INTRODUCTION |
In this lesson, we’ll cover basic greetings for the appropriate time of the day. As there are quite a few to cover, let's jump right in. |
GRAMMAR POINT |
We’re going to start with the more formal ones first. |
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The most common greeting, and the one you’ll hear most in Egypt is al-salāmu ʿalaykum. |
Let’s break it down: |
(slow) al-salāmu ʿalaykum. |
Once more: |
al-salāmu ʿalaykum. |
al-salām means “peace” |
(slow) al-salām |
al-salām |
And ʿalaykum means “on you” |
(slow) ʿalaykum |
ʿalaykum |
Altogether it means “Peace be on you”. |
al-salāmu ʿalaykum. |
. |
In Egyptian Arabic, “Good morning” is |
ṣabāḥ ilḫīr. |
Let’s break it down: |
(slow) ṣabāḥ ilḫīr. |
Once more: |
ṣabāḥ ilḫīr. |
The first word, ṣabāḥ, means “the morning.” |
(slow) ṣabāḥ. |
ṣabāḥ. |
The second word ilḫīr means “good”. Here it is again: |
(slow) ilḫīr. |
ilḫīr. |
Literally it means “Morning of the good”. |
Let’s hear it again: |
(slow) ṣabāḥ ilḫīr. |
ṣabāḥ ilḫīr. |
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In Egyptian Arabic, “Good afternoon” and “Good evening” is |
masāʾ ilḫīr. |
Let’s break it down: |
(slow) masāʾ ilḫīr. |
Once more: |
masāʾ ilḫīr. |
The first word, masāʾ, means “the evening.” |
(slow) masāʾ. |
masāʾ. |
ilḫīr, as we saw before, means “good” |
All together, that’s |
(slow) masāʾ ilḫīr. |
masāʾ ilḫīr. |
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In Arabic, “good night” is |
tiṣbaḥ ʿalā ḫīr. |
This expression is a goodnight greeting, and just like in English is also said before going to sleep. |
Let’s break it down: |
(slow) tiṣbaḥ ʿalā ḫīr. |
Once more: |
tiṣbaḥ ʿalā ḫīr. |
The first word, tiṣbaḥ, means “to wake up” |
(slow) tiṣbaḥ. |
tiṣbaḥ. |
Next we have ʿalā which literally means “on”, and ḫīr, that means “good”. |
(slow) ʿalā ḫīr. |
ʿalā ḫīr. |
Once again, that’s: |
(slow) tiṣbaḥ ʿalā ḫīr. |
tiṣbaḥ ʿalā ḫīr. |
tiṣbaḥ ʿalā ḫīr means “May you wake up in good shape”. |
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All of these expressions can be used in informal and formal situations as well. However, with friends, feel free to use other ways of greeting. Let’s take a look at them. |
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The most common way of saying “Hello” in Egyptian Arabic is |
Hi! |
(slow) Hi! |
Hi! |
هاي |
Use this word with your friends and with young people. |
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