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التحيّات والمجاملة
Words

Algerian Arabic greetings and courtesy

Hello, goodbye, please and thank you, and the reply that goes with each one.

Almost every Algerian greeting is half of a pair. Somebody says a thing, and there is a particular thing you say back. Learn them one at a time and you will understand what was said to you and then stand there silently. Learn them in pairs and you can hold the first thirty seconds of any conversation.

Start with صحّة. It is hello, it is thank you, it is cheers when a glass goes up and enjoy your meal when a plate goes down. If you learn one word from this page, learn that one, and learn its answer, صحّيت.

10 words to start with

السلام عليكم
essalamu 3alikom
Peace be upon you (the all-purpose greeting)
وعليكم السلام
w 3alikom essalam
And peace be upon you (the reply)
صحّة
ṣaḥḥa / sa7a
Hi · thanks · enjoy

Health, handed to somebody. Hello, thank you, and “enjoy it” over a plate or a cup. You will hear it all day long.

صحّيت
ṣaḥḥit / sa7it
Thank you (lit. “may you stay healthy”)

Very Algerian. Reply: يسلمك yselmek.

صحّة فطورك
ṣaḥḥa fṭurek
Enjoy your meal / your iftar
مرحبا بيك
marḥba bik
Welcome
واش راك ؟ / واش راكي ؟
wesh rak ? / wesh raki ?
How are you? (m / f)

واش wesh is the everyday “what”, and it opens most questions.

كيفاش راك، سا فا ؟
kifesh rak, ça va?
How are you?

You will also hear كي داير ki dayer

لاباس ؟
labas ?
You alright? / I'm fine

Works as question and answer. Widely used across the region.

راني لاباس، الحمد لله
rani labas, l7amdulillah
I'm fine, thank God

There are 24 more in this theme

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