What does it mean word for word?
This phrase is a loanword from Arabic. The part selam means peace and aleyküm means upon you, making the literal meaning "Peace be upon you".
Which one should you use?
While Selamün aleyküm is a traditional greeting, you can also use the Turkish phrase Barış sizinle olsun or the informal Barış seninle olsun to express the same sentiment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Selamün aleyküm is a formal or traditional greeting that carries a religious (Islamic) connotation. For a different approach, Barış sizinle olsun is the formal way to say "Peace be with you", whereas Barış seninle olsun is the informal way.
How do you pronounce it?
The /s/ sound is like the [s] in send, /m/ is like the [m] in much, /n/ is like the [n] in not, /j/ is like the [y] in yes and /c/ is like the [sk] in skew.
When do people say it?
When someone greets you with Selamün aleyküm, the standard response is to say Aleyküm selam, which means "And upon you be peace".
Did you know?
- The use of Barış sizinle olsun is much rarer in daily life and is typically reserved for diplomatic contexts or translated films, such as the 'Star Wars' movies.
- The word Selam in Turkish can also be used in the context of 'sending regards' to someone, such as in the phrase 'Selam söyle', meaning 'Give my regards'.
- Even in non-religious settings, a person might use Selamün aleyküm as a standard, respectful way to announce their presence when entering a shop or a home.
Examples in context
- Selamün aleyküm, nasılsınız?Peace be with you, how are you?
- Kapıyı çaldı ve Selamün aleyküm dedi.He knocked on the door and said peace be with you.
- Selamün aleyküm, içeri girebilir miyim?Peace be with you, may I come in?
Example conversation
Merve enters a room where Burak is sitting.
- MerveSelamün aleyküm, Burak.Peace be with you, Burak.
- BurakAleyküm selam, Merve.And upon you be peace, Merve.
- MerveBugün çok meşgul görünüyorsun.You look very busy today.
- BurakEvet, yapacak çok işim var.Yes, I have a lot of work to do.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
