سلام
salām
Salaam in Arabic is سلام (salām), a word that means peace and is used as a greeting.
On its own, سلام works as a greeting much like hello.
Meaning: a Muslim greeting (intj)
Which one should you use?
The fuller greeting is السلام عليكم, peace be upon you. Marhaba is an informal way to say hello or hi.
Is it said differently in some regions?
After the greeting, Egyptians often ask Izzayak for how are you doing, while in the Levant people ask Keefak to a man or Keefek to a woman.
When do people say it?
The reply to السلام عليكم is وعليكم السلام, and upon you be peace.
Did you know?
- Beyond its use as a greeting, السلام ('As-Salam') is one of the ninety-nine names of God in Islam, signifying the 'Source of Peace'.
- The greeting سلام is a cognate of the Hebrew word שלום ('shalóm'), which shows that both languages share a common ancestral root for the concept of peace.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, a person might use سلام as a shorthand way to say 'bye' or 'goodbye' when leaving a room, rather than just as a greeting upon arrival.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Maryam meet at a cafe.
- أحمد Ahmedسلام يا مريم!Salaam ya Maryam!Salaam, Maryam!
- مريم Maryamأهلاً يا أحمد.Ahlan ya Ahmed.Hello, Ahmed.
- أحمد Ahmedهل أنتِ بخير؟Hal anti bikhayr?Are you doing well?
- مريم Maryamنعم، أنا بخير، شكراً.Na'am, ana bikhayr, shukran.Yes, I am well, thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries سلام, CC BY-SA 4.0.
