wider region.
Did you know?
- Cairo has long been nicknamed a center of Arabic cinema and music, and its love songs have spread Egyptian expressions of romance across the Arab world.
Examples in context
- ده أول حب في حياتي.da awwel hobb fi hayati.This is the first love of my life.
- حبها لأهلها كبير جدا.hobbaha le-ahlaha kebeer giddan.Her love for her family is very great.
- مفيش حاجة أحلى من الحب الصادق.mafeesh haga ahla min el-hobb el-sade'.There's nothing sweeter than true love.
Example conversation
Two old friends, Magdy and Soheir, talk about an old romantic film they watched.
- Magdyالفيلم ده عن حب قديم جدا.el-film da an hobb adeem giddan.This film is about a very old love.
- Soheirعارفة، شوفته زمان وعيطت.arfa, shofto zaman w ayyat't.I know, I watched it long ago and cried.
- Magdyالحب زمان كان مختلف شوية.el-hobb zaman kaan mukhtalif shwaya.Love back then was a bit different.
- Soheirولا مختلف، بس كانوا بيصبروا أكتر.wala mukhtalif, bas kanu beyesbaru aktar.Not different, they just used to be more patient.
