Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بسلامة | bslama | |
| الله يحفظك | llah yhfdek | blessing, to a man |
| نتلاقاو | ntlaqaw | see you, casual |
For a warmer send-off, especially before a trip, Moroccans add the blessing الله يحفظك (llah yhfdek), 'may God protect you'. Among friends, نتلاقاو (ntlaqaw), 'we will meet again', is a common, casual close.
What does it mean word for word?
بسلامة is a contraction of بالسلامة, 'with safety'. الله يحفظك joins الله, God, يحفظ, 'protects', and ك, 'you'.
Which one should you use?
بسلامة is the default, all-purpose goodbye for any situation. الله يحفظك fits a longer parting, such as before travel. نتلاقاو is light and implies you expect to meet again soon.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
بسلامة is polite enough for any setting, from a shop to a family home. نتلاقاو is informal, best with friends and peers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
بسلامة is used across Morocco without regional variation worth noting, one of the most stable phrases in Darija.
How does it change in a sentence?
الله يحفظك changes with the listener: yhfdek to a man, yhfdek becomes yhfdk when followed by a feminine pronoun shift in fast speech, but is commonly kept the same in casual use.
How do you pronounce it?
بسلامة is said quickly, 'bsa-LA-ma', with the stress on the third syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Learners sometimes say the fuller Standard Arabic مع السلامة, which is understood in Morocco but sounds slightly less natural than the contracted Darija بسلامة.
When do people say it?
Moroccan goodbyes, especially at a family home, often take a while, with blessings, invitations to return, and بسلامة repeated more than once before anyone actually leaves.
Did you know?
- بسلامة is a shortened form of بالسلامة that Darija uses so consistently it has become the default goodbye, more than the fuller Standard Arabic version.
- Moroccan family goodbyes often involve blessings for the road, a custom shared with the rest of the Maghreb and the wider Arab world.
Examples in context
- بسلامة، تهلا بيك.bslama, thla bik.Goodbye, take care of yourself.
- الله يحفظك في الطريق.llah yhfdek fi triq.May God protect you on the way.
- نتلاقاو غدا إن شاء الله.ntlaqaw ghedda in sha'allah.We will meet again tomorrow, God willing.
Example conversation
Hassan says goodbye to his cousin Imane after a family lunch.
- Hassanبسلامة إيمان، شكرا على الزيارة.bslama imane, shukran ala l-ziyara.Goodbye Imane, thanks for the visit.
- Imaneالله يحفظك، سلم لي على الوالدة.llah yhfdek, sellem li ala l-walida.God protect you, say hi to your mother for me.
- Hassanواخا، نتلاقاو قريبا.wakha, ntlaqaw qariban.Okay, we'll meet again soon.
- Imaneبسلامة.bslama.Goodbye.
