صحتين
sahtaynSyrian, everyday
In Syria people say صحتين (sahtayn), literally "two healths", to wish someone a good meal. A fuller wish is بالهنا والشفا (bil-hana wash-shifa). It is also called بسم الله (bismillah).
Meaning: wish for someone eating (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| صحتين | sahtayn | Syrian, everyday |
| بالهنا والشفا | bil-hana wash-shifa | Levantine, warm |
| بسم الله | bismillah | before eating |
You say صحتين (sahtayn) to the cook or to guests while they eat. The cook answers الله يعطيك العافية (Allah ya'tik al-afya) or ألف عافية (alf afya).
What does it mean word for word?
بالهنا والشفا (bil-hana wash-shifa) means "with joy and healing". It is a Levantine wish, also heard in Lebanon and Jordan.
Which one should you use?
The short صحتين (sahtayn) is casual. بالهنا والشفا (bil-hana wash-shifa) sounds more formal and fits a dinner with guests.
Did you know?
- يسلمو إيديكي (yislamu idayki), "bless your hands", is the traditional thank-you to the person who cooked a meal in Syria.
Examples in context
- صحتين وعافيةsahtayn wa afyaEnjoy your meal.
- بالهنا والشفا يا جماعةbil-hana wash-shifa ya jama'aBon appetit, everyone.
- ألف عافيةalf afyaA thousand healths (reply).
Example conversation
Rima brings dinner to the table for her husband Bassam in Damascus.
- Rimaتفضل يا بسام، صحتينtfaddal ya Bassam, sahtaynPlease, Bassam, enjoy.
- Bassamيسلمو إيديكيyislamu idaykiBless your hands.
- Rimaبالهنا والشفاbil-hana wash-shifaTo your health.
