Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عيد مبارك | 'id mbarek | |
| مبارك عليك العيد | mbarek 'lik l-'id | reply |
A common reply is مبارك عليك العيد (mbarek 'lik l-'id), turning the blessing back onto the person who said it first.
What does it mean word for word?
عيد means 'feast' or 'holiday' and مبارك means 'blessed', so the phrase is literally 'blessed feast'.
Which one should you use?
عيد مبارك is the standard greeting exchanged at the start of both major Islamic holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase is warm and polite at every level, suitable for family, neighbors, colleagues and strangers alike during the holiday.
Is it said differently in some regions?
عيد مبارك is used across Morocco and the entire Arab and Muslim world, with the Darija pronunciation shortening the vowels slightly.
How does it change in a sentence?
مبارك عليك changes with the listener: 'lik to a man, 'lik becomes 'lik-i to a woman in careful speech, though many speakers keep the shorter form for both.
How do you pronounce it?
The Darija pronunciation of عيد starts with the ain sound at the back of the throat, 'id, not the fuller Standard Arabic 'eid'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using عيد مبارك for a birthday is a mismatch, since the phrase is reserved specifically for the religious holidays.
When do people say it?
Moroccan families mark Eid with new clothes, special meals and visits between relatives, and عيد مبارك is exchanged repeatedly throughout the day as people meet.
Did you know?
- The reply مبارك عليك العيد echoes the blessing back, a common pattern in Moroccan holiday exchanges rather than a simple 'thank you'.
- The same word مبارك appears in Moroccan congratulations for weddings, new jobs and births, not only for Eid.
Examples in context
- عيد مبارك للعائلة كاملة.'id mbarek l-l3ayla kamla.Eid Mubarak to the whole family.
- مبارك عليك العيد، كل عام وأنت بخير.mbarek 'lik l-'id, kul 3am w nta b-khir.Eid Mubarak to you too, may you be well every year.
- عيد مبارك، شحال فرحانين اليوم.'id mbarek, shhal farhanin l-yom.Eid Mubarak, how happy everyone is today.
Example conversation
Neighbors Latifa and Brahim greet each other on the morning of Eid.
- Latifaعيد مبارك ابراهيم.'id mbarek brahim.Eid Mubarak, Brahim.
- Brahimمبارك عليك العيد لطيفة.mbarek 'lik l-'id latifa.Eid Mubarak to you too, Latifa.
- Latifaكيف العائلة؟ كلهم بخير؟kif l3ayla? kulhom b-khir?How is the family? Is everyone well?
- Brahimالحمد لله، كلهم فرحانين اليوم.l-hamdulillah, kulhom farhanin l-yom.Thank God, everyone is happy today.
