Getting Started with Language Learning

13 Ways to Say Goodbye in Persian

Have you mastered saying salâm (hello, سلام) in Persian, but you’re stuck when it comes to “goodbye”? Well, here it is: learn 13 ways to say goodbye in Persian. This selection of phrases in Farsi and Dari is sure to impress your Persian friends ‘til you meet again.

1. Khodâhâfez (خداحافظ) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

This is the most common way of saying goodbye in Persian. Khodâhâfez, as well as its shortened counterpart, khodâfes, literally translate to “May God protect [you].” You can repeat the same phrase back in response, or simply mix and match with some of the suggestions listed below! One could also respond with be salâmat (به‌ سلامت), meaning “with [good] health,” in semi-formal settings or when replying to an elder.

2. Felân (فعلاً) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

This colloquial phrase is the Persian way of saying “[goodbye] for now,” and is usually used when a person intends to see the other in the near future. You can repeat felân (فعلاً) in response, or use khodâfes (خداحافظ), or try the next suggested phrase: mîbînamet (میبینمت).

3. Mîbînamet (میبینمت) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

Another alternative if you are going to see someone again soon is to opt for the equivalent of “see you,” which is mîbînamet (میبینمت), literally translating to “I will see you.” This is considered a more ”cutesy” colloquial term, and the same phrase can be said back in reply, or it can be mixed and matched with any of the other phrases marked as colloquial in this article.

4. Tâ ba’d (تا بعد) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

Tâ ba’d (تا بعد) is the formal/semi-formal version of the previous two expressions, and it literally translates to “until later.” An appropriate reply could be the same phrase, felân (فعلاً), or khodâhâfez (خداحافظ).

5. Be omîde dîdâr (به امید دیدار) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

If you find yourself parting from a semi-formal setting with one or more people, you can say be omîde dîdâr (به امید دیدار), which means, “in hopes of seeing you [again]” in the indefinite future. The response could be the same back or, more formally, hamchenîn (همچنین), meaning “likewise.”

6. Khodâ negahdâr (خدا نگهدار) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

A more formal version of khodâhâfez (خداحافظ), this phrase translates to “[May] God protect/take care of you.” It is commonly heard among the older generations. For example, an elder may wish a younger person farewell in this way. A typical response would be khodâhâfez (خداحافظ) or, more formally, be salâmat (به‌ سلامت), “with [good] health.”

7. Khudâ yâret (خدا یارت) — Afghanistan

This commonly-used phrase in Dari means, “[May] God be with you.” One way to reply could be khudâ yâre tû hamchenân (خدا یار تو همچنان), meaning “[May] God be with you, too.” This phrase is also used in Farsi, though in more formal settings or among the older generations.

8. Panâhet ba khodâ (پناهت به خدا) — Afghanistan

This common Dari phrase means, “[May you seek] refuge in God.” The Farsi equivalent to this is khodâ posht va panâhet (خدا پشت و پناهت), meaning “[May] God protect you.” One would usually respond with salâmat bâshi (سلامت باشی), meaning “[May you] be well/healthy,” a typical expression of gratitude.

9. Bâmâne khudâ (بامان خدا) — Afghanistan

Bâmâne khudâ (بامان خدا) is a common Dari phrase, literally translating to “with God’s safety.” It is the shortened version of the more formal be amâne khudâ (به امان خدا). The Farsi equivalent of this phrase is dar amâne khodâ (در امان خدا), though it is used in more formal settings and typically heard among older generations (or an elder bidding a younger person farewell). Khodâhâfez (خدا حافظ) would be a common response here.

10. Shab bekheir (شب بخیر) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

This phrase means “good night” and is used as a way to say goodbye to someone at night time or in the evening. When addressing elders or a group of people, one would say shabetûn bekheir (شبتون بخیر). The reply can be the same phrase back: shab bekheir (شب بخیر) or shabetûn bekheir (شبتون بخیر).

11. Shab khôsh (شب خوش) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

This is another way to say goodnight, though quite formal. When addressing an elder or more than one person, one would say shabetûn khôsh (شبتون خوش). It is common to reply back with shab khôsh (شب خوش) or shab bekheir (شب بخیر), or their plural forms in group or formal settings: shabetûn khôsh (شبتون خوش) or or shabetûn bekheir (شبتون بخیر).

12. Movâzeb khôdet bâsh (مواظب خودت باش) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

This phrase has very similar connotations to the English expression “Take care [of yourself]!” It is common to use môvâzeb khôdet bâsh (مواظب خودت باش) when someone is about to travel or experience a difficult endeavor — in this way you are showing your care and concern for what the other person is about to go through. The typical response would be mersî (مرسی) or mamnûnam (ممنونم); the informal and formal ways of saying “thank you,” respectively.

13. Bedrûd (بدرود) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

This is a very formal term for “goodbye,” originating in the Old Persian language. It is less commonly used in speech today, though still heard on formal television and radio programs.

Have we missed anything? Let us know other ways you say “goodbye” in Persian here! And if you didn’t catch our earlier posts on Persian greetings and different ways to say “I love you,” don’t forget to check them out!

Are you interested in learning Persian or putting your speaking skills into practice? Sign up for NaTakallam sessions with one of our native Persian or Dari native language tutors! Book a free trial here!

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15 Unique Ways to Say Hello in Russian

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From slang to professional greetings, this article will have you prepared to greet any Russian speaker you encounter.

Learn 14 ways to greet someone in Russian and use more natural expressions for your next Russian class or meetup with a Russian-speaking friend.

