How to say "family" in Modern Standard Arabic
عَائِلَةٌ
3a'ila
- Without tashkeel
- عائلة
- Franco / chat alphabet
- 3a2ila
- Literally
- family, the people one provides for
When to use it
The general word for family in Modern Standard Arabic, covering parents, children and the wider relatives. usra is narrower and means the household you live with. Asking after someone's family is a normal part of greeting them.
Other ways to say it
immediate family
أُسْرَةٌ
usra
household, immediate family
Use for parents and children living together; common in official language.
one's people
أَهْلٌ
ahl
folks, relatives
Warmer and broader: your people, your relatives.
my family
عَائِلَتِي
3a'ilati
my family
The form you need to talk about your own.
family members
أَفْرَادُ الْعَائِلَةِ
afradu al-3a'ilati
members of the family
Use when counting or listing relatives.
How people reply
هُمْ بِخَيْرٍ، شُكْراً
hum bikhayrin, shukran
They are well, thank you.
عَائِلَتِي كَبِيرَةٌ
3a'ilati kabiratun
My family is big.
عِنْدِي أَخٌ وَأُخْتٌ
3indi akhun wa-ukhtun
I have a brother and a sister.
In a sentence
كَيْفَ حَالُ عَائِلَتِكَ؟
kayfa 7alu 3a'ilatika?
How is your family?
أَعِيشُ مَعَ عَائِلَتِي فِي عَمَّانَ.
a3ishu ma3a 3a'ilati fi 3ammana.
I live with my family in Amman.
عَائِلَتِي أَهَمُّ شَيْءٍ فِي حَيَاتِي.
3a'ilati ahammu shay'in fi 7ayati.
My family is the most important thing in my life.