Here are the main family words you need to know:

When you introduce someone, you can also say what job they do:

In Arabic, when you talk about two people, you use the dual form. Look at these examples:

For Family

• أَخَوَانِ (akhowan) = two brothers
• أُخْتَانِ (ukhtan) = two sisters
• والِدانِ (waladan) = two parents (father and mother)
• صَدِيقَتَانِ (sadiqatan) = two female friends

For Occupations

When you want to describe someone using "who" or "the one who," Arabic uses:

• الَّذِي (alladhee) — for males (singular)
• الَّتِي (allatee) — for females (singular)

Examples

• هَذَا صَدِيقِي الَّذِي يَلْعَبُ (This is my friend who plays)
• هَذِهِ صَدِيقَتِي الَّتِي تَدْرُسُ (This is my female friend who studies)
• هَذَا أَبي الَّذِي يَعْمَلُ (This is my father who works)
• هَذِهِ أُمِّي الَّتِي تُطْبِخُ (This is my mother who cooks)

Example 1: Introducing One Person

Question: How do you introduce your uncle who is a doctor?

Answer:

• مَنْ هَذَا؟ (Who is this?)
• هَذَا عَمِّي، هُوَ طَبِيبٌ (This is my uncle, he is a doctor)

Example 2: Introducing Two People

Question: How do you introduce your two friends who are teachers?

Answer:

• مَنْ هَاتَانِ؟ (Who are these two?)
• هَاتَانِ صَدِيقَتَانِ، هُمَا مُعَلِّمَتَانِ (These are my two friends, they are teachers)

Example 3: Using Relative Pronouns

Question: How do you describe your sister who you love?

Answer:

• مَنْ هَذِهِ؟ (Who is this?)
• هَذِهِ أُخْتِي الَّتِي أُحِبُّهَا (This is my sister whom I love)

1. Start with the question: مَنْ هَذَا؟ (Who is this?) or مَنْ هَذِهِ؟ (Who is this? — for females)

2. Give the person's name or relation: Use words like هَذَا (this — male) or هَذِهِ (this — female)

3. Add their job (optional): Say what they do using هُوَ (he) or هِيَ (she)

4. Use the dual form when talking about two people: هَذَانِ (these two — male) or هَاتَانِ (these two — female)

5. Add description with الَّذِي or الَّتِي if you want to say more about the person

Try to understand these introduction patterns:

• هَذَا وَالِدِي (This is my father)
• هَذِهِ أُمِّي (This is my mother)
• هَذَا خَالِي هُوَ مُهَنْدِسٌ (This is my maternal uncle, he is an engineer)
• هَاتَانِ صَدِيقَتَانِ لَاعِبَتَانِ (These are two female friends, they are players/athletes)
• هَذِهِ جَدَّتِي الطَّبِيبَة (This is my grandmother, the doctor)

In Tanzania, you can use these Arabic phrases when meeting new people. For example, when a visitor comes to your home in Dar es Salaam, you can say: "هَذَا أَبي، هُوَ مُدَرِّسٌ" (This is my father, he is a teacher). This helps you introduce your family members properly, which is important when welcoming guests or talking about your family in everyday conversations.