Terms used to express family relations in Arabic are more explicit than in English. This may reflect the importance of family and relations in the Arabic society. An example of the more explicit family relations terms in Arabic is that the term ‘uncle’ in English has 2 Arabic terms distinguishing ‘maternal uncle’ (خال) and ‘paternal uncle” (عم). Interestingly, the word ‘cousin’ in English has 8 equivalent terms in Arabic, distinguishing the gender of both the cousin and the uncle and the family link maternal or paternal. The Arabic equivalents of ‘cousin’ are (ابن عم / بنت عم / ابن خال / بنت خال / ابن عمة / بنت عمة / ابن خالة / بنت خالة).
The following table gives some family relations terms and their English equivalents.
Father
|
أب
|
Mother
|
أم
|
Son
|
ابن
|
Daughter
|
ابنة
|
Brother
|
أخ
|
Sister
|
أخت
|
Uncle (paternal)
|
عم
|
Aunt (paternal)
|
عمة
|
Uncle (maternal)
|
خال
|
Aunt (maternal)
|
خالة
|
Cousin
|
ابن عم
|
Cousin
|
بنت عم
|
Cousin
|
ابن خال
|
Cousin
|
بنت خال
|
Cousin
|
ابن عمة
|
Cousin
|
بنت عمة
|
Cousin
|
ابن خالة
|
Cousin
|
بنت خالة
|
Grandfather
|
جد
|
Grandmother
|
جدة
|
Grandson
|
حفيد
|
Granddaughter
|
حفيدة
|
Father-in-law
|
حمو
|
Mother-in-law
|
حماة
|
Husband
|
زوج
|
Wife
|
زوجة
|
Finance
|
خطيب
|
Fiancée
|
خطيبة
|
Son-in-law
|
ابن الزوج
|
Son-in-law
|
ابن الزوجة
|
Sister-in-law
|
أخت الزوج
|
Sister-in-law
|
أخت الزوجة
|
Brother-in-law
|
أخو الزوج
|
Brother-in-law
|
أخو الزوجة
|
Widower
|
أرمل
|
Widow
|
أرملة
|
Divorced man
|
مطلق
|
Divorced woman
|
مطلقة
|
Separated man
|
منفصل
|
Separated woman
|
منفصلة
|
Comments:
usman:
grandson=hafeed;grand daughter=hafeedah.
Aziza:
شكراً جزيلاً
table updated!
Elizabeth:
What about the wife of your maternal uncle. Is it khala or zowjat khal?
Aziza:
Ahlan Elizabeth,
Wife of maternal uncle is زوجة خال
Victoria:
can anyone help me with finding out how little sister is written in arabic?
aziza:
@Victoria Hi Victoria,
little sister is أخت صغيرة
my little sister is أختي الصغيرة
Salaam,
Aziza
Nizumi:
I’m trying to fnid the term for mother-in-law as in, “mother of my wife”. Is it different from mart’amo, which is what I call my husband’s mother?
Thank you!
aziza:
@Nizumi mother-in-law = حماة
Ali Asghar:
i need to know what you call husband of your daughter in arabic
aziza:
@Ali Asghar husband = زوج
daughter = بنت
Ali Asghar:
what you call husband of daughter in arabic
Elif Su:
heyy!! how do you say my mother’s paternal aunt, my mother’s male paternal cousin; etc in arabic? thanks!
aziza:
@Elif Su my mother’s paternal aunt = عمة أمي
my mother’s male paternal cousin = ابن عم أمي
kristien:
could you please tell me
what mum, dad, big brother and family is in arabic writing and how to pronouce the name
thank you
Fisal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Go_5OSUDFc&list=PL78E48E5121C1354E&index=2&feature=plpp_video
ANMB:
Another listing:
Family Members in Arabic
http://www.italki.com/groups/563/topic/30036.htm
ANMB:
Ahlan! I noticed on the vocabulary word of the day for 10-12-2012 (http://www.transparent.com/word-of-the-day/today/arabic.html?utm_campaign=wordoftheday&utm_medium=email&utm_source=bluehornet&utm_content=arabic&date=10-12-2012 )
the distinction of which side of the family ‘ammah’ is referring to, in this case the father’s side or paternal, is missing.
I also found another listing, but have compared it to that above, yet:
Family Members in Arabic
http://www.italki.com/groups/563/topic/30036.htm
Shukran Jazeelan!
Ma’a salaamah.
Person:
I know that to say ‘my’ something you have to add on ي at the end but how do you say ‘my’ father in law because I don’t know if you can add ي to و , so I’m confused.
Hassan:
shucron jazlin lil hata site!. It has helped with my study of Arabic. Is it posible, that you post yhe next w
Ones with the vowels? Shucron jazilan…
Dapsoma:
Pls Aziz how do I call my father younger sister in Arabic,; pls reply through my E-mail
najiyah:
Can u please write the Arabic words used for
Paternal grandmother
Maternal grandmother
Maternal uncle
Paternal uncle
Paternal aunt
The pronunciation of these words ,please do it roman English
Sorry for the inconvenience
Nawal:
Hi! I’m hoping someone could tell me how to write, “we are going to be great-grandparents!”
I’m pregnant and would like to leave a note for my grandparents to read out loud to my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I’d ask my father, but I’d be giving away the suprise 🙂
Thank you!
Mrs. Saddam:
Can i know how to tell these in arabic
1. My husband’s sister
2. My brother’s wife
3. My husband’s brother
4. My husband’s brother’s wife
5. My husband’s sisters husband