Want to dive deeper? Book a session for free with our language partners affected by displacement and get to know the culture, context, and histories behind these expressions.

If you only know a single word in Russian, it is likely that one word is privet (привет), meaning “hello.” But did you know that this greeting is only one of the many ways you can say “hello” in Russian? Russian has a wide variety of expressions across the formality spectrum, which are used depending on how well the speakers know each other and the specific conversational context. From slang to professional greetings, this article will have you prepared to greet any Russian speaker you encounter.

Privet (Привет)

This is the most basic Russian greeting, simply meaning “hello.” This is an informal way to address anyone from friends to family members, and has the same usage as “hi” or “hey.” The response is usually the same back, but you can also mix it up with any of the other greetings below!

Zdravstvuite (Здравствуйте)

This is the formal version of “hello” and can be used in any situation from a doctor’s office to a day out shopping. Note that because of the formality, you would not use this with friends. In fact, this word is actually plural, meaning it can be used to greet a group of people or just a single person to whom you wish to show respect. This greeting also has a shortened informal singular form, zdravstvui (здравствуй), which you can use with people you are more familiar with.

If you want to greet someone you are even closer to, you can shorten this word even more to zdrastee (здрасьте). Because this greeting is abbreviated, some people might see it as rude or lazy if you use it instead of one of the more proper forms. Therefore, it is best to save it for friends and people who will see it as endearing rather than offensive.

If someone says one of these greetings to you, you can use their level of formality as your cue and repeat the same form of the greeting back to them.

Dobroe utro/den/vecher (Доброе утро/день/вечер)

This greeting structure is based on the time of day you are using it. Just as with the English “good morning/afternoon/evening,” dobroe (доброе) means “good,” (though the literal meaning is “kind,”) and the second word designates the time of day. Utro (утро) means “morning,” and is used until noon. Den (день), literally meaning “day,” is used from noon until about 6 pm. Vecher (вечер) means “evening” and is used anytime after 6. These greetings are all quite formal, but can be used in most contexts with people you are not very close to. The response is the same phrase repeated back, or zdravstvuite (здравствуйте), since the greetings have a similar level of formality. These phrases can also be repeated at the end of the conversation, to bid someone goodbye.

An important note is that you can also say dobroe nochi (доброе нoчи), meaning “good night,” but as in English, this is really a way to bid someone farewell in the evening, not a greeting, and has the connotation of “sleep well.”

Zdorovo (Здорoво)

This greeting, literally meaning “health,” is an informal greeting that can be used to say “hey” to good friends. This word is pronounced with stress on the second syllable, unlike the word for “great/nice/cool,” zdorovo (здoрово), which is written the same way but stresses the initial syllable. Thankfully both words have a positive meaning, so even if you get the stress wrong, the worst that will happen is that your conversation partner will think you are saying they are really cool!

Privetik (Привeтик!)

This informal greeting is a diminutive or “cute” form of the basic privet (привет). This greeting has a playful and childlike connotation, similar to “heya!” It is best to use this greeting only with people you are really friendly with, or with children!

Hello (Хеллo) and Hey (Хaй)

If you guessed these greetings came from English, you would be right! These casual greetings are popular among young people and are frequently used online, especially as access to American and Anglo culture is increasing through social media.

Another related greeting you might hear is hiyooshki (xаюшки), a “cute” version of the English loan word with a diminutive suffix. These Anglicisms are definitely popular among hip young people, though not without their Russian twist! In response to these greetings, you can respond with either of these loan words, or choose another playful greeting from this list.

Yo! (Йо!)

This is another greeting that is likely familiar to English speakers. Yo (йо) is a very colloquial way to say “hi” to your close friends. Once again, it is popular over text and social media, but is also spoken among young people. Any casual greeting on this list would be a good response!

Privyetstvuyu (Привeтствую) and Privyetstvuyu vas (Привeтствую вас)

This formal greeting literally means “I am greeting you,” like the English “greetings.” The addition of the word vas (вас), “you-plural,” is appropriate when greeting multiple people or a single person in a polite way. These greetings would be most appropriate if you were addressing an audience, such as at a conference.

Allo (Алло) / Alyo (Алё) / Ello (Элло)

These words, meaning “hello,” are used only while answering the phone, but they are important to know nonetheless. They are completely interchangeable, so which one you use is based on your preference and style. The response is usually any other greeting on this list, depending on the level of acquaintance between the caller and the callee.

Privet, tovarish (Привет, товарищ)

This phrase, meaning, “Hello, comrade,” has Soviet roots and is slightly out of fashion in modern contexts, but you will often hear it in old films and between old friends. The English equivalent of this phrase would be, “Hello friend,” or “Hello my brother.”

Kak dela? (Как дела?)

This phrase literally translates to “How are your affairs?” but has the meaning of a casual “Hey, how are you?” Though this is often asked as a question after another informal greeting, like privet (привет), it can also be used on its own if you bump into a friend on the street or have another similar casual encounter.

Dobro pozhalovat (Добро пожаловать)

This greeting, meaning “welcome,” will be found at the entrance of any city or region in Russia and is often said if you enter a retail environment. The literal definition is “kind staying,” so you are wishing someone a kind stay. This phrase is rather formal and restricted in context, but It is certainly useful to know, especially if you are hosting a Russian speaker.

S priyezdom (С приездом)

You are likely to be greeted with this phrase after a long journey. Though it is best translated as a less formal “welcome,” it literally means “[congratulations] with arrival.” If you just arrived somewhere by plane, you are also likely to hear S prilyotom (С прилётом), which means “[congratulations] with your flight.” The best response to these phrases is just spasibo (cпасