إخوة
ikhwah
The Arabic word for siblings is إخوة (ikhwah).
This phrase refers to people who share the same parents, regardless of whether they are brothers or sisters.
Which one should you use?
While إخوة can mean siblings, in many contexts it is the standard way to refer specifically to brothers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form إخوة is used to refer to a group of siblings.
How do you pronounce it?
ikhwah
Did you know?
- While إخوة is the plural for brothers, the word أشقاء comes from the root شق meaning 'to split'. It literally refers to siblings who were 'split' from the same womb.
- Arabic has specific words for half-siblings, such as أخ لأب for a brother through the father and أخ لأم for a brother through the mother. This provides a level of genealogical precision not found in the English word 'sibling'.
- If you have only one sibling, you do not use the plural إخوة, but instead use أخ for a brother or أخت for a sister, as Arabic lacks a single neutral word for 'one sibling'.
Examples in context
- تساءلتُ دائمًا عمّا سيكون الأمر عليه لو كان عندي إخوة.I've always wondered what it'd be like to have siblings.This sentence is useful for expressing a wonder about the experience of having إخوة.Tatoeba #552325 by Samer, translation #1345 by human600
- عندي ثلاثة إخوة.I have three brothers.
- شكرًا لأخوتي على المفاجأة الجميلة!Thanks to my siblings for the lovely surprise!
- ليس لدي إخوة.laysa ladayya ikhwah.I don't have siblings.
- هل لديك إخوة؟hal ladayka ikhwah?Do you have siblings?
Example conversation
Ziad and Mariam are chatting about their families at a cafe.
- زياد Ziadهل لديكِ إخوة يا مريم؟hal ladayki ikhwah ya Mariam?Do you have siblings, Mariam?
- مريم Maryamنعم، لدي ثلاثة إخوة.na'am, ladayya thalathat ikhwah.Yes, I have three siblings.
- زياد Ziadهذا جميل جداً.hadha jamil jiddan.That is very beautiful.
- مريم Maryamشكراً لك يا زياد.shukran laka ya Ziad.Thank you, Ziad.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
