أهلاً وسهلاً
ahlan wa sahlanwelcome, all dialects
أهلاً وسهلاً (ahlan wa sahlan) is the standard Arabic way to welcome someone. It means "welcome" and works in every Arabic-speaking country. It is also called أهلاً بك (ahlan bik) and أهلاً بكِ (ahlan biki).
Meaning: welcome (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| أهلاً وسهلاً | ahlan wa sahlan | welcome, all dialects |
| أهلاً بك | ahlan bik | reply, to a man |
| أهلاً بكِ | ahlan biki | reply, to a woman |
Hosts say it at the door, shops and hotels say it to customers, and it appears on welcome signs. A common reply is to repeat أهلاً بك (ahlan bik).
What does it mean word for word?
أهل (ahl) means "family" and سهل (sahl) means "easy" or "level ground". The phrase wishes the guest to arrive among family and find things easy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The reply changes with the person: أهلاً بك (ahlan bik) to a man, أهلاً بكِ (ahlan biki) to a woman. The written forms differ only in the final vowel mark.
Did you know?
- The same words can answer a thank-you in some places, where أهلاً وسهلاً (ahlan wa sahlan) means "you are welcome" rather than a greeting.
Examples in context
- أهلاً وسهلاً بكم في بيتناahlan wa sahlan bikum fi baytinaWelcome to our home.
- أهلاً وسهلاً، تفضلahlan wa sahlan, tafaddalWelcome, please come in.
- أهلاً بك يا أحمدahlan bik ya ahmadWelcome, Ahmad.
Example conversation
Samira welcomes her guest Layla at the door of her apartment.
- Samiraأهلاً وسهلاً يا ليلىahlan wa sahlan ya laylaWelcome, Layla.
- ليلى Laylaأهلاً بكِ، شكراً على الدعوةahlan biki, shukran ala ad-dawaThank you, and thanks for the invitation.
- Samiraتفضلي، البيت بيتكtafaddali, al-bayt baytikCome in, the house is yours.
