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Greetings and polite expressions in Egyptian Arabic

I tried to include as many useful greetings and courteous expressions as I could on this page, focusing on the expressions used in
Egypt (so when I say "Colloquially people say such-and-such," I'm referring to Egypt). In some cases, I gave a standard variant and
then detailed the colloquial usage below. Also, I gave everything in the masculine form, just because it's easier than including the
feminine and plural forms for everything.
Do make sure to memorize the proper responses to each expression; it can be quite awkward if someone tells you something nice
and you don't know what to say back! If you don't know the right response, no one will get angry at you, but if you do know what
to say, it can make a really nice impression. Conveniently, usually the main verb in the response comes from the same root as the
main word used in the first expression for example, "ma3a s-salma," "salmtak," "Hamdillh 3as-salma" and "sallimli 3a...,"
which all have words from the s-l-m root. They all have the same response, "allh ysallimak," with another s-l-m root word. So if you
keep that in mind, it helps in remembering the right response.

( ahlan wa sahlan)
Response: ( ahlan bk)
You can say when welcoming someone (ex. to your country or home). And you can also say to mean just "hello."
Welcome; hello:

( marHaban)
Response: ( marHaban bk)
can be used in much the same way as , and it has a more colloquial pronunciation of "marHaba." One colloquial
response is ( marHabtein - lit. two welcomes). is not really used in Egypt outside of tourist signs and so forth, but in
Welcome; hello:

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other places like the Gulf and Levant, it's used frequently to say hello.

( as-salmu 3aleikum) - lit. Peace be upon you

Response: ( w3aleikum as-salm)
A common greeting used by Muslims. You can also add
Hello:

(waraHmatu llhi wabaraktu - and God's mercy and

blessings) to the end.

( SabH al-xeir)
Response: ( SabH an-nr)
There are more colloquial variants on / that you can use, like ( SabH il-'iTa - lit. morning of cream),
( SabH il-full - lit. morning of jasmine), and ( SabH il-ward - lit. morning of rose). They're a little "baladi" (i.e. used
Good morning:

more by the rural and lower classes), but you can still use them to add some color to your speech.

( mas' al-xeir)
Response: ( mas' an-nr)
You can also say , , and
Good evening:

here too.

( keif Hlak)
Response: ( bexeir al-Hamdulillh) - Fine, thank God
can be said in a colloquial context, especially in the Levant. In Egypt, however, the commonly used expression for "How are
you?" is ( izzayyak). You can also say, ( izzayy il-aHwaal?), "How are things?" or ( izzayy iS-SiHHa),
"How's [your] health?" A common colloquial response would be ( kwayyis al-Hamdulillh), "Good, thank God," or just
How are you?:

"al-Hamdulillh" on its own.

How are things going?:

(eih axbr);

(axbrak eih);

(3amil/3amla eih)

These expressions are kind of like "What's up?" as it's used in the U.S.; you don't really proceed to explain what's going on in your
life and don't say
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, maf

axbr, "No news," like I did once; people will laugh at you! If you want to say "Nothing new,"
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you can say

la gedd. People usually just say something like "al-Hamdulillh" or

( kwayyis, "Good") or

(kullu

tamm, "Everything's fine").

( furSa sa3da) - lit. Happy chance

Response: ( ana l-as3ad) - lit. I am happier
Nice to meet you:

( tiSbaH 3ala xeir) - lit. Wake up healthy

Response: ( winta min ahlo)
Good night:

Response:
Goodbye:

(ma3a s-salma) - said to the person leaving; lit. Go in peace

(allh ysallimak) - said by the person leaving; lit. May God protect you

Often when people are leaving they just say "salm" or "as-salmu 3aleikum" and those remaining say "ma3a s-salma."
Used when s.o. leaves on a trip:

( reHla sa3da)
( rabbina ygbak bis-salma) - lit. May God bring you safely
( rabbina yiwaSSalak bis-salma) - lit. May God deliver you safely
( tirH witg bis-salma) - lit. Go and come safely
Response: ( allh ysallimak)
Bon voyage:

Used to welcome s.o. arriving from a trip or greet s.o. who has just recovered from an illness:

( Hamdilla 3as-salma) - lit. Thank God for (your) safety

Response: ( allh ysallimak)
( nawwart maSr) - lit. You have lit up Egypt
Response: ( da nrak kifya), lit. Your light is enough - or
you - or ( menawwara bi-ahlaha), lit. It is lit up by its people
Welcome to Egypt:

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(maSr menawwara bk), lit. Egypt is lit up by

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You can also say "Menawwara" on its own to welcome someone anywhere.

