Ways to say it
| Egyptian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| تشرفنا | tasharafna | |
| فرصة سعيدة | forsa sa'ida | more formal |
A more formal alternative, closer to a business or official setting, is فرصة سعيدة (forsa sa'ida), 'a happy opportunity'. Both are said right after being introduced to someone.
What does it mean word for word?
تشرفنا literally means 'we are honoured', using the plural 'we' as a polite way of speaking even when only one person is talking. فرصة سعيدة means 'a happy occasion'.
Which one should you use?
تشرفنا is the everyday choice and fits almost every first meeting. فرصة سعيدة feels slightly more formal, useful in business introductions.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are polite. تشرفنا works equally well with a new neighbour or a new business contact.
How does it change in a sentence?
تشرفنا is fixed in form and does not change with the gender of either speaker. A common short reply is simply تشرفنا repeated back.
How do you pronounce it?
The stress falls on the second syllable, ta-SHA-raf-na, with a clear r sound.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Saying تشرفنا again and again through a long first conversation can sound repetitive. It is usually said once, right after the introduction.
When do people say it?
After تشرفنا, Egyptians often shake hands and, among people of the same gender, sometimes add a light touch on the shoulder as a warm welcome.
Did you know?
- تشرفنا uses the Arabic plural 'we' form even when said by one person, a common pattern of polite modesty in Arabic speech.
- فرصة سعيدة is also the phrase printed on some formal Egyptian business cards and invitations as a closing courtesy.
Examples in context
- تشرفنا، اسمي أحمد.tasharafna, esmi Ahmed.Nice to meet you, my name is Ahmed.
- فرصة سعيدة يا دكتور.forsa sa'ida ya doktor.Nice to meet you, doctor.
- تشرفنا بمعرفتك.tasharafna be-ma'reftak.It's a pleasure to know you.
Example conversation
Nour meets her colleague's friend Mazen for the first time at work.
- Nourأهلا، اسمي نور.ahlan, esmi Nour.Hi, my name is Nour.
- Mazenتشرفنا يا نور، أنا مازن.tasharafna ya Nour, ana Mazen.Nice to meet you, Nour, I'm Mazen.
- Nourتشرفنا، سمعت عنك كتير.tasharafna, sema't annak keteer.Nice to meet you too, I've heard a lot about you.
- Mazenكله خير إن شاء الله.kollo khair inshallah.All good, I hope.
