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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-salāma," "salāmtak," "Hamdillāh 3as-salāma" and "sallimli 3a...," which all have words from the s-l-m root. They all have the same response, "allāh
ysallimak," with another s-l-m root word. So if you keep that in mind, it helps in remembering the right response.

Welcome; hello: ‫وﺳﻬﻼ‬ ‫( أﻫﻼ‬ahlan wa sahlan)

Response: ‫ﺑﻴﻚ‬ ‫( أﻫﻼ‬ahlan bīk)
You can say ‫ أﻫﻼ وﺳﻬﻼ‬when welcoming someone (ex. to your country or home). And you can also say ‫ اﻫﻼ‬to mean just "hello."

Welcome; hello: ‫( ﻣﺮﺣﺒﺎ‬marHaban)

Response: ‫( ﻣﺮﺣﺒﺎ ﺑﻴﻚ‬marHaban bīk)
‫ ﻣﺮﺣﺒﺎ‬can be used in much the same way as ‫أﻫﻼ وﺳﻬﻼ‬, and it has a more colloquial pronunciation of "marHaba." One colloquial response is ‫ﻣﺮﺣﺒﺘﻴﻦ‬
(marHabtein - lit. two welcomes). ‫ ﻣﺮﺣﺒﺎ‬is not really used in Egypt outside of tourist signs and so forth, but in other places like the Gulf and Levant, it's
used frequently to say hello.

Hello: ‫ﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢ‬‫( اﻟﺴﻼم‬as-salāmu 3aleikum) - lit. Peace be upon you

Response: ‫اﻟﺴﻼم‬ ‫( وﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢ‬w3aleikum as-salām)
A common greeting used by Muslims. You can also add ‫( ورﺣﻤﺔ اﻟﻠﻪ وﺑﺮﻛﺎﺗﻪ‬waraHmatu llāhi wabarakātu - and God's mercy and blessings) to the end.

Good morning: ‫اﻟﺨﻴﺮ‬ ‫( ﺻﺒﺎح‬SabāH al-xeir)

Response: ‫اﻟﻨﻮر‬ ‫( ﺻﺒﺎح‬SabāH an-nūr)
There are more colloquial variants on ‫اﻟﻨﻮر‬/‫ ﺻﺒﺎح اﻟﺨﻴﺮ‬that you can use, like ‫( ﺻﺒﺎح اﻟﻘﺸﻄﺔ‬SabāH il-'išTa - lit. morning of cream), ‫ﺻﺒﺎح اﻟﻔﻞ‬
(SabāH il-full - lit. morning of jasmine), and ‫( ﺻﺒﺎح اﻟﻮرد‬SabāH il-ward - lit. morning of rose). They're a little "baladi" (i.e. used more by the rural and
lower classes), but you can still use them to add some color to your speech.

Good evening: ‫اﻟﺨﻴﺮ‬ ‫( ﻣﺴﺎء‬masā' al-xeir)

Response: ‫اﻟﻨﻮر‬ ‫( ﻣﺴﺎء‬masā' an-nūr)
You can also say ‫ ﻣﺴﺎء اﻟﻔﻞ‬,‫ﻣﺴﺎء اﻟﻘﺸﻄﺔ‬, and ‫ ﻣﺴﺎء اﻟﻮرد‬here too.

How are you?: ‫ﺣﺎﻟﻚ؟‬ ‫( ﻛﻴﻒ‬keif Hālak)

Response: ‫ﻟﻠﻪ‬ ‫( ﺑﺨﻴﺮ اﻟﺤﻤﺪ‬bexeir al-Hamdulillāh) - Fine, thank God
‫ ﻛﻴﻒ ﺣﺎﻟﻚ‬can be said in a colloquial context, especially in the Levant. In Egypt, however, the commonly used expression for "How are you?" is ‫ازﻳﻚ‬
(izzayyak). You can also say, ‫( ازي اﻻﺣﻮال؟‬izzayy il-aHwaal?), "How are things?" or ‫( ازي اﻟﺼﺤﺔ؟‬izzayy iS-SiHHa), "How's [your] health?" A common
colloquial response would be ‫( ﻛﻮﻳﺲ اﻟﺤﻤﺪ ﻟﻠﻪ‬kwayyis al-Hamdulillāh), "Good, thank God," or just "al-Hamdulillāh" on its own.

