Ways to say it
| Syrian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| تصبح على خير | tusbih ala khair | to a man |
| تصبحي على خير | tusbihi ala khair | to a woman |
This blessing is said before sleep, at the end of a phone call at night or when leaving someone's home late. It is used between family, friends and even acquaintances.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means 'may you wake up to good', built from the verb 'to become' and خير, 'good' or 'goodness'.
Which one should you use?
The only real choice is the ending that matches the gender of the person you are speaking to. The meaning and warmth stay the same either way.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This goodnight wish suits every level of formality, from children saying it to a parent to adults saying it to a guest.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase is shared across Syria and the wider Levant, including Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending ي in تصبحي marks the person addressed as a woman, the same ي found in many other Syrian verbs directed at a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
The h sound in تصبح is a light, breathy h, different from the deeper throat sound found elsewhere in Arabic.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using the masculine تصبح with a woman is a common slip for learners, since the difference is only the final ي.
When do people say it?
Syrian families often say this phrase to everyone in the room individually before going to bed, rather than once to the group.
Did you know?
- تصبح على خير literally wishes someone a good 'becoming' rather than a good night, since the verb at its root means 'to become' or 'to wake up as'.
- Syrians often go around a room saying this phrase to each family member one by one, rather than saying it once to everyone together.
Examples in context
- تصبح على خير، نام منيح.tusbih ala khair, nam mnih.Goodnight, sleep well.
- تصبحي على خير يا ماما.tusbihi ala khair ya mama.Goodnight, mom.
- تصبحوا على خير جميعا.tusbihu ala khair jami3an.Goodnight to all of you.
Example conversation
Yasmin says goodnight to her brother Adnan before going to bed.
- Yasminتصبح على خير عدنان.tusbih ala khair Adnan.Goodnight Adnan.
- Adnanتصبحي على خير ياسمين، نامي منيح.tusbihi ala khair Yasmin, nami mnih.Goodnight Yasmin, sleep well.
- Yasminمنيح، شوفك الصبح.mnih, shufak es-subh.Good, I'll see you in the morning.
- Adnanالصبح ان شاء الله.es-subh in sha allah.In the morning, God willing.
