الــتَّـحِيَّــة _ Greeting

In the last lesson, we learned how to thank people by saying šukran and šukran ǧazīlan.

In this lesson we’ll learn some of the most common greetings used in Arabic speaking countries.

Hal ʾantum ǧāhizūn? Are you ready? Falnabdaʾ!, then let’s start!

The most common greeting is: marḥaban or “Hi”!

[slowly] marḥaban!

This is a general way to greet people when you see them.

A more cultural greeting is Al-salāmu ʿalaykum.

This means “peace be with you,” and is generally used only by Muslims. We say it when we meet someone and also when we leave.

[slowly] Al-salāmu ʿalaykum

Someone could respond to Al-salāmu ʿalaykum with “marḥaban” or “Hi”, but it is more polite to respond to such greetings in the corresponding way.

Since Al-salāmu ʿalaykum means “Peace be with you”, when greeted in that way we should

answer back with “Wa ʿalaykum al-salām” which literally means “Peace be with you too”.

[slowly] Wa ʿalaykum al-salām

Whether you use “marḥaban” (“Hi”) or “Al-salāmu ʿalaykum”, it is also polite to ask the person how they are. Kayfa ḥāluka? “How are you?”

[slowly] Kayfa Hāluka?

Don’t forget that in Arabic, the word “you”needs to have a gender. So Kayfa Hāluka?

is good if you are talking to a man, but if you are talking to a woman you should ask Kayfa Hāluki?

[slowly] Kayfa Hāluki?

When it’s time to leave, we have many ways to say parting greetings.

You can say: wadāʿan or Goodbye.

[slowly] wadāʿan

The other person can reply “maʿa al-salāmah” which means “Be safe”

[slowly] maʿa al-salāmah

Let’s review the phrases you’ve learned in this lesson.

marḥaban is Hi

Al-salāmu ʿalaykum is Peace be with you, The response is Wa ʿalaykum al-salām

Kayfa Hāluka? or Kayfa Hāluki? is How are you?

wadāʿan is Goodbye and maʿa al-salāmah is Be safe

Now it’s time for Carole’s tips.

If the you’re leaving and you want to show the person that you would like to see them again, you can use ilā al-liqāʾ meaning See you!”, or ʾilā al-liqāʾi qarīban! or “See you soon!”

[slowly] ʾilā al-liqāʾ / ʾilā al-liqāʾi qarīban!

Now you know lots of ways to greet people in Arabic!

During the next lesson we’ll learn the meaning of the phrase Hal tatakallamu al-ʾinklīziyyah?

Do you already know it? I’ll be waiting to

talk about it with you in the next Al-ʿarabiyyah fi ṯalāṯi daqāʾiq lesson.

ʾilā al-liqāʾi qarīban!