Greetings

1. أهلا

   Ahlan

   Hello

   Usage

   The basic hello at any time of day. The answer is again "أهلا", or a bit warmer "أهلا بيك".

   Grammar Note

   The same word as MSA أهلاً, written without the tanwin mark.

2. السلام عليكم

   Is-salāmu ʿalēkum

   Peace be upon you

   Usage

   The traditional Muslim greeting, common on entering a shop or meeting an older person. The reply is "وعليكم السلام". With non-Muslims "أهلا" can be the safer choice.

   Grammar Note

   A fixed formula that keeps its classical shape. ʿalēkum is the Egyptian pronunciation of ʿalaykum.

3. وعليكم السلام

   Wa-ʿalēkum is-salām

   And upon you peace

   Usage

   The set reply to "السلام عليكم".

   Grammar Note

   The reply reverses the order of the greeting and adds و ("and").

4. صباح الخير

   Ṣabāḥ il-khēr

   Good morning

   Usage

   Morning greeting. The set reply is "صباح النور" (Ṣabāḥ in-nūr, "a morning of light").

   Grammar Note

   A noun phrase "morning of the good". The article is il- and خير is pronounced khēr.

5. مساء الخير

   Masā il-khēr

   Good evening

   Usage

   Greeting from the afternoon into the night. The set reply is "مساء النور".

   Grammar Note

   Built like "صباح الخير". In speech مساء is pronounced masā, with a short end.

6. إزيك؟

   Izzayyak?

   How are you?

   Usage

   The everyday Egyptian "how are you?". This is the form for a man; to a woman the spelling is identical but it is pronounced Izzayyik?. To an elder or a formal contact say "إزاي حضرتك؟".

   Grammar Note

   The Egyptian equivalent of MSA "كيف حالك". The question word ازاي ("how") takes the second-person suffix -ak (m.) / -ik (f.), which look identical in script.

7. كويس، الحمد لله

   Kuwayyis, il-ḥamdu lillāh

   Fine, thank God

   Usage

   The most common answer to "إزيك؟". Muslims and Copts alike say it. A woman speaking about herself says "كويسة" (Kuwayyisa).

   Grammar Note

   "الحمد لله" is a fixed formula that keeps its classical ending. كويس is an adjective; the feminine is كويسة.

8. شكرا جدا

   Shukran giddan

   Thank you very much

   Usage

   A stronger form of the basic "شكرا". The reply is "العفو".

   Grammar Note

   جدا is a borrowed MSA adverb; in Egyptian the ج is a hard g, so giddan.

9. العفو

   Il-ʿafw

   You're welcome

   Usage

   The reply to thanks. Another common reply is "ولا يهمك" (don't worry about it).

   Grammar Note

   A word meaning "pardon" used as a set reply to thanks.

10. بعد إذنك

    Baʿd iznak

    Excuse me (to pass by)

    Usage

    Said when passing by someone or leaving a seat. To a man Baʿd iznak; to a woman the spelling is identical but it is read Baʿd iznik. To call someone's attention use "لو سمحت".

    Grammar Note

    Literally "after your permission". The ending -ak/-ik is written the same for both genders.

11. مع السلامة

    Maʿa s-salāma

    Goodbye

    Usage

    The usual goodbye. Casually just "سلام". A common reply is "الله يسلمك".

    Grammar Note

    Literally "with safety". The article's vowel elides after maʿa, giving s-salāma.

12. تصبح على خير

    Tiṣbaḥ ʿala khēr

    Good night

    Usage

    Said at bedtime or when parting at night. To a man Tiṣbaḥ ʿala khēr; to a woman "تصبحي على خير" (Tiṣbaḥi ʿala khēr).

    Grammar Note

    Literally "may you wake up to good". The feminine adds -ي at the end.

13. أهلا وسهلا

    Ahlan wa-sahlan

    Welcome

    Usage

    The standard welcome to someone entering a shop or home. A common reply is "أهلا بيك".

    Grammar Note

    A two-word formula meaning roughly "to family and to an easy place".

14. اتفضل

    Itfaḍḍal

    Please, go ahead / here you are

    Usage

    Said when handing something over, offering a seat or food, or letting someone go first. To a woman "اتفضلي" (Itfaḍḍali).

    Grammar Note

    An imperative-shaped invitation whose sense depends on the scene: "help yourself", "come in", "here you are".

15. تشرفنا

    Tasharrafna

    Nice to meet you

    Usage

    Said on first meeting, often right after giving your name.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "we were honoured", a first-person plural past used as a polite formula.

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