Arab Family Relationships: Unlocking the Code

Ahlan! Today, we’re embarking on a fascinating journey into the world of Arab family relationships and their related vocabulary. It’s like learning the secret code to decode who’s who at family gatherings! 🧐🔍

We’ll start by presenting the most common and basic terms for various family members in Arabic in both Standard Arabic and major Arabic dialects, so that you can learn the most relevant terms for you and your language goals. Then, we’ll dive into other terms, meanings, and usages, helping to clarify potential confusion at the dinner table.

Key Arabic family terms

Below is a table of key Arabic family terms across different dialects, including Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) as well as regional variations such as Levantine, Egyptian, Darija, and Gulf.

English	Arabic	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf
Father	أب
Dad	بابا		X			X
Mother	أم
Mom	ماما		X			X
Son	ابن
Daughter	بنت
Brother	أخ
Sister	أخت
Grandpa	جد
Grandma	جدة
Grandson	حفيد
Grand- daughter	حَفِيدَة
Aunt (maternal)	خالة
Aunt (paternal)	عمَّة
Uncle (maternal)	خَالْ
Uncle (paternal)	عم

The term for “cousin”:

In Arabic, there is no single word equivalent to “cousin.” Instead, Arabic uses specific terms that literally translate to “son/daughter of uncle/aunt.” For example, the son of one’s paternal uncle is ابن عم. For more details about cousins, look at the rest of the article.

Immediate family members in Arabic

The nuclear family – consisting of parents (والدين) , children (أولاد) , brothers (إخوة) and sisters (أخوات) – forms the core of family life. Understanding the terms used to refer to family members in Arabic helps in appreciating the cultural and linguistic nuances of Arab families. This article will explore these relationships and the specific Arabic terms that describe each family member.

Parents (والدين)

Dad (أَبْ)

Let’s start with the head honcho, أَبْ , which means “father.” The family’s steadfast anchor, known as رب الأسرة (literally: the master or head of the family), he’s deeply respected and often the final word in family decisions. He’s not just the patriarch; he’s the prime organizer of grand family feasts, where his hospitality shines as he ensures that every guest is treated like royalty. (Not every Arab father’s like that, but that’s the stereotype). He’s known by different names in Arabic dialects. Some of them are:

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
بابا		X			X	The most common way of addressing one’s own father. Also, a wife could call her husband بابا in front of their kids.
البابا		X	X	X	X	Used when referring to dad in the third person
أب						Literally: “father”
الوالد		X				Shows respect
آبا	X	X			X	The Egyptian version is mainly used in Upper Egypt
يابا/يبا	X	X		X		Common among lower-class people
بَّا	X	X	X		X	Father
أبويا	X	X		X	X	Common among working-class people (Literally: “my father”)
بابي	X	X		X	X	Common among elite and upper class families in Egypt

Song from the Jordanian channel طيور الجنة

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Curveballs

In Egypt, يا بابا is used affectionately to address very young children, or sarcastically when teasing someone.

From an Egyptian video.

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Cultural note

بابا غنوج is a beloved Middle Eastern dish made of eggplant. The name translates literally to “spoiled daddy” or “pampered daddy.” The dish’s rich, creamy texture and indulgent flavor likely inspired its playful name.

Jordanian travel blogger eating in the old city of Damascus, Syria.

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Mom (أُمْ)

Right by Dad’s side is أُمْ , Mom. The warm heart of the family, she masterfully creates culinary delights in a kitchen filled with the aromas of spices. She’s the family’s emotional backbone and wise advisor, known for her unmatched dedication and generous hospitality, extending warmth not just to her family but to the entire community. Often, she’s the real boss, even if Dad won’t admit it. She is also known by different names in Arabic dialects:

