Ways to say it
| Iraqi Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| شلونك | shlonak | to a man |
| شلونچ | shlonich | to a woman |
| اشلونك | ashlonak | variant with extra a |
To a woman, ask شلونچ (shlonich). Many Iraqis add an extra vowel at the start and say اشلونك (ashlonak), which means exactly the same thing.
What does it mean word for word?
شلونك joins شو, 'what', with لون, 'colour', asking literally 'what is your colour', an old expression for someone's state or condition.
Which one should you use?
شلونك and اشلونك are interchangeable, with the extra vowel simply a matter of speech habit. شلونچ is the required form for a woman.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Neither version is formal or informal in itself. Both are the normal way Iraqis ask how someone is doing, in any setting among equals.
Is it said differently in some regions?
This question connects Iraqi Arabic closely to Gulf dialects, which use the very same word, unlike the Levantine كيفك or Egyptian ازيك.
How does it change in a sentence?
The final consonant always marks gender: ك for a man, چ for a woman, and شلونكم (shlonkum) for a group.
How do you pronounce it?
The چ sound in شلونچ is the English ch, as in 'church', never a hard k.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using شلونك with a woman instead of شلونچ is one of the most common slips learners make with Iraqi Arabic.
When do people say it?
The question is rarely a formality. Iraqis often expect a real, if brief, answer about health, work or family before the conversation moves on.
Did you know?
- شلونك and the Gulf شلونك are the exact same word, one of several features that link Iraqi Arabic to Khaleeji speech rather than to its Levantine neighbours.
- Iraqis commonly address an older woman as ام plus her eldest child's name, as in ام علي, rather than by her own first name.
Examples in context
- شلونك اليوم، نايم زين؟shlonak il-yom, nayim zein?How are you today, did you sleep well?
- اشلونچ يا ام علي؟ashlonich ya umm Ali?How are you, Ali's mother?
- شلونكم كلكم بالبيت؟shlonkum kilkum bil-beit?How is everyone at home?
Example conversation
Omar meets his old teacher Fatima on the street in Basra.
- Omarشلونچ يا استاذة فاطمة؟shlonich ya ustatha Fatima?How are you, teacher Fatima?
- Fatimaالحمد لله زينة، وانت شلونك؟il-hamdu lillah zeina, w inta shlonak?Thank God, fine, and how are you?
- Omarتمام، خلصت الجامعة هسه.tamam, khallast il-jami'a hassa.All good, I just finished university.
- Fatimaالله يوفقك بشغلك.Allah ywaffigak bshughlak.May God grant you success in your work.
Thank you!