Timotheos
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What does this word mean?
Hi all,
There is an Arabic word that keeps popping up in Egyptian song titles on CDs and popping out in lyrics; female singers really like to hang on it, it
seems: habibi or habebe. I have seen it spelled both ways, but that is English for how it sounds. What does it mean?
If it is significant enough, I might even start using it myself.
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Giorgioud
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Hi Timotheos,
it means "darling" or "loved one". You're right, it's one of the most used words in the Arabic-speaking world. It is used to address any person who
means anything to you, from your partner or lover to your children.......and the spelling is correct, both ways......
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spyblaster
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actually, it means "my boy friend". it only indicates the male one (that's why female singers use it, and the gay ones maybe  ). the last part of the word "i" stands for "my". Habibati means "my girl friend".
The Oud is my life, n my life is the Oud
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urus
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here we go:
(source: http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=26785&langid=18)
"Habibi is said to male receivers. For female receivers, Habibti or Habibeti should be used.
Not always is that word used to express love. You can say it while speaking to everyone to show friendliness.
So, the meanings:
-lover, beloved one, darling, sweetheart, sweetie, honey (said to a lover)
-sweetheart, sweetie (said to a child)
-buddy, pal, man, friend, mate (said to a friend)
-"habibi" is said to little kids by strangers to soften a request
-"ya habibi" can mean "Oh my!" as an expression of amazement, frustration, disapproval, etc.
-"habibi!!" in a plaintive, whiney tone can mean "pleeeeeeeeeease??"
(all of these meanings work fine in Egypt, at least)
The Oud and The Fuzz
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John Erlich
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Shukran, Urus, ya habibi!
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urus
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Ya habibi, il-3awf)
The Oud and The Fuzz
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Alfaraby
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In this context, Habibi means beloved & not any other (right) connotation mentioned above.
Got it, habibi ?
Yours indeed
Alfaraby
alfarabymusic@gmail.com
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urus
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But of course, ya rais)
By the way, is this right, that in the context of love lyrics 'habibi' might be addressed to a woman as some kind of a respective form?
i've been told that this thing is quite common in classic arabic poetry (dunno though).
The Oud and The Fuzz
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Alfaraby
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Quite all Male singers sang to Habibi, while they're"straight" as much as we know 
I'm not sure about Arabic poetry ! In school we have learned tons of verses addressing female beloved in particular, not male. For some reason, in
male Arabic songs, male plays a much more leading role, than female.
An interresting point for study !
For musicians, what really matters is the melody & how it is performed.
Yours indeed
Alfaraby
alfarabymusic@gmail.com
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Timotheos
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Thanks all,
I KNEW it had to have something to do with love! The way the female singers drape it with a sense of urgency points to what Urus's reference said.
I'm going to pay more attention to the context it's used in now. Language is another form of music when you don't understand the words but can hear
the emotion.
And some just sound better than others, when the words just flow together. I really like the sound of Lebanese singing.
Again, thanks for the info. I'm having fun picking out oud riffs from these CDs. It really helps being an experienced guitar player. But the oud
offers so much more freedom! Ahh, life with no frets : )
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urus
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Yes, and it's quite useful to know what the song is about, practically speaking.
Like, I heard stories about western musicians playing themes about departing on eastern wedding celebrations, which led to, ahem, some
misunderstandings
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excentrik
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There are also metaphorical meanings of the term (such as in certain Palestinian folk tunes and poetry).
I think the term "habibi" is used as a generality- so as not to specify directly who the loved one is... Sorta like in every Bollywood kissing scene
it's always a dream sequence... Don't piss off the conservatives now! 
Tarik
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Ahmed
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"Habibi" means "my love/my dear/my darling" referring to a male, as opposed to "habiti" which is the female equivalent.
Urus - you are right about it (i.e. referring to a female love interest using masculine pronouns) comes from ancient Arabic poetry, possibly as a way
of concealing the identity of the love interest.
This tradition has made its way into modern Arabic music, for example, if you listen to to Abdel Halim's songs he always to the loved one as "he".That
is the case for most, if not all, Arabic songs.
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stos
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maybe it comes from old times where beloved was meant for God, because it was not good to sing love songs for human being and that was the way to
write love songs with a second meaning also...
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urus
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and Arabs also use this word in religious hymns.
"Ya habibi", O Beloved, addressing God, both for Muslims and Christians, right?
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mourad_X
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BABY
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SamirCanada
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What's the song you are listening to? perhaps we can offer more specific interpretation.
have a youtube link ?
@samiroud Instagram
samiroudmaker@gmail.com
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urus
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Mourad, 
yeah, "baby" seems to be the most correct rendering for the arabic love songs)
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Timotheos
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Samir, I have 5 CDs of compiled Arabic music, and nearly every song sung by a woman has that word in it. I'm willing to bet, just by listening to way
the song is sung, that "baby" is probably it, given what everyone has been saying. It just feels right. I'm gonna use that with my next girlfriend
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Microber
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Hababy
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Alfaraby
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Quote: Originally posted by urus  | and Arabs also use this word in religious hymns.
"Ya habibi", O Beloved, addressing God, both for Muslims and Christians, right? |
More for addressing Jesus &/or prophet Mohammad, rather than GOD !
I tend to agree that the most close word to Habibi is the famous English "Baby". You call your beloved "baby" while she's not a baby
anymore, like you'd call your beloved Habibi while she's a female, not a male. Kind of interpretation !
Yours indeed
Alfaraby
alfarabymusic@gmail.com
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