How are things going?: ‫أﺧﺒﺎر؟‬ ‫( اﻳﻪ‬eih axbār); ‫( أﺧﺒﺎرك اﻳﻪ؟‬axbārak eih); ‫ة اﻳﻪ؟‬/‫( ﻋﺎﻣﻞ‬3amil/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
‫ﻣﺎﻓﻴﺶ أﺧﺒﺎر‬, mafīš axbār, "No news," like I did once; people will laugh at you! If you want to say "Nothing new," you can say ‫ ﻻ ﺟﺪﻳﺪ‬la gedīd. People
usually just say something like "al-Hamdulillāh" or ‫( ﻛﻮﻳﺲ‬kwayyis, "Good") or ‫( ﻛﻠﻮ ﺗﻤﺎم‬kullu tamām, "Everything's fine").

Nice to meet you: ‫ﺳﻌﻴﺪة‬ ‫( ﻓﺮﺻﺔ‬furSa sa3īda) - lit. Happy chance

Response: ‫اﻷﺳﻌﺪ‬ ‫( أﻧﺎ‬ana l-as3ad) - lit. I am happier

Good night: ‫ﺧﻴﺮ‬ ‫( ﺗﺼﺒﺢ ﻋﻠﻰ‬tiSbaH 3ala xeir) - lit. Wake up healthy
Response: ‫أﻫﻠﻪ‬ ‫( واﻧﺖ ﻣﻦ‬winta min ahlo)

Goodbye: ‫اﻟﺴﻼﻣﺔ‬ ‫( ﻣﻊ‬ma3a s-salāma) - said to the person leaving; lit. Go in peace
Response: ‫ﻳﺴﻠﻤﻚ‬ ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ‬allāh ysallimak) - said by the person leaving; lit. May God protect you
Often when people are leaving they just say "salām" or "as-salāmu 3aleikum" and those remaining say "ma3a s-salāma."

Used when s.o. leaves on a trip:

Bon voyage: ‫ﺳﻌﻴﺪة‬‫( رﺣﻠﺔ‬reHla sa3īda)
‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺠﻴﺒﻚ ﺑﺎﻟﺴﻼﻣﺔ‬rabbina ygībak bis-salāma) - lit. May God bring you safely
‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﻮﺻﻠﻚ ﺑﺎﻟﺴﻼﻣﺔ‬rabbina yiwaSSalak bis-salāma) - lit. May God deliver you safely
‫( ﺗﺮوح وﺗﻴﺠﻲ ﺑﺎﻟﺴﻼﻣﺔ‬tirūH witīgī bis-salāma) - lit. Go and come safely
Response: ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﺴﻠﻤﻚ‬allāh ysallimak)
Used to welcome s.o. arriving from a trip or greet s.o. who has just recovered from an illness:
‫( ﺣﻤﺪ ﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﺎﻟﺴﻼﻣﺔ‬Hamdilla 3as-salāma) - lit. Thank God for (your) safety
Response: ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﺴﻠﻤﻚ‬allāh ysallimak)

Welcome to Egypt: ‫ﻣﺼﺮ‬ ‫( ﻧﻮّ رت‬nawwart maSr) - lit. You have lit up Egypt
Response: ‫ﻛﻔﺎﻳﺔ‬ ‫( ده ﻧﻮرك‬da nūrak kifāya), lit. Your light is enough - or ‫( ﻣﺼﺮ ﻣﻨﻮّ رة ﺑﻴﻚ‬maSr menawwara bīk), lit. Egypt is lit up by you - or ‫ﻣﻨﻮّ رة‬
‫( ﺑﺄﻫﻠﻬﺎ‬menawwara bi-ahlaha), lit. It is lit up by its people
You can also say "Menawwara" on its own to welcome someone anywhere.

