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Day 2

Greetings & Polite Expressions

Learn how to greet people, ask “How are you?”, and use polite phrases in Arabic.

Common Greetings (Islamic & Secular)

ArabicTransliterationEnglish
السلام عليكمAssalamu alaikumPeace be upon you (Islamic greeting)
وعليكم السلامWa alaikum assalamAnd peace be upon you (response)
مرحباًMarhabanHello
أهلاً وسهلاًAhlan wa sahlanWelcome

Time‑Based Greetings

ArabicTransliterationEnglish
صباح الخيرSabah al‑khayrGood morning
صباح النورSabah an‑nurResponse to good morning
مساء الخيرMasa’ al‑khayrGood evening
مساء النورMasa’ an‑nurResponse to good evening

How Are You? & Responses

ArabicTransliterationEnglish
كيف حالك؟ (male)
كيف حالك؟ (female)		Kayfa haluka?
Kayfa haluki?		How are you?
بخير، الحمد للهBikhayr, alhamdulillahFine, praise be to God
الحمد للهAlhamdulillahPraise be to God (common reply)
أنا بخير، شكراًAna bikhayr, shukranI am fine, thank you

Polite Expressions

  • شكراً (Shukran) – Thank you
  • عفواً (‘Afwan) – You’re welcome / Excuse me
  • لو سمحت (Law samaht) – Please (to male)
  • لو سمحتي (Law samahti) – Please (to female)
  • مع السلامة (Ma‘a as‑salāmah) – Goodbye (with peace)
  • إلى اللقاء (Ila al‑liqa’) – Farewell
  • إن شاء الله (In sha’ Allah) – God willing
  • ماشاء الله (Ma sha’ Allah) – What God wills (expression of appreciation)

Practice Dialogue

Ahmed: السلام عليكم! كيف حالك؟ (Assalamu alaikum! Kayfa haluka?)

Fatima: وعليكم السلام! بخير، الحمد لله. وأنت؟ (Wa alaikum assalam! Bikhayr, alhamdulillah. Wa ant?)

Ahmed: الحمد لله، أنا بخير. هذا صديقي علي. (Alhamdulillah, ana bikhayr. Hadha sadiqi Ali.)

Fatima: أهلاً وسهلاً يا علي. تشرفنا. (Ahlan wa sahlan ya Ali. Tasharrafna.)

Ali: شكراً جزيلاً. (Shukran jazeelan.) – Thank you very much.

Fatima: عفواً. مع السلامة! (‘Afwan. Ma‘a as‑salāmah!)

Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct Arabic greeting/expression:

  1. You say ___________ in the morning.
  2. To say “How are you?” to a male, say ___________ .
  3. The Islamic greeting “Peace be upon you” is ___________ .
  4. “Thank you” in Arabic is ___________ .
  5. When you want to say “Goodbye” (with peace), you say ___________ .
Show answers

1. صباح الخير (Sabah al‑khayr)
2. كيف حالك؟ (Kayfa haluka?)
3. السلام عليكم (Assalamu alaikum)
4. شكراً (Shukran)
5. مع السلامة (Ma‘a as‑salāmah)

Cultural note: In Arab culture, greetings are often extended and include inquiries about family and health. Using “Assalamu alaikum” is common among Muslims, while “Marhaban” is used more broadly. It’s polite to ask “How are you?” even if you don’t wait for a long answer.
Learning tip: Practice greetings with a partner. Write the phrases on sticky notes and place them where you will see them daily. Listen to Arabic media to hear how greetings are pronounced naturally.
Continue to Day 3

آج کا سبق – خلاصہ

آج آپ نے عربی میں سلام کرنا، وقت کے مطابق سلام (صبح بخیر، شام بخیر)، “کیف حالک؟” اور اس کے جوابات، نیز شائستہ الفاظ (شکراً، عفواً، مع السلامہ) سیکھے۔

کل ہم بنیادی عربی الفاظ اور ان کے معانی سیکھیں گے۔

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