أخ أصغر
'akh 'asghar
The English phrase "younger brother" is translated into Arabic as أخ أصغر ('akh 'asghar).
أخ أصغر is used to refer to a younger brother in a general sense. If you are speaking about your own sibling, it is more common to use the form أخي الصغير to mean "my little brother".
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the noun أخ (brother) and the comparative adjective أصغر (smaller/younger).
Which one should you use?
أخ أصغر provides a general description of a younger brother, whereas أخي الصغير is a more common way to say "my little brother" when speaking about one's own sibling.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Arabic, the adjective أصغر follows the noun أخ that it describes.
How do you pronounce it?
'akh 'asghar
Did you know?
- The word أخ (brother) shares the same ancient Proto-Semitic root as the English word 'brother' and the Latin 'frater', showing a deep linguistic connection across cultures.
- In Arabic culture, the term أخ is frequently used to address any male friend or peer, regardless of blood relation, as a sign of brotherhood and solidarity.
- In some traditional Arabic social contexts, the elder brother is seen as a deputy father, making the distinction of أخ أصغر more than just an age difference but a difference in authority.
Examples in context
- هذا أخي الأصغر، يدرس الطب.This is my youngest brother, he studies medicine.
- أخي الصغير يحب رياضة كرة القدم.My little brother loves playing soccer.
- لدي أخ أصغر.laday akh asghar.I have a younger brother.
Example conversation
Yousef and Nour are talking about their families.
- يوسف Youssefانظري إلى هذه الصورة، هذا أخ أصغر لي.Unzhurī ilā hādhihi al-sūrah, hādhā akhu asghar lī.Look at this picture, this is a younger brother of mine.
- نور Nourإنه لطيف جداً يا يوسف.Innahu latīf jiddan yā Yūsuf.He is very cute, Yousef.
- يوسف Youssefشكراً لكِ، هو يحب اللعب كثيراً.Shukran laki, huwa yuhibbu al-la'ib kathīran.Thank you, he loves playing a lot.
- نور Nourأنا أيضاً لدي أخ أصغر مثله.Anā ayḍan ladayya akhu asghar mithlahu.I also have a younger brother like him.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries أخ, أصغر, CC BY-SA 4.0.