You honor us with your visit: ‫ﻋﺰﻳﺰة‬ ‫( ﺧﻄﻮة‬xaTwa 3azīza) - lit. dear step
Response: ‫( ﺷﻜﺮا‬šukran) or ‫ﻳﺨﻠﻴﻚ‬ ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ‬allāh yxallīk)

Get well soon: ‫( ﺳﻼﻣﺘﻚ‬salāmtak) or ‫ﻳﺸﻔﻴﻚ‬ ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ‬allāh yišfīk) - lit. "May God heal you"
Response: ‫ﻳﺴﻠﻤﻚ‬ ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ‬allāh ysallimak) - this is the response to ‫ﺳﻼﻣﺘﻚ‬. However, ‫ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﺸﻔﻴﻚ‬has no set response; you can just say ‫( ﺷﻜﺮا‬šukran)

Please: ‫ﻓﻀﻠﻚ‬ ‫( ﻣﻦ‬min faDlak)

Please: ‫ﺳﻤﺤﺖ‬ ‫( ﻟﻮ‬law samaHt) - can also be used to get a waiter's attention, for example
Please, go ahead: ‫( اﺗﻔﻀﻞ‬itfaDDal) - an invitation to sit, enter a room, take something, etc.

Thank you: ‫( ﺷﻜﺮا‬šukran) or a stronger variant,

A thousand thanks: ‫ﺷﻜﺮ‬ ‫( أﻟﻒ‬alf šukr)
Another way to say "Thank you" is ‫( ﻣﺘﺸﻜﺮ‬mutašakkir), which also has a feminine variant ‫( ﻣﺘﺸﻜﺮة‬mutašakkira) and plural variant ‫ﻣﺘﺸﻜﺮﻳﻦ‬
(mutašakkrīn). ‫( ﻣﺮﺳﻲ‬mersi) is another colloquial alternative. To say "Thank you very much," you can say ‫( ﺷﻜﺮا ﺟﺰﻳﻼ‬šukran gazīlan) or ‫ﻣﺘﺸﻜﺮ‬
‫( ﻗﻮي‬mutašakkir 'awi).

Also, when someone compliments you or something you did, you can tell them, ‫( ﺷﻜﺮا\ﻣﺮﺳﻲ \ اﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﺨﻠﻴﻚ‬šukran/mersi/allāh yxallīk), followed by
‫( ده ﻣﻦ ذوﻗﻚ‬da min zoo'ak), lit. "That's from your taste." This is used much like the English "Thank you, you're too kind."

Thank you: ‫ﺧﻴﺮك‬ ‫( ﻛﺘﺮ‬kattar xeirak) - lit. May God increase your good fortune
Response: ‫ﺳﺎﺑﻖ‬ ‫( ﺧﻴﺮك‬xeirak saabi') - lit. Your goodness preceded mine

Thank you: ‫اﻳﺪك‬ ‫( ﺗﺴﻠﻢ‬teslam iidak) - lit. (May God) bless your hand
Response: ‫( واﻳﺪك‬wa-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: ‫( ﻋﻔﻮا‬3afwan)

Other ways to say "You're welcome": ‫( اﻟﻌﻔﻮ‬il-3afw) or ‫اﻳﻪ‬ ‫( اﻟﻌﻔﻮ ﻋﻠﻰ‬il-3afw 3ala eih, "It was nothing").

Sorry: ‫( آﺳﻒ‬āsif)
Another way to say "Sorry" is ‫( ﻣﺘﺂﺳﻒ‬mut'asif), which follows the same pattern of variants as ‫ﻣﺘﺸﻜﺮ‬.

Pardon me: ‫ﻣﺆآﺧﺬة‬ ‫( ﻻ‬la mo'axza)

Excuse me: ‫اذﻧﻚ‬ ‫ ﺑﻌﺪ‬or ‫( ﻋﻦ اذﻧﻚ‬ba3d iznak or 3an iznak)

Used to express admiration or praise: ‫اﻟﻠﻪ‬ ‫( ﻣﺎ ﺷﺎء‬ma ša' allāh) - 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: ‫اﻟﻠﻪ‬ ‫( إن ﺷﺎء‬in ša' allāh) - lit. if God wills
This is used a lot, anytime you talk about something taking place in the future. "See you tonight in ša' allāh." "I'll do it tomorrow in ša' allāh." "Can you finish
the report by Thursday?" "In ša' allāh." And so on.

