سلفة
silfa
The phrase for sister-in-law in Arabic is سلفة (silfa).
سلفة is used specifically to refer to the wife of one's brother-in-law.
How do you pronounce it?
silfa
Did you know?
- In certain social contexts, calling someone your سلفة can imply a subtle social rivalry or a complex way of navigating household hierarchies.
- Arabic has no single word for 'in-law' that can be applied to all relatives by marriage, requiring specific words like سلفة for each unique pairing.
- While سلفة refers to the wife of a brother-in-law, Arabic uses different specific words for a husband's sister and a wife's sister, meaning English 'sister-in-law' is split into several distinct terms.
Examples in context
- هي سلفة عزيزة علي.hiya silfa 'aziza 'alay.She is a dear sister-in-law to me.
- هل سلفة أخي ستأتي معنا؟hal silfat akhi satati ma'ana?Is my brother-in-law's wife coming with us?
- سلفة مريم لطيفة جداً.silfat Maryam latifa jiddan.Maryam's sister-in-law is very kind.
Example conversation
Omar and Maryam are discussing family guests at a dinner.
- عمر Omarهل ستأتي سلفة أحمد للحفل؟hal sata'ti silfat Ahmad lil-hafl?Is Ahmad's sister-in-law coming to the party?
- مريم Maryamنعم، هي ستأتي معنا.na'am, hiya sata'ti ma'ana.Yes, she is coming with us.
- عمر Omarهذا خبر رائع يا مريم.hadha khabar ra'i' ya Maryam.That is great news, Maryam.
- مريم Maryamأنا أيضاً متحمسة لرؤيتها.ana aydan mutahammisa li-ru'yatiha.I am also excited to see her.
