NOTE: It is not uncommon in some colloquial contexts (especially in Egypt) for people to sometimes use the masculine form with females as well (e.g. a mother might call her daughter ḥabībī).
If you listen to Arabic music or hang around Arab friends, you’ll definitely hear the word ḥabībī (حَبِيبِي).
It’s probably one of the most famous and widely used Arabic words, and for good reason.
So, what does it mean?
The simple answer is that ḥabībī means “my love”, “my dear”, or “my darling”.
But it’s not just for romantic interests.
It’s a super flexible word that you can use with friends, family, and sometimes even strangers.
The basic meaning of habibi
The word ḥabībī (حَبِيبِي) is made of two simple parts:
- ḥabīb (حَبِيب): This means “beloved” or “darling”.
- -ī (ي): This is a suffix that means “my” in Arabic.
Put them together, and you get “my beloved”.
This word is versatile because it works in formal Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and in all the spoken dialects, from Morocco to Iraq.
Everyone knows and uses ḥabībī.
How to use habibi (for a man)
Ḥabībī is the masculine form, so you use it when you’re talking to a boy or a man.
You might think it’s just for couples, but Arabs use it all the time in platonic, friendly ways.
You can call someone ḥabībī if they are:
- A romantic partner (a husband, boyfriend).
- A close male friend.
- A male family member (like a son, brother, or father).
- A friendly stranger! (e.g., a shopkeeper might call a customer ḥabībī).
It’s a very common way to show warmth and friendliness.
يا حبيبي، إزيك؟
How to say it to a woman: habibti
What if you want to say “my love” to a girl or a woman?
You just change the ending slightly.
You say: ḥabībtī (حَبِيبَتِي).
It sounds like: ha-bib-tee.
The meaning is exactly the same, but it’s the feminine version.
You can use ḥabībtī for:
- A romantic partner (a wife, girlfriend).
- A close female friend.
- A female family member (like a daughter, sister, or mother).
صباح الخير يا حبيبتي.
And for a group: habaybi
What if you’re talking to a group of your friends or family?
There’s a plural version, too: ḥabāyibī (حَبَايْبِي).
This means “my beloveds” or “my dears”. You can use it to address a group of people you care about, regardless of their gender.
أهلاً وسهلاً يا حبايبي.
Quick summary table
Here’s a simple table to help you remember.
English | Arabic | Transliteration | Used For… |
---|---|---|---|
My love (to a man) | حَبِيبِي | ḥabībī | A man (friend, partner, family) |
My love (to a woman) | حَبِيبَتِي | ḥabībtī | A woman (friend, partner, family) |
My loves (plural) | حَبَايْبِي | ḥabāyibī | A group of people |
Other popular Arabic terms of endearment
While ḥabībī is the most common, Arabic has many other beautiful ways to show affection. You’ll hear these all the time too.
- yā qalbī (يَا قَلْبِي): This means “my heart”. It’s used just like ḥabībī for both men and women.
- yā rūḥī (يَا رُوحِي): This means “my soul”. Another very common and heartfelt term of endearment.
- yā ʿaynī (يَا عَيْنِي): This one is interesting. It literally means “my eye”, but it’s used to mean “my dear”. In Arab culture, eyes are seen as precious and beautiful, so it’s a big compliment.
That’s it.
Ḥabībī is a warm, all-purpose word for “my love” or “my dear” that you can use with almost anyone you have a friendly relationship with.
Remember the three main forms:
- ḥabībī (for a guy)
- ḥabībtī (for a girl)
- ḥabāyibī (for a group)
It’s generally a safe word to use so you don’t need to worry about being inappropriate in most contexts.
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