Ways to say it
| Emirati Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| باي | bye | informal, borrowed from English |
| مع السلامة | ma'a al-salama | the traditional Arabic farewell |
Because Dubai is such an international city, English 'bye' is heard constantly in shops, offices and among friends switching between languages. The fuller Arabic farewell, مع السلامة, is used when parting more warmly or respectfully.
What does it mean word for word?
باي is a direct English loanword. مع السلامة literally means 'with safety', wishing the other person a safe journey.
Which one should you use?
باي is quick and casual, often said while already walking away. مع السلامة carries more warmth and is used with guests or elders.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
باي is informal, used between peers. مع السلامة is respectful and fits any relationship.
Is it said differently in some regions?
English loanwords like باي are especially common in Dubai given its large international community, more so than in more traditional Emirati settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
Neither word changes for gender or number.
How do you pronounce it?
باي is pronounced just like the English 'bye'.
When do people say it?
Around nine in ten residents of the UAE come from abroad, which is part of why English farewells blend so naturally into everyday Emirati speech in Dubai.
Did you know?
- English has become so embedded in Dubai's daily speech that short words like 'bye' and 'hi' are used by Arabic speakers without any sense of switching languages.
Examples in context
- باي، أشوفك بكرة.bye, ashofak bokra.Bye, I'll see you tomorrow.
- يلا باي، لازم أروح الشغل.yalla bye, lazim arooh el-shoghl.Ok bye, I have to go to work.
- مع السلامة، الله معاك.ma'a al-salama, Allah ma'ak.Goodbye, God be with you.
Example conversation
Two colleagues, Khalfan and Mira, end a quick coffee break in Dubai.
- Khalfanطيب، لازم أرجع للمكتب.tayyib, lazim arja' lel-maktab.Ok, I need to get back to the office.
- Miraباي، شوفني بعد الدوام.bye, shofni ba'd el-dawam.Bye, see me after work.
- Khalfanإن شاء الله، باي باي.inshallah, bye bye.God willing, bye bye.
- Miraمع السلامة.ma'a al-salama.Goodbye.
