8 Ways to Say Good Morning in Arabic & 6 Common Greetings

Greeting someone in the early mornings in the Arabic language can be an interesting experience! It is also important to learn this concept in the very beginning, as greeting someone from an Arabic-speaking country in their native language will make your first encounter all the more special! When learning the Arabic language as a whole, it is also very important to find the best way to learn a language, as it will help you obtain your language learning goals much quicker.

Good morning in Arabic

There are a lot of different ways to greet someone in Arabic. Unlike English, which greeting you should use depends on the time of the day, what relationship you have with the person you are greeting, what gender they are, and which area you are in.

Most ways of saying good morning in Arabic usually have a deeper meaning to them. Such as Sabah el noor, which means **“morning of the bright light”, isn’t that just beautiful? Starting off your day with someone saying this to you or vice versa will definitely brighten up your spirit! In this article, we will help you get started on the different ways to say good morning in Arabic!

Since Arabic is one of the most spoken languages in the world, it raked up many different dialects over the course of its being. Among many, the language is mainly subdivided into Modern Standard Arabic, Classic Arabic, and Daily Arabic. The greetings below are a mixture of these dialects.

If you struggle to learn a dialect or certain Arabic concepts, consider joining online Arabic courses. Having an expert teach you the ropes is one of the best things you can do to learn a new language!

As mentioned before, this article is created to show you the ropes on how to say good morning in Arabic! Below we have listed 8 ways to say good morning with their meanings, where they are mainly used, examples and so much more! You will definitely know a thing or two after reading.

1. Sabaho ( صباحو ) “Morning”

sa-bah-ho (The h in -ho is pronounced at the back of your throat, this is called a hard H)

An informal or casual way of greeting someone, used when greeting family or friends. You would reply with Sabaho or Sabah el kheir (see below).

For example, you would use this greeting when you see an old friend of yours during your morning stroll.

2. Sabah el kheir ( صباح الخير ) “Good morning”

sa-bah al-kha-yron (the h in -bah and -kha- is a hard H)

It can be used in informal and formal situations. You would reply with Sabah el noor (see below) or Sabaho.

You would use this greeting when seeing your boss during your morning meetings, or when you see your sister during your grocery run.

3. Sabah el noor ( صباح النور ) “Morning of the bright light”

sa-bah alnu-wr (The h in -bah is a hard H, you roll the R in wr)

You are basically wishing someone a very bright morning! It can be used in informal and formal situations. You would reply with Sabaho or Sabah el kheir.

You would use this greeting with your good friend that you bumped into during your morning stroll, or to the barista before you order your morning coffee.

4. Yaseed sabahkom ( يسعد صباحكم ) ”May you have a nice morning”

ya-sead sa-ba-hu-kum (the H in hu is a hard H)

This is an informal and formal greeting and is useful to use before noon/midday. You would reply with Wa sabahkom (wah sabah-hkom, the H in hkom being a hard H) **which means “and your morning”. You basically wish them a nice morning as well, similar to using “you too”.

For example, you run into a friend of yours at a store. They then greet you first with Yaseed sabahkom, you then reply to them with Wa sabahkom before engaging in conversation about the weather, or something.

5. Sabah al Yasmine (صباح الياسمين) “A morning full of jasmine”

sa-bah alyasa-me-n (the H in -bah is a hard H)

Using this greeting means that you are expressing kindness and tenderness. This is a casual/informal greeting that can be used in romantic situations.

You would use this greeting when you see your girlfriend/boyfriend before your morning date! Awww.

6. Sabah al ishta (صباح أل عشت) “A morning full of cream”

sa-bah ‘al eish-ta

The usage and example are the same as Sabah al Yasmine. Such poetry!

7. Sabah el noum (صح النوم) “Wakey, wakey”

s-ahu al-naw-m (the H in -ahu is a hard H)

It is a casual phrase and is usually meant in a teasing way!

You would use this phrase on your co-worker, who seems to be falling asleep at their desk! Someone was up way past their bedtime…

8. Yaseed sabahak (يسعد صباحك) “Have a happy morning”

ya-sead sa-ba-hake (the H in -hake is a hard H)

Keep in mind that this greeting changes depending on the gender of the person you are talking to!

  • Yeseed Sabahak is used when speaking to a male or brother, like your father, a male friend, or any male you come across.
  • Yeseed Sabahek’ is used when speaking to a female, like your mother or sister, a female friend, or any female you come across.
  • Yeseed Sabahkom’ is used when you are greeting a group of people (two or more), like when meeting up with a group of friends!

Other Arabic greetings

Arabic greetings
Source: arabiahorizons

 

Now that you have a good idea of how to say good morning in Arabic, let’s look at some other greetings:

1. Ahlan wa sahlan ( أهلا و سهلا ) “Welcome”

ah-lan wha sah-lan

Used as a “Hello”. It is used as a general greeting in the Arab region. You can then reply with ahlan wa sahlan, Ahlan, or Marhaba (more on this below).

