What’s Valentine’s Day like in the Middle East? Posted by yasmine on Feb 13, 2019 in Arabic Language, Culture, Vocabulary
I’m sure many of you learning Arabic know the word “حبيبي” meaning “my love”. Valentine’s day عيد الحُب or عيد الفالنتاين is right around the corner. Do you happen to have a حبيبي you are planning to celebrate with?
Image via Pixabay
Like many in Amman, Jordan, I grew up watching American movies showing couples having dinner at a fancy فاخر restaurant and exchanging gifts on Valentine’s Day. To many, it is viewed as a Western celebration. Still, in Jordan, as well as other Arab countries such as Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, Valentine’s Day is celebrated publicly علناً. Yet, there are also people in these countries who frown upon يعترض على this public celebration of love. It is thought by some to be contradictory مناقض to conservative محافظ culture and teachings. While most celebrate it all throughout these countries, few remain against it.
Right now, in Arab countries, you can find shops filled with roses and red teddy bears all along the streets. Restaurants begin advertising special multi-course meals a week in advance. Roses are even sold to cars at the traffic lights.
How about this year, to show your Arabic language skills, you write a card to someone you love in Arabic!
Let’s look at some words in Arabic related to Valentine’s Day including terms of endearment and what to say to your loved one on Valentine’s Day.
Love حُب
My love حبيبي
My eyes عيوني
My soul روحي
My heart قلبي
Heart قلب
Chocolate شوكولاتة
Gift هدية
Red أحمر
Rose وردة
Flower زهرة
Happy Valentine’s Day! !كل عام وأنت بخير or !كل سنة وأنت سالم
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About the Author: yasmine
MarHaba! I am half Jordanian of Circassian descent and half American. I have a Master's in Second Language Teaching and I teach Arabic as a foreign language here in the US, both MSA and Levantine Arabic. I hope to help you become more familiar and interested in the Arabic language and culture.
Comments:
Hameed Karim:
Could you let me know if you did a blog on zanna and her sisters. I tried searching without success.if not could you do one.
Thank you
yasmine:
!مرحبا حميد
I’m sure you mean Kanna and her sisters :).
I did not, but I can definitely do one on this topic this week.
Thank you!
yasmine:
@yasmine On second thought, I found the previous post you were looking for on the topic of “Kanna and her sisters” which is a very good post! Here is the link:
https://blogs.transparent.com/arabic/the-predicate-of-kana-and-sisters/