مساء الخير
masā el-khayrafternoon and evening
Lebanese Arabic has no separate "good afternoon" greeting. People say مرحبا (marḥaba) at any hour and switch to مساء الخير (masā el-khayr) from the afternoon on.
Meaning: a greeting in the afternoon (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مساء الخير | masā el-khayr | afternoon and evening |
| مرحبا | marḥaba | any time |
The reply to مساء الخير is مساء النور (masā en-nūr). A short أهلين (ahlēn), "welcome", works too.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Many Lebanese also mix in the French bonjour and bonsoir, which is a normal part of daily speech in Lebanon.
Did you know?
- The reply مساء النور (masā en-nūr) literally means "evening of light", and the greeting مساء الخير (masā el-khayr) means "evening of goodness".
Examples in context
- مساء الخيرmasā el-khayrGood afternoon.
- مساء النورmasā en-nūrGood afternoon (the reply).
- مرحبا، كيفك؟marḥaba, kīfak?Hello, how are you?
Example conversation
Customer Mrs. Rania enters a bakery in Beirut and the baker Khalil greets her.
- Khalilمساء الخير مدام رانياmasā el-khayr madām RānyaGood afternoon, Mrs. Rania.
- Raniaمساء النور، كيفك؟masā en-nūr, kīfak?Good afternoon, how are you?
- Khalilمنيح، الحمد للهmunīḥ, el-ḥamdu lillāhFine, thank God.
