Missing someone hits everyone in a slightly different way. But in the Arabic language, the whole feeling gets wrapped in language that’s warmer and much more expressive. People don’t just say “I miss you” — they kind of pour a little emotion into it. And because the Arab world is huge and full of different accents and dialects, you’ll hear this feeling phrased in a dozen different ways, depending on who you’re talking to.
If you’re learning Arabic, this is another expression that reflects the richness of the Arabic language. The Arabic words and phrases we will list here are comprehensive and personalized to fit the right context, the person you are addressing or speaking to, and the hearfelt emotion and deep longing you might be feeling. Whether your friend is from Egypt, a cousin is from Syria, or your partner is from the Gulf, each region has its own twist on “I miss you.”
So let’s take a little tour through the Arab world and look at 10 common ways to say I miss you that people use to express longing — starting with the phrases used in Modern Standard Arabic.
I Miss You in Modern Standard Arabic
In formal settings — writing, speeches, news, or language learning — people often use MSA. It’s not the everyday dialect, but it carries a beautiful clarity. These phrases are perfect if you want something polite, literary, or emotionally deep without sounding too casual.
Here are eight MSA ways to express longing, each with a pronunciation guide and literal translation to help you learn how to say these sentences clearly:
أَفْتَقِدُكَ — Aftaqiduka
I miss you
Aftaqiduka
أَفْتَقِدُكَ
أَحِنُّ إِلَيْكَ — Aḥinnu ilayka
I long for you
Aḥinnu ilayka
أَحِنُّ إِلَيْكَ
أَشْتَاقُ لِرُؤْيَتِكَ — Ashtāqu li-ruʾyatika
I miss seeing you
Ashtāqu li-ruʾyatika
أَشْتَاقُ لِرُؤْيَتِكَ
قَلْبِي مَشْغُولٌ بِكَ — Qalbī mashghūlun bika
My heart is preoccupied with you.
Qalbī mashghūlun bika
قَلْبِي مَشْغُولٌ بِكَ
أَتُوقُ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ — Atūqu ilā liqāʾika
I long to meet you.
Atūqu ilā liqāʾika
أَتُوقُ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ
أَشْعُرُ بِفَرَاغٍ فِي غِيَابِكَ — Ashʿuru bifarāghin fī ghiyābika
I feel empty in your absence
Ashʿuru bifarāghin fī ghiyābika
أَشْعُرُ بِفَرَاغٍ فِي غِيَابِكَ
MSA phrases give your speech a formal beauty, and they help learners understand the basic Arabic structure before moving into dialects.
I Miss You in Arabic Dialects
In real everyday communication — messages, phone calls, meeting a friend at the airport — Arabs rarely use MSA to say “I miss you.” Dialects carry more emotion, more flexibility, and honestly… more personality.
Below are the most common ways to say I miss you across different regions.
Egyptian Arabic
وَحَشْتِنِي (Waḥashtinī)
Egyptians say Waḥashtinī, and if you’ve ever watched Egyptian movies or listened to Egyptian songs, you’ve definitely heard it.
masculine
Waḥashtinī
وحشتني
feminine
Waḥashtīnī
وحشتيني
Egyptian Arabic is warm and catchy — even speakers outside Egypt recognize this phrase immediately.
Gulf Arabic
اِشْتَقْتْ لَك (Ishtaqt lak)
In Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and the Emirates, people often say:
masculine
Ishtaqt lak
اِشْتَقْتْ لَك
feminine
Ishtaqt lik
اِشْتَقْتْ لِك
It’s close to the formal version but used casually in everyday conversations.
Levantine Arabic
اِشْتَقْتِلَّك (Ishtaqtillak)
If you’re speaking with someone from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, or Palestine, this is your go-to phrase. Again, just pay attention to the gender:
masculine
Ishtaqtillak
اشتقتلَّك
feminine
Ishtaqtillik
اشتقتلِّك
Pronunciation feels soft and quick — the “ill” blends easily.
Levantine Arabic tends to sound gentle and musical, which makes these expressions great for close relationships.
Maghrebi / Darija Arabic
تْوَحَّشْتَك (Twaḥḥashtak)
In Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, people use a stronger, more guttural expression:
masculine
Twaḥḥashtak
توحشتَك
feminine
Twaḥḥashtik
توحشتِك
Darija has a unique sound, and this phrase carries a deep emotional tone — like you really, really missed someone.
Romantic and Emotional Phrases to Say “I Miss You” in Arabic
Arabic doesn’t stop at “I miss you.” If you want to sound poetic, dramatic, hopelessly in love, or just extra sweet, here are a few expressions often heard in Arabic songs, messages, and everyday conversation:
You were absent from my eyes but never from my heart
Ghibta ʿan ʿaynī wa lam taghib ʿan qalbī
غِبْتَ عَنْ عَيْنِي وَلَمْ تَغِبْ عَنْ قَلْبِي
A very poetic Arabic expression — almost like something out of classical love poetry.
Days aren’t the same without you.
Lam taʿudil-ayyāmu kamā kānat bidūnika
لَمْ تَعُدِ الْأَيَّامُ كَمَا كَانَتْ بِدُونِكَ
I Miss You in Nizar Qabbani’s Poetry
"I miss you... so teach me how not to miss, Teach me how to cut the roots of your love from deep within..."
"اشتقْتُ إليكَ، فعلّمني ألّا أَشتَاق، علّمني، كيفَ أَقُصُّ جُذُورَ هَواكَ مِن الأَعمَاق…"
I Miss You in Antara Bin Shaddad’s Poetry
"I remembered you while the spears were drinking from me, And Indian swords were dripping with my blood. I longed to kiss those blades, For they gleamed like the flash of your smiling mouth."
"ولقد ذكرتُكِ والرِّماحُ نواهلٌ مِنِّي، وبِيضُ الهندِ تقطرُ من دمي فودِدتُ تَقبِيلَ السُّيوفِ لأنَّها لَمعَتْ كبَارِقِ ثَغرِكِ المُتَبَسّمِ"
These expressions show just how diverse Arabic emotional language can be. Use them if you want to sound more natural — or more dramatic. Both are valid.
Review 10 Ways to Say I Miss You
Final word
There isn’t one single phrase to say I Miss You in Arabic — and that’s what makes the language so rich. Every dialect, every region, every speaker adds their own color to this emotion of love and longing.
The best way to get comfortable with all these expressions is to listen to native speakers, practice the pronunciation, and try slipping one new phrase into your conversations. The more you experiment, the more these expressions will feel like second nature.
If you want to practice these phrases with real audio, fun exercises, and plenty of chances to mess up safely (which is how everyone learns!), try the AlifBee App. You can explore dialects, pronunciation, everyday expressions, and so much more — all now with a 14-day free trial.
