Ways to say it
| Sudanese Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| أهلين | ahlein | |
| هاي | hai | informal, from English |
Younger speakers, especially in Khartoum, also use the borrowed هاي (hai) from English in casual chat and messages.
What does it mean word for word?
أهلين is a doubled, warm form of أهل, 'family', used as a light welcoming greeting.
Which one should you use?
أهلين is the native, widely used casual greeting across generations. هاي is newer and more limited to younger, urban speakers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are informal, fine with friends, classmates and family rather than in formal settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
أهلين is used across Sudan. The borrowed هاي is concentrated in cities among younger speakers.
How does it change in a sentence?
Neither word changes for gender or number.
How do you pronounce it?
أهلين stresses the first syllable: 'AH-lein'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using هاي with an older relative can feel too casual or foreign sounding. أهلين is the safer everyday choice.
When do people say it?
أهلين is often said twice in a row, أهلين أهلين, to sound extra warm and welcoming.
Did you know?
- أهلين is a doubled, more intense form of welcome than the single أهلا, which is why it often gets repeated for extra warmth.
- English 'hi' has spread into casual Sudanese city speech mainly through messaging apps and younger speakers.
Examples in context
- هاي، شلونك؟hai, shlonak?Hi, how are you doing?
- أهلين أهلين، اتفضل اقعد.ahlein ahlein, itfaddal iq3ad.Hi there, please sit down.
Example conversation
Salma welcomes her cousin Rayan as he visits her home in Omdurman.
- Salmaأهلين ريان، اتفضل.ahlein Rayan, itfaddal.Hi Rayan, please come in.
- Rayanأهلين، كيف الحال؟ahlein, kefa l-hal?Hi, how are you?
- Salmaتمام، اقعد نشرب شاي.tamam, iq3ad nishrab shai.Fine, sit down, let us have tea.
- Rayanيلا، ما عندي مانع.yalla, ma 3andi mani3.Sure, I have no objection.