( xaTwa 3azza) - lit. dear step

Response: ( ukran) or ( allh yxallk)
You honor us with your visit:

( salmtak) or ( allh yifk) - lit. "May God heal you"

Response: ( allh ysallimak) - this is the response to . However,
Get well soon:

has no set response; you can just say

(ukran)

Please:
Please:

(min faDlak)
(law samaHt) - can also be used to get a waiter's attention, for example

Please, go ahead:

( itfaDDal) - an invitation to sit, enter a room, take something, etc.

( ukran) or a stronger variant,

A thousand thanks: ( alf ukr)
Another way to say "Thank you" is ( mutaakkir), which also has a feminine variant ( mutaakkira) and plural variant
( mutaakkrn). ( mersi) is another colloquial alternative. To say "Thank you very much," you can say ( ukran
gazlan) or ( mutaakkir 'awi).
Thank you:

Also, when someone compliments you or something you did, you can tell them,
followed by

\ \

(ukran/mersi/allh yxallk),

(da min zoo'ak), lit. "That's from your taste." This is used much like the English "Thank you, you're too kind."

( kattar xeirak) - lit. May God increase your good fortune

Response: ( xeirak saabi') - lit. Your goodness preceded mine
Thank you:

Thank you:

(teslam iidak) - lit. (May God) bless your hand

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Response:

( wa-iidak) - lit. And your hand

Used to thank a cook for a great meal, or more generally to thank someone for a present.
You're welcome:

( 3afwan)

Other ways to say "You're welcome":

Sorry:

( il-3afw) or

(il-3afw 3ala eih, "It was nothing").

( sif)

Another way to say "Sorry" is

( mut'asif), which follows

the same pattern of variants as

( la mo'axza)
Excuse me: or ( ba3d iznak or 3an iznak)
Pardon me:

Used to express admiration or praise:

(ma a' allh) - lit. God has willed it.

This might be used when someone shows you a picture of their kids or grandkids; when someone introduces you to their kids; if
someone shows you something great they just bought; when you enter someone's home for the first time and admire its decor; or
if you want to compliment someone's beautiful appearance. It's like saying, "Wow, how beautiful!"
Used to refer to events taking place in the future:

(in a' allh) - lit. if God wills

This is used a lot, anytime you talk about something taking place in the future. "See you tonight in a' allh." "I'll do it tomorrow in
a' allh." "Can you finish the report by Thursday?" "In a' allh." And so on.
Used when you see s.o. with a new haircut, or if s.o. has just taken a bath or shower:

( na3man)
Response:

(allh yin3am 3aleik)

Greeting to a Muslim who has just finished praying:

Response:

( Haraman)

( gama3an)

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( bil-hana wi-ifa) - lit. with pleasure and health

Response: ( allh yihannk)
Bon appetit:

Said by a guest to the host at the end of a meal:

Response:

or

(dayman or dayman 3mir) - lit. May you always prosper

(dmit Haytak) - lit. May your life last long

When someone sneezes:

( il-Hamdu lillh) - lit. Praise to God

Someone else: ( yarHamkum llh) - lit. May God have mercy on you (pl.)
The sneezer: (( ) yarHamna wa-yarHamkum [wa-yafir lana wa-lakum]) - lit. May He have mercy on us
The sneezer says:

and you (and forgive us and you)

This is what Muslims in Egypt say when someone sneeezes. The

part is an optional addition that some people say.

"Very gladly" responses to requests:

( bikull sirr) - lit. with all pleasure

( ghli wiT-Talab rixS) - lit. [You are] precious, and the request is

cheap. That is, you're so dear that anything

you ask for seems cheap.

