A1 · First conversations
Arabic Greetings and Introductions
By the end, you can greet someone, say your name, ask the other person’s name, and close the conversation politely.
Core phrases
| Arabic | Pronunciation / note | Natural English |
|---|---|---|
| مرحبًا | marḥaban | Hello |
| السلام عليكم | as-salāmu ʿalaykum | Peace be upon you |
| وعليكم السلام | wa-ʿalaykumu s-salām | And peace be upon you |
| صباح الخير | ṣabāḥ al-khayr | Good morning |
| مساء الخير | masāʾ al-khayr | Good evening |
| ما اسمك؟ | mā ismuka? / mā ismuki? | What is your name? |
| اسمي… | ismī… | My name is … |
| تشرفنا | tasharrafnā | Pleased to meet you |
| كيف حالك؟ | kayfa ḥāluka? / kayfa ḥāluki? | How are you? |
| أنا بخير، شكرًا | anā bikhayr, shukran | I am well, thank you. |
Notice the pattern
This lesson teaches beginner Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). The endings in mā ismuka? / mā ismuki? and kayfa ḥāluka? / kayfa ḥāluki? address a male / female person. Reply to as-salāmu ʿalaykum with wa-ʿalaykumu s-salām.
Spoken Arabic varieties differ by region and may use other everyday forms. MSA provides a widely understood formal foundation.
Model dialogue
Read this short first meeting aloud. Replace the name phrase with your own name.
A: مرحبًا
B: مرحبًا
A: ما اسمك؟
B: اسمي…
A: تشرفنا
A: كيف حالك؟
B: أنا بخير، شكرًا
Practice
- Match مرحبًا with its natural English meaning.
- Complete the name-giving line with the phrase from the table.
- Choose the positive answer to “How are you?”
- Choose the best opening phrase for the model dialogue.
- Complete the name question with the core phrase from the table.
- Put four moves in order: greet, give your name, ask a name, close politely.
Check your answers
- 1 → Hello
- 2 → اسمي…
- 3 → أنا بخير، شكرًا
- 4 → مرحبًا
- 5 → ما اسمك؟
- 6: Answers vary; include a greeting, name, question, and polite close.
Create your four-line introduction
Write and say four lines: greet the person, give your name, ask their name, and finish with a polite meeting phrase. Choose the level of formality that fits the situation.