Ways to say it
| Syrian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مرحبا | marhaba | |
| هاي | hi | borrowed from English, casual |
مرحبا is the all-purpose hello heard everywhere in Syria, from a shop to a family gathering. Among younger speakers the borrowed هاي (hi) is also common, especially in texting and informal chat.
What does it mean word for word?
مرحبا comes from a root meaning 'to welcome' or 'to make roomy', the same root behind رحب, 'spacious'.
Which one should you use?
مرحبا fits absolutely any situation and any person. هاي is lighter and stays among friends, closer in feel to texting than to speaking with an elder.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
مرحبا works with strangers, elders and friends alike. هاي is informal and mainly used between people who already know each other.
Is it said differently in some regions?
مرحبا is used across the whole Arab world. The borrowed هاي shows up throughout Syria's cities among younger speakers in particular.
How does it change in a sentence?
Neither word changes for the person greeted.
How do you pronounce it?
مرحبا is stressed on the second syllable, 'mar-HA-ba'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Relying only on هاي with someone older or unfamiliar can come across as too casual. مرحبا is the safer everyday choice.
When do people say it?
In Syria, مرحبا is often repeated as a warm welcome even to someone you already know well, not reserved only for strangers.
Did you know?
- مرحبا comes from the same Arabic root as the word for 'spacious', so the greeting carries a sense of making room for someone.
- The borrowed English هاي sits alongside مرحبا in everyday Syrian texting, often switching freely within the same conversation.
Examples in context
- مرحبا، كيفك اليوم؟marhaba, kifak el-youm?Hi, how are you today?
- هاي، شو الأخبار؟hi, shu el-akhbar?Hi, what's new?
- مرحبا فيكم جميعا.marhaba fikom jami3an.Hi to all of you.
Example conversation
Lama and her cousin Bilal meet by chance in the market in Aleppo.
- Lamaمرحبا بلال، شو عم تعمل هون؟marhaba Bilal, shu amm ta3mel hon?Hi Bilal, what are you doing here?
- Bilalهاي لمى، جاي أشتري خضرة.hi Lama, jay ashtiri khudra.Hi Lama, I came to buy vegetables.
- Lamaمنيح، نروح مع بعض؟mnih, nruh ma3 ba3d?Good, shall we go together?
- Bilalليش لا، يالله.lesh la, yalla.Why not, let's go.
