أهلاً
ahlaneveryday
The easiest greeting in Egyptian Arabic is أهلاً (ahlan). A more formal one is السلام عليكم (es-salāmu ʿalaykum), "peace be upon you". It is also called إزيك (izzayyak).
Meaning: words of welcome (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Egyptian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| أهلاً | ahlan | everyday |
| إزيك | izzayyak | casual |
| السلام عليكم | es-salāmu ʿalaykum | formal, religious |
The reply to السلام عليكم is وعليكم السلام (wa ʿalaykum es-salām). أهلاً is answered with أهلاً بيك (ahlan bīk), "welcome to you".
Which one should you use?
إزيك (izzayyak) to a man and إزيك (izzayyik) to a woman ask "how are you". It is a greeting, not only a question.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
السلام عليكم is used among Muslims and in formal speech. Christians and young people mostly use أهلاً or صباح الخير.
Did you know?
- أهلاً وسهلاً is a very old welcome that is understood across the whole Arabic-speaking world.
Examples in context
- أهلاً يا محمد.ahlan ya muḥammad.Greetings, Mohamed.
- أهلاً وسهلاً بيك.ahlan wi sahlan bīk.Welcome.
Example conversation
Salma greets her new neighbor Mr. Adel on the stairs of an apartment building in Cairo.
- Salmaالسلام عليكم.es-salāmu ʿalaykum.Peace be upon you.
- Adelوعليكم السلام ورحمة الله.wa ʿalaykum es-salām wi raḥmatu llāh.And peace and God's mercy upon you.
- Salmaأنا جارتك الجديدة.ana gārtak el-gidīda.I am your new neighbor.
- Adelأهلاً وسهلاً.ahlan wi sahlan.Welcome.
