مَتَّى
mattāmasculine
The English name Matthew is translated into Arabic as مَتَّى (mattā). Wiktionary also lists مَاثْيُو (māṯyū).
Meaning: male given name (name)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مَتَّى | mattā | masculine |
| مَاثْيُو | māṯyū |
Matthew is a male given name. Depending on the context, you may use a traditional form or a modern phonetic transliteration.
Which one should you use?
The form مَتَّى is the traditional Arabic name, specifically used for the biblical figure Saint Matthew. In contrast, مَاثْيُو is a modern phonetic transliteration of the English name Matthew, typically used for non-religious contexts or when referring to modern Western individuals.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, you may encounter the variations متيو and ماثيو.
How do you pronounce it?
mattā
Did you know?
- The traditional form مَتَّى is a homograph for the Arabic word for 'when', which is also spelled متى. Context is the only way to tell if a sentence is asking a question about time or mentioning a person named Matthew.
- While مَاثْيُو mimics the English pronunciation, the traditional مَتَّى reflects the Syriac and Aramaic influence on Arabic, as these languages were the primary vehicles for early Christian texts in the region.
- In Arabic, names that are strictly biblical and not mentioned in the Quran, such as مَتَّى, are rarely used by Muslims, creating a clear cultural marker for the wearer's religious background.
Examples in context
- مرحبًا، هل يمكنني الحديث إلى متى؟Hello, can I speak to Matthew?
- يا مات، هل تريد أن تلتقي بنا في المقهى؟Hey Matt, do you want to meet us at the café?
- هذا مَتَّى.hadha matta.This is Matthew.
- هل تعرف مَتَّى؟hal ta'rifu matta?Do you know Matthew?
- مَتَّى هو صديقي.matta huwa sadiqi.Matthew is my friend.
Example conversation
Omar and Layla are looking at a photograph.
- عمر Omarمن هذا؟man hadha?Who is this?
- ليلى Laylaإنه مَتَّى.innahu matta.It is Matthew.
- عمر Omarهل مَتَّى يسكن هنا؟hal matta yaskunu huna?Does Matthew live here?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، مَتَّى يسكن في هذا الشارع.na'am, matta yaskunu fi hadha al-shari'.Yes, Matthew lives on this street.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “matthew” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
