عم وعمة
'amm wa-'ammah
The English phrase "uncle and aunt" (referring to the siblings of one's father) is translated into Arabic as عم وعمة ('amm wa-'ammah).
This phrase is used specifically to refer to the brother and sister of one's father.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of عم, the conjunction و (and) and عمة which specifically means a paternal aunt.
Which one should you use?
Use عم وعمة for a paternal uncle and aunt. To refer to a maternal uncle and aunt (the siblings of one's mother), you should use خال وخالة.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word و (wa) serves as the conjunction meaning "and" between the two nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
'amm wa-'ammah
Did you know?
- In Arabic, if you call someone عم (amm) or عمة (ammah) even if they are not related to you, it is often a sign of deep respect and social closeness.
- The Arabic word for paternal uncle, عم, is a cognate of the Hebrew word עַם, which means 'nation' or 'people'.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, the paternal uncle عم is traditionally viewed as a secondary father figure and often holds significant authority within the extended family structure.
Example conversation
Nour and Ziad are talking about their family tree.
- نور Nourهل تعرف عم وعمة والدك؟Hal ta'rif am wa amma walidika?Do you know your father's uncle and aunt?
- زياد Ziadنعم، أنا أحبهما كثيراً.Na'am, ana uhibuhuma kathiran.Yes, I love them very much.
- نور Nourأين يسكن عم وعمة والدك الآن؟Ayna yaskun am wa amma walidika al-an?Where do your father's uncle and aunt live now?
- زياد Ziadيسكنون في القرية يا نور.Yaskunun fi al-qarya ya Nour.They live in the village, Nour.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries عم, CC BY-SA 4.0.
