صباح الخير
sabah al-khayrstandard, everyday
In Qatar people say صباح الخير (sabah al-khayr) to greet each other in the morning. The reply is صباح النور (sabah an-nur), "morning of light". It is also called يا صباح الخير (ya sabah al-khayr).
Meaning: morning greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| صباح الخير | sabah al-khayr | standard, everyday |
| صباح النور | sabah an-nur | reply |
| يا صباح الخير | ya sabah al-khayr | warm |
Use صباح الخير (sabah al-khayr) with colleagues, shopkeepers and neighbors until about noon. Qataris often add هلا (hala) first, as in هلا، صباح الخير.
Which one should you use?
A reply can also repeat the greeting صباح الخير (sabah al-khayr), but صباح النور (sabah an-nur) is the classic answer.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Gulf speakers may follow the greeting with شلونك؟ (shlonak), "how are you?", where Levantine speakers would say كيفك؟ (kifak).
Did you know?
- The reply صباح النور (sabah an-nur) literally means "morning of light", answering "morning of goodness" with something brighter.
Examples in context
- صباح الخير يا محمدsabah al-khayr ya muhammadGood morning, Mohammed.
- هلا، صباح الخيرhala, sabah al-khayrHi, good morning.
Example conversation
Jassim meets his coworker Maryam by the elevator of an office in West Bay, Doha.
- Jassimصباح الخير يا مريمsabah al-khayr ya MaryamGood morning, Maryam.
- مريم Maryamصباح النور، شلونك؟sabah an-nur, shlonakGood morning, how are you?
- Jassimالحمد لله، بخيرalhamdulillah, bikhayrFine, praise God.
