قريبة
قريبة en 30 secondes
- Qarība specifically refers to a female relative, distinguishing gender in Arabic kinship terminology.
- It shares the same spelling as the feminine adjective for 'near' or 'close', requiring contextual interpretation.
- Culturally, it carries weight regarding social duties and maintaining strong family connections (Silat al-Rahim).
- The plural for females is 'qarībāt', while 'aqārib' is used for a mixed-gender group of relatives.
The word قريبة (qarība) is the feminine singular noun derived from the triliteral root q-r-b (ق-ر-ب), which fundamentally denotes proximity, nearness, or being close in space, time, or relationship. In a social and genealogical context, a قريبة is any female who shares a common ancestor with you or is related through marriage. Unlike the English word 'relative' which is gender-neutral, Arabic specifies the gender, making this term exclusively for women.
- Kinship Proximity
- Refers to blood relations like aunts, cousins, or nieces.
- Social Bond
- Implies a level of duty and social obligation within the Arab family structure.
- Grammatical Gender
- The 'ta marbuta' (ة) at the end marks it as feminine.
زرتُ قريبة لي في المستشفى أمس.
هي قريبة من جهة الأم.
هل هي قريبة لك؟
Using قريبة requires understanding its dual nature as both a noun (relative) and an adjective (near). As a noun, it follows standard feminine noun rules. When you want to say 'my relative', you add the possessive suffix -i, but the 'ta marbuta' changes to a regular 't', becoming قريبـتـي (qarībatī).
- Possessive Forms
- قريبتي (my relative), قريبتك (your relative), قريبتها (her relative).
- Pluralization
- The plural is قريبات (qarībāt) for females only, or أقارب (aqārib) for a mixed group.
You will encounter this word frequently in social settings, particularly during holidays (Eid), weddings, and family gatherings. In Arab culture, the concept of Silat al-Rahim (maintaining family ties) is a religious and social pillar, making the identification of a قريبة a matter of social etiquette and duty.
دَعَوْتُ كل قريباتي إلى حفلة التخرج.
The most common mistake for learners is confusing the noun 'relative' with the adjective 'near'. While they look identical in the feminine form, the context usually clarifies the meaning. Another mistake is using qarība for a male relative; for a male, you must use قريب (qarīb).
Several words overlap with قريبة. نسيبة (nasība) refers specifically to a relative by marriage (in-law). أهل (ahl) is a broader term for family or folk. عائلة (ā'ila) refers to the immediate family unit.
How Formal Is It?
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Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Exemples par niveau
هذه قريبتي مريم.
This is my relative Maryam.
Demonstrative pronoun 'hadhihi' matches the feminine 'qarība'.
لي قريبة في دبي.
I have a female relative in Dubai.
The prepositional phrase 'li' indicates possession.
هل هي قريبتك؟
Is she your relative?
Question particle 'hal' used for yes/no questions.
أحب قريبتي.
I love my relative.
Verb 'uhibbu' followed by direct object.
قريبتي تسكن هنا.
My relative lives here.
Subject-verb agreement (feminine singular).
هي قريبة لطيفة.
She is a kind relative.
Adjective 'latīfa' matches the noun 'qarība'.
عندي قريبة واحدة.
I have one female relative.
Number 'wāhida' follows the noun.
من هذه القريبة؟
Who is this relative?
Interrogative 'man' for people.
زرت قريبة لي بالأمس.
I visited a relative of mine yesterday.
Past tense verb 'zurtu'.
قريبتي تعمل في البنك.
My relative works at the bank.
Present tense verb 'ta'malu'.
سألت عن قريبتي المريضة.
I asked about my sick relative.
Preposition 'an' triggers the genitive case.
جاءت قريبتي من السفر.
My relative came back from travel.
Feminine past tense 'jā'at'.
هذه الهدية لقريبتي.
This gift is for my relative.
Preposition 'li' meaning 'for'.
قريبتي تجيد الطبخ.
My relative is good at cooking.
Verb 'tujīdu' meaning 'to be proficient'.
تحدثت مع قريبتي طويلاً.
I talked with my relative for a long time.
Adverb 'tawīlan' modifying the action.
قريبتي تسكن في شقة قريبة.
My relative lives in a nearby apartment.
Shows 'qarība' as both noun and adjective.
يجب أن نصل الرحم مع كل قريبة.
We must maintain kinship ties with every female relative.
Concept of 'Silat al-Rahim'.
هي قريبة لي من جهة الأب.
