بِجَانِب
bijānib
The Arabic for next to is بِجَانِب (bijānib). Wiktionary also lists بُالْقُرب مِن (bi-l-qurb min).
Meaning: beside, alongside (prep)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| بِجَانِب | bijānib |
| بُالْقُرب مِن | bi-l-qurb min |
What does it mean word for word?
بِ is a preposition meaning by or at, and جَانِب means side, so the phrase means at the side of.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun that follows بِجَانِب is in the genitive case.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized bijānib.
Did you know?
- In some Arabic dialects, instead of بِجَانِب, people use a word derived from the root for 'shoulder' to describe being 'next to' someone.
- The root of بِجَانِب is also found in the word for 'wing' in several Arabic dialects, as both refer to the 'side' of a body or structure.
- The word جَانِب (jānib) is used in the common Arabic expression for 'getting someone's attention' or 'excuse me', where a speaker asks for a 'side' of space to pass through a crowd.
Examples in context
- البيتُ بِجَانِبِ المَسْجِدِ.al-baytu bijānibi l-masjid.The house is beside the mosque.
- اجْلِسْ بِجَانِبِي.ijlis bijānibī.Sit next to me.
- السيارةُ بِجَانِبِ الشَّجَرَةِ.as-sayyāratu bijānibi ash-shajarah.The car is beside the tree.
Example conversation
Omar and Sarah are looking for a place to sit in a cafe.
- عمر Omarهَلِ الكُرْسِيُّ بِجَانِبِ الطَّاوِلَةِ؟hal al-kursiyyu bijānibi at-tāwilah?Is the chair next to the table?
- سارة Saraنَعَمْ، هُوَ بِجَانِبِ الطَّاوِلَةِ.na'am, huwa bijānibi at-tāwilah.Yes, it is next to the table.
- عمر Omarحَسَنًا، سَأَجْلِسُ هُنَا.hasanan, sa-ajlisu hunā.Okay, I will sit here.
- سارة Saraتَفَضَّلْ يَا عُمَرُ.tafaddal yā 'Umar.Please, go ahead, Omar.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “next to” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
