السلام علیکم
assalamu alaikumstandard, any time
Urdu has no everyday set phrase for "good afternoon", and Pakistanis greet at any hour with السلام علیکم (assalamu alaikum). دوپہر بخیر (dopahar bakhair) exists but sounds formal.
Meaning: greeting used in the afternoon (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Pakistan | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| السلام علیکم | assalamu alaikum | standard, any time |
| دوپہر بخیر | dopahar bakhair | formal, translated |
The reply to السلام علیکم (assalamu alaikum) is وعلیکم السلام (walaikum assalam). Both are fine at noon, in the afternoon or at night.
Which one should you use?
دوپہر بخیر (dopahar bakhair) is built like صبح بخیر (subah bakhair) and is more likely in radio, television or a business letter.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Some young Pakistanis also say the English گڈ آفٹر نون (good afternoon), especially in offices and schools.
Did you know?
- The word تشریف رکھیں (tashreef rakhen), literally "place your honor", is the polite way to invite a guest to sit.
Examples in context
- السلام علیکم، آپ کیسے ہیں؟assalamu alaikum, aap kaise hain?Good afternoon, how are you?
- دوپہر بخیر، جناب۔dopahar bakhair, janab.Good afternoon, sir.
Example conversation
At two in the afternoon, Mr. Farooq enters an office in Karachi to meet the manager.
- Farooqالسلام علیکم، منیجر صاحب۔assalamu alaikum, manager sahab.Good afternoon, manager.
- Managerوعلیکم السلام، تشریف رکھیں۔walaikum assalam, tashreef rakhen.Good afternoon, please sit down.
- Farooqشکریہ، آپ کا وقت ہو تو بات کر لیں؟shukriya, aap ka waqt ho to baat kar len?Thank you, if you have time, can we talk?
