تبدين جميلة
tabdīna jamīlah
The Arabic phrase for "you look pretty" is تبدين جميلة (tabdīna jamīlah).
This phrase is used as a compliment to tell a woman that she is attractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The word تبدين (tabdīna) literally means "you appear" or "you seem".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase تبدين جميلة is specific to a female. The verb تبدين (tabdīna) is in the second-person feminine singular form. If you wish to say "you look handsome" to a male, you should use تبدو جميلاً (tabdū jamīlan).
How do you pronounce it?
tabdīna jamīlah
Did you know?
- In some dialects, people prefer to use the word قمر (qamar), meaning 'moon', to tell a woman she is pretty, as the moon is a primary symbol of beauty in Arabic poetry.
- In many Middle Eastern cultures, a compliment about appearance is often followed by a phrase asking God to protect the person from the 'evil eye', such as ما شاء الله (mā shā' Allāh).
- If you want to emphasize the compliment, you can add جداً (jiddan) at the end, but in many dialects, placing the word مرة (marrah), meaning 'once', after the adjective serves as 'very'.
Examples in context
- تبدين جميلة اليوم.tabdeena jameela al-yawm.You look pretty today.
- أنتِ تبدين جميلة في هذا الفستان.anti tabdeena jameela fee hadha al-fustan.You look pretty in this dress.
- تبدين جميلة جداً بشعركِ الطويل.tabdeena jameela jiddan bi-sha'riki al-taweel.You look very pretty with your long hair.
Example conversation
Youssef meets Mariam at a cafe.
- يوسف Youssefمرحباً مريم، تبدين جميلة جداً!Marhaban Mariam, tabdeena jameela jiddan!Hello Mariam, you look very pretty!
- مريم Maryamشكراً لك يا يوسف، هذا لطف منك.Shukran laka ya Youssef, hadha lutf minka.Thank you Youssef, that is kind of you.
- يوسف Youssefهل اشتريتِ هذا الفستان حديثاً؟Hal ishtarayti hadha al-fustan hadeethan?Did you buy this dress recently?
- مريم Maryamنعم، لقد اشتريته بالأمس.Na'am, laqad ishtaraytuhu al-ams.Yes, I bought it yesterday.
