The most common greeting in Arabic is the phrase “as-salaamu Aalaykum” which means literally “may peace be upon you”. And the most common reply is “wa Aalaykum as-salaam“, which means literally “and upon you peace”.
But as you see in the above phrases, to learn a language, you have to learn its culture, because literal or direct translation doesn’t make sense when you speak that language.
The same thing in “SabaaH el-khayr” = good morning, and the response of it, which is “Sabaah en-nuur” while “nuur” means literally ” light”, but this is the way how Arabs greet each others, simply means: if you greet me using good words, so I have to greet you using better words!.
Also there is no specific word for greeting in the afternoon. You can use simply either “as-salaamu Aalaykum” at anytime, or “masaa’ el-khayr” for the afternoon as well.
Arabic Phrases for Greetings
Arabic | Transliteration | English |
صَباحْ | SabaaH | Morning |
صَباح الخَيْر | SabaaH el-khayr | Good morning |
مَساء | masaa’ | Evening |
مَساء الخَيْر | masaa’ el-khayr | Good evening |
صَباح الْنّور | SabaaH en-nuur | Response for good morning |
مَساء الْنّور | masaa’ en-nuur | Response for good evening |
نور | nuur | Light |
نَهار | nahaar | Daytime |
لَيل | layl | Night |
لَيْلة | layla | One night |
يَوْم | yawm | Day |
أيَّام | ‘ay-yaam | Days |
الْيَوْم | al-yawm | Today |
الْـ | al | The (Definite article attached to the words). |
مَعَ السَّلامَة | maAa as-salaama | Go with peace |
لَيْلَة سَعيدة | layla saAiida | Good night |
سَعِيد/ سَعِيدة | saAiid/saAiida | happy |
تُصْبِح عَلَى خَيْر | tuSbeH Aalaa khayr | Wake up in a good condition |
Arabic Phrases for Introducing Yourself
Arabic | Transliteration | English |
اِسْم | esm | name |
اِسْمي | esmii | my name |
اِسْمُكَ | esmuka | what’s your name?(for male) |
اِسْمُكِ | esmuke | your name(for female) |
مِنْ فَضْلِك | men faDlek | please |
أَمْريكا | ‘amriicaa | America |
مِنْ | men | from |
أيْن | ‘ayn | where |
أَمْريكِيّ | ‘amriikyy | American |
ما | maa | what |
مِصْرِيّ | meSryy | Egyptian |
فُرْصَة سَعِيدَة،
تَشَرّفْنا |
furSa saAiida,
tashar-rafna |
Nice to meet you.
Honored to meet you. |
Arabic Phrases for Things around us:
Arabic | Transliteration | English |
كُرسي | kursii | chair |
كِتاب | ketaab | book |
مَكْتَب | maktab | office/ desk |
طَاوِلة | Taawela | table |
حاسوب | Haasuub | computer |
مِقْعَد | meqAad | seat |
غُرْفَة | ghurfa | room |
بَيْت | bayt | home |
فَصْل | faSl | classroom |
مَدْرَسَة | madrasa | school |
جَامِعَة | jameAa | university |
كُلية | kul-ley-ya | college/ faculty |
مَدِينة | madiina | city/ town |
رِسَالة | resaala | message |
Arabic Phrases about work
Arabic | Transliteration | English |
مُرْهَق | murhaq | exhausted |
يَبْدو | yabduu | it seem |
أَعْمَل | ‘aAmal | I work |
عَمَل | Aamal | working |
الآن | al’aan | now |
قليلاَ | qaliilan | little |
تَرْجَمَة | tarjama | translation |
لَكِن | laken | but |
عَفْوَاَ | Aafwan | pardon / excuse me |
إِذْن | iThn | permission |
بَعْد إِذْنك | baAd iThnak | excuse me |
مُحاضَرَة | muHaaDara | lecture |
سلامَتك | Salaamatk | God bless you! |
يُمْكِن أَن | yumken ‘an | possible to |
مَعَ السّلامَة | maAa s-salaama | goodbye |
Arabic Phrases About Food
Arabic | Transliteration | English |
مَطْعَم | maTAam | restaurant |
مَبْروك | mabruuk | congratulations |
نَجَاح | najaaH | success |
الله يُبارِك فيك | Allah yubaarek fiik | God bless you |
جَوْعان | jawAaan | hungry |
امْتِحان | emteHaan | Exam |
آكُل | ‘aa’kul | I eat |
غَداء | ghadaa’ | lunch |
قائِمة | qaa’ma | menu |
نَادِل | naadel | waiter |
أَشْرب | ‘ashrab | I drink |
بُرْتُقال | burtuqaal | orange |
عصير | ASiir | juice |
بِدُون | beduun | without |
لَبَن حليب | laban Haliib | milk |
قهوة | qahwa | coffee |
سُكر | Suk-kar | sugar |
أُرْز | urz | rice |
سَلَطة | salaTa | salad |
دَجَاج | dajaaj | chicken |
لَحْم | laHm | meat |
سَمَك | samak | fish |
بَعْد | baAd | after |
لَكِن | laken | but |
أَدْفَعْ | ‘adfaA | I pay |
الفاتورَة | el-faatuura | the bill |
زُجاجة | zujaaja | bottle |
ماء / مِياه | maa’ / meyaah | water |
مِلْح | melH | salt |
حارْ | Haar | spicy |
بارِد | baared | cold |
ساخِن | saakhen | hot |
ثَلْج | thalj | ice |