حيوانك
hayawanuk
The English phrase "your animal" is translated into Arabic as حيوانك (hayawanuk).
An animal that belongs to the person being spoken to.
What does it mean word for word?
The word حيوانك is composed of hayawan (animal) and the suffix -uk (your, masculine singular).
Which one should you use?
Use حيوانكِ when addressing a female, and use حيوانكم when addressing a group of people.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a female, the suffix changes from -uk to -uki in the form حيوانكِ. To address a group of people, the suffix -uk is replaced by -ukum in the form حيوانكم.
How do you pronounce it?
hayawanuk
Did you know?
- The root of حيوان is the same as the word for 'life' حياة, implying that an animal is fundamentally a 'living thing'.
- In many Arabic dialects, calling someone hayawan is not a literal description of their pet, but a common insult meaning 'brute' or 'beast'.
- In some social circles, using the insult حيوان can be an expression of affection between very close friends, provided it is never used with a stranger.
Example conversation
Maryam and Ziad are talking about their pets.
- مريم Maryamهل هذا حيوانك؟Hal hadha hayawanuka?Is this your animal?
- زياد Ziadنعم، هذا كلبي الصغير.Na'am, hadha kalbi al-saghir.Yes, this is my small dog.
- مريم Maryamحيوانك لطيف جداً يا زياد.Hayawanuka latif jiddan ya Ziyad.Your animal is very cute, Ziad.
- زياد Ziadشكراً لكِ يا مريم.Shukran laki ya Maryam.Thank you, Maryam.
