أهلا وسهلا
ahlan wa sahlanstandard
To welcome someone in Lebanese Arabic you can say أهلا وسهلا (ahlan wa sahlan). Friends say أهلين (ahlēn), and نورت (nawwart) means "you light up the place".
Meaning: a greeting for someone arriving (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| أهلا وسهلا | ahlan wa sahlan | standard |
| أهلين | ahlēn | casual |
| نورت | nawwart | friendly |
The usual reply to أهلا وسهلا is أهلين فيك (ahlēn fīk). To a woman you say نورتي (nawwarti).
When do people say it?
Lebanese hosts often follow the welcome with تفضّل (tfaḍḍal), inviting the guest to come in, sit or eat.
Did you know?
- أهلا وسهلا (ahlan wa sahlan) is a phrase of old Arabic hospitality. It roughly means "you have come to your family and a smooth place".
Examples in context
- أهلا وسهلا، تفضّل.ahlan wa sahlan, tfaḍḍal.Welcome, please come in.
- أهلين! نورتي البيت.ahlēn! nawwarti el-bēt.Hello! You light up the house.
- أهلين فيك.ahlēn fīk.Welcome to you too.
Example conversation
Nadine welcomes her friend Sara at her front door.
- Nadineأهلين سارة! نورتي.ahlēn sāra! nawwarti.Hello Sara! Welcome.
- Saraأهلين فيكي، كيفك؟ahlēn fīki, kīfik?Hello to you, how are you?
- Nadineمنيحة. تفضّلي، إقعدي.mnīḥa. tfaḍḍali, iʔʿdi.Fine. Come in, sit down.
