يَتِيم
yatīmmasculine
In Arabic, the English phrase "orphan" is expressed as يَتِيم (yatīm). Wiktionary also lists يَتِيمَة (yatīma).
Meaning: person whose (parent or) parents have died (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| يَتِيم | yatīm | masculine |
| يَتِيمَة | yatīma | feminine |
The term refers to a person whose parent or parents have died.
Which one should you use?
يَتِيم is the masculine form used for a male orphan, while يَتِيمَة is the feminine form used for a female orphan. To refer to orphans collectively, use the plural form يَتَامَى.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form يَتِيم refers specifically to a male orphan. To refer to a female orphan, use the feminine form يَتِيمَة. The plural form of the word is يَتَامَى, which is used when referring to orphans collectively.
How do you pronounce it?
yatīm
Did you know?
- In classical Arabic, the word يَتِيم specifically refers to a child who lost their father before reaching puberty.
- In some traditional contexts, the term يَتِيم can be used metaphorically to describe something that is solitary or lacks a protector.
- In Islamic jurisprudence, the legal protections and rights afforded to a يَتِيم are so specific that the term triggers a whole set of strict financial rules regarding the management of their property.
Examples in context
- تعمل هذه المؤسسة على دعم الأطفال الأيتامThis organization works to support orphaned children
- مؤسسة الخير تهتم بدعم الأيتام وتوفير حياة أفضل لهمThe charity organization cares about supporting orphans and providing them with a better life
- يشعر الأيتام بحاجتهم الماسة إلى الحب والدعمOrphans feel their desperate need for love and support
- هو طفل يَتِيم.huwa tifl yateem.He is an orphan child.
- هذا الولد يَتِيم منذ الصغر.hadha al-walad yateem mundhu al-sighar.This boy has been an orphan since childhood.
Example conversation
Yusuf and Layla are talking about a charity project at school.
- يوسف Youssefهل تعرف هذا الطفل اليَتِيم؟hal ta'rif hadha al-tifl al-yateem?Do you know this orphan child?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، هو يسكن في دار الأيتام.na'am, huwa yaskun fi dar al-aytam.Yes, he lives in an orphanage.
- يوسف Youssefيجب أن نساعد كل يَتِيم في مدينتنا.yajib an nusa'id kull yateem fi madinatina.We must help every orphan in our city.
- ليلى Laylaأنت على حق يا يوسف.anta 'ala haq ya Yusuf.You are right, Yusuf.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “orphan” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
