Uncle in Arabic (Learn How To Say Paternal and Maternal Uncle)

Learning a new language is always an exciting adventure, and Arabic is no exception. One of the most important things to learn in any language is how to address family members. In Arabic, there are specific words to refer to each family member.

In this blog post, we will focus on one of these words, “uncle,” and explore how to say it in Arabic. Let’s get started and learn how to say uncle in Arabic!

How To Say Uncle in Arabic Language?

In general, the Arabic word for uncle is عَمّ and the pronounciation is amm. This word is commonly used to refer to the brother of one’s father, but it can also be used to address older male family friends who are considered as family members.

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’ and ‘paternal uncle”.

Paternal Uncle in Arabic

In Arabic, the term for paternal uncle is “عمّ” (amm). This term is used specifically to refer to the brother of one’s father. When addressing or referring to your paternal uncle in Arabic, you can use the phrase “عمّي” (ammi), which means “my uncle.”

It is customary in Arabic culture to show respect for older family members, including uncles, by addressing them with a title and using proper forms of address.

English	Arabic	Transliteration
My uncle	عمي	Ammi
His uncle	عمه	Ammuhu
Her uncle	عمها	Ammuha
Your uncle	عمكَ	Ammuka (masculine)
Your uncle	عمكِ	Ammuki (feminine)
Your uncle	عمكم	Ammukum (plural masculine)
Your uncle	عمكنّ	Ammukhunna (plural feminine)

Maternal Uncle in Arabic

In Arabic, the term for maternal uncle is “خَال” and pronounced khaal. This term is used specifically to refer to the brother of one’s mother.

When addressing or referring to your maternal uncle in Arabic, you can use the phrase “خالي” (khaali), which means “my uncle.”

English	Arabic	Transliteration
My uncle	خالي	Khaali
His uncle	خاله	Khaaluhu
Her uncle	خالها	Khaaluha
Your uncle	خالكَ	Khaaluka (masculine)
Your uncle	خالكِ	Khaaluki (feminine)
Your uncle	خالكم	Khaalukum (plural masculine)
Your uncle	خالكن	Khaalukunna (plural feminine)

My Uncle in Arabic

In Arabic, “my uncle” can be translated to “عمّي” (ammi) or “خالي” (khali) depending on the type of uncle you are referring to.

If you are referring to your paternal uncle (the brother of your father), you would use “عمّي” (ammi) to say “my uncle.”

Similarly, if you are referring to your maternal uncle (the brother of your mother), you would also use “خالي” (khaali).

Note that all these terms are in Modern Standard Arabic, not in any specific Arabic dialect.

Conclusion

Learning how to address family members correctly is an important aspect of Arabic language and culture.

Knowing how to say “uncle” in Arabic, and using it appropriately, shows respect for Arabic family culture and helps build strong relationships with Arabic speakers.

The word “amm” or “khaal” is used to refer to the brother of one’s father or mother, as well as older male family friends who are considered as family members.

So, next time you meet an Arabic-speaking family member or friend, make sure to use the word “amm” to address them correctly and show your appreciation for Arabic family culture.