How to say "hello" in Gulf Arabic
هَلا
hala
- Without tashkeel
- هلا
- Franco / chat alphabet
- hala
- Literally
- welcome
When to use it
The everyday Gulf hello, warm and fine for anyone. Greetings in the Gulf are long: after "hala" come questions about health, family and news, often repeated.
Other ways to say it
formal / traditional
السَّلامُ عَلَيكُم
is-salaamu 3alaikum
peace be upon you
The standard greeting when entering a majlis, a shop or an office; always answered with "w-3alaikum is-salaam".
extra warm
هَلا والله
hala walla
welcome, by God
Very common and warm, especially when meeting a friend.
casual
هايّ
haay
hi
Borrowed from English, common among young people in Dubai and Kuwait.
How people reply
هَلا فيك
hala feek
welcome to you
هَلا والله، حَيّاك
hala walla, 7ayyaak
welcome, God greet you
In a sentence
هَلا، شلونَك اليوم؟
hala, shloonak il-yoom?
Hello, how are you today?
هَلا والله، شو الأخبار؟
hala walla, shu il-akhbaar?
Hello, what's new?
هَلا، أحمد موجود؟
hala, a7mad mawjood?
Hello, is Ahmed here?