Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| شَهْيَة طَيِّبَة | šahiyya ṭayyiba |
| بِٱلصِّحَّةِ وَٱلْعَافِيَةِ | bi-ṣ-ṣiḥḥati wal-ʕāfiyati |
| بِٱلْهَنَاءِ وَٱلشِّفَاءِ | bi-l-hanāʔi waš-šifāʔi |
| وَجْبَة طَيِّبَة | wajba ṭayyiba |
These phrases are used to wish someone enjoyment of the meal they are about to eat. While some versions focus on the person's appetite, others are warm wishes for their health and well-being during the meal. For example, بِٱلصِّحَّةِ وَٱلْعَافِيَةِ is frequently used by hosts or servers when presenting food to guests.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase شَهْيَة طَيِّبَة (šahiyya ṭayyiba) literally means "pleasant appetite". The phrase بِٱلصِّحَّةِ وَٱلْعَافِيَةِ (bi-ṣ-ṣiḥḥati wal-ʕāfiyati) literally translates to "with health and wellness".
Which one should you use?
شَهْيَة طَيِّبَة focuses specifically on the appetite, whereas بِٱلصِّحَّةِ وَٱلْعَافِيَةِ is a more common and warm wish for the person's well-being while eating. The form وَجْبَة طَيِّبَة is also available.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
شَهْيَة طَيِّبَة is a standard and slightly more formal way to say "bon appétit" compared to more colloquial regional variations. For informal settings, you can use صحتين وعافية to wish someone good health and wellness during their meal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Levant region, the informal word صحتين is used to express good wishes before a meal.
How do you pronounce it?
šahiyya ṭayyiba
When do people say it?
When someone says بِٱلصِّحَّةِ وَٱلْعَافِيَةِ to you, a common polite response is الله يعافيك (May God give you wellness).
Did you know?
- The phrase بِٱلصِّحَّةِ وَٱلْعَافِيَةِ is so versatile that it is often used not just for meals, but also when someone gets a haircut or buys new clothes.
- The phrase بِٱلْهَنَاءِ وَٱلشِّفَاءِ uses a word for 'healing' or 'cure' as a way to wish someone enjoyment of their food.
- While شَهْيَة طَيِّبَة is understood everywhere, it can sound like a translation from French or English to a native speaker, as traditional Arabic wishes usually focus on 'health' rather than 'appetite'.
Examples in context
- شَهْيَة طَيِّبَة!shahiyya tayyiba!Bon appétit!
- شَهْيَة طَيِّبَة لِلْجَمِيع.shahiyya tayyiba lil-jamī'.Enjoy your meal, everyone.
Example conversation
Ziad has just finished serving a homemade meal to Laila.
- ليلى Laylaهَذَا الطَّعَامُ يَبْدُو لَذِيذًا جِدًّا.hādhā al-ta'āmu yabdū ladhīdhan jiddan.This food looks very delicious.
- زياد Ziadشَهْيَة طَيِّبَة يَا لَيْلَى.shahiyya tayyiba yā Laylā.Enjoy your meal, Laila.
- ليلى Laylaشُكْرًا لَكَ يَا زِيَاد.shukran laka yā Ziyād.Thank you, Ziad.
- زياد Ziadعَافِيَةً عَلَى قَلْبِكِ.āfiyatan 'alā qalbiki.May it be healthy for your heart.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bon appétit” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
