مرحباً يا أصدقاء
marhaban ya asdiqa'
مرحباً يا أصدقاء (marhaban ya asdiqa') is the Arabic way to say "hello friends".
This phrase is a friendly greeting used when addressing a group of friends.
What does it mean word for word?
The particle يا is a vocative particle used to address someone, functioning much like the word "O" in archaic English. The word أصدقاء means "friends".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word أصدقاء is the broken plural form of the word صديق (friend). If you were addressing only one female friend, you would say يا صديقتي instead.
How do you pronounce it?
marhaban ya asdiqa'
Did you know?
- The root of the word صديق is linked to the word for 'truth' صدق. In Arabic culture, a true friend is literally someone who is truthful and sincere.
- In many Arabic dialects, rather than using مرحباً, people might simply say أهلاً (Ahlan) to greet friends, which literally translates to 'family' or 'kin' in its deeper connotations.
- The vocative particle يا is used so frequently in Arabic that it is often used even when the person being addressed is standing right in front of the speaker.
Examples in context
- مرحباً يا أصدقاء، كيف حالكم؟marḥaban yā aṣdiqā', kayfa ḥālukum?Hello friends, how are you?
- مرحباً يا أصدقاء، هل أنتم مستعدون؟marḥaban yā aṣdiqā', hal antum musta‘iddūn?Hello friends, are you ready?
- مرحباً يا أصدقاء، أهلاً بكم في منزلي.marḥaban yā aṣdiqā', ahlan bikum fī manzilī.Hello friends, welcome to my home.
Example conversation
Maryam arrives at a cafe to meet Omar and their group of friends.
- مريم Maryamمرحباً يا أصدقاء! اشتقت إليكم.Marhaban ya asdiqa'! Ishtaqtu ilaykum.Hello friends! I missed you.
- عمر Omarأهلاً مريم، نحن أيضاً اشتقنا لكِ.Ahlan Maryam, nahnu aydan ishtaqna laki.Hello Maryam, we missed you too.
- مريم Maryamماذا سنطلب لنشرب الآن؟Madha sanatlub linu-shrab al-aan?What shall we order to drink now?
- عمر Omarسأطلب القهوة للجميع.Sa-atlub al-qahwa lil-jami'I will order coffee for everyone.