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
ماما		X			X	The most common way of addressing one’s own mother. Also, a husband might call his wife ماما in front of their kids.
الماما		X	X	X	X	Used when referring to mother in the third person
أمّي			X	X		Literally: “my mother”
إمي		X	X	X		Literally: “my mother”
الوالدة		X				Respectful way of referring to one’s mother
يامّا/يمّا		X		X		A combination of يا (used for calling people) and ماما
يامو		X	X	X	X	Popular in Damascus, Syria.
لميمة	X	X	X		X	Literally: “the mother”
ميمتي	X	X	X		X	“My mom” in Darija
مّي	X	X	X		X	Mom! Mommy! Mother!
مَامِي	X	X		X	X	Common among elite and the upper class families in Egypt
أَمَّا	X	X			X	Mainly used in Upper Egypt
الْوَالِيدَة	X	X	X		X	Used in Morocco for older moms (over 45)

A little girl addresses her mother with ماما. From the Lebanese Christian channel SAT-7 KIDS.

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Cultural note

Among working-class families, a husband usually doesn’t call his wife using her given name in public around strangers. Traditional Arab men often feel ashamed about letting other people know their wives’ or mothers’ names, lest those names become objects of ridicule. So instead, he may either call his wife ماما (if the kids are around) or by the name of her firstborn son (for example: إم أحمد , which literally means “the mother of Ahmed”).

Curveballs

ماما gets used as a term of endearment when addressing a younger female in Egypt, especially when helping or explaining something to her:

In this Egyptian clip, an older man address a younger woman as يا ماما while gently scolding her for smoking.

ماما can also be used to show some affection and respect for an older woman:

In the Egyptian movie اكس لارج, a man addresses an elderly woman as ماما. She responds with يا ابني (my son), even they’re unrelated.

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Children (أولاد)

Son (ابْنْ)

Meet ابن , the son. In Arab families, sons hold great importance because they carry on the family name when they marry and have children. It’s also common for the eldest son to be named after his paternal grandfather. People usually address the parents by the name of their eldest son, such as “Abu Mohammed” (father of Mohammed) and “Umm Mohammed” (mother of Mohammed) if the eldest son’s name is Mohammed.

A son is usually addressed by their given name or nickname, or referred to as follows:

Curveballs

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
ابن						The most common name for a son
ولد			X			Son
وليد	X	X	X		X	Son
بن	X	X	X		X	Son
أولاد				X		Sons (in Egypt, it’s used in business names only, as in أولاد رجب “Ragab & Sons”)
ولاد		X				Sons, or children in general (boys and girls, sons and daughters)
أبناء			X	X	X	Sons
يَا بنِي	X			X	X	Used to address one’s son or a younger male, especially while giving advice or a pep talk.
يا ابني		X			X	Used to address one’s son or a younger male, especially while giving advice or a pep talk.
يَابْنَيِيّ		X	X	X	X	Used to address one’s son or a younger male, especially while giving advice or a pep talk.
أَوْلدِي	X	X	X		X	My son

يابني، يا ابني، يا بني are also used by elders when giving advice to younger people, even if they’re not their parents.

The word ابن (son) can be used with other words to convey a meaning that’s different from its literal one:

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
ابن آدم			The Egyptian version is بني آدم which is literally “sons of Adam”	X		Human being (literally: son of Adam)
ابن حلال		X		X		Decent man (literally: a son of what is permissible or lawful according to the precepts of Islam)
ابن بلد	X	X		X	X	Native, non-foreigner (literally: son of country)
ابن حرام		X		X		Bastard, illegitimate son (literally: son of of what is forbidden according to the precepts of Islam)
ابن ناس		X		X		A man of a good family, a decent man (literally: son of people)
ابن نكتة		X		X	X	Fond of (telling and hearing) jokes (literally: son or offspring of a joke)
ابن كلب		X		X		Used as an insult (literally: son of a dog)
ابن لذينا	X	X		X	X	Used as a placeholder for something unnamed and anonymous (literally: son of those)

A girl says she wants a skilled man (ابن حلال) to come fix her computer, but does she really want something else? 😉

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An example of ابن لذينا used in context, during Playaling’s Cloze Listen exercise.

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Daughter (بِنتْ)

Next up, بنت , the daughter. Note that بنت can mean either “daughter” or “girl,” depending on the context.

