How to say "welcome" in Egyptian Arabic
أَهْلاً وَسَهْلاً
ahlan wa sahlan
- Without tashkeel
- أهلا وسهلا
- Franco / chat alphabet
- ahlan w sahlan
- Literally
- family and ease
When to use it
This is the standard, universally understood phrase for welcoming someone to a place, such as a home, office, or country. It is appropriate for all levels of formality in Cairo. In everyday conversation, it is very frequently adapted to include a pronoun suffix, such as 'ahlan biik', to directly address the person.
Other ways to say it
to a man
أَهْلاً بِيك
ahlan biik
Welcome
The most common way to welcome a single male.
to a woman
أَهْلاً بِيكي
ahlan biiki
Welcome
The most common way to welcome a single female.
to a group
أَهْلاً بِيكُوا
ahlan biikwa
Welcome
Used when welcoming two or more people.
enthusiastic
يَا مِيت أَهْلاً وَسَهْلاً
ya miit ahlan wa sahlan
A hundred welcomes
Used to show extreme warmth and hospitality to a guest.
How people reply
أَهْلاً بِيك
ahlan biik
Welcome to you too (to a man)
أَهْلاً بِيكي
ahlan biiki
Welcome to you too (to a woman)
شُكْراً
shokran
Thank you
In a sentence
أَهْلاً بِيك فِي مَصْر.
ahlan biik fi masr.
Welcome to Egypt.
أَهْلاً وَسَهْلاً، اِتْفَضَّل.
ahlan wa sahlan, etfaddal.
Welcome, please come in.
يَا مِيت أَهْلاً وَسَهْلاً، نَوَّرْتُوا البِيت!
ya miit ahlan wa sahlan, nawwartu el beit!
A hundred welcomes, you have lit up the house!