silav
/sɪˈlɑːv/
In Kurdish, 'hi' is expressed as silav. It is also spelled selam. Wiktionary also lists merheba.
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Kurdish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| silav | /sɪˈlɑːv/ | |
| merheba | ||
| selam | /sæɫaːm/ | alternative form |
These terms are used as friendly, informal greetings. While silav is a native Kurdish greeting, merheba is a loanword from Arabic that is used similarly to 'hello'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word silav literally means 'greeting' or 'peace'.
Which one should you use?
silav is the native Kurdish way to say 'hi', whereas merheba is a loanword from Arabic used to say 'hello'. Additionally, selam is simply an alternative spelling of silav.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Kurmanji Kurdish, silav means 'Hi' and merheba means 'Hello'.
How do you pronounce it?
/sɪˈlɑːv/
When do people say it?
When welcoming someone to a specific place informally, you can say Bi xêr hatî, which means 'Welcome'.
Did you know?
- While silav is commonly used for 'hi', you might see it written in both Latin and Arabic-based scripts depending on whether the speaker is in Turkey or Iraq.
- In many Kurdish cultures, a greeting like silav is traditionally accompanied by a handshake, and among close male friends, this often extends to a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
- Because Kurdish is spoken across borders in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, the choice between silav and merheba can sometimes be influenced by the dominant national language of that region.
Examples in context
- Silav.Hi.This sentence shows a simple use of silav to say 'Hi'.Tatoeba #8697798 by Cibrani, translation #538123 by CM
- Silav, navê min Omîd e.Hi, my name is Omid.This sentence uses silav to introduce oneself.Tatoeba #8331057 by Adelpa, translation #696157 by omidcat2004
- Silav, tu çawa yî?Hi, how are you?
Example conversation
Rojda and Aras meet on the street.
- RojdaSilav, Aras!Hi, Aras!
- ArasSilav, Rojda, tu baş î?Hi, Rojda, are you well?
- RojdaErê, ez baş im.Yes, I am well.
- ArasŞah bûm ku tu baş î.I am glad that you are well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries silav, selam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
