Conversation
10 Arabic phrases for your first conversation
You don't need to know grammar to start speaking. These ten phrases will carry you through a greeting, an introduction and a polite goodbye. Read each one out loud three times.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْas-salāmu ʿalaykumPeace be upon you (hello)
وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُwa ʿalaykumu s-salāmAnd upon you be peace (the reply)
مَرْحَبًاmarḥabanHello
كَيْفَ حَالُكَ؟kayfa ḥāluk?How are you?
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِal-ḥamdu lillāhPraise be to God (I'm well)
مَا اسْمُكَ؟mā ismuk?What is your name?
اسْمِي ...ismī ...My name is ...
شُكْرًاshukranThank you
عَفْوًاʿafwanYou're welcome
مَعَ السَّلَامَةِmaʿa s-salāmaGoodbye
Pronunciation tip: The ḥ in marḥaban and ḥāluk is a breathy h from deep in the throat, as if you were fogging up a mirror. The ʿ in ʿalaykum is a sound made by tightening the throat. Both get easier with practice.
Put it together
A: As-salāmu ʿalaykum! B: Wa ʿalaykumu s-salām! A: Kayfa ḥāluk? B: Al-ḥamdu lillāh. Mā ismuk? A: Ismī Sarah. B: Shukran! A: ʿAfwan. Maʿa s-salāma!
Want to practise with a teacher? The Conversation course gets you speaking from the first lesson. Book a free intro call.