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
بنت						The most common name for a daughter in Arab families
بنية	X	X	X		X	Daughter
ابنة	X		X	X	X	Daughter
بنات						Daughters
يَا بِنْتِي		X			X	A daughter is usually addressed by her given name or a nickname. However, in some family conversations, she may be addressed by this term
البِتْ	X	X		X	X	Slang for بنت and considered disrespectful
بْنْتِي		X				My daughter
ابنتي	X		X	X	X	My daughter
أبْنْتِي	X	X	X		X	My daughter
بْنْيتِي	X	X	X			My daughter

Curveballs

Just like ابن (son), بنت (daughter) can combine with other words to convey meanings different from its literal interpretation:

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
بنت أصول		X		X	X	A girl of good origins, brought up well (literally: daughter of proper ways)
بنت زناقي	X	X	X		X	Street girl (Usually has a negative connotation, implying that she’s rough, low class, and uneducated).
بنت ليل		X				Prostitute (literally: daughter of the night)
بنت عيلة		X		X	X	A decent girl (literally: daughter of “a good” family)
بنت ناس		X				A girl from a good family, a decent girl (literally: daughter of people)

Jordanians share their views about female honor.

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Siblings (إخوة & أخوات )

Brother (أخ)

Introducing أخ , the brother:

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
أخ						This word may be used literally or figuratively for showing affection or sarcasm (such as يا اخي), depending on context.
إخوان			X			This word may be used literally or figuratively for showing affection or sarcasm (such as يا إخواني), depending on context.
خي		X	X	X	X	Brother (in Lebanese and Syrian)
خوت	X	X	X		X	Brothers
أخوين	X		X	X	X	Two brothers
خيّا		X	X	X	X	My brother in Palestinian
شقيق				X	X	Brother (from the same parents)
خُويَا/أَخُويَا	X	X			X	My brother
خَايْ	X	X	X		X	Brother
خَاوَة	X	X	X		X	My brother

A Lebanese TV host conducts an interview with a Syrian student.

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Curveballs

Arabs often address their male friends or even male strangers as أخي أخ or يا أخي to show a feeling of warmth or connection. In Egypt, they might say: أَخُويَا اللِّي مَا جَابِتُوشْ أُمِّي which means: My brother from another mother.

In the Syrian TV show Bab al-Hara, man addresses another man as أخي (my brother), even though they aren’t related.

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Sister (أُخْتْ)

Meet أخت , your sister extraordinaire.

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
أخت						The most common name for sister
إخت		X	X	X	X	Sister
خيت	X	X	X		X	Sister
خيتا		X	X	X	X	My sister in Palestinian
أخوات			X	X		Sisters
خوات		X	X			Sisters
ْخْت	X	X	X		X	Sister
خْتِيتِ	X	X	X		X	Sister
شقيقة	X			X	X	Sister (from the same parents)

A song about the names of family members in Standard Arabic.

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Curveballs

Girls call each other أختي to show affection. At other times, they use it simply as a form of address, even if they don’t have a close relationship:

A Syrian girl addresses her classmate as أختي (my sister). They’re unrelated.

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Likewise, men use it towards women they don’t know to convey acknowledgment and respect or gain their trust. When a man refers to a woman as “sister,” he disavows any potential sexual interest, signaling that he poses no threat to her honor and safety. However, it’s important to note that some men misuse this term in order to mislead women about their intentions, so you women out there, watch out! 👀

Brotherhood in Arab countries

In Arab countries, the importance and status of religion, particularly Islam, greatly influence social interactions. It’s common for people to address each other as “my brother” and “my sister”, even if they aren’t related by blood. This practice stems from a verse in the Quran: “The believers are but brothers” (إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ) . As a result, these terms are widely used across the Arab world.

Nevertheless, this practice also extends to Christians in the region, who often address each other as brother and sister, especially if they attend the same church. This widespread usage highlights the deep cultural significance of familial terms, fostering a sense of community and unity.

In the clip below, taken from a Syrian political satire, a man addresses his friend as “my brother” when discussing the importance of democracy and of respecting others’ opinions:

From the Syrian series ما في أمل.

