r/learn_arabic • u/dokkaebi_0614 • 23h ago

Khaliji خليجي Ghanati (‎ ‎غناتي )

I’ve just found out about the word “‎غناتي” and that some use it to call someone “sweetheart”. Is it a universal word or you can say it to female only? If there’s a male version, tell me please

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u/Straight_Local5285 16h ago

my friend says it to me most of the times we are males, I think you can say it to both genders just fine, but that might be considered as flirting for the opposite gender.

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u/dokkaebi_0614 15h ago

I see, thank youuu

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u/iium2000 Trusted Advisor 14h ago

The term is more commonly used in the Arab-Gulf (Khaleej) region by different Khaleeji dialects with slight variations غِناتي or غَناتي for a spouse, for a friend, for children and/or from an elderly to the young.. and you use it only with people whom you have a close and personal bond with - and not just anyone!!..

AFAIK, the term غناتي is used to both male and female, however غناتيه is specifically used for females..

In MSA, the word غِنى means wealth (usually a lot) that is enough for someone to stop chasing after people.. In fact, the adjectives غَنِيّ means a rich-man, and غَنِيَّة means a rich woman who needs no one's help nor support..

From غِنى (wealth), we add the pronoun "my" to غِنى (wealth) and we get غِناتي which translates to something like "my wealth", "my treasure" or "my dear" in English to both male and female..

However adding ـه at the end, as in غناتيه is specifically more feminine..