تصبح على خير
tisbah ala khayrto a man, everyday
In Saudi Arabia the everyday phrase is تصبح على خير (tisbah ala khayr) to a man and تصبحين على خير (tisbahin ala khayr) to a woman. ليلة سعيدة (layla saida), "happy night", is more formal.
Meaning: wish for the night (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| تصبح على خير | tisbah ala khayr | to a man, everyday |
| ليلة سعيدة | layla saida | formal |
| تصبحين على خير | tisbahin ala khayr | to a woman |
The common Saudi answer is وأنت من أهله (wa inta min ahlih), "and you are among its people", meaning the people of goodness.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ليلة سعيدة (layla saida) is a bit stiff, closer to written or broadcast Arabic than to family talk.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Saudi families say it as everyone splits up for the night, and guests staying over hear it from the host too.
Did you know?
- أبوي (abuy), "my father", is a colloquial form used in the Gulf and Saudi Arabia instead of أبي (abi).
Examples in context
- تصبحين على خيرtisbahin ala khayrGood night (to a woman).
- ليلة سعيدة للجميعlayla saida lil-jami'Good night, everyone.
Example conversation
Nasser says good night to his father in their house in Jeddah.
- Nasserتصبح على خير يا أبويtisbah ala khayr ya abuyGood night, Dad.
- Fatherوأنت من أهله يا ولديwa inta min ahlih ya waladiAnd you, my son.
- Nasserالله يحفظكAllah yihfazakGod protect you.
