إجازة سعيدة
ijaza sa'ida
In Arabic, "happy holidays" is said as إجازة سعيدة (ijaza sa'ida).
The phrase إجازة سعيدة is most commonly used to wish someone a happy vacation or a break from work/school, rather than a religious holiday.
Meaning: holiday greeting (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
إجازة سعيدة is composed of إجازة (holiday/vacation) and سعيدة (happy).
Which one should you use?
Additionally, عيد سعيد literally translates to "happy feast" and أعياد سعيدة is another way to express happy holidays.
How do you pronounce it?
ijaza sa'ida
When do people say it?
For Christmas, say عيد ميلاد مجيد which means "Merry Christmas".
Did you know?
- Because إجازة (ijaza) can also mean a 'permit' or 'license' in certain legal contexts, the phrase can sound slightly more administrative than a heartfelt festive wish.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, a common response to a holiday greeting is not 'thank you' but a reciprocal phrase that returns the blessing to the speaker.
- In many parts of the Arab world, the concept of a 'holiday' is often tied to the lunar calendar, meaning the dates for 'happy feasts' change every year relative to the solar calendar.
Examples in context
- أعياد سعيدة لكم ولعائلتكم. نتمنى لكم أجمل الأوقات والفرح خلال هذه الأيام.Happy holidays to you and your family. We wish you the best of times and joy during these days.
- إجازة سعيدة وممتعة!ijāza sa‘īda wa mumti‘a!Happy and enjoyable holidays!
Example conversation
Two colleagues are leaving the office for a break.
- مريم Maryamإجازة سعيدة يا يوسف!Ijaza sa'ida ya Yusuf!Happy holidays, Yusuf!
- يوسف Youssefشكراً يا مريم، وأنتِ أيضاً.Shukran ya Maryam, wa anti aydan.Thank you Maryam, and you too.
- مريم Maryamسأشتاق إلى العمل هنا.Sa-ashtaq ila al-amal huna.I will miss working here.
- يوسف Youssefنراك بعد العطلة!Naraka ba'd al-utla!See you after the break!
