هل أنت بخير؟
hal anta bikhayr?
The phrase "are you okay?" in Arabic is هل أنت بخير؟ (hal anta bikhayr?).
This phrase is a question used to ask if someone is feeling well or is safe after an accident or problem.
What does it mean word for word?
The word بخير is composed of the preposition bi (in/with) and khayr (goodness/well-being).
Which one should you use?
The phrase هل أنت بخير؟ is the standard Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) form, whereas in spoken dialects, the word هل is often dropped and replaced by tone or different particles.
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask a female "are you okay?", change the pronoun from anta to anti to say هل أنتِ بخير؟. To ask a group of people "are you (all) okay?", use the plural pronoun antum in the form هل أنتم بخير؟.
How do you pronounce it?
hal anta bikhayr?
When do people say it?
A common way to respond to this question is to say بخير، شكراً (bikhayr, shukran), which means "well, thanks".
Did you know?
- In many Arabic dialects, instead of هل أنت بخير؟, people simply say تمام؟ (tamam?), which literally means 'complete' or 'perfect'.
- Depending on the region, a person might respond to being asked if they are 'okay' by mentioning God, such as saying 'Alhamdulillah' (Praise be to God) to indicate they are fine.
- While بخير means 'well', the root word خير can also mean 'charity' or 'good deeds' in Arabic.
Examples in context
- هل أنت بخير؟hal anta bikhayr?Are you okay?
- سقطتَ من على الكرسي، هل أنت بخير؟saqatta min 'ala al-kursi, hal anta bikhayr?You fell off the chair, are you okay?
- تبدو متعباً، هل أنت بخير؟tabdu mut'aban, hal anta bikhayr?You look tired, are you okay?
