اسمك
ismuk
In Arabic, the phrase for "your name is" is اسمك (ismuk).
This phrase is used to refer to the name of the person you are speaking to.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes its ending to reflect the gender of the person being spoken to: use اسمك for a male and اسمكِ (ismuki) for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
ismuk
Did you know?
- Arabic has a specialized naming system called 'Kunya' where people are called 'Abu' followed by their son's name instead of using their own name.
- The word for 'name' in اسمك shares an ancient root with the concept of 'sign' or 'mark', which is why names are seen as identifying marks of a person's identity.
- Asking ما اسمك؟ can often trigger a long conversation about a person's lineage and family history rather than just a one-word answer.
Examples in context
- ما اسمك؟ma ismuka?What is your name?
- هل اسمك علي؟hal ismuka Ali?Is your name Ali?
- أعتقد أن اسمك جميل.u'tiqidu anna ismuka jamil.I think your name is beautiful.
Example conversation
Two people meeting for the first time at a gathering.
- زياد Ziadمرحباً، ما اسمك؟marhaban, ma ismuki?Hello, what is your name?
- سارة Saraأنا سارة، وأنت؟ana Sarah, wa ant?I am Sarah, and you?
- زياد Ziadأنا زياد. تشرفنا يا سارة.ana Ziyad. tasharrafna ya Sarah.I am Ziyad. Nice to meet you, Sarah.
- سارة Saraتشرفت بك أيضاً يا زياد.tasharaftu bika aydan ya Ziyad.Nice to meet you too, Ziyad.
