What does it mean word for word?
The phrase كل شيء تمام is composed of 'kull' (every/all), 'shay' (thing) and 'tamām' (perfect/complete/fine).
Which one should you use?
While كل شيء تمام is a common way to say everything is good, you may encounter other variations: كله تمام is a shorter version meaning "it is all fine" and كُلّ حاجَة تمام expresses that everything is perfect or all right.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
كل شيء تمام is colloquial and common in spoken dialects rather than formal Modern Standard Arabic. For formal situations, you can use كُلّ شَيء جَيّد to say "everything is good" or كُلّ شَيء عَلَى ما يُرَام to mean "everything is fine" or "everything is on track". In informal settings, كُلّ حاجَة تمام is used to mean "everything is perfect" or "everything is all right" and the even shorter كله تمام can be used in casual conversation to mean "it is all fine".
How do you pronounce it?
kull shay' tamām
Did you know?
- In professional or military contexts, تمام is used as a formal report to indicate that a soldier is present and everything is in order.
- In some dialects, the phrase كله تمام can be used sarcastically to imply that things are actually going wrong, depending on the speaker's tone.
- The word حاجة in the variation كُلّ حاجَة تمام literally translates to 'need' or 'necessity' in formal Arabic, but means 'thing' in colloquial speech.
Examples in context
- كُلّ شَيء جَيّد. لَقَد حَقّقنا أهدَافَناEverything is good. We have achieved our goals.
- كل شيء تمام.kull shay' tamam.Everything is good.
- هل أنت بخير؟ نعم، كل شيء تمام.hal anta bi-khayr? na'am, kull shay' tamam.Are you okay? Yes, everything is fine.
- لا تقلق، كل شيء تمام هنا.la taqlaq, kull shay' tamam huna.Don't worry, everything is good here.
Example conversation
Ziad is checking in with Layla about her day.
- ليلى Laylaأهلاً زياد، كيف حالك؟Ahlan Ziad, kayfa haluk?Hello Ziad, how are you?
- زياد Ziadأنا بخير، هل كل شيء تمام معكِ؟Ana bikhayr, hal kull shay' tamam ma'aki?I am fine, is everything good with you?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، كل شيء تمام، شكراً لك.Na'am, kull shay' tamam, shukran lak.Yes, everything is good, thank you.
- زياد Ziadهذا خبر جيد يا ليلى.Hadha khabar jayyid ya Layla.That is good news, Layla.
