أُحِبُّكَ
ʔuḥibbukaaddressee masculine
The English phrase "I love you" is translated into Arabic as أُحِبُّكَ (ʔuḥibbuka). Wiktionary also lists أُحِبُّكِ (ʔuḥibbuki).
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| أُحِبُّكَ | ʔuḥibbuka | addressee masculine |
| أُحِبُّكِ | ʔuḥibbuki | addressee masculine |
This phrase is used as an affirmation of romantic feeling.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb part أُحِبُّ means "I love". The suffix -كَ means "you" (masculine), while the suffix -كِ means "you" (feminine).
Which one should you use?
The form أُحِبُّكَ is used when speaking to a male recipient, whereas the form أُحِبُّكِ is used when speaking to a female recipient.
How does it change in a sentence?
The choice between the two main forms depends on the gender of the person you are addressing: use أُحِبُّكَ for a male and أُحِبُّكِ for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
ʔuḥibbuka
Did you know?
- In many Arabic dialects, people avoid saying أُحِبُّكَ and instead use بَموت فيك, which literally means 'I am dying in you'.
- Arabic has dozens of different words for 'love' that describe specific stages of passion, ranging from 'attraction' to 'total annihilation in the beloved'. While أُحِبُّكَ is the standard, using more specialized words can change the entire intensity of your declaration.
- In many parts of the Arab world, rather than saying 'I love you', people often use terms of endearment like 'my soul' or 'my life' to address a loved one. Phrases like يا حَيَاتِي (ya hayati) function as an affectionate way to call someone 'my life'.
Examples in context
- فؤادي كله لكMy heart is all yours
- أُحِبُّكَ كَثِيرًا.uḥibbu-ka kathīran.I love you very much.
- أريد أن أقول لك، أُحِبُّكَ.urīdu an aqūla laka, uḥibbu-ka.I want to tell you, I love you.
- أنت تعلم أنني أُحِبُّكَ.anta ta‘lamu annanī uḥibbu-ka.You know that I love you.
Example conversation
Ziad and Maryam are sitting in a park during sunset.
- مريم Maryamزياد، أُحِبُّكَ.Ziyād, uḥibbu-ka.Ziad, I love you.
- زياد Ziadوأنا أيضاً أُحِبُّكِ يا مريم.Wa ana ayḍan uḥibbu-ki yā Maryam.And I love you too, Maryam.
- مريم Maryamهذا يسعدني جداً.hādhā yus‘idunī jiddan.That makes me very happy.
- زياد Ziadأنتِ أغلى ما عندي.anti aghlā mā ‘indī.You are the most precious thing I have.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
