إخواني
The English phrase "my brothers" can be translated into Arabic as إخواني.
إخواني is used to refer to one's brothers.
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of the plural noun إخوان (brothers) and the possessive suffix ي (my).
Which one should you use?
While إخواني specifically refers to brothers, the form إخوتي is often used more broadly to mean siblings (brothers and sisters) in many Arabic dialects and contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Levantine dialect, the expression أخوتي is used.
Did you know?
- Using إخواني in a political or organizational context can refer to members of a specific movement, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, which is called الإخوان المسلمون.
- In some formal Arabic literature, the distinction between إخوان (brothers/comrades) and أخوة (blood brothers) is used to separate friendship from kinship.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, calling someone أخي or أخي العزيز is a common way to show respect and friendliness to a stranger, even if there is no blood relation.
Examples in context
- هو الأصغر من بين كلّ إخواني و أخواتي.He is the youngest of all my brothers and sisters.This sentence is useful for showing how to mention the youngest among all إخواني and sisters.Tatoeba #8347101 by Amastan, translation #4452234 by ponisio7
- أنا أحب إخوتيI love my brothers
- أنا زعلان من أخوتيI am upset with my brothers
- أنا فخور بإخوتي الذين يساندونني دائمًا.I am proud of my brothers who always support me.
- مساء الخير يا إخواني! شو صار؟Good evening, my brothers! What's up?
- إخواني يسكنون في مدينة أخرى.ikhwānī yaskunūna fī madīna ukhrā.My brothers live in another city.
- أحبّ إخواني كثيراً.uḥibbu ikhwānī kathīran.I love my brothers very much.
Example conversation
Nour and Omar are talking about family during a coffee break.
- نور Nourهل لديك إخوة يا عمر؟hal ladayka ikhwatun yā ‘umar?Do you have brothers, Omar?
- عمر Omarنعم، إخواني في الخارج الآن.na‘am, ikhwānī fī al-khāriji al-’āna.Yes, my brothers are abroad now.
- نور Nourأنا أيضاً أشتاق إلى إخواني.anā ayḍan ashtāqu ilā ikhwānī.I also miss my brothers.
- عمر Omarسوف تزورينهم قريباً يا نور.sawfa tuzūrīnahum qarīban yā nūr.You will visit them soon, Nour.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
