تشرفنا
tsharrafnaeveryday, polite
The usual way to say "nice to meet you" in Lebanese Arabic is تشرفنا (tsharrafna). It is also called فرصة سعيدة (forsa sa3ide).
Meaning: greeting when meeting someone for the first time (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| تشرفنا | tsharrafna | everyday, polite |
| فرصة سعيدة | forsa sa3ide | formal |
تشرفنا (tsharrafna) is said by both people as they meet. A common reply is الشرف إلنا (esh-sharaf ilna), "the honor is ours".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
فرصة سعيدة (forsa sa3ide), "a happy opportunity", is also used and sounds a little more formal, for example in business.
Did you know?
- The verb behind تشرفنا (tsharrafna) comes from شرف (sharaf), "honor", so the phrase literally means "we were honored".
Examples in context
- تشرفنا يا أستاذ.tsharrafna ya ostez.Nice to meet you, sir.
Example conversation
Hind meets her neighbor Mr. Khalil in the stairwell of her new building.
- Hindمرحبا، أنا هند، جارتكن الجديدة.marhaba, ana Hind, jartkon ej-jdide.Hello, I am Hind, your new neighbor.
- Khalilأهلين. تشرفنا.ahlein. tsharrafna.Welcome. Nice to meet you.
- Hindالشرف إلنا.esh-sharaf ilna.The honor is ours.
