مع السلامة
maʿa s-salāmaeveryday
The standard way to say goodbye in Egyptian Arabic is مع السلامة (maʿa s-salāma), "with safety". Friends often say just سلام (salām) or يلا سلام (yalla salām).
Meaning: farewell (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Egyptian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مع السلامة | maʿa s-salāma | everyday |
| سلام | salām | casual |
| يلا سلام | yalla salām | casual, slang |
The person who stays often answers الله يسلمك (allāh yisallimak), "may God keep you safe". مع السلامة works in shops, on the phone and in person.
Which one should you use?
يلا سلام is relaxed and closer to "okay, bye". يلا alone can also mean "let us go".
When do people say it?
A farewell between friends in Egypt can take a while and often ends with تصبح على خير (tiṣbaḥ ʿala ḵēr), "good night", in the evening.
Did you know?
- The reply الله يسلمك means "may God keep you safe" and is also a common answer to thanks.
Examples in context
- مع السلامة، أشوفك بكرة.maʿa s-salāma, ašūfak bukra.Goodbye, see you tomorrow.
- يلا سلام.yalla salām.Okay, bye.
Example conversation
Omar leaves his friend Tamer's flat in Giza late in the evening.
- Omarيلا أنا همشي.yalla ana hamši.Well, I am going now.
- Tamerخليك شوية.ḵallīk šwayya.Stay a little.
- Omarلا، متأخر. مع السلامة.la, mitaʾaḵḵar. maʿa s-salāma.No, it is late. Goodbye.
- Tamerالله يسلمك.allāh yisallimak.God keep you safe.
