How to Say 'Sister' in Arabic

The term "sister" refers to a female sibling, a girl or woman who shares one or both parents with another person. Additionally, "sister" can be used more broadly to refer to women who share a close, supportive relationship, similar to that of siblings, even if they are not biologically related. In this article, you will learn how to say brother in Arabic.

The word "sister" has several synonyms in Arabic. Here are a few, along with their meanings in English:

أُخت (Ukht)

Arabic's most common term for 'sister' is 'أخت' (ukht). This term is widely used to refer to a sister sibling or even to address a close female friend with whom one shares a strong bond akin to sisterhood. 

Here are the variations of  'أخت' (ukht) in Arabic depending on whom you’re addressing:

Formal/Standard Arabic

• أُخت (ukht) - Sister.
• أُختي (ukhti) - My sister.
  

Addressing an older sister (formal)

• أُختي الكبرى (ukhti al-kubra) - My older sister.
  

Addressing a younger sister (formal)

• أُختي الصغرى (ukhti as-sughra) - My younger sister.
  

Affectionate or casual (informal)

• أُختي العزيزة (ukhti al-aziza) - My dear sister.
• أُختي الحبيبة (ukhti al-habiba) - My beloved sister.
  

Religious context

• أُختي في الله (ukhti fi Allah) - My sister in faith (used among Muslims).

شقيقة (Shaqeqa)

An alternative word for 'sister' in Arabic is 'شقيقة' (shaqeqa), which refers to a sister who shares the same biological parents. It's important to understand the difference between "أُخت شقيقة" (ukht shaqeqa) which means (full sister) and "أُخت غير شقيقة" (ukht ghair shaqeqa) which means (half-sister). "Ukht shaqeqa" has the same biological mother and father, while "Ukht ghair shaqeqa" has either the same mother or the same father.

Here are the variations of  'شقيقة' (shaqeqa) in Arabic depending on whom you’re addressing:

Formal/Standard Arabic

• شقيقة (shaqeqa) - Sister (full sister, often used to indicate a sibling from both the same father and mother).
• شقيقتي (shaqeqati) - My sister.
  

Addressing an older sister (formal)

• شقيقتي الكبرى (shaqeqati al-kubra) - My older sister.

Addressing a younger sister (formal)

• شقيقتي الصغرى (shaqeqati as-sughra) - My younger sister.

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