Lesson 1 - Hello

Welcome to your first Arabic lesson. If you haven't already, check out the link at the top of the page to take you to the lessons about the Arabic alphabet.
As the nature of learning a new language, please understand that you will probably be memorizing many phrases in the beginning, mainly because some phrases are fixed, like the ones below.

~Listen to the supplementary podcast provided below to help you study.

Today we would like to say hello! *Remember to read the Arabic from right to left* Let's begin!

When you meet your Arab friend, the first person to see the other should announce their arrival and greet first.

Hello in Arabic: السلام عليكم 

Translation: Peace be upon you [Assalamu Alaikum]

The response: وعليكم السلام

Translation: And upon you be peace (peace to you too, bro!) [Wa Alaikum Assalam]

Originally, this greeting pair was used only by Muslims. However, regardless of your religion, it is common to hear this form of greeting. This greeting pair can also be used as goodbye.

You may also hear a more casual hello. Some cultures use this one more than the first, though they are both equal. This greeting pair can never be used as goodbye. 

مرحبا \ أهلاً و سهلاً

[Ahlan wa sahlan \ Marhaba]

مرحبا \ مرحبا

[Marhaba \ Marhaba]

**The hello pairs are fixed. You cannot say مرحبا  in response to السلام عليكم or vice versa. You should always say 'hello' back by responding with the appropriate response.

Let's look at a few situations: 

1) Anywhere--

ا: السلام عليكم 
[Assalamu Alaikum]

ب: وعليكم السلام
[Wa aliakum assalam]

2) Meeting a friend at the mall-- 

ا: مرحبا
[Marhaba]

ب: مرحبا
[Marhaba]

3) Your friend drops by your workplace--

ا: مرحبا
[Marhaba]

ب: أهلاً
[Ahlan]

4) Going to a friend's house--

ا: مرحبا
[Marhaba]

ب: أهلاً وسهلاً
[Ahlan wa sahlan]

**This version is used because of the literal meaning of  أهلاً وسهلاً. 

أهلاَ comes from the root meaning 'family', implying that the guest is welcome like family. سهلاَ comes from the root meaning 'easy', implying that the guest is comfortable to have around. You will most likely hear this when the guest will stay a while, such as at your house, at a meeting, or in a situation where you would be working to accommodate the guest. 

So now that you know how to say hello, this is how you say goodbye: 

مع السلامة 

Goodbye *literally: (go) in peace [Ma' assalama]

إلى اللقاء

Goodbye *literally: until we meet (again) [Ila liqaa']

Or simply, as we said before, 

السلام عليكم

Happy studying!