Ways to say it
| Iraqi Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| لو سمحت | low samaht | |
| من فضلك | min fadlak | |
| الله يخليك | Allah ykhallik | blessing used as please |
من فضلك (min fadlak) means the same thing and is used just as often. الله يخليك (Allah ykhallik), 'may God keep you', softens a request the way 'please' does in English, especially between people who know each other.
What does it mean word for word?
لو سمحت literally means 'if you would permit'. من فضلك means 'from your kindness'. الله يخليك is a blessing repurposed as a polite softener.
Which one should you use?
لو سمحت and من فضلك are interchangeable and fit any request, from a waiter to a stranger on the street. الله يخليك feels warmer and more personal, closer to asking a favour from someone you know.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
All three are polite. الله يخليك leans slightly more familiar, since it is also a thanks blessing used between people with some relationship.
Is it said differently in some regions?
These forms of 'please' are shared across much of the Arab world, though Iraqis reach for الله يخليك especially often in daily requests among family and friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
سمحت changes with who is asked: سمحت is addressed to a man and سمحتي to a woman in careful speech, though many speakers keep لو سمحت fixed regardless.
How do you pronounce it?
The ح in سمحت is a breathy throat sound, and the phrase is usually said quickly as one unit, 'low-samaht'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Dropping 'please' altogether, as some direct requests in Iraqi do, is not automatically rude the way it would sound in English, since tone of voice carries much of the politeness.
When do people say it?
Iraqis often favour direct requests between close family, trusting tone and relationship rather than the word 'please' to carry politeness, while strangers hear لو سمحت far more often.
Did you know?
- لو سمحت literally asks 'if you would permit', framing a request as something the other person graciously allows rather than owes.
- الله يخليك works two ways in Iraq. Before a request it means 'please'. After a favour it means 'thank you'. The same phrase bookends many exchanges.
Examples in context
- لو سمحت، وين محطة الباص؟low samaht, wein mahattat il-bas?Excuse me please, where is the bus station?
- من فضلك جيب لي الماي.min fadlak jeeb li il-may.Please bring me the water.
- الله يخليك، ساعدني بهاي الشنطة.Allah ykhallik, sa'idni bhai ish-shanta.Please, help me with this bag.
Example conversation
Sara asks a shopkeeper named Jassim for help in a market in Najaf.
- Saraلو سمحت، عندك خبز طري؟low samaht, indak khubz tari?Excuse me, do you have fresh bread?
- Jassimنعم تفضلي، كم رغيف تريدين؟na'am tfaddali, kam ragheef trideen?Yes, please, how many loaves would you like?
- Saraخمسة من فضلك.khamsa min fadlak.Five please.
- Jassimالله يخليچ، هاي الفلوس.Allah ykhallich, hay il-flus.Here you go, here is your change.
