Ways to say it
| Tunisian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مرحبا بيك | marhba bik | to a man |
| أهلا وسهلا | ahla w sahla | |
| مرحبا بيكي | marhba biki | to a woman |
مرحبا بيك welcomes someone arriving at a home, shop or gathering, with the ending changing for the person addressed. أهلا وسهلا (ahla w sahla) does the same job and is understood across the wider Arab world too.
What does it mean word for word?
مرحبا means 'welcome' and بيك means 'to you' or 'with you', so the phrase is literally 'welcome to you'.
Which one should you use?
مرحبا بيك/بيكي feels distinctly Tunisian and Maghrebi. أهلا وسهلا is more universal and works the same way anywhere in the Arab world.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both phrases suit any formality level, often repeated with extra warmth for an honoured guest or an elder.
Is it said differently in some regions?
مرحبا بيك in this exact shape is shared across Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending changes with the gender of the person addressed, بيك to a man and بيكي to a woman, and بيكم to a group.
How do you pronounce it?
مرحبا is stressed on the second syllable, and بيك rhymes with the English word 'bike'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Forgetting to change بيك to بيكي for a woman is a common gender agreement slip.
When do people say it?
Tunisian hosts often welcome a guest more than once during a visit, first at the door and again once everyone is seated.
Did you know?
- مرحبا بيك changes its ending for the gender of the guest being welcomed, something a single English 'welcome' does not need to do.
- This shape of 'welcome' is shared across Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, one of several greetings uniting Maghrebi Arabic.
Examples in context
- مرحبا بيك، أدخل.marhba bik, odkhol.Welcome, come in.
- مرحبا بيكي في دارنا.marhba biki fi darna.Welcome to our home.
- أهلا وسهلا بالجميع.ahla w sahla bel-jami3.Welcome everyone.
Example conversation
Slim welcomes his colleague Faten to his family home for the first time.
- Slimمرحبا بيكي فاتن، أدخلي.marhba biki Faten, odkhli.Welcome Faten, come in.
- Fatenيعيشك، دارك زينة برشا.yaishek, darek zina barsha.Thank you, your home is very beautiful.
- Slimأهلا وسهلا بيكي دايما.ahla w sahla biki dayman.You are always welcome here.
- Fatenربي يبارك فيك.rabbi ybarek fik.Bless you.