She is a relative of mine from the father's side.
Clarifying the lineage.
دعتني قريبتي لحضور حفل زفافها.
My relative invited me to attend her wedding.
Object pronoun 'ni' attached to the verb.
كانت قريبتي بمثابة أم لي.
My relative was like a mother to me.
Using 'bi-mathābat' for comparison.
تعتبر هذه المرأة قريبة بعيدة.
This woman is considered a distant relative.
Passive verb 'tu'tabaru'.
ساعدتني قريبتي في العثور على وظيفة.
My relative helped me find a job.
Masdar 'al-uthūr' after preposition.
أرسلت رسالة إلى قريبتي في الخارج.
I sent a letter to my relative abroad.
Directional preposition 'ila'.
قريبتي تدرس الطب في الجامعة.
My relative is studying medicine at the university.
Continuous present context.
لا يمكنني تجاهل طلب قريبة محتاجة.
I cannot ignore the request of a relative in need.
Negative 'la' with potentiality.
العلاقة مع كل قريبة تتطلب الاحترام المتبادل.
The relationship with every relative requires mutual respect.
Abstract noun 'al-ihtirām'.
كانت قريبتي الشاهدة الوحيدة على الحادث.
My relative was the only witness to the accident.
Noun 'al-shāhida' (witness).
تجمعنا مع كل قريبة ذكريات الطفولة.
Childhood memories bring us together with every relative.
Verb 'tajma'unā' (gathers us).
أصبحت قريبتي مديرة للشركة مؤخراً.
My relative recently became the manager of the company.
Verb 'asbahat' (became).
قريبتي تمتلك موهبة فنية رائعة.
My relative possesses a wonderful artistic talent.
Verb 'tamliku' (possesses).
ناقشت مع قريبتي أموراً عائلية هامة.
I discussed important family matters with my relative.
Plural 'umūran' (matters).
قريبتي هي أقرب صديقة لي.
My relative is my closest friend.
Superlative 'aqrab' (closest).
تتجلى صلة الرحم في تفقد أحوال كل قريبة.
Kinship ties are manifested in checking on the well-being of every relative.
Sophisticated verb 'tatajallā'.
كانت قريبتي رمزاً للصمود في وجه الصعاب.
My relative was a symbol of resilience in the face of hardships.
Metaphorical usage of 'ramzan'.
أبدت قريبتي رأياً سديداً في المسألة.
My relative expressed a sound opinion on the matter.
Adjective 'sadīdan' (sound/correct).
تعتبر قريبتي مرجعاً في تاريخ العائلة.
My relative is considered a reference in the family's history.
Noun 'marji'an' (reference/authority).
حظيت قريبتي بتكريم رفيع المستوى.
My relative received a high-level honor.
Verb 'hadhiyat' (received/attained).
تتمتع قريبتي بذكاء وقاد وبصيرة نافذة.
My relative enjoys a sharp intelligence and keen insight.
Advanced descriptive adjectives.
قريبتي تساهم بفعالية في العمل التطوعي.
My relative actively contributes to volunteer work.
Adverbial phrase 'bi-fa'āliyya'.
تظل قريبتي السند الحقيقي لي في الأزمات.
My relative remains my true support in crises.
Noun 'al-sanad' (support).
إن مودة كل قريبة واجب شرعي واجتماعي.
The affection for every relative is a religious and social duty.
Emphatic 'inna' structure.
استفاضت قريبتي في شرح مآثر الأجداد.
My relative spoke at length explaining the ancestors' achievements.
Verb 'istafādat' (spoke extensively).
تمثل قريبتي الجسر الذي يربطنا بالماضي.
My relative represents the bridge that connects us to the past.
Symbolic representation.
أرست قريبتي قواعد صارمة للتعامل الأسري.
My relative established strict rules for family interaction.
Verb 'arsat' (established/anchored).
تعد قريبتي أنموذجاً يحتذى به في العطاء.
My relative is considered a model to be emulated in giving.
Passive structure 'yuhtadhā bihi'.
تجسد قريبتي قيم النبل والأصالة.
My relative embodies the values of nobility and authenticity.
Verb 'tujassidu' (embodies).
لم تكن قريبتي مجرد فرد، بل كانت مؤسسة.
My relative was not just an individual, but an institution.
Contrastive 'bal' (but rather).
أثبتت قريبتي أن القرابة روح قبل أن تكون دماً.
My relative proved that kinship is spirit before it is blood.
