Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ | kullu ʕāmin wa-ʔantum bi-ḵayrin |
| سَنَة جَدِيدَة سَعِيدَة | sana jadīda saʕīda |
| عَام سَعِيد | ʕām saʕīd |
كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ wishes that every year finds the listener well. It is used for the New Year and also for any yearly occasion, such as Eid or a birthday.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means every year and you are well. كُلُّ عَامٍ is every year, وَأَنْتُمْ is and you and بِخَيْرٍ is in good health or well.
Which one should you use?
كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ is the more traditional greeting. سَنَة جَدِيدَة سَعِيدَة (sana jadīda saʕīda) is the direct translation, happy new year and عَام سَعِيد (ʕām saʕīd) means happy year.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic people say سنة حلوة يا جماعة, have a sweet year, everyone. In the Levant a common wish is سنة حلوة وكل عام وأنتو بخير.
How does it change in a sentence?
وَأَنْتُمْ is the plural or polite you. To wish one man a happy new year, say كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتَ بِخَيْرٍ.
How do you pronounce it?
It is read kullu ʕāmin wa-ʔantum bi-ḵayrin.
When do people say it?
The usual reply is وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ, and may you also be well. Because the same greeting is used for Eid and birthdays, you will hear it many times a year.
Did you know?
- While the Gregorian calendar is used for business, many Arabic speakers also celebrate the Hijri New Year, which follows a lunar calendar and shifts about 11 days earlier every year.
- Arabic has two different words for 'year', سَنَة and عَام, and while they are often interchangeable, عَام is frequently used in more formal or poetic contexts.
- In some dialects, the greeting كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ is accompanied by a light kiss on each cheek or a warm embrace, depending on the closeness of the relationship.
Examples in context
- كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ يا عائلتي.Kullu 'amin wa antum bikhayr ya 'a'ilati.Happy new year, my family.
- أريد أن أقول: كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ.Uridu an aqula: Kullu 'amin wa antum bikhayr.I want to say: Happy new year.
Example conversation
Maryam and Yusuf are greeting each other on New Year's Day.
- مريم Maryamكُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ يا يوسف!Kullu 'amin wa antum bikhayr ya Yusuf!Happy new year, Yusuf!
- يوسف Youssefوأنتِ بِخَيْرٍ يا مريم.Wa anti bikhayr ya Maryam.And may you be well, Maryam.
- مريم Maryamكيف حالك في السنة الجديدة؟Kayfa haluka fi al-sanah al-jadidah?How are you in the new year?
- يوسف Youssefأنا بخير، شكراً لكِ.Ana bikhayr, shukran laki.I am fine, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy new year” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
