Talking about family is a cornerstone of daily conversation in Arabic. In this lesson, we will expand your vocabulary beyond immediate relatives to include extended family members, in-laws, and relationship statuses. You will see how seamlessly these new nouns combine with the possessive suffixes you already know.
Grandchildren
To talk about grandchildren, use حفيد for a grandson and حفيدة for a granddaughter. Just like other family members, simply attach a possessive suffix to express relationships like "our" or "his."
| The grandfather gifted his grandson and granddaughter a beautiful gift. | أهدى الجد حفيده وحفيدته هدية جميلة.ahdâ al-jaddu hafîdahu wa-hafîdatahu hadiyyatan jamîlatan. |
| Our granddaughter's wedding party is very wonderful. | حفلة زفاف حفيدتنا رائعة جدا.haflatu zifâfi hafîdatinâ râ'i'atun jiddan |
Children-in-Law
For the spouses of your children, the words are صهر (son-in-law) and كنة (daughter-in-law).
| Their son-in-law is a smart and hardworking man. | صهرهم رجل ذكي ومجتهد.sihruhum rajulun zakiyyun wa mujtahid |
| The mother welcomed her new daughter-in-law into the family. | رحبت الأم بكنتها الجديدة في العائلة.rahhabat al-ummu bikannatihâ al-jadîdati fi al-â'ilah |
Parents-in-Law
The terms for parents-in-law are حم (father-in-law) and حماة (mother-in-law). Note that حم is one of a special group of Arabic nouns that lengthens its ending with an extra vowel letter when a possessive suffix is attached (for example, becoming حماه for "his father-in-law" in the accusative case).
| My son visited his father-in-law and his mother-in-law on Friday. | زار ابني حماه وحماته يوم الجمعة.zâra ibnî hamâhu wa hamâtahu yawma l-jumu'ati |
| My brother's mother-in-law is a nice woman, but she is always busy. | حماة أخي امرأة لطيفة، لكنها مشغولة دائما.hamâtu akhî imra'atun latîfah, lâkinnahâ mashghûlatun dâ'iman. |
Engagement and Marital Status
When a couple is engaged, refer to the fiancé as خطيب and the fiancée as خطيبة.
| Fatima met her fiancé in front of the hospital door. | التقت فاطمة بخطيبها أمام باب المستشفى.iltaqat fâtimatu bikhatîbihâ amâma bâbi al-mustashfâ |
| My fiancée's ring is expensive. | خاتم خطيبتي غالي الثمن.khâtamu khaṭîbatî ghâli ath-thaman. |
To describe other marital situations, use the noun طلاق for a divorce. If someone has lost their spouse, use the word أرمل (widowed / widower) for a man, and add a Taa Marbuta for a woman: أرملة (widow).
| After their divorce, the relationship between them remained good. | بعد طلاقهما، بقيت العلاقة بينهما جيدة.ba'da talâqihimâ, baqiyati l-'alâqatu baynahumâ jayyidatan. |
| My neighbor is a widowed man, but he is always optimistic. | جاري رجل أرمل، لكنه متفائل دائما.jâri rajulun armalun, lâkinnahu mutafâ'ilun dâ'iman. |
| My grandmother lived as a widow for twenty years. | عاشت جدتي أرملة لمدة عشرين عاما.'âshat jaddatî armalatan limuddati 'ishrîna 'âman |