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Watch the whole video, and don’t miss the end, if you want to see the true face of democracy among Arabs! 🌟📽️

The importance of family alliances

There’s a proverb that says: أنا وأخويا عَلى اِبْن عَمّي وأنا وابْن عَمّي عَالغَريب in Egyptian and أَنَا وأَخِي عَ ابْن عَمّي وْأَنا وابْن عَمّي عَالغَريب in Levantine, which translate to: “I ally with my brother against my cousin, but I ally with my cousin against a stranger.” It speaks to the hierarchical nature of loyalty within Arab familial and tribal structures, the idea that loyalty begins with immediate family, extends to extended family, and only then to outsiders. This cascading loyalty fosters internal solidarity and unity in the face of external threats, reflecting the deep-seated values of tribalism and family bonds that influence social, political, and personal interactions in Arab communities.

Extended family members in Arabic

The extended family consists of grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins from maternal and paternal sides.

The grandparents (جدود)

Grandfather (جدّْ)

Moving up the generations, we have جد grandfather. Grandkids usually address their grandfathers by one of these names:

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
جد						The most common name for a grandfather
سيد		X	X	X	X	Common in Palestinian and Jordanian families
جدِّي			X			Literally: my grandfather
جِدُّو		X			X	The most common name for a grandfather among Egyptian, Lebanese, and Syrian families
سِيدِي		X	X	X	X	The most common name for a grandfather among Palestinian and Jordanian families
بَّا	X	X	X		X	Literally: my grandfather
بَبَا	X	X	X		X	Literally: my grandfather
با سِيدي	X	X	X		X	Literally: my grandfather

Curveballs with جِدُّو and سِيدُو

The words جِدُّو and سِيدُو can be used as an affectionate way of addressing an elderly male.

An Egyptian addresses her husband by جدو (grandpa). Common terms of affection can turn mocking, depending on context.

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Grandmother (جدَّة)

Accompanying grandpa is جدة the grandmother. Her grandkids usually address her by one of these names:

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
جدة						The most common name for a grandmother in Arab families
ست		X		X	X	Grandmother, always accompanied by a pronoun suffix, as in ستّي “my grandma”
جدا	X	X	X		X	When attached to a pronoun suffix, such as جداها (her grandmother) or جداك (your grandmother)
جدات				X		Grandmothers
سِتِّي		X		X	X	Common in the Levant and in working class families and villages in Egypt (literally: my grandmother).
سِتُّو		X		X	X	A more endearing variation from ستي
جدّتي	X		X			A little formal and less endearing
تِيتَة		X		X	X	The most common name for a grandmother among Egyptian and Levantine families
نِينَة	X	X		X	X	A little old-fashioned but still used among some Egyptian families. It originates from Turkish “nene”.
نَانَا		X		X	X	Less common

Curveballs with ست

In addition to meaning grandmother, ست has other meanings as well, depending on context.

In Egyptian and Levantine, it can mean “lady” or “woman”:

From an Egyptian talk show.

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ست can also be used as a form of address, like “madam,” “Mrs.,” or “Ms.” in English.

in the video below the man arrives to retrieve his boss’s forgotten wallet, just as a woman discovers that her lover is about to propose to another girl. This fuels a vengeful idea in her mind. Don’t miss the ending!

An Egyptian man addresses a woman as ست, which means “Ms” here.

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It can also mean “the best of” or “the finest of (women)”. The iconic Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum was known as ست الكل (the best woman of all), reflecting the respect and admiration she commanded throughout the Arab world. Moreover, يا ست الكل can be used to address a woman in a complimentary or endearing manner.

An Egyptian man flirts with a woman and expresses his admiration for her beauty.

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The grandchildren (أحفاد)

Grandson (حَفِيد)

Now, let’s greet حفيد , the grandson.

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
حفيد						The most common name for a grandson in Arab families
أحفاد						Grandsons
ابن ابني		X		X	X	The son of my son
ابن بنتي		X		X	X	The son of my daughter
ولاد ابني		X			X	The sons of my son
ولاد بنتي		X			X	The sons of my daughter (ولاد can refer to boys only or to both boys and girls, but not girls only)

Granddaughter (حَفِيدَة)

Right alongside him is حفيدة , granddaughter.

