How to say "how are you?" in Gulf Arabic
شلونَك؟
shloonak?
- Without tashkeel
- شلونك؟
- Franco / chat alphabet
- shloonak?
- Literally
- what is your colour?
When to use it
The standard Gulf "how are you?" to one man; to a woman "shloonich?", to a group "shloonkum?". Emiratis also say "kaifak?". It is normal to ask more than once.
Other ways to say it
to a woman
شلونِك؟
shloonich?
how are you? (f)
The feminine form.
Emirati
كيف حالَك؟
kaif 7aalak?
how is your state?
Common in the UAE, slightly more formal.
news
شو العِلم؟
shu il-3ilm?
what's the news?
A very Gulf way to ask what's new.
How people reply
بخير، الحَمدُلله
b-khair, il-7amdilla
well, praise God
زين، وإنتَ شلونَك؟
zain, w-inta shloonak?
good, and how are you?
In a sentence
هَلا خالِد، شلونَك؟
hala khaalid, shloonak?
Hi Khalid, how are you?
شلونِك يا يُمّا؟
shloonich ya yumma?
How are you, mum?
شلون الأهل والعيال؟
shloon il-ahal wil-3yaal?
How are the family and kids?