Hi all--how does one say (1) 'to hug/a hug' and (2) 'to cuddle/cuddles' in formal and colloquial Arabic?
For (1), WordReference suggests (عانق/يعانق), (ضمّ/يضمّ), and (حضن/يحضن) for the verb, and (عناق) and (حضن) for the noun. How do these terms differ from one another?
For (2), WR suggests one or more of the above translations. I should clarify that I generally hear and use 'to cuddle' in the sense of the second definition at Wiktionary[1]: 'To cradle in one's arms so as to give comfort, warmth,' e.g., 'She cuddled the infant before bedtime.' Is there a similar word or phrase in MSA?
What verbs and nouns are used in the various dialects? In Lebanese, I've learnt (عبط) and (غمر) for 'to hug' and (عبطة) for 'a hug', but nothing for 'to cuddle' and 'cuddles'.
Thanks in advance.
[1]
cuddle - Wiktionary
For (1), WordReference suggests (عانق/يعانق), (ضمّ/يضمّ), and (حضن/يحضن) for the verb, and (عناق) and (حضن) for the noun. How do these terms differ from one another?
For (2), WR suggests one or more of the above translations. I should clarify that I generally hear and use 'to cuddle' in the sense of the second definition at Wiktionary[1]: 'To cradle in one's arms so as to give comfort, warmth,' e.g., 'She cuddled the infant before bedtime.' Is there a similar word or phrase in MSA?
What verbs and nouns are used in the various dialects? In Lebanese, I've learnt (عبط) and (غمر) for 'to hug' and (عبطة) for 'a hug', but nothing for 'to cuddle' and 'cuddles'.
Thanks in advance.
[1]
cuddle - Wiktionary
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