اشتقنا لك
The English phrase "we miss you" is translated into Arabic as اشتقنا لك.
Depending on the level of formality and the audience, other variations are used, such as the formal نشتاق إليك for a single person or the formal نشتاق إليكم when addressing multiple people or using a formal tone.
What does it mean word for word?
The word اشتقنا is the first-person plural past tense of a verb meaning "to miss" or "to long for".
Which one should you use?
While اشتقنا لك is understood throughout the Arab world, the colloquial term وحشتنا is the common way to say "we miss you" in Egyptian Arabic.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can modify the ending of اشتقنا لك to change who is being addressed: use اشتقنا لكِ to address a single female and اشتقنا لكم to address a group of people.
Did you know?
- While English speakers say 'I miss you', an Arabic speaker might use the word وحشتنا in Egypt, which literally translates to 'you have haunted us' or 'you have become a ghost to us'.
- The word اشتقنا is rooted in the concept of 'burning' or 'longing' so intensely that it feels like a physical sensation of heat or irritation.
- When using the colloquial Egyptian وحشتنا, the sentiment is often accompanied by a physical gesture of placing the hand over the heart to show the feeling is deep.
Examples in context
- اشتقنا لك كثيراً.ishtaqnā laka kathīran.We miss you a lot.
- يا صديقي، اشتقنا لك!yā ṣadīqī, ishtaqnā laka!My friend, we miss you!
Example conversation
Youssef and Layla are talking on the phone after a long time.
- يوسف Youssefأهلاً ليلى، كيف حالك؟ahlan laylā, kayfa ḥāluki?Hello Layla, how are you?
- ليلى Laylaأنا بخير، والجميع هنا اشتقنا لك.anā bi-khayr, wal-jamīʿ huna ishtaqnā laka.I am fine, and everyone here misses you.
- يوسف Youssefشكراً لكِ، أنا أيضاً اشتقت لكم.shukran laki, anā ayḍan ishtaqtu lakum.Thank you, I miss you all too.
- ليلى Laylaننتظر زيارتك قريباً.nanṭadir ziyārataka qarīban.We await your visit soon.