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
حفيدة						The most common name for a granddaughter in Arab families
بنت ابني		X			X	Literally: the daughter of my son
بنت بنتي		X			X	Literally: the daughter of my daughter
بنات ابني		X			X	Literally: the daughters of my son
بنات بنتي		X			X	Literally: the daughters of my daughter

The aunts (عَمَّات & خالات )

Maternal aunt (خَالَة)

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
خالة						The most common name for a maternal aunt in Arab families
خالات						Maternal aunts
خَالتِي						Literally: my aunt
خَالتُو		X		X	X	Literally: his aunt, but in practice, it’s used to address one’s own aunt!
طَنْطْ		X		X	X	Some upper class Egyptians and Levantines use this word, derived from the French “tante,” meaning “aunt”

Curveballs

In the Levant, it’s common to address older women as خالة or خالتي , while in Egypt, they say يا خالتي

An Egyptian man calls an older woman خالتي (my aunt), and she responds with يابني (my son), even though they’ve never met before.

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Paternal aunt (عَمَّة)

And let’s not forget the paternal aunt (عمة ), a key figure in Arab families. A friendly competition often emerges between paternal aunts (عمات ) and maternal aunts (خالات ). Typically, maternal aunts win the hearts of the children, because they’re naturally close to the mother and, by extension, her children. As a result, maternal aunts often get the upper hand over childrens’ affection, no matter how hard paternal aunts try to win it themselves.

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
عمَّة						The most common name for a paternal aunt in Arab families
عَمتِي						Literally: my aunt
عَمتُو		X			X	Literally: his aunt, but, in practice, it’s used to address one’s own aunt!
طَنْطْ		X		X	X	Egyptians and some Levantines use this word, derived from the French “tante,” meaning “aunt”.

Curveballs

Younger folks use طَنْطْ to respectfully address any older females:

Cloze Listen exercise on Playaling shows an example of طنط in Levantine.

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The uncles (أخوال & أعمام)

Maternal uncle (خَالْ)

Meet خال , your mother’s brother.

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
خال						The most common name for a maternal uncle in Arab families
خوال		X	X			Maternal uncles
خيلان	X	X		X	X	Maternal uncles
أخوال	X		X	X	X	Maternal uncles
خَالِي						Literally: my uncle
خَالُو		X		X	X	Literally: his uncle, but in practice, it’s used to address one’s own uncle!
أونْكِل	X	X		X	X	Derived from the French “oncle,” meaning “uncle”. This is used to address uncles as well as older men who are not relatives.

An Egyptian proverb الخَال وَالِد (the maternal uncle is a father) describes how close a maternal uncle is to his nephews and nieces, almost like a father to them.

A Levantine proverb الولد لو بار تلتينو للخال (if a child is dutiful and good, one-third of their dutifulness is owed to the maternal uncle). This saying reflects the significant role and importance of the maternal uncle in a child’s life, considering him almost like a second father with a special influence and affection from the child. This proverb is common in the Levant region.

Curveballs

The term يَا خَالْ is used in Levantine to respectfully address older folks:

From a Palestinian show about proverbs, the host addresses the guest as يا خال (uncle) as a sign of respect.

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Paternal uncle (عَمّْ)

Stepping aside to the extended family, we find عم , your dad’s brother.

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
عم						The most common name for a paternal uncle in Arab families
عَمُّو		X		X	X	Literally: his uncle, but it’s used to address one’s own uncle!
عَمِّي						Used for extra respect when addressing your uncle
أُونْكِل	X	X		X	X	Derived from the French “oncle,” meaning “uncle”. This is used to address uncles as well as older men who are not relatives.

Curveballs

عَمُّو or عم or عمّي are also used by younger folks when respectively addressing older males:

From an Egyptian song for kids. A man introduces himself as عمُّو (uncle) and the children address him by this term, even if they don’t know him and there’s no family connection involved.

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يا عمي can be used like ‘man!’, like in the following video where a Lebanese girl angrily tells an armed man, روح يا عمي “Get lost, man,” showing no fear of his weapon. Don’t miss finding out what kind of weapon finally scared her in the end!:

A Lebanese girl is angry at two armed men threatening her.

