Greetings

1. مرحبًا

   Marḥaban

   Hello

   Usage

   Casual greeting usable at any time of day

   Grammar Note

   "Marhaban" works in both MSA and colloquial Arabic. The "-an" ending is tanwīn (nunation), an indefinite accusative marker. The more formal greeting is "As-salamu alaykum".

2. السلام عليكم

   As-salāmu ʿalaykum

   Peace be upon you

   Usage

   The most common formal greeting in the Arab/Muslim world, suitable for any situation.

   Grammar Note

   The most important Arabic greeting. The response is "wa-alaykum as-salam". Though Islamic in origin, it is used broadly across Arab cultures regardless of religion.

3. وعليكم السلام

   Wa-ʿalaykum as-salām

   And upon you peace

   Usage

   The standard response to "As-salamu alaykum"

   Grammar Note

   In the response, word order is reversed with "wa-alaykum" first. This inversion is a conventional politeness feature of Arabic reciprocal greetings.

4. صباح الخير

   Ṣabāḥ al-khayr

   Good morning

   Usage

   Morning greeting. The response is "sabah an-nur" (morning of light).

   Grammar Note

   Arabic greetings often come in poetic pairs. "Sabah al-khayr" (morning of goodness) is answered with "sabah an-nur" (morning of light), escalating the poetic register.

5. مساء الخير

   Masāʾ al-khayr

   Good evening

   Usage

   Evening greeting. The response is "masa' an-nur" (evening of light).

   Grammar Note

   Same structure as "sabah al-khayr". In Arabic, a noun phrase alone functions as a complete greeting without a verb.

6. كيف حالك؟

   Kayfa ḥālak?

   How are you?

   Usage

   Said to a male. For a female say "kayfa halik" (kasra on the final k).

   Grammar Note

   Arabic grammatical gender requires different forms: masculine "kayfa halak" vs. feminine "kayfa halik". Colloquially "keyfak?" is also common.

7. بخير، شكرًا

   Bi-khayr, shukran

   Fine, thank you

   Usage

   Standard response to "How are you?"

   Grammar Note

   "Bi-khayr" is a prepositional phrase used predicatively without a verb. "Ana bi-khayr" is the full form, but the subject pronoun is routinely dropped.

8. شكرًا جزيلاً

   Shukran jazīlan

   Thank you very much

   Usage

   More emphatic and polite form of "shukran".

   Grammar Note

   Both words use tanwīn (-an), the indefinite accusative. This is an adverbial accusative construction, a fixed phrase of emphasis. "Shukran" alone also suffices.

9. عفوًا

   ʿAfwan

   You're welcome / Excuse me

   Usage

   Used as "you're welcome" after thanks, or as "excuse me" to get attention or pass by.

   Grammar Note

   "ʿAfwan" serves three purposes: "you're welcome", "excuse me" (to get attention), and a light apology. The "-an" is the indefinite accusative tanwīn.

10. مع السلامة

    Maʿa as-salāma

    Goodbye

    Usage

    Said to someone who is leaving. Literally "go with safety". Those staying often reply "Allahu yusallimak".

    Grammar Note

    Literally "with safety (go)". A prepositional phrase used as a farewell. "Ila al-liqa'" (until we meet again) is another common farewell.

11. من فضلك

    Min faḍlak

    Please

    Usage

    To a male. For a female: "min fadlik". For a group: "min fadlukum".

    Grammar Note

    Literally "from your grace". Used for polite requests, at the start or end of a sentence. The suffix changes for gender (male -ak / female -ik) and number.

12. أهلاً وسهلاً

    Ahlan wa-sahlan

    Welcome

    Usage

    Expression of welcome from a host. "Ahlan" alone is also commonly used.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "as family and on easy ground (be comfortable)". An ancient Arabic hospitality formula. Both words use tanwīn (-an) as adverbial accusatives.

13. أين الحمام؟

    Ayna al-ḥammām?

    Where is the toilet/bathroom?

    Usage

    Essential phrase for asking the location of a restroom in any public setting

    Grammar Note

    "Ayna" is the interrogative adverb "where". "Al-hammam" is definite article + hammam (originally "public bath"). It is understood as "toilet/bathroom" in Egypt, the Levant and the Gulf, but in some regions such as Morocco it means the public bathhouse; the formal standard terms are "dawrat al-miyah" or "al-mirhad".

14. لا أتحدث العربية

    Lā ataḥaddath al-ʿarabiyya

    I can't speak Arabic

    Usage

    Inform someone you cannot speak Arabic. Useful as a first response when facing a language barrier

    Grammar Note

    "La" + present tense verb forms the negation. "Atahaddath" is 1st person singular present of Form V verb "tahaddatha" (to speak/converse). "Al-arabiyya" uses the definite article.

15. سأعود مرة أخرى

    saʾaʿūd marra ukhrā

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop

16. قضيت وقتاً ممتعاً

    qaḍaytu waqtan mumtiʿan

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Used when saying goodbye

17. شكراً، أراك لاحقاً!

    shukran, arāk lāḥiqan!

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual way to say goodbye

18. تصبح على خير

    tuṣbiḥ ʿalā khayr

    Good night

    Usage

    Said before going to bed, e.g. at a guesthouse or homestay; literally "may you wake up well"

19. أنا ذاهب

    anā dhāhib

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Casual phrase said when leaving the house

20. لقد عدت

    laqad ʿudtu

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said upon returning to the house/guesthouse

21. عذراً، يجب أن أذهب

    ʿudhran, yajibu an adhhab

    Excuse me, I need to get going

    Usage

    Polite way to excuse yourself when leaving before others

22. عفواً

    ʿafwan

    You're welcome

    Usage

    Standard response to "shukran" (thank you); also doubles as "excuse me/pardon" in other contexts

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