Used when you see s.o. with a new haircut, or if s.o. has just taken a bath or shower:
‫( ﻧﻌﻴﻤﺎ‬na3īman)
Response: ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﻨﻌﻢ ﻋﻠﻴﻚ‬allāh yin3am 3aleik)

Greeting to a Muslim who has just finished praying: ‫( ﺣﺮﻣﺎ‬Haraman)

Response: ‫( ﺟﻤﻌﺎ‬gama3an)

Bon appetit: ‫واﻟﺸﻔﺎ‬ ‫( ﺑﺎﻟﻬﻨﺎ‬bil-hana wiš-šifa) - lit. with pleasure and health
Response: ‫ﻳﻬﻨّﻴﻚ‬ ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ‬allāh yihannīk)

Said by a guest to the host at the end of a meal: ‫ داﻳﻤﺎ‬or ‫ﻋﺎﻣﺮ‬ ‫( داﻳﻤﺎ‬dayman or dayman 3āmir) - lit. May you always prosper
Response: ‫ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻚ‬ ‫( داﻣﺖ‬dāmit Hayātak) - lit. May your life last long

When someone sneezes:

The sneezer says: ‫ﻟﻠﻪ‬ ‫( اﻟﺤﻤﺪ‬il-Hamdu lillāh) - lit. Praise to God
Someone else: ‫اﻟﻠﻪ‬ ‫( ﻳﺮﺣﻤﻜﻢ‬yarHamkum llāh) - lit. May God have mercy on you (pl.)
The sneezer: (‫وﻟﻜﻢ‬ ‫( ﻳﺮﺣﻤﻨﺎ وﻳﺮﺣﻤﻜﻢ )وﻳﻐﻔﺮ ﻟﻨﺎ‬yarHamna wa-yarHamkum [wa-yaġfir lana wa-lakum]) - lit. May He have mercy on us and you (and
forgive us and you)
This is what Muslims in Egypt say when someone sneeezes. The ‫وﻟﻜﻢ‬ ‫ وﻳﻐﻔﺮ ﻟﻨﺎ‬part is an optional addition that some people say.

"Very gladly" responses to requests:

‫( ﺑﻜﻞ ﺳﺮور‬bikull sirūr) - lit. with all pleasure
‫( ﻏﺎﻟﻲ واﻟﻄﻠﺐ رﺧﻴﺺ‬ghāli wiT-Talab rixīS) - lit. [You are] precious, and the request is cheap. That is, you're so dear that anything you ask for seems
cheap.
‫( ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻌﻴﻦ واﻟﺮاس‬3al-3ein wir-rās) - lit. on the eye and head
‫( ﻣﻦ ﻋﻴﻨﻲ دي وﻋﻴﻨﻲ دي‬min 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: ‫ﻋـ‬ ّ (sallimli 3a...)
‫ﺳﻠﻢ ﻟﻲ‬
Response: ‫ﻳﺴﻠﻤﻚ‬ ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ‬allāh ysallimak)

Good luck: ‫ﻳﻮﻓﻘﻚ‬ ‫( رﺑﻨﺎ‬rabbena ywaffa'ak) - lit. May God make you succeed
‫( ﺑﺎﻟﺘﻮﻓﻴﻖ إن ﺷﺎء اﻟﻠﻪ‬bit-tawfī' in ša' allāh)
The standard way to say "Good luck" is ‫( ﺣﻆ ﺳﻌﻴﺪ‬HaZZ sa3īd).

Happy birthday: ‫ﺳﻌﻴﺪ‬ ‫( ﻋﻴﺪ ﻣﻴﻼد‬3īd mīlād sa3īd)

This is how you would say "Happy birthday" literally, but people actually just use their local variant of ‫( ﻛﻞ ﻋﺎم وأﻧﺘﻢ ﺑﺨﻴﺮ‬see below).

