Ways to say it
| Lebanese Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ميلاد مجيد | milad majid | |
| عيد ميلاد مجيد | eid milad majid | |
| كل سنة وانت سالم | kil seneh w inte salem | general holiday greeting, to a man |
The fuller عيد ميلاد مجيد (eid milad majid) is just as common. Around the holiday Lebanese Christians, and often their Muslim neighbors too, also exchange the general كل سنة وانت سالم (kil seneh w inte salem), 'may you be well every year', used for almost any holiday.
What does it mean word for word?
ميلاد means 'birth' and مجيد means 'glorious', so the phrase is 'glorious birth', referring to the birth of Christ. كل سنة وانت سالم joins كل سنة, 'every year', and سالم, 'safe and well'.
Which one should you use?
ميلاد مجيد is specific to Christmas. كل سنة وانت سالم is the all-purpose Lebanese holiday greeting, used for Christmas, Easter, Eid and even birthdays, changed only by context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are warm, polite phrases suited to family, friends, neighbors and colleagues alike, with no stiffer alternative needed.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Lebanon has one of the largest Christian populations in the Arab world, so ميلاد مجيد is heard widely in December, not only within Christian households.
How does it change in a sentence?
كل سنة وانت سالم changes with the listener: salem to a man, salmeh to a woman, salmin to a group.
How do you pronounce it?
مجيد stresses the second syllable, 'ma-JEED', with a long final vowel.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using عيد مبارك, the greeting for Muslim holidays, at Christmas is a mismatch. ميلاد مجيد is the phrase tied specifically to Christmas.
When do people say it?
In Lebanon's mixed neighborhoods, it is common and appreciated for Muslim friends to greet Christian neighbors with ميلاد مجيد, and the same courtesy happens in reverse at Eid.
Did you know?
- كل سنة وانت سالم is one phrase that Lebanese people reuse for Christmas, Eid, Easter and birthdays alike, only swapping the occasion in mind.
- Lebanon is one of the few Arab countries where Christmas Day is a public holiday observed nationwide.
Examples in context
- ميلاد مجيد وسنة حلوة!milad majid w seneh helweh!Merry Christmas and a happy year!
- كل سنة وانتو سالمين.kil seneh w intu salmin.May you all be well every year.
- عيد ميلاد مجيد لكل العيلة.eid milad majid la kil l-ayleh.Merry Christmas to the whole family.
Example conversation
Christiane greets her Muslim neighbor Khalil on Christmas morning.
- Christianeصباح الخير خليل، ميلاد مجيد.sabah l-kheir khalil, milad majid.Good morning Khalil, merry Christmas.
- Khalilميلاد مجيد كريستيان، كل سنة وانتي سالمة.milad majid christiane, kil seneh w inti salmeh.Merry Christmas Christiane, may you be well every year.
- Christianeالله يخليكم، تفضل فنجان قهوة.allah ykhallikum, tfaddal finjan ahwe.Bless you, please have a cup of coffee.
- Khalilشكرا، وسنة حلوة عليكم.shukran, w seneh helweh alaykum.Thank you, and a happy year to you all.
