Language/Gulf-arabic/Vocabulary/How-to-Say-Hello-and-Greetings
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🤗 Gulf Arabic Greetings for Everyday Life
Hi Gulf Arabic learners! 😃
Do you want to learn how to say “Hello” in Gulf Arabic?
Greetings are an important part of any language because they allow you to connect and communicate with others.
If you’re planning a trip to the country or are trying to learn Gulf Arabic, keep reading to discover some of the most important greetings.
Let’s get started! 🤗
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Colors & Animals.
Greetings[edit | edit source]
| English | Gulf Arabic | Gulf Arabic (pronunciation) |
|---|---|---|
| general greeting (literally Peace be upon you) | السلام عليكم | As salām alaikom |
| reply to As salām alaikom (literally And upon you be Peace) | وعليكم السلام | Wa alaikom as salām |
| general greeting | Salām | |
| general greeting (Hello, Hi) | مرحبا | Marḥaba |
| Reply to the "مرحبا" meaning "two hellos" | مرحبتين | marHabtayn |
| general greeting spoken in the coastal region | Guwwa | |
| reply to Guwwa | Gawwik | |
| reply to Guwwa | Allah igawwik | |
| general greeting spoken in Basra | Gawwhum | |
| informal greeting (Hi) | يا هلا | Ya halla |
| informal greeting | Halaw | |
| informal greeting used in Saudi Arabia | Halaw walla | |
| morning greeting (good morning) | صباح الخير | Sabāḥ al-khayr |
| Reply to "صباح الخير" | صباح النور | SabaaH in-noor |
| morning greeting spoken to one person | Sabākḥ | |
| morning greeting spoken to a group | Sabāḥkum | |
| afternoon (evening) greeting (good evening) | مساء الخير | Masā al-khayr |
| reply to "مساء الخير" | مساء النور | masa in-noor |
| how are you? spoken to a man | Kēf ḥalik? | |
| how are you? spoken to a woman | Kēf ḥalich? | |
| how are you? spoken to a man | Kēfik? | |
| how are you? spoken to a woman | Kēfich? | |
| how are you? spoken to a man in Qatar and Kuwait | Šlōnik? | |
| how are you? spoken to a woman in Qatar and Kuwait | Šlōnich? | |
| how are you? spoken to a group in Qatar and Kuwait | Šlōnkum | |
| how are you? informal, spoken to a man in Iraq | Šlonak? | |
| how are you? informal, spoken to a woman in Iraq | Šlonach? | |
| reply to Šlonak and Šlonach | Bkheir, alhamdulillah | |
| how are you? spoken in the United Arab Emirates | Cheef lḥaal? | |
| how are you? spoken in the United Arab Emirates | Išḥalek? | |
| how are you? spoken in Kuwait | Ya ḥāla fīk? | |
| how are you? spoken in Kuwait and United Arab Emirates | Ša ḥālak? | |
| how are you? informal, spoken to a man in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait | Šakbaarikh? | |
| how are you? informal, spoken to a woman in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait | Šakbaarich? | |
| how are you? informal, spoken to a man in Qatar | Šekbaarakh? | |
| how are you? informal, spoken to a woman in Qatar | Šekbaarekh? | |
| how are you? informal, spoken in Iraq | Šaku māku? | |
| how are you? informal, spoken in northern Iraq | Aššoonak? | |
| welcome greeting. Hi. also: Welcome. | أهلاً وسهلاً | Ahlan wa sahlan |
| welcome greeting | Ahleen u sahleen | |
| May God give you life. | حياك الله | Hayyaak allaa |
| Reply to "حياك الل" | الله يحييك | allaa yiHayyiik |
| Welcome my dear (masc. / fem. / plural) | أهلاً، أهلاً، أهلاً وسهلاً يا عزيزي | ahlan, ahlan, ahlan wa sahlan ya ^aziizi / عزيزتي ^aziizti / اعزائي a^zaa’i. |
- شلونك؟ ان شاء الله زين - shloonik? insha’lla zayn. - How are you? I hope you're fine. (literally What's your color? If God willed, fine.)
- شلونج؟ - shloonich? - How are you? (said to a female)
- شلونكم؟ - shloonkum? - How are you? (said to two or more people)
- كيف الحال؟ - chayf il-Haal? - How's it going? (literally How's the condition?)
- كيف حالك؟ - chayf Haalik? - How's it going? (literally How's your condition? said to a male)
- كيف حالج؟ - chayf Haalich? - How's it going? (literally How's your condition? said to a female)
- كيف حالكم؟ - chayf Haalkum? - How's it going? (literally How's your condition?, plural version)
- شحالك؟ - sh Haalak? - What's up? (literally How's your condition?, said to a male)
- شو خبارك؟ - shu xbaarik? - How are you? (literally What are your news?, said to a male)
- شو خبارج؟ - shu xbaarich? - How are you? (literally What are your news?, said to a female)
- شو خباركم؟ - shu xbaarkum? - How are you? (literally What are your news?, said to two or more people)
Sources[edit | edit source]
Free Gulf Arabic Lessons[edit | edit source]
Language Exchange[edit | edit source]
Forum[edit | edit source]
Tools[edit | edit source]
Marketplace[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]