عَاشِق
ʕāšiqmasculine
The English word lover can be translated into Arabic. The default form is عَاشِق (ʕāšiq). Wiktionary also lists عَشِيق (ʕašīq) and عَاشِقَة (ʕāšiqa).
Meaning: sexual partner (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عَاشِق | ʕāšiq | masculine |
| عَشِيق | ʕašīq | |
| عَاشِقَة | ʕāšiqa | feminine |
| مُحِبّ | muḥibb | masculine |
| مُحِبَّة | muḥibba | feminine |
What does it mean word for word?
The word عَاشِق is an active participle derived from the root meaning 'to love intensely' or 'to be infatuated'.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the nature of the relationship: عَاشِق implies a more romantic, passionate or even spiritual lover, while عَشِيق specifically denotes a sexual partner or paramour. For a more neutral and polite way to say lover or someone who feels affection, use مُحِبّ, which is often used in a non-sexual, platonic or respectful context.
How does it change in a sentence?
For example, the masculine عَاشِق becomes the feminine عَاشِقَة and the masculine عَشِيق becomes the feminine عَشِيقَة.
How do you pronounce it?
ʕāšiq
Did you know?
- In some traditional beliefs, عَاشِق can refer to a 'loving jinn' or spirit that becomes infatuated with a human and causes them illness or insomnia.
- The root of عَاشِق is related to a word for a type of ivy that clings tightly to a wall, symbolizing how a lover clings to their beloved.
- In some Sufi traditions, the term عَاشِق is used to describe a person's intense, divine love for God.
Examples in context
- أنت حبيبيYou are my lover.
- أنت أغلى حبيبYou are my dearest lover.
- أحب حبيبي كثيرًاI love my lover very much.
- سأظلّ أحبك يا عشيقيI will keep loving you, my lover.
- من النظرة الأولى أدركت أنك ستكون عشيقيFrom the first glance, I knew you would be my lover.
- نحن أعز الأحباءWe are the dearest lovers.
- عزيزتي، أشتاق إليك دومًاMy dear, I always long for you.
Example conversation
Maryam and Youssef are discussing a romantic novel.
- مريم Maryamمَنْ هُوَ بَطَلُ الرِّوَايَةِ؟man huwa bitalu ar-riwayah?Who is the hero of the novel?
- يوسف Youssefإِنَّهُ عَاشِقٌ يَبْحَثُ عَنْ حُبِّهِ.innahu 'ashiqun yabhatu 'an hubbihi.He is a lover searching for his love.
- مريم Maryamهَلْ سَيَجِدُهَا فِي النِّهَايَةِ يَا يُوسُف؟hal sayajiduha fi an-nihayah ya Youssef?Will he find her in the end, Youssef?
- يوسف Youssefنَعَمْ، سَيَلْتَقِيَانِ قَرِيباً.na'am, sayaltaqiyani qariban.Yes, they will meet soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lover” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
