أهلاً
ahlaneveryday, Egypt
In Egypt the simplest way to say hello is أهلاً (ahlan). Friends also say إزيك (izzayyak) to a man, which means "how are you?", and السلام عليكم (as-salāmu ʿalaykum) is the traditional greeting.
Meaning: greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| أهلاً | ahlan | everyday, Egypt |
| إزيك | izzayyak | to a man, Egyptian colloquial |
| السلام عليكم | as-salāmu ʿalaykum | formal, Islamic greeting |
أهلاً (ahlan) is also used to welcome someone. A common reply is أهلاً بيك (ahlan bīk), "welcome".
Is it said differently in some regions?
Egyptian Arabic says إزيك (izzayyak) to a man and إزيك (izzayyik) to a woman where standard Arabic says كيف حالك (kayfa ḥāluk). It is among the most recognized Egyptian words across the Arab world, thanks to Egyptian films.
Did you know?
- Egyptian Arabic is the most widely understood Arabic dialect, and Cairo has long been the center of Arabic film and music.
Examples in context
- أهلاً، عامل إيه؟ahlan, ʿāmil eh?Hello, how are you doing?
- إزيك يا أحمد؟izzayyak yā Aḥmad?How are you, Ahmed?
Example conversation
Mona greets her neighbor Karim on the stairs of their building in Cairo.
- Monaأهلاً يا كريم، إزيك؟Ahlan yā Karīm, izzayyak?Hello Karim, how are you?
- Karimالحمد لله، إنتي عاملة إيه؟El-ḥamdu lillāh, inti ʿamla eh?Fine, thank God. How are you?
- Monaتمام، شكراً.Tamām, shukran.Good, thanks.