Used for birthdays and all kinds of holidays: ‫ﻃﻴﺐ‬ ‫( ﻛﻞ ﺳﻨﺔ واﻧﺖ‬kulle sana winta Tayyib) - lit. May you (and your family) be well every year.
Response: ‫ﻃﻴﺐ‬ ‫( واﻧﺖ‬winta Tayyib)
This is the Egyptian variant of the standard ‫( ﻛﻞ ﻋﺎم وأﻧﺘﻢ ﺑﺨﻴﺮ‬kull 3ām wa-antum bexeir). For someone's birthday, you might say ‫ﻛﻞ ﺳﻨﺔ واﻧﺖ‬
‫ ﺳﻨﺔ ان ﺷﺎء اﻟﻠﻪ‬١٠٠ ‫( ﻃﻴﺐ وﻋﻘﺒﺎل‬kulle sana winta Tayyib wa-3o'bāl mīt sana in ša' allāh) — "Happy birthday, and many more."

Happy Ramadan: ‫ﻛﺮﻳﻢ‬ ‫( رﻣﻀﺎن‬ramaDān karīm)

Response: ‫أﻛﺮم‬ ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ‬allāhu akram)
This is the greeting used for Ramadan in Egypt, but ‫ﻣﺒﺎرك‬ ‫( رﻣﻀﺎن‬ramaDān mubārak) is often used in other areas.

Happy Eid: ‫ﻣﺒﺎرك‬ ‫( ﻋﻴﺪ‬3īd mubārak)

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

Congratulations: ‫( ﻣﺒﺮوك‬mabrūk) or a stronger variant,

A thousand congratulations: ‫ﻣﺒﺮوك‬ ‫( أﻟﻒ‬alf mabrūk)
Response: ‫ﻓﻴﻚ‬ ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﺒﺎرك‬allāh yibārik fīk)

Good job; well done: ‫( ﺑﺮاﻓﻮ ﻋﻠﻴﻚ‬braavo 3aleik) or

‫( اﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﻨﻮّ ر ﻋﻠﻴﻚ‬allāh ynawwar 3aleik)
Response: no set response; you can say ‫ﺷﻜﺮا‬, or in response to ‫اﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﻨﻮّ ر ﻋﻠﻴﻚ‬, you can say (‫( وﻋﻠﻴﻚ )اﻧﺖ ﻛﻤﺎن‬wa 3aleik [inta kaman])

I wish the same for you: ‫( ﻋﻘﺒﺎﻟﻚ‬3o'bālak)

Response: no set response, but you could say ‫ﻳﺨﻠﻴﻚ‬ ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ‬allāh yxallīk) - 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'bālik" to her.

Congratulations on an engagement
In addition to simply saying ‫ ﻣﺒﺮوك‬or ‫ﻣﺒﺮوك‬ ‫أﻟﻒ‬, you can say the following to congratulate someone on an engagement. Note that people often will say
‫ ﻣﺒﺮوك‬and pair it with one of the following:

‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺘﻤﻢ ﺑﺨﻴﺮ\ﻳﺘﻤﻢ ﻟﻚ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺧﻴﺮ‬rabbina ytammim bi-xeir/ytammimlak 3ala xeir)

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

‫( ﻋﻘﺒﺎل اﻟﻔﺮح\اﻟﻠﻴﻠﺔ اﻟﻜﺒﻴﺮة‬3o'bāl il-faraH/il-leila k-kibīra)

"May the wedding/the big night be soon." A Christian might say ‫( ﻋﻘﺒﺎل اﻻﻛﻠﻴﻞ‬3o'bāl il-iklīl).

Congratulations on a wedding
Again, in addition to ‫ ﻣﺒﺮوك‬and ‫ﻣﺒﺮوك‬ ‫اﻟﻒ‬, you can say:

(‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺴﻌﺪﻛﻮ )وﻳﻬﻨﻴﻜﻮ‬rabbina yis3idku [wa-yhannīku])

"May God make you (both) happy."

‫( ﻋﻘﺒﺎل اﻟﺒﻜﺎري‬3o'bāl il-bakāri)

"May you have your first-born soon."

‫( ﺑﺎﻟﺮﻓﺎة واﻟﺒﻨﻴﻦ ان ﺷﺎء اﻟﻠﻪ‬bir-rafā' wal-banīn in ša' allāh)

"May you live in comfort and have children." ‫ رﻓﺎء‬is sometimes written as ‫رﻓﺎة‬. This is more of a written expression than a spoken one.
 ‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺒﺎرك ﻟﻜﻢ‬rabbina ybārik lakum)
"May God bless you."

