How to Say Hello in Arabic isn’t just about learning a single phrase—it’s about understanding the warmth and tradition behind Arabic greetings. Across different countries and dialects, hello can take many beautiful forms, each reflecting the culture’s deep respect and hospitality.
Whether you’re visiting the Middle East, chatting with Arabic-speaking friends, or exploring the language for fun, knowing the right greeting will help you connect more meaningfully and leave a lasting impression.
From formal expressions to casual hellos, Arabic offers a greeting for every situation. Mastering them will not only improve your language skills but also deepen your cultural appreciation.
Say Hello in Arabic
Here’s your 15 ways to say Hello in Arabic in a clear table format with pronunciation, meaning, and context:
15 phrases table for How to Say Hello in Arabic
| Arabic Greeting | Pronunciation | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| السلام عليكم | As-salāmu ʿalaykum | Peace be upon you | Standard formal greeting across Arabic-speaking countries |
| وعليكم السلام | Wa ʿalaykum as-salām | And peace be upon you | Response to “As-salāmu ʿalaykum” |
| مرحباً | Marḥaban | Hello | Neutral, formal or informal |
| أهلاً | Ahlan | Hi | Friendly, informal |
| أهلاً وسهلاً | Ahlan wa sahlan | Welcome / Hello | Warm, polite |
| صباح الخير | Ṣabāḥ al-khayr | Good morning | Morning greeting |
| صباح النور | Ṣabāḥ an-nūr | Morning of light | Response to “Ṣabāḥ al-khayr” |
| مساء الخير | Masāʾ al-khayr | Good evening | Evening greeting |
| مساء النور | Masāʾ an-nūr | Evening of light | Response to “Masāʾ al-khayr” |
| كيف حالك؟ | Kayfa ḥāluka? / Kayfa ḥāluki? | How are you? | Formal or polite inquiry |
| كيفك؟ | Keefak? / Keefik? | How are you? | Informal, Levantine dialect |
| أهلين | Ahleen | Hello (plural of Ahlan) | Very friendly, casual |
| هلا | Hala | Hi | Casual, Gulf dialect |
| هلا والله | Hala wallah | Hi, by God | Warm, enthusiastic, Gulf slang |
| يا هلا | Ya hala | Oh hi! | Very warm, friendly greeting |
1. السلام عليكم (As-salāmu ʿalaykum) – “Peace be upon you”
Origin:
A traditional Islamic greeting used by Muslims worldwide. Rooted in Quranic teachings, it expresses peace, respect, and goodwill.
Example:
👤 User A: السلام عليكم
👤 User B: وعليكم السلام (Wa ʿalaykum as-salām)
Use: Formal, religious, and widely respected across all Arabic-speaking countries.
2. مرحبا (Marḥabā) – “Hello / Welcome”
Origin:
Derived from the root word meaning “to be spacious” or “to welcome.” Common across the Levant and Gulf regions.
Example:
👤 User A: مرحبا يا فاطمة!
👤 User B: مرحبا بك! كيف حالك؟
Use: Casual to semi-formal; universal in Arabic-speaking regions.
3. أهلا (Ahlan) – “Hi / Hello”
Origin:
Comes from the word for “family” — implying warmth and hospitality. Often used alone or with “wasahlan” (welcome).
Example:
👤 User A: أهلا سامي!
👤 User B: أهلا وسهلا! كيفك؟
Use: Very common and friendly.
4. أهلا وسهلا (Ahlan wa sahlan) – “Welcome”
Origin:
An old Arabic expression literally meaning “Family and ease.” It signals openness and hospitality.
Example:
👤 User A: أهلا وسهلا بكم في بيتنا
👤 User B: شكراً، تشرفنا!
Use: Warm and welcoming; perfect for guests.
5. يا هلا (Ya hala) – “Hey there!”
Origin:
Gulf Arabic slang that adds warmth and enthusiasm to the greeting.
Example:
👤 User A: يا هلا والله! وينك من زمان؟
👤 User B: مشغول شوي، اشتقتلك!
Use: Informal, mostly used in the Gulf region.
6. هلا (Hala) – “Hi”
Origin:
Shortened version of “Ya hala.” Common in the Gulf and Iraq.
Example:
👤 User A: هلا محمد!
👤 User B: هلا بيك!
Use: Casual and friendly.
7. صباح الخير (Ṣabāḥ al-khayr) – “Good morning”
Origin:
A standard way to greet in the morning. “Ṣabāḥ” means morning, and “al-khayr” means goodness.
Example:
👤 User A: صباح الخير يا أمي
👤 User B: صباح النور يا حبيبي
Use: Formal and polite; used until noon.