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Or to show surprise or anger, like the video below:

A Palestinian man expresses frustration with his wife.

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Cousins and relatives (أقارب)

أقارب refers to anyone with whom we share a familial connection.

Name	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
اِبنْ عَم				X		The most common name for a male cousin (son of paternal uncle) in Arab families
اِبنْ عَمّي				X		My cousin (son of paternal uncle)
ولد عَم	X	X	X			My cousin (son of paternal uncle)
ولاد عَم		X				Cousins (children of paternal uncle)
بِنْت عَم		X				Daughter of paternal uncle
بنت عَمّة		X				Daughter of paternal aunt
ابن عَمّة				X		Son of paternal aunt
ابْن خَال				X	X	Son of maternal uncle
ابن خَالة				X	X	Son of maternal aunt
ولد خَال	X	X	X			My cousin (son of maternal uncle)
ولد خالة	X	X	X			My cousin (son of maternal aunt)
بنت خال		X				Daughter of maternal uncle
بنت خالة		X				Daughter of maternal aunt
قريبي				X		Literally: My male relative. Applies to cousins and distant relatives.
قريبتي				X		Literally: My female relative. Applies to cousins and distant relatives.

Curveballs

Some women in Damascus, Syria affectionally call their husbands ابْنِ عَمِّي (son of my parternal uncle), even if they’re not related. This practice underscores the strong emphasis on family ties and kinship in Arab culture. By using this term, a woman acknowledges her husband’s role within the extended family network, reinforcing a sense of familial bond and solidarity based on shared blood lines.

Watch below a Syrian woman apologizes to her husband, addressing him as ابن عمي (son of my parternal uncle), while he refuses to accept her apology. Don’t miss the twist at the end to see how she gets punished!

From Syrian series.

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It’s legal and not uncommon for people to marry their first cousins. In Egyptian Arabic, there’s even a saying: ‏يِبْقَى زَيْتَنا فِ دْقِيقْنا (literally: our oil stays within our flour), meaning let’s keep everything within the family. It suggests greater satisfaction and harmony from marrying within one’s own family.

Marrying within one’s extended family helps preserve family wealth, strengthen familial ties, and maintain cultural continuity. It also provides emotional security and trust, as well as social acceptance and support. Additionally, it simplifies logistical arrangements and reduces potential conflicts from differing family dynamics and expectations.

In-law (نَسِيب)

When unrelated families join through marriages they become relatives through نَسَبْ (marriage relationships). It’s like navigating a new level in the Arab family game. Your spouse’s uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, and nieces are all your نَسَايِب (in-laws). Each one has a special name:

English	Arabic	Levantine	Standard	Egyptian	Darija	Gulf	Notes
A term used by a man to refer to another man who is married to his wife’s sister	عَدِيل				X		You call your wife’s sister’s husband: عَدِيلِي . The word عديل in Arabic means equal.
Brother-in-law AND son-in-law	صهر			X	X	X
A term used by a woman to refer to another woman married to her husband’s brother.	سِلْفَة				X		The wives related by marriage call each other: سِلْفِتِي
Sister-in-law AND daughter-in-law	كنة			X	X
Father-in-law	حَمَا				X		You call him حَمَايَا or عَمِّي .
A term used to refer to the brother of one’s spouse	ابن حَمَا						When referring to their partner’s brother, a person says ابن حماي
A term used to refer to the sister of one’s spouse	بنت حَمَا						When referring to their partner’s sister, a person says بنت حماي
Mother-in-law	حَمَاة				X		You call her عمة or مرت عم .
Co-wife	ضُرَّة				X	X	Used by wives to refer to other wives her husband has.
Co-wife	شّْرِيكَة	X	X	X		X	Used by wives to refer to other wives her husband has.