‫( ﺑﺎرك اﻟﻠﻪ ﻟﻜﻤﺎ وﺑﺎرك ﻋﻠﻴﻜﻤﺎ وﺟﻤﻊ ﺑﻴﻨﻜﻤﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺧﻴﺮ‬bāraka allāhu lakuma wa-bāraka 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 ‫ ﻣﺒﺮوك‬and ‫ﻣﺒﺮوك‬ ‫اﻟﻒ‬, you can say:

(‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺘﻤﻢ ﻟﻚ\ﻳﻜﻤﻞ ﻟﻚ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺧﻴﺮ )وﻳﻜﺮﻣﻚ ﺑﻮﻻدة ﺳﻬﻠﺔ‬rabbina ytammimlik/ykammillik 3ala xeir [wa-ykrimik bi-wilāda sahla])
"May God grant a successful conclusion (to the pregnancy) (and favor you with an easy delivery)."

‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺮزﻗﻚ ﺑﻄﻔﻞ ﺳﻠﻴﻢ ﻣﻌﺎﻓﻲ\ﺑﺒﻴﺒﻲ زي اﻟﻘﻤﺮ‬rabbina yirzu'ik bi-Tifl salīm mu3āfi/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.

‫( ﻳﺎ رب ﻳﺠﻌﻠﻪ ذرﻳﺔ ﺻﺎﻟﺤﺔ‬ya rabb yig3alu zurriyya SāliHa)

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

‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﻘﻮﻣﻚ )اﻧﺘﻰ واﻟﺒﻴﺒﻰ( ﺑﺄﻟﻒ ﺳﻼﻣﺔ‬rabbina y'awwamik [inti wel-beibi] bi'alf salāma)
"May God deliver you (and the baby) in safety."

‫( ﺗﻘﻮﻣﻲ ﺑﺎﻟﺴﻼﻣﺔ ان ﺷﺎء اﻟﻠﻪ‬ti'ūmi bis-salāma in sha' allāh)

"May you recover safely, God willing."

‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﻨﺘﻌﻚ ﺑﺎﻟﺴﻼﻣﺔ‬rabbina yinta3ik bis-salāma)

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

‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻣﻌﺎﻛﻲ‬rabbina ma3āki)

"May God be with you."

Congratulations on a new baby

In addition to ‫ ﻣﺒﺮوك‬and ‫ﻣﺒﺮوك‬ ‫اﻟﻒ‬, you can say:

‫( ﻳﺘﺮﺑﻰ ﻓﻲ ﻋﺰﻛﻮ‬yitrabba fi 3ezzoko)

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

‫( ﻳﺎ رب ﻳﺨﻠﻴﻜﻮ ﻟﺒﻌﺾ‬ya rabb yixallīku li-ba3D)

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

‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺨﻠﻴﻪ ﻟﻚ وﻳﺒﺎرك ﻟﻚ ﻓﻴﻪ‬rabbina yxallīlak wa-ybāriklak fīh)

"God keep him (the baby) safe for you and bless you." If the baby is a girl, then you'd say ‫ﻓﻴﻬﺎ‬ ‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺨﻠﻴﻬﺎ ﻟﻚ وﻳﺒﺎرك ﻟﻚ‬rabbina yxallihālak
wa-ybāriklak fīha). Note that you can also say ‫ﻓﻴﻪ\ﻓﻴﻬﺎ‬ ‫ رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺒﺎرك ﻟﻚ‬on its own.

‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺤﻔﻈﻪ وﻳﻔﺮّﺣﻚ ﺑﻴﻪ‬rabbina yHfaZu wa-yfarraHak bīh)

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

(‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺤﻔﻈﻪ ﻣﻦ ﻛﻞ ﺳﻮء )وﻳﺠﻌﻠﻪ ﻗﺮة ﻋﻴﻦ واﻟﺪﻳﻪ‬rabbina yiHfaZu min kull sū' [wa-yig3alu qurrit 3ein wālideih])
"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 ‫رﺑﻨﺎ‬
(‫( ﻳﺤﻔﻈﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻛﻞ ﺳﻮء )وﻳﺠﻌﻠﻬﺎ ﻗﺮة ﻋﻴﻦ واﻟﺪﻳﻬﺎ‬rabbina yiHfaZha min kull sū' [wa-yig3alha qurrit 3ein wālideiha]).