Philosophical statement on kinship.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
هي قريبة لي
أعز قريبة
قريبة من الدرجة الأولى
كل قريبة ونسيبة
صلة الرحم مع القريبة
قريبة الروح
ليست مجرد قريبة
أقرب قريبة
قريبة العائلة
قريبة في الغربة
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
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Facile à confondre
Male relative or masculine 'near'.
Means 'stranger' or 'strange', only one letter different (ghain vs qaf).
Means 'spouse' or 'consort'.
Means 'someone close to a person in power' or 'inner circle'.
A more formal/abstract noun for kinship.
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
Context is key to separate 'relative' from 'near'.
Calling someone 'qarība' can be a way to show warmth even if the relation is distant.
- Using 'qarība' for a male relative.
- Forgetting to change 'ة' to 'ت' when adding possessive suffixes.
- Confusing 'qarība' (relative) with 'gharība' (stranger).
- Using 'qarība' as an adjective for a masculine noun.
- Thinking 'qarība' only means 'first cousin'.
Astuces
Suffix Change
When adding 'my' (-i), 'qarība' becomes 'qarībatī'. Don't forget the 't'!
Adjective vs Noun
If it follows a noun, it's likely an adjective (near). If it's the subject/object, it's a relative.
Social Duty
In Arab culture, visiting a 'qarība' who is ill is considered a mandatory social duty.
The Qaf
Keep the 'Q' deep in the throat to distinguish it from 'K'.
Plural Usage
Use 'qarībāt' for a group of women, but 'aqārib' if there's even one man in the group.
Introductions
When introducing a relative, adding her name after 'qarībatī' is the most common way.
Root Logic
Think of 'Proximity'. A relative is someone with biological or social proximity to you.
Suffixes
Listen for the 'ha' at the end (qarībatuha) to know they are talking about 'her relative'.
Dialect Variation
In Egypt, it sounds like 'arība'. In the Gulf, the 'q' is often hard like a 'g'.
Ancient Roots
The root Q-R-B is one of the oldest in Semitic languages for family ties.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Qariba sounds like 'Care-about-her'—you care about your female relative.
Origine du mot
Semitic root Q-R-B meaning 'to be near'.
Contexte culturel
Often, specific titles like 'Amma' (paternal aunt) are used instead of 'qarība' to show more respect.
Relatives are always given priority in hospitality.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"هل لديك قريبة تعيش في الخارج؟"
"من هي أقرب قريبة إليك؟"
"هل زرت قريبة لك مؤخراً؟"
"كيف تصف علاقتك مع قريباتك؟"
"هل تعمل أي قريبة لك في نفس مجالك؟"
Sujets d'écriture
اكتب عن قريبة أثرت في حياتك.
صف تجمعاً عائلياً مع قريباتك.
ما هي أهمية صلة الرحم مع القريبة في رأيك؟
اكتب رسالة شكر لقريبة ساعدتك.
تحدث عن ذكرياتك مع قريبة من طفولتك.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it can also include relatives by marriage, though 'nasība' is more specific for in-laws.
You say 'qarībatī' (قريبتي).
Technically no, but if a friend is 'like family', you might metaphorically call her a relative.
The plural for females is 'qarībāt' (قريبات).
Yes, as an adjective for feminine nouns, e.g., 'The car is near' (as-sayyāra qarība).
It is standard (MSA) and used in both formal and informal contexts.
'Ā'ila' is the family unit; 'qarība' is an individual member.
Yes, to define kinship in inheritance or testimony.
Yes, it is a very broad term.
It requires practice as it's a uvular stop not found in English.
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Summary
The word 'qarība' is essential for describing family relationships in Arabic, emphasizing both the gender of the relative and the concept of proximity that defines the Arab family structure.
- Qarība specifically refers to a female relative, distinguishing gender in Arabic kinship terminology.
- It shares the same spelling as the feminine adjective for 'near' or 'close', requiring contextual interpretation.
- Culturally, it carries weight regarding social duties and maintaining strong family connections (Silat al-Rahim).
- The plural for females is 'qarībāt', while 'aqārib' is used for a mixed-gender group of relatives.
Suffix Change
When adding 'my' (-i), 'qarība' becomes 'qarībatī'. Don't forget the 't'!
Adjective vs Noun
If it follows a noun, it's likely an adjective (near). If it's the subject/object, it's a relative.
Social Duty
In Arab culture, visiting a 'qarība' who is ill is considered a mandatory social duty.
The Qaf
Keep the 'Q' deep in the throat to distinguish it from 'K'.
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