Today’s blog post is taking us to the Middle East and Africa, namely to the Arabic-speaking world. If you live in Europe, chances are high that you will sooner or later come across some refugees from Syria, Iraq or other Arabic-speaking countries in the next few months with whom you might want to exchange some pleasantries. 🙂

Here are some basic phrases to get your conversation started:

Hello! = أهلا  Ahlan!

Thank you = شكرا shukran

Goodbye! = ma’a s-salaamah مع السلامة

Good morning! = sabah alkhair صباح الخير

Good afternoon/evening = masa-a alkhair مساء الخير

How are you? = Kayf halik (said to a man)/kayf halich (said to a woman)كيف حالك؟

I’m fine = Alhamdullilah (lit. ‘thanks to God’) الحمد لله

And you? = wa inta (said to a man)/ wa inti (said to a woman)  و أنت