8. مساء الخير (Masā’ al-khayr) – “Good evening”
Origin:
“Masā’” means evening; paired with “al-khayr” (goodness), it’s used after sunset.
Example:
👤 User A: مساء الخير أستاذ كريم
👤 User B: مساء النور يا أحمد
Use: Formal greeting in the evening.
9. أهلاً بك (Ahlan bik) – “Welcome to you”
Origin:
Variation of “Ahlan wa sahlan,” used to warmly welcome someone personally.
Example:
👤 User A: أول مرة أزور هذا المكان
👤 User B: أهلاً بك! شرفتنا
Use: Semi-formal; good for visitors or newcomers.
10. كيف الحال؟ (Kayfa al-ḥāl?) – “How are you?”
Origin:
Literally means “How is the condition?” A common follow-up after greetings.
Example:
👤 User A: السلام عليكم، كيف الحال؟
👤 User B: بخير، الحمد لله. وأنت؟
Use: Formal and respectful.
11. كيفك؟ (Kīfak / Kīfik) – “How are you?” (Levantine dialect)
Origin:
Spoken Arabic variant used in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan. Gender-specific: kīfak (male), kīfik (female).
Example:
👤 User A: مرحبا! كيفك اليوم؟
👤 User B: تمام الحمد لله، وإنت؟
Use: Casual and conversational.
12. شلونك؟ (Shlūnak?) – “How are you?” (Iraqi/Gulf)
Origin:
Colloquial greeting in Iraqi and Gulf Arabic. Comes from “sh” (what) and “lawn” (color or state).
Example:
👤 User A: شلونك حبيبي؟
👤 User B: تمام، وانت؟
Use: Informal and regional.
13. أزيّك؟ (Izayyak?) – “How are you?” (Egyptian Arabic)
Origin:
Egyptian dialect version of “How are you?” Very common in casual daily life.
Example:
👤 User A: إزيّك يا عمرو؟
👤 User B: الحمد لله، عامل إيه؟
Use: Friendly and widely used in Egypt.
14. نهارك سعيد (Nahārak saʿīd) – “Have a good day”
Origin:
Literally “Your day be happy.” A classy way to greet or part during the day.
Example:
👤 User A: صباح الخير، نهارك سعيد
👤 User B: شكراً، وإنت كمان
Use: Polite, often in formal or customer service contexts.
15. تشرفنا (Tasharrafnā) – “It’s an honor to meet you”
Origin:
From the verb “to be honored.” Common when meeting someone for the first time.
Example:
👤 User A: مرحباً، أنا سعيد
👤 User B: تشرفنا يا سعيد
Use: Formal and respectful for first-time meetings.
FAQs
1. What is the most common way to say hello in Arabic?
The most common greeting is “السلام عليكم” (as-salāmu ʿalaykum) — meaning “Peace be upon you.”
2. How do you reply to ‘as-salamu alaykum’?
You say “وعليكم السلام” (wa ʿalaykum as-salām) — “And peace be upon you.”
3. What’s the simple/casual way to say hello?
Use “مرحبا” (marḥaba) — equivalent to “hi” or “hello.”
4. How do you say hello politely?
“أهلاً وسهلاً” (ahlan wa sahlan) — warm and welcoming.
5. Is Arabic the same everywhere?
No — greetings vary between regions, but “as-salamu alaykum” is universal.
6. How do you say good morning in Arabic?
“صباح الخير” (ṣabāḥ al-khayr) — “Good morning.”
7. How do you reply to good morning?
“صباح النور” (ṣabāḥ an-nūr) — “Morning of light.”
8. How do you say good evening in Arabic?
“مساء الخير” (masā’ al-khayr) — “Good evening.”
9. How do you greet a group of people?
Use “مرحبا جميعاً” (marḥaban jamīʿan) — “Hello everyone.”
10. What is the phone greeting in Arabic?
People often say “ألو” (alō) — similar to “hello?” on the phone.
11. How do you greet someone respectfully in Arab culture?
A polite greeting is accompanied by a slight nod or handshake, depending on gender norms.
12. How do I greet someone in a business setting?
“تشرفنا” (tasharrafnā) — “Nice to meet you,” used after greeting.
13. What’s a friendly greeting for close friends?
“هلا” (hala) — casual, like “hey!”
14. How do Arabs greet elders?
Use formal greetings like “السلام عليكم” or “أهلاً وسهلاً.”
15. How do you say hello in Egyptian Arabic?
The common greeting is “إزيّك؟” (izzayyak?) meaning “How are you?”
Conclusion:
Arabic greetings reflect deep cultural values of respect, hospitality, and warmth. From religious traditions like السلام عليكم to regional phrases like إزيّك and شلونك, knowing how to say hello appropriately can build bridges and show you truly care about the language and the people.
