Family words in Arabic
Arabic · Early Years · The School
Father and mother
أب (ab) means father. أم (umm) means mother. These words sound nothing like the English words. That is normal. Every language has grown its own sound for family words, over a long time. That is just how it is.
Brother and sister
أخ (akh) means brother. أخت (ukht) means sister. Say each word slowly. Notice how أخت has a small sound at the end. That small sound often shows a word is about a girl. Try saying both words now.
Point and say
Point to your mum, if she is near, and say umm. Point to your dad, and say ab. If you have a brother or sister, point to them too, and say akh or ukht. Say it clearly each time.
Different sounds, same meaning
English says mother. Arabic says umm. They sound nothing alike. But they mean the very same person. Different languages just pick different sounds for the very same idea, and that is fine. It is the same for every word.
Practise your four words
Say all four words in a row: ab, umm, akh, ukht. Try them again tomorrow. Try them again the day after that. The more you say them, the easier they get, just like any new word you learn, bit by bit.