( 3al-3ein wir-rs) - lit. on the eye and head

( min 3eini di w3eini di) - lit. from this eye and this

eye

The last two are pretty "baladi," but still good to know.
Say hello to (s.o.) for me; give them my regards:
Response:

(sallimli 3a...)

(allh ysallimak)

( rabbena ywaffa'ak) - lit. May God make you succeed

( bit-tawf' in a' allh)
Good luck:

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The standard way to say "Good luck" is

Happy birthday:

(HaZZ sa3d).

(3d mld sa3d)

This is how you would say "Happy birthday" literally, but people actually just use their local variant of
Used for birthdays and all kinds of holidays:

(see below).

(kulle sana winta Tayyib) - lit. May you (and your family) be well

every year.
Response:

(winta Tayyib)

This is the Egyptian variant of the standard

(kull 3m wa-antum bexeir). For someone's birthday, you might say

( kulle sana winta Tayyib wa-3o'bl mt sana in a' allh) "Happy birthday, and many

more."
Happy Ramadan:
Response:

(ramaDn karm)

(allhu akram)

This is the greeting used for Ramadan in Egypt, but

(ramaDn mubrak) is often used in other areas.

( 3d mubrak)
Response: ( allh yibrik fk)
Happy Eid:

This is the greeting used for the Muslim Eids (holidays/festivals): Eid al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha.

( mabrk) or a stronger variant,

A thousand congratulations: ( alf mabrk)
Response: ( allh yibrik fk)
Congratulations:

Good job; well done:

(braavo 3aleik) or

(allh ynawwar 3aleik)

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Response: no set response; you can say

I wish the same for you:

, or in response to , you can say ( )

(wa 3aleik [inta kaman])

( 3o'blak)

Response: no set response, but you could say

(allh yxallk) - God keep you.

Can be used when someone congratulates you on any happy occassion (a wedding, new baby, promotion, etc.) to wish them the
same good fortune. However, you would want to be tactful when using it; for example, if you'd just had a baby and a friend who
couldn't have children congratulated you, it would be better not to say "3o'blik" to her.
Congratulations on an engagement
In addition to simply saying
people often will say

or , you can say the following to congratulate someone on an engagement. Note that

and pair it with one of the following:

( \ rabbina ytammim bi-xeir/ytammimlak 3ala xeir)

"May God grant a successful conclusion (to the engagement)."

(3o'bl il-faraH/il-leila k-kibra)

"May the wedding/the big night be soon." A Christian might say

(3o'bl il-ikll).

Congratulations on a wedding
Again, in addition to

and , you can say:

( )

(rabbina yis3idku [wa-yhannku])

"May God make you (both) happy."

(3o'bl il-bakri)

"May you have your first-born soon."

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(bir-raf' wal-bann in a' allh)

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"May you live in comfort and have children."

is

sometimes written as

. This

is more of a written expression than a

spoken one.

(rabbina ybrik lakum)

"May God bless you."

(braka allhu lakuma wa-braka 3aleikuma wa-jama3a beinakuma fi xeir)

"May God bless you, surround you with blessings, and bring you both together in virtue and prosperity." As it was first said by
the prophet Muhammad, this expression is used by Muslims.
Congatulations and encouragement to a pregnant woman
In addition to

and , you can say:

( \ )

(rabbina ytammimlik/ykammillik 3ala xeir [wa-ykrimik bi-wilda sahla])

"May God grant a successful conclusion (to the pregnancy) (and favor you with an easy delivery)."

(rabbina yirzu'ik bi-Tifl salm mu3fi/bi-beibi zayy il-'amar)

"May God provide you with a strong, healthy child/a beautiful baby." The first option is more standard, the second is more
colloquial.

(ya rabb yig3alu zurriyya SliHa)

"May God make it a good/worthy progeny." This is standard Arabic.

) (

(rabbina y'awwamik [inti wel-beibi] bi'alf salma)

"May God deliver you (and the baby) in safety."

