Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سلام | salam | |
| السلام عليكم | salamu alaykum | polite |
| أهلا | ahlan | |
| لاباس؟ | labas? | how are you |
The full السلام عليكم (salamu alaykum) is more polite and suits elders and strangers. Right after hello, Moroccans almost always ask لاباس؟ (labas?), 'all good?'
What does it mean word for word?
سلام means 'peace'. السلام عليكم means 'peace be upon you'. لاباس joins لا, 'no', and باس, 'harm', so it means 'no harm' or 'all is well'.
Which one should you use?
سلام is casual and works with friends, family and shopkeepers. السلام عليكم is the respectful greeting for older people, officials and anyone you do not know. أهلا (ahlan) is a friendly 'hi' that also means 'welcome'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
السلام عليكم is the formal choice. سلام and أهلا are informal but still polite in daily life.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The same greetings are used across Morocco. In the north you may hear more Spanish loanwords in speech, and in big cities French salut is common among young people.
How does it change in a sentence?
The follow-up question changes with the person. كي داير؟ (kidayer?) asks a man 'how are you' and كي دايرة؟ (kidayra?) asks a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
Darija drops many short vowels, so السلام عليكم is usually said quickly as 'salam alikum'. لاباس has a long first a: 'laa-bas'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
The reply to السلام عليكم is وعليكم السلام (wa alaykum salam), not another سلام. And لاباس is both the question and the answer, so reply لاباس، الحمد لله, 'fine, thank God'.
When do people say it?
Moroccan greetings are a short ritual of questions about health, family and work. A handshake is often followed by touching the hand to the heart, and friends of the same gender may kiss on both cheeks.
Did you know?
- لاباس (labas), the everyday Moroccan 'how are you', literally means 'no harm' and works as both the question and the answer.
- Touching your right hand to your heart after a handshake is a common Moroccan gesture of sincerity.
Examples in context
- سلام، لاباس عليك؟salam, labas alik?Hi, are you well?
- السلام عليكم، كي داير؟salamu alaykum, kidayer?Hello, how are you?
- سلام، كلشي بخير؟salam, kulshi bikhir?Hi, is everything fine?
Example conversation
Hamza runs into his friend Mehdi at a café in Casablanca.
- Hamzaسلام، لاباس؟salam, labas?Hi, how is it going?
- Mehdiلاباس الحمد لله، وانت؟labas l-hamdulillah, w nta?Fine, thank God, and you?
- Hamzaبخير. والعائلة؟bikhir. w l-aila?Good. And the family?
- Mehdiكلشي بخير.kulshi bikhir.Everything is fine.
