أهلاً
ahlanhello, everyday
In Egyptian Arabic, say أهلاً (ahlan) for hello and مع السلامة (ma'a es-salama) for goodbye. Friends often use سلام (salam) for either one.
Meaning: greeting and farewell (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Egyptian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| أهلاً | ahlan | hello, everyday |
| مع السلامة | ma'a es-salama | goodbye, everyday |
| سلام | salam | casual, hello or goodbye |
To ask how someone is, Egyptians say إزيك (izzayyak) to a man and إزيك (izzayyik) to a woman. A common reply is الحمد لله (el-hamdu lillah).
Which one should you use?
The answer to مع السلامة is often الله يسلمك (allah yesallemak), "may God keep you safe".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The formal greeting السلام عليكم (es-salamu aleikum) is answered with وعليكم السلام (wa aleikum es-salam). It is polite with elders and strangers.
Did you know?
- The word سلام (salam) means "peace", so one short word does both jobs in everyday Egyptian talk.
Examples in context
- أهلاً يا أحمد، إزيك؟ahlan ya ahmed, izzayyakHello Ahmed, how are you?
- مع السلامة، أشوفك بكرةma'a es-salama, ashufak bokraGoodbye, see you tomorrow.
- سلام يا صحبيsalam ya sohbiBye, my friend.
Example conversation
Ahmed meets his neighbor Hoda on the stairs in Cairo and they part a minute later.
- Ahmedأهلاً يا هدى، إزيك؟ahlan ya hoda, izzayyikHello Hoda, how are you?
- Hodaالحمد لله، إنت عامل إيه؟el-hamdu lillah, enta amel ehFine, thank God. How are you?
- Ahmedتمام. مع السلامةtamam. ma'a es-salamaGood. Goodbye.
- Hodaالله يسلمكallah yesallemakGod keep you safe.