‫( ﺣﻤﺪ ﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺳﻼﻣﺘﻚ‬Hamdilla 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: ‫ﺣﻴﻠﻚ‬ ‫( ﺷ ّﺪ‬šidd Heilak) - lit. Pull your strength
Response: ‫اﻟﻠﻪ‬ ‫( اﻟﺸﺪة ﻋﻠﻰ‬iš-šidda 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: ‫ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻚ‬ ‫( اﻟﺒﻘﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ‬il-ba'iyya fi Hayātak)
Response: ‫اﻟﺒﻘﻴﺔ‬ ‫( ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻚ‬Hayātak 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 ‫ﺣﻴﻠﻚ‬ ‫ ﺷﺪ‬if you want to be really safe.

May God have mercy on him: ‫ﻳﺮﺣﻤﻪ‬ ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ‬allāh yirHamu)

 This is usually paired with an additional condolence. For instance, one could say ‫ﺟﻨﺎﺗﻪ‬ ‫( اﻟﻠﻪ ﻳﺮﺣﻤﻪ وﻳﺴﻜﻨﻪ ﻓﺴﻴﺢ‬allāh yirHamu wa-yuskinu fasiiH
jannātu), "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.

‫( ﻳﺮﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺠﻌﻠﻬﺎ آﺧﺮ اﻻﺣﺰان\ﻳﺎ رب ﺗﻜﻮن آﺧﺮ اﻻﺣﺰان‬rabbina yig3alha ākhir il-aHzān/ya rabb tikūn ākhir il-aHzān)
"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.

(‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﺼﺒﺮك )ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻔﺮاق‬rabbina ySabbarak [3ala l-furā'])

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

Condolences used by Muslims:

Only God is eternal: ‫ﻟﻠﻪ‬‫( اﻟﺒﻘﺎء‬al-baqā' lillāh)

Response: ‫ﺑﺎﻟﻠﻪ‬ ‫( وﻧﻌﻢ‬wa-ne3ma billāh)
A condolence that's standard Arabic but also sometimes used in Egypt by Muslims.

‫( إﻧﺎ ﻟﻠﻪ وإﻧﺎ إﻟﻴﻪ راﺟﻌﻮن‬inna lillāh wa'inna ileihi rāgi3ūn)

"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:

‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﻨﻴﺢ ﻧﻔﺴﻪ\روﺣﻪ‬rabbina ynayyaH nafsu/rūHu)

"May God give his soul rest." There are some variations on this expression; you can add:
(‫( ﻓﻰ ﻓﺮدوس )اﻟﻨﻌﻴﻢ‬fi firdūs [in-na3īm]), "in paradise"
‫( ﻓﻲ اﺣﻀﺎن اﻟﻘﺪﻳﺴﻴﻦ‬fi aHDān il-'addisīn), "in the arms of the saints"
‫( ﻓﻲ ﻣﻠﻜﻮت اﻟﺴﻤﻮات‬fi malakūt is-samawāt), "in the kingdom of heaven"

(‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﻘﺪس روﺣﻪ )و ﻳﺪﻳﻨﺎ ﺑﺮﻛﻪ ﺻﻠﻮاﺗﻪ‬rabbina y'addas rūHu [wa-yiddīna barakit Salawātu])
"May God sanctify his soul (and give us the blessing of his prayers)."

(‫( رﺑﻨﺎ ﻳﻌﺰﻳﻚ )وﻳﻌﺰي اﺳﺮﺗﻚ‬rabbina yi3zīk [wa yi3zi usritak])

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

‫( ﻣﻘﺪﻣﺎ‬standard pronunciation
Note: "In advance" (as in "thanks in advance," "congratulations in advance," or "happy birthday in advance") is
"muqaddaman," colloquial pronunciation "mu'addaman"). So you could say ‫ﻣﻘﺪﻣﺎ‬ ‫ ﻛﻞ ﺳﻨﺔ واﻧﺖ ﻃﻴﺐ‬,‫ ﻣﺒﺮوك ﻣﻘﺪﻣﺎ‬,‫ﺷﻜﺮا ﻣﻘﺪﻣﺎ‬, etc.

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