ألف سلامة
alf salāmeeveryday, warm
The common way to say "get well soon" in Lebanese Arabic is ألف سلامة (alf salāme), "a thousand wellness". You can also say سلامتك (salāmtak) to a man and سلامتك (salāmtek) to a woman. It is also called الله يشفيك (allāh yishfīk).
Meaning: a wish for a sick person (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ألف سلامة | alf salāme | everyday, warm |
| سلامتك | salāmtak | to a man |
| الله يشفيك | allāh yishfīk | to a man, prayer |
You say it when you hear someone is ill or visit them. The phrase الله يشفيك (allāh yishfīk), "may God heal you", is a more religious wish.
How does it change in a sentence?
The spelling stays the same for both, and only the spoken ending changes: "-ak" for a man and "-ek" for a woman.
Did you know?
- سلامة (salāme) is the same word that Lebanese speakers use for safety, so the wish also means "may you be safe and sound".
Examples in context
- ألف سلامة عليكalf salāme ʿalēkGet well soon.
- سلامتكsalāmtakGet well (to a man).
- الله يشفيكallāh yishfīkMay God heal you.
Example conversation
Maya visits her friend Joseph, who has a bad flu.
- Mayaألف سلامة يا جوزيفalf salāme ya JozefGet well soon, Joseph.
- Josephالله يسلمكallāh yeslamikThank you.
- Mayaبدك شي؟biddak shi?Do you need anything?
- Josephلأ، شكراlaʼ, shukranNo, thanks.
