👋 Greetings

Unit 1 · Letters, greetings, numbers & getting around (MSA) · 8 min

The most common greeting in Egypt is السلام عليكم, answered with وعليكم السلام. "How are you?" is كيف حالك؟ and the usual reply is بخير، الحمد لله.

Words in this lesson

• السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ (as-salāmu ʿalaykum) — peace be upon you (hello)
• وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ (wa ʿalaykumu s-salām) — and upon you peace (reply)
• مَرْحَبًا (marḥaban) — hello
• صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ (ṣabāḥu l-khayr) — good morning
• مَسَاءُ الْخَيْرِ (masā’u l-khayr) — good evening
• كَيْفَ حَالُكَ؟ (kayfa ḥāluka?) — how are you?
• بِخَيْرٍ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ (bikhayr, al-ḥamdu lillāh) — fine, praise be to God

On Egyptian streets you will also hear إزيك؟ (izzayyak) = how are you?

Project: Tomorrow morning say صباح الخير to the doorman or a colleague and note the reply.