Arabic Greetings: How to Say Hello in 3 Dialects

Greetings are the fastest way to make a good first impression in Arabic. They are also where dialects differ most. A phrase that sounds natural in Beirut may sound odd in Cairo or Casablanca. This guide gives you the most useful Arabic greetings in three spoken dialects: Levantine, Egyptian and Maghrebi (Moroccan Darija).

Transliterations below are approximate and spelling varies between sources. Always listen to native audio when you can.

Why Greetings Matter in Arabic

Greeting people properly is a sign of respect in Arab culture, and conversations often start with a few rounds of “hello, how are you, how is the family?” before anything else. Learning a handful of greetings gives you a polite start even if you cannot continue the conversation yet.

Hello and Welcome

Meaning	Levantine	Egyptian	Maghrebi (Darija)
Hello	marhaba (مرحبا)	ahlan (أهلاً)	salam (سلام)
Welcome / Hi (reply)	ahlan w sahlan (أهلاً وسهلاً)	ahlan beek (أهلاً بيك)	marhba (مرحبا)

Ahlan and marhaba are understood in many places, so they are good safe choices for travelers.

How Are You?

Meaning	Levantine	Egyptian	Maghrebi (Darija)
How are you? (to a man)	kifak? (كيفك)	ezzayak? (إزيك)	labas? (لاباس)
How are you? (to a woman)	kifik? (كيفك)	ezzayek? (إزيك)	labas? (لاباس)
I’m fine, thank God	mnih, el-hamdulillah	kwayyes, el-hamdulillah	labas, hamdullah

Notice that Levantine and Egyptian change the ending for men and women, while labas is used for everyone.

Good Morning and Good Evening

Meaning	Levantine	Egyptian	Maghrebi (Darija)
Good morning	sabah el-khayr (صباح الخير)	sabah el-kheir (صباح الخير)	sbah l-khir (صباح الخير)
Reply	sabah en-nur (صباح النور)	sabah en-nur (صباح النور)	sbah n-nur (صباح النور)

The Arabic script is the same; the pronunciation shifts from dialect to dialect.

Thank You and Goodbye

Meaning	Levantine	Egyptian	Maghrebi (Darija)
Thank you	shukran (شكراً)	shukran (شكراً)	shukran (شكراً)
Goodbye	ma’a salameh (مع السلامة)	ma’a salama (مع السلامة)	bslama (بسلامة)

Shukran works everywhere. Locals will often use friendlier variations once you are comfortable.

Common Mistakes with Arabic Greetings

Using Modern Standard Arabic phrases in conversation. Formal phrases are understood but can sound stiff. Learn the dialect version.
Ignoring gender. In Levantine and Egyptian, “how are you” changes depending on who you are talking to.
Mixing dialects. It will not offend anyone, but sticking to one makes your Arabic sound more natural. Not sure which to choose? Read which Arabic dialect to learn first.
Skipping the reply. Greetings are call-and-response. Learn the answer as well as the question.

How to Practise Arabic Greetings

Say each greeting out loud five times, then use it in a short imagined conversation.
Listen to native speakers and copy the rhythm.
Review with spaced repetition so greetings stick. The free preview pack in Easy Arabic starts with greetings, with native audio, in Levantine, Egyptian or Maghrebi. Download for iOS or Android.

Heading to the Middle East or North Africa soon? Our Arabic travel phrases guide covers the next set of phrases to learn.

Good Evening and Welcome

Meaning	Levantine	Egyptian	Maghrebi (Darija)
Good evening	masa’ el-khayr (مساء الخير)	masa’ el-kheir (مساء الخير)	msa l-khir (مساء الخير)
Reply	masa’ en-nur (مساء النور)	masa’ en-nur (مساء النور)	msa n-nur (مساء النور)
Welcome (to a guest)	ahlan w sahlan (أهلاً وسهلاً)	nawwart (نورت), “you lit up the place”	marhba (مرحبا)

Religious and Seasonal Greetings

Many everyday greetings include references to God, and they are used by people of different backgrounds across the region.

As-salamu alaykum (السلام عليكم), “peace be upon you,” with the reply wa alaykum as-salam (وعليكم السلام). Common everywhere.
El-hamdulillah (الحمد لله), “thank God,” is the standard answer to “how are you?” even when things are just fine.
Ramadan Kareem (رمضان كريم) and Eid Mubarak (عيد مبارك) are used during Ramadan and the Eids.
Inshallah (إن شاء الله), “God willing,” shows up when talking about plans.

Use them with natural warmth and you will blend in quickly.

Greeting Etiquette Tips

Ask about the person. It is normal to ask several “how are you / how’s the family” questions in a row before anything else. Do not rush straight to your request.
Match the formality. With elders, use polite forms and wait for them to set the tone. With friends, a short ahlan is fine.
Follow local custom for physical greetings. Handshakes, cheek kisses or a hand to the chest vary by region, gender and setting. Watch what locals do and follow along.
Smile and give it a try. People tend to appreciate a learner’s effort far more than perfect pronunciation.

Mini Dialogues

Levantine
– A: Marhaba, kifak? (Hello, how are you?)
– B: Mnih, el-hamdulillah. W inte? (Fine, thank God. And you?)

Egyptian
– A: Ahlan, ezzayak? (Hello, how are you?)
– B: Kwayyes, el-hamdulillah. Enta ezzayak? (Good, thank God. And you?)

Maghrebi (Darija)
– A: Salam, labas? (Hello, how are you?)
– B: Labas, hamdullah. W nta? (Fine, thank God. And you?)

Practise these out loud until they feel automatic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say hello in Arabic?

It depends on the dialect. Marhaba is common in Levantine, ahlan in Egyptian, and salam in Moroccan Darija. Salam (peace) is widely understood.

What is the most common Arabic greeting?

As-salamu alaykum (“peace be upon you”) is used across the Arab world and in Muslim communities everywhere, with the reply wa alaykum as-salam.

Is it rude to use the wrong dialect?

No. People appreciate the effort. Using a dialect word from another country may just get a smile.

Do I need to learn Arabic script to use greetings?

No. Transliteration is enough to start, and you can add the script gradually.