وعلیکم السلام
walaikum assalam
The phrase "hi back" is translated into Urdu as وعلیکم السلام (walaikum assalam).
وعلیکم السلام is used as a response to return a greeting to someone who has just said hello. It translates to "And peace be upon you."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of وعلیکم (walaikum), where the prefix wa- means "and" and alaikum means "upon you".
Which one should you use?
While Assalamu Alaikum is the initial greeting used to say hello, وعلیکم السلام is the customary or mandatory response used to return that greeting.
How do you pronounce it?
walaikum assalam
Did you know?
- In digital Urdu typing (Roman Urdu), people often abbreviate this long phrase to 'Walaikum Assalam' or even 'WS', which is common in texting but would be considered disrespectful in spoken person-to-person etiquette.
- In traditional settings, a younger person may say وعلیکم السلام while slightly bowing their head or placing a hand over their heart as a gesture of humility.
- When replying to a group, the -kum part of وعلیکم remains the same because it is already in the plural form, meaning the response works for one person or one hundred people.
Examples in context
- وعلیکم السلام، آپ کیسے ہیں؟wa-alaikum-as-salaam, aap kaise hain?Hi back, how are you?
- وعلیکم السلام، کیا حال ہے؟wa-alaikum-as-salaam, kya haal hai?Hi back, how is everything?
- وعلیکم السلام، خوش آمدید۔wa-alaikum-as-salaam, khush aamdeed.Hi back, welcome.
Example conversation
Omar and Aisha meet in a hallway at school.
- عمر Omarالسلام علیکم، عائشہ۔as-salaam-alaikum, Aisha.Hello, Aisha.
- عائشہ Ayeshaوعلیکم السلام، عمر۔wa-alaikum-as-salaam, Omar.Hi back, Omar.
- عمر Omarآج کا دن کیسا ہے؟aaj ka din kaisa hai?How is your day going?
- عائشہ Ayeshaبہت اچھا، شکریہ۔bohat achha, shukriya.Very good, thank you.
