selamün aleyküm
/selamyn alejcym/from spelling rules
The Turkish phrase for 'salam alaikum' is selamün aleyküm.
selamün aleyküm is a traditional greeting used by Muslims to wish peace upon the person they are meeting. While it is primarily a religious greeting, it is often used in more traditional or conservative social settings in Turkey.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
selam is a common, shortened and more informal way to greet friends or acquaintances.
How do you pronounce it?
The sounds are as follows: [s]end for /s/, [m]uch for /m/, [n]ot for /n/, [y]es for /j/ and s[k]ew for /c/.
When do people say it?
The customary response to selamün aleyküm is aleyküm selam, which means 'and upon you be peace'. You may also hear the response ve aleyküm selam, meaning 'and upon you, peace'.
Did you know?
- Turkish speakers may use selamün aleyküm when entering a home or a shop to announce their presence and request permission to enter.
- In modern secular Turkish urban circles, using selamün aleyküm can sometimes signal a specific political or religious identity rather than just a simple greeting.
- In many Turkish social contexts, the greeting is often accompanied by a slight nod or a hand placed over the heart to show sincerity.
Examples in context
- İyi günler. Allah'ın selamı üzerinize olsun.Good day. May Allah's peace be upon you
- Selam!Hi!
- Selamün aleyküm kardeşim!Peace be upon you, brother/sister
- Selamün aleyküm, nasılsınız?Peace be upon you, how are you?
- Kapıyı çaldım ve selamün aleyküm dedim.I knocked on the door and said peace be upon you.
- Eski komşum selamün aleyküm diyerek içeri girdi.My old neighbor entered saying peace be upon you.
Example conversation
Emre enters a community center where Elif is waiting.
- EmreSelamün aleyküm, Elif Hanım.Peace be upon you, Ms. Elif.
- ElifAleyküm selam, Emre Bey. Hoş geldiniz.And upon you be peace, Mr. Emre. Welcome.
- EmreTeşekkür ederim, çok naziksiniz.Thank you, you are very kind.
- ElifRica ederim, buyurun içeri geçin.You're welcome, please come inside.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
