Arabic has beautiful words of affection, some straight from the Quran. Using them builds both language and closeness.
Words to use daily
| Arabic | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أُحِبُّكَ / أُحِبُّكِ | uhibbuka / uhibbuki | I love you (boy / girl) |
| حَبِيبِي / حَبِيبَتِي | habibi / habibati | my darling (boy / girl) |
| يَا بُنَيَّ | ya bunayya | my dear son |
| يَا بُنَيَّتِي | ya bunayyati | my dear daughter |
| اِشْتَقْتُ إِلَيْكَ | ishtaqtu ilayk | I missed you |
| أَنَا فَخُورٌ بِكَ | ana fakhurun bik | I’m proud of you |
| بَارَكَ اللّٰهُ فِيكَ | baraka-llahu fik | May Allah bless you |
From the Quran
Luqman began each piece of advice to his son with يَا بُنَيَّ, a tender way of saying “my son” (Quran 31:13). Prophet Ya’qub and Prophet Ibrahim also used it with their sons.
Telling people you love them
The Prophet ﷺ said that if someone loves his brother, he should tell him (Sunan Abi Dawud 5124). A reply: أَحَبَّكَ الَّذِي أَحْبَبْتَنِي لَهُ, “May the One for whose sake you love me, love you.”
When to use them
- Waking up and at bedtime.
- After a lesson or a good effort.
- In a note in their lunchbox.
Teacher’s tip: start corrections with يَا بُنَيَّ, as Luqman did. Advice that begins with love is far easier to hear.
Related: Family words.
