How to say "hello" in Iraqi Arabic
هَلا
hala
- Without tashkeel
- هلا
- Franco / chat alphabet
- hala
- Literally
- welcome
When to use it
The everyday Iraqi hello, warm and fine for anyone, man or woman, friend or stranger. Iraqis rarely stop at one word: a hello is usually followed straight away by "shlonak?" and a round of blessings.
Other ways to say it
formal / traditional
السَّلامُ عَلَيكُم
is-salaamu 3alaikum
peace be upon you
The standard greeting when entering a shop, an office or a room full of people; always answered with "w-3alaikum is-salaam".
extra warm
هَلا بيك
hala beek
welcome to you
Adds warmth when greeting one man; to a woman say "hala beech", to a group "hala beekum".
casual
هَلو
hallo
hello
Borrowed from English and very common among young people in Baghdad.
How people reply
هَلا بيك
hala beek
welcome to you
هَلا وغَلا
hala w-ghala
welcome, dear one
In a sentence
هَلا، شلونَك اليوم؟
hala, shloonak il-yoom?
Hello, how are you today?
هَلا عيوني، شنو الأخبار؟
hala 3yooni, shinu il-akhbaar?
Hello my dear, what's new?
هَلا، أحمد موجود؟
hala, a7mad mawjood?
Hello, is Ahmed here?