Ways to say it
| Egyptian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سلامتك | salamtak | to a male |
| سلامتك | salamtik | to a female |
| ربنا يشفيك | rabbena yishfeek | more religious, 'may God heal you', to a male |
Said to a female, it becomes salamtik. For something more clearly religious, Egyptians say ربنا يشفيك (rabbena yishfeek), 'may God heal you'.
What does it mean word for word?
سلامتك comes from سلامة, 'safety' or 'wellbeing', so it literally wishes someone back to safety and health. يشفي means 'to heal'.
Which one should you use?
سلامتك is the all-purpose wish, used for anything from a cold to a surgery recovery. ربنا يشفيك adds a stronger religious note, often said for a more serious illness.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are warm and informal enough for any relationship, including a respected elder.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending changes with the gender of the person addressed: salamtak to a man, salamtik to a woman and salamtokom to a group. يشفي changes with the person healed, becoming yishfeeha for 'her'.
How do you pronounce it?
سلامتك is stressed on the second syllable, sa-LAM-tak.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Saying سلامتك to someone before you know what happened to them can sound odd. It fits best once you know they were unwell, hurt or in trouble.
When do people say it?
The reply to سلامتك is usually الله يسلمك (allah yesallemak), 'may God keep you safe', continuing the exchange of blessings.
Did you know?
- The standard reply to سلامتك is الله يسلمك, keeping the wish of safety passed back to the person who said it.
- سلامتك is used for any kind of trouble, not only illness, including a car accident, a fall or even bad news, wishing the person safety afterward.
Examples in context
- سمعت إنك تعبت، سلامتك.sema't ennak te'ebt, salamtak.I heard you got sick, get well soon.
- ربنا يشفيك بسرعة.rabbena yishfeek be-sor'a.May God heal you quickly.
- سلامتك، إن شاء الله تتحسني بسرعة.salamtik, inshallah tet-hassani be-sor'a.Get well soon, I hope you feel better quickly.
Example conversation
Hassan visits his coworker Fatma after her minor surgery.
- Hassanسلامتك يا فاطمة، إزيك دلوقتي؟salamtik ya Fatma, izzayek dilwa'ti?Get well soon, Fatma, how are you now?
- Fatmaالله يسلمك، كويسة أحسن شوية.allah yesallemak, kwayyesa ahsan shwaya.May God keep you safe, I'm a bit better.
- Hassanربنا يشفيك ويقومك بالسلامة.rabbena yishfeek w ye'ommek bis-salama.May God heal you and get you back on your feet safely.
- Fatmaآمين، متشكرة على زيارتك.amin, mitshakkira ala zeyartak.Amen, thank you for visiting.