Possessive forms in Arabic titles

The terms of address listed in all the tables above can also take possessive forms to indicate a relationship. To form the possessive in Arabic, you typically add the suffix “-ي” , which translates to “my” in English. For instance, the word أخ (brother) becomes أخي to mean “my brother.” Similarly, ابن عم (cousin) transforms into ابن عمي to signify “my cousin.” Additionally, خالة (aunt) becomes خالتي , and عمة becomes عمتي (ة becomes ت when a suffix is added). However, this isn’t possible with words that begin with “ال” (the definite article “the”), as their structure doesn’t accommodate the possessive suffix.

Tense in-law relationships

A common stereotype in the Arab world is that a mother-in-law never gets along with her son’s or daughter’s spouse. This perception has inspired countless proverbs and comedic scenes in movies, capturing the intricate and often humorous nuances of this relationship.

Safiyya’s mother-in-law is staying over. They can’t stand each other.

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Some popular proverbs illustrate this dynamic:

“الحماية ما بتحب الكنة لو كانت حورية بالجنة”
- Translation: “The mother-in-law wouldn’t love the daughter-in-law even if she were a nymph in paradise.”
“حظّو من السما اللي بتحبّو الحما”
- Translation: “Fortunate is the one whose mother-in-law loves him.”
“حظّو من السما اللي ما عندو حما”
- Translation: “Fortunate is the one who has no mother-in-law.”
“الكي بالنار ولا قعدة الحما بالدار”
- Translation: “Better to be cauterized by fire than to have the mother-in-law living in the house.”

These proverbs paint a picture of the often challenging and strained relationships between mothers-in-law and their sons’ wives or daughters’ husbands.

The co-wife: a complex relationship

And let’s not forget the heated topic of polygamy. Yes, Islamic culture permits multiple spouses (up to four), but there’s a catch – it’s exclusively for men. In Egyptian and Levantine, the term ضُرَّة is used by a wife to refer to her husband’s other wives. Deriving from the root word ضرر , meaning “to harm” or “to damage,” this term reflects the potential emotional and psychological challenges of polygamous relationships.

It’s no surprise that co-wives often do not love each other; after all, who would want to share their husband with someone else? A proverb illustrates this sentiment: “الضرة مرّة ولو كانت جرّة,” which translates to “A co-wife is bitter, even if she were a jug.”

Despite this challenge, some women find solidarity in sharing household responsibilities, child-rearing, and providing mutual support during difficult times. Thus, ضُرَّة encapsulates the complex mix of rivalry, jealousy, and bond of cooperation and companionship among co-wives, a dynamic humorously portrayed in Bab al-Hara, a Syrian TV show:

From the Syrian series Bab al-Hara (باب الحارة).

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In Morocco, the second wife is referred to as “شريكة” (literally: “the partner”)

Playful family titles: a tradition

In Arab countries, especially in the Levant, the Gulf, and the Maghreb, family members often address each other affectionately by reversing roles. This tradition is not common in Egypt. Here are some examples:

Parents:
- Fathers might call their children بابا and mothers might call them ماما Imagine the confusion of an outsider hearing a toddler being called “dad” or “mom!”
Grandparents:
- Grandfathers might call their grandchildren جدّو regardless of gender. Grandmothers might call their grandchildren ستو or تيتة .
Uncles and Aunts:
- Paternal uncles (عم ) call nieces and nephews عمّو . Maternal uncles (خال ) call them خالو .
- Paternal aunts (عمّة ) and maternal aunts (خالة ) might use عمتو and خالتو . It’s as if the family tree got a bit mixed up, but in the most endearing way!

This dynamic is not limited to the names mentioned above. Any name traditionally used to address the parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents, as listed in the tables earlier, can be affectionately reversed to address younger family members.

These terms not only reinforce family bonds but also add a playful twist to everyday interactions. So, don’t be surprised if you hear a father calling his child بابا or a mother calling her child ماما . This charming tradition beautifully illustrates the intimacy within Arab families. Imagine visiting an Arab household and hearing a grandfather call his grandchild جدّو or an uncle referring to his niece as عمّو – it’s sure to bring a smile to your face and perhaps a chuckle at the delightful role reversal!

A Jordanian father tells his son to hurry up eating, addressing him as يا بابا.

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A Syrian mother addresses her son by ماما, gently urging him to get off the computer.

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