Habib
/həˈbiːb/noun
An Arabic word meaning “beloved,” used in English as a term of endearment, personal name, or honorific.
Did you know?In Islamic honorific language, Ḥabīb Allāh—“Beloved of God”—is a traditional epithet associated with the Prophet Muhammad.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ḥ-b-b
“A reconstructed root associated with love, affection, and belovedness”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥabba
“To love or hold dear”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥabīb
“Beloved, dear friend, or loved one”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
Ḥabīb Allāh
“Beloved of God, an honorific phrase”
19th–20th Century
English
habib
“An Arabic personal name or term of endearment adopted into English usage”
Modern English
English
Habib
“Beloved; an Arabic name, title, or affectionate form of address”