Salaam and the Greeting Ritual
Key Egyptian Arabic greetings, their fixed replies, and everyday blessing phrases.
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Questions Covered in This Set
10 cards to master
as-salaamu 3aleikum
"Peace be upon you" — the core greeting when entering a shop, taxi, office, or room. Reply: wa 3aleikum es-salaam.
What does the numeral 3 represent in transcription?
The letter ع (ayn) — a throat-squeezing sound; 7 = ح (strong breathy H), 2 = glottal stop.
izzayak? vs izzayik?
"How are you?" — izzayak to a man, izzayik to a woman, izzayoku to a group.
How do you reply to ahlan?
ahlan biik (to a man) / ahlan biiki (to a woman); ahlan wa sahlan is a warmer welcome for guests.
el-7amdu lillah
"Praise be to God" — the all-purpose answer to "how are you?" (also said after eating), whether you're thriving or miserable.
sabaa7 el-kheir and its replies
"Morning of goodness" (good morning). Plain reply: sabaa7 en-nuur. Playful replies: sabaa7 el-ward / el-full / el-2ishta.
masaa2 el-kheir
"Good evening" — replied to with masaa2 en-nuur.
insha'allah vs masha'allah
insha'allah = "God willing," for any future plan; masha'allah = "what God willed," admiring a baby, car, or success (wards off the evil eye).
What is the -ak / -ik ending pattern?
Gender agreement for "you": -ak points at a man, -ik at a woman (e.g. shukran leek vs shukran leeki).
nawwart — and how do you answer?
"You have lit up the place" (a host's welcome). Reply: el-makaan mennawwar biik — "the place is lit up by you."
