فتاة جميلة
fatāt jamīlah
The English phrase "pretty girl" is translated into Arabic as فتاة جميلة (fatāt jamīlah).
The phrase is used to describe a girl who is physically attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun فتاة (girl) and the adjective جميلة (beautiful/pretty).
Which one should you use?
While فتاة جميلة is the standard form, you may encounter فتاة حسناء to mean "beautiful girl", حلوة to mean "cute or pretty" or the colloquial بنت حلوة to mean "pretty girl".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many spoken Arabic dialects, the colloquial phrase بنت حلوة is a more common way to say "pretty girl" than the Modern Standard Arabic version.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Arabic, the adjective جميلة follows the noun فتاة and must agree with it in gender (feminine).
How do you pronounce it?
fatāt jamīlah
Did you know?
- While جميلة (jamīlah) means beautiful, its root ج م ل is shared with the word for 'camel'. Historically, this linked the idea of beauty to the grace and nobility of the animal.
- In Levantine dialects, people might say بتجنن (she drives [one] crazy) to mean 'she is incredibly pretty' instead of using جميلة.
- If you use the word حلوة (sweet/pretty) to describe a girl in a professional setting, it might be perceived as overly flirtatious or inappropriate.
Examples in context
- ليلى فتاة جميلة.Layla is a pretty girl.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use فتاة جميلة in a simple description.Tatoeba #7121012 by OsoHombre, translation #7121009 by OsoHombre
- تلك فتاة جميلة.tilka fatatun jamilatun.That is a pretty girl.
- أختي هي فتاة جميلة.ukhti hiya fatatun jamilatun.My sister is a pretty girl.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Layla are looking at a photo of a child in a magazine.
- أحمد Ahmedانظري، هذه فتاة جميلة.unzhuri, hadhihi fatatun jamilatun.Look, this is a pretty girl.
- ليلى Laylaنعم، إنها لطيفة جداً.na'am, innaha latifa jiddan.Yes, she is very cute.
- أحمد Ahmedهل هي فتاة جميلة حقاً؟hal hiya fatatun jamilatun haqqan?Is she really a pretty girl?
- ليلى Laylaبالتأكيد، إنها رائعة.bi-ta'kid, innaha ra'i'a.Certainly, she is wonderful.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