For example, you can use this greeting just bout anywhere— from greeting your family, friends, neighbor, bosses, etc.

2. Marhaba ( مرحبا ) “Hello”

mar-ha-ban (you have to roll the R)

This is an informal greeting that can be used at any time of the day. You would reply with either Marhaba, Sabaho or Sabah el kheir.

For example, you would use this to greet the cafe owner before you order your after-work-coffee.

3. Ahlan ( أهلا ) “Hi”

ah-lan

Similar to ahlan wa sahlan, just way more informal. You can reply with ahlan or halaa (Which means the same thing).

Example: you use this greeting on your waiter at a fast-food restaurant.

4. Naharak Saa’id ( نهارك سعيد ) “May you have a happy or a good day”

na-ha-rukuh sa-eid-on

This greeting can be used anywhere and anytime. You would respond with Wa naharak, which means you are basically saying “you too”.

For example, you would use this to individually greet your boss and your friend (who is also your co-worker) at your job.

5. Yeseed masakom ( يسعد مساكم ) “May you have a nice evening”

yu-sae-do ma-sa-kim

This is a formal and informal greeting that can only be used during the evening time of day. You would reply with Wa masakom which, similar to Wa naharak, means “you too” or “may you have a nice evening as well”.

You can use this greeting as you pass your neighbor during your evening jog.

6. Sa’ide ( سعيدي ) “Night”

Sa-eid

This informal greeting is used at night. You would reply with Sa’ide or Yeseed masakom.

After working overtime to get your job done, you can use this greeting with your colleagues (who are also your friends) before you go home for the night.

The Arabic language has quite the greeting culture!

Arabic greetings
Source: cudoo

 

As mentioned before, how you greet someone in Arabic depends on the time of day, what relationship you have with the person you are greeting, what gender they are, and which area you are in. We have already discussed which greetings you should use during certain times of the day, and now we will discuss how to greet someone depending on your relationship with them, their gender, and in what area you find yourself! The most important thing to remember, which applies to all countries, is if a female wears an Islamic dress, it is better to greet her in a verbal fashion. Considering how you greet in some areas differ when compared to other areas, we will categorize them as such:

1. Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦

Usually giving a simple nod or greeting them as discussed above is enough. If a woman is wearing a Hijab, there will be no physical greeting. If you are of the same gender you would greet with a handshake, and if you are friends with the person (same gender), you would kiss them on the cheek or cheeks. Men that are close to each other can greet by touching noses and females can with hugs and kisses (on the cheek or cheeks). There is no physical greeting between those of the opposite gender.

2. Qatar 🇶🇦

Those of the opposite gender should either stick to verbal greetings or a handshake if a female wishes it. During a formal greeting between those of the same gender, you would shake hands— if you are close to someone you would give three kisses on the right cheek. Between male relatives, you touch noses twice and between female relatives, you would hug each other.

3. UAE 🇦🇪

Once again, those of the opposite gender should either stick to verbal greetings or a handshake only if a female wishes it. Between male relatives, you would touch noses twice and between female relatives, you would hug each other. If you are of the same gender, you can greet with hugs, praises, and handshakes.

4. Egypt 🇪🇬

Those of the opposite gender may only shake hands if the female initiates it, if not, the male greets them by bowing his head. Between friends or relatives, a kiss on both cheeks with a hug all the while shaking hands is the common form of greeting. If you are of the same gender or meeting someone for the first time, you can shake hands.

5. Lebanon 🇱🇧

Usually, a “Hello” as mentioned above with a smile and a handshake is enough. If you see someone regularly you would kiss them once on the cheek. If you haven’t seen someone in a while, you give kisses on alternative cheeks.

6. Jordan 🇯🇴

Those of the opposite gender may only shake hands if the female initiates it, greetings are very formal. You would usually greet someone with a smile or by placing your hand on your heart (your palm must be facing your heart). Male relatives and friends either shake hands or kiss cheeks.

7. Syria 🇸🇾

Again, those of the opposite gender may only shake hands if the female initiates it. If you are close to someone of the same gender, males would greet you with two kisses on each cheek or a hug and females would only hug you. Only use handshakes for formal situations, but bear in mind what was said in the first sentence.

 

Remember to always first learn how to greet in the language you are learning!

Sheesh, that is a lot of information to take in! If you are still struggling to understand how to say good morning or the greeting culture in Arabic, consider getting an Arabic tutor to show you exactly how to go about this or any topic that you need help with when it comes to the Arabic language!

Whether you are learning how to say good morning in Japanese or learning another language, getting a tutor will benefit you in the long run! AmazingTalker has an entire plethora of tutors that can help your language learning needs. You can even customize your lessons to suit your needs and even organize these lessons according to your schedule! All of this and more, only at AmazingTalker.

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