Ways to say it
| Emirati Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| حبيبي | habibi | to a man |
| حبيبتي | habibti | to a woman |
حبيبي and حبيبتي are used constantly in Dubai, not only romantically but also between close friends and family, similar to 'my dear'.
What does it mean word for word?
The words come from حب, 'love', with the possessive ending 'my' attached.
Which one should you use?
There is no separate casual or formal version, the warmth of the word comes from tone and relationship rather than wording.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are affectionate and personal, used with people you are close to, not in professional settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
These words are used across the whole Arab world, including throughout the Gulf and Dubai specifically.
How does it change in a sentence?
حبيبي is used for a man and حبيبتي for a woman, matching the gender of the person being addressed.
How do you pronounce it?
Said 'ha-BEE-bi' and 'ha-BEEB-ti', with stress on the middle syllable.
When do people say it?
Because حبيبي is used so broadly, from parents to children to friends, it does not always signal romance the way 'my love' might in English.
Did you know?
- حبيبي is one of the most widely recognised Arabic words outside the Arab world, largely through its frequent use in Arabic music and film.
Examples in context
- تعال هنا يا حبيبي.ta'al hena ya habibi.Come here, my love.
- حبيبتي، وينك من الصبح؟habibti, waynik min el-sobh?My love, where have you been since morning?
- صباح الخير يا حبيبي.sabah al-khair ya habibi.Good morning, my love.
Example conversation
A mother, Shaikha, calls out to her young son Saif at the park.
- Shaikhaسيف، تعال يا حبيبي.Saif, ta'al ya habibi.Saif, come here, my love.
- Saifجاي ماما، لحظة واحدة.jay mama, lahza wahda.Coming mom, one second.
- Shaikhaخلاص يا حبيبي، وقت الغدا.khalas ya habibi, wa't al-ghada.Ok my love, it's lunch time.
- Saifتمام، أنا جاي دلوقتي.tamam, ana jay dilwa'ti.Ok, I'm coming now.