(ti'mi bis-salma in sha' allh)

"May you recover safely, God willing."

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(rabbina yinta3ik bis-salma)

"May God deliver you (through your delivery) safely."

(rabbina ma3ki)

"May God be with you."

Congratulations on a new baby
In addition to

and , you can say:

(yitrabba fi 3ezzoko)

"May [the baby] be brought up in your wealth." If the baby is a girl, then it would be

( titrabba).

(ya rabb yixallku li-ba3D)

"May God keep you (safe) for each other."

(rabbina yxalllak wa-ybriklak fh)

"God keep him (the baby) safe for you and bless you." If the baby is a girl, then you'd say
yxallihlak wa-ybriklak fha). Note that you can also say

(rabbina

(rabbina

on its own.

(rabbina yHfaZu wa-yfarraHak bh)

"God protect him (the baby) and make you rejoice in him." If the baby is a girl, then you'd say
yHfaZha wa-yfarraHak bha).

( )

(rabbina yiHfaZu min kull s' [wa-yig3alu qurrit 3ein wlideih])

"May God protect him from all evil (and make him his parents' delight)." This is more standard than colloquial. If the baby is a
girl, then it'd be

( )

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(rabbina yiHfaZha min kull s' [wa-yig3alha qurrit 3ein wlideiha]).

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(Hamdilla 3a-salamtik)

"Thank God for your safety." Said to the mother after a successful delivery.

Condolences
The following expressions can be used by both Muslims and Christians in Egypt. They are followed by condolences used specifically
by Muslims and Christians.
Be strong; keep your chin up:
Response:

(idd Heilak) - lit. Pull your strength

(i-idda 3ala-llah)

This expression can be used as a condolence, or anytime someone is about to face a challenging event, like a test or job interview.
May his/her spirit/memory remain in your life:
Response:

(il-ba'iyya fi Haytak)

(Haytak il-ba'iya)

Another condolence. Some say it's a reference to the rest of the deceased's lifespan, which was cut short, being added to yours. On
that basis, it could be viewed as sacriligeous; some would say that everyone only lives their alloted lifespan, and God doesn't cut
anyone's life shorter than it's meant to be. See here, for example. So you may want to stick with other condolences such as

if you want to be really safe.

May God have mercy on him:

(allh yirHamu)

This is usually paired with an additional condolence. For instance, one could say

(allh yirHamu wa-yuskinu

fasiiH janntu), "May God have mercy on him and make him live in His vastest paradise." This is standard rather than colloquial, and
would be a Muslim condolence.

(rabbina yig3alha khir il-aHzn/ya rabb tikn khir il-aHzn)

"May God make it the last of [your] sorrows/May it be the last of [your] sorrows." The first option is more standard, the second is
more colloquial.

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( )

(rabbina ySabbarak [3ala l-fur'])

"May God give you patience (to withstand the loss)."

Condolences used by Muslims:
Only God is eternal:
Response:

(al-baq' lillh)

(wa-ne3ma billh)

A condolence that's standard Arabic but also sometimes used in Egypt by Muslims.

(inna lillh wa'inna ileihi rgi3n)

"We belong to God, and to Him we shall return." This is from the Qur'an (verse 156 of Al-Baqara).
Condolences used by Copts:

(rabbina ynayyaH nafsu/rHu)

"May God give his soul rest." There are some variations on this expression; you can add:

(( )fi firds [in-na3m]), "in paradise"

( fi aHDn il-'addisn), "in the arms of the saints"
( fi malakt is-samawt), "in the kingdom of heaven"
(( ) rabbina y'addas

rHu [wa-yiddna barakit Salawtu])

"May God sanctify his soul (and give us the blessing of his prayers)."

( )

(rabbina yi3zk [wa yi3zi usritak])

"May God give you [and your family] consolation."

Note: "In advance" (as in "thanks in advance," "congratulations in advance," or "happy birthday in advance") is

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( standard
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pronunciation "muqaddaman," colloquial pronunciation "mu'addaman"). So you could say

, ,

, etc.

All vocabulary lists

Insults & crude language

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