How do you say Hello in Arabic?
The most common way to say “hello” in Arabic is مرحبا. Here are the main options, when to use each, and how to pronounce them.
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مرحبا
marhaban
The general hello, understood everywhere. Often said marhaba.
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السلام عليكم
as-salamu alaykum
“Peace be upon you.” The most common greeting in much of the Arab world, polite with anyone.
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أهلا
ahlan
Hi. Friendly and informal.
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أهلا وسهلا
ahlan wa sahlan
“Welcome”, also used as a warm hello.
Use it in a sentence
- Hello, how are you? (to a man)مرحبا، كيف حالك؟marhaban, kayfa haluk?
- Peace be upon you. And upon you be peace.السلام عليكم. وعليكم السلام.as-salamu alaykum. wa alaykum as-salam.
- Hello everyone!مرحبا بالجميع!marhaban bil-jami!
- Welcome to our home.أهلا وسهلا في بيتنا.ahlan wa sahlan fi baytina.
Good to know
The reply to السلام عليكم is وعليكم السلام (wa alaykum as-salam), “and upon you be peace”.
Answer marhaban with مرحبا or أهلا, and ahlan wa sahlan with أهلا بك (ahlan bik).
Good morning is صباح الخير (sabah al-khayr); the reply is صباح النور (sabah an-nur).
Arabic is written right to left. Everyday speech differs a lot from country to country, but these greetings are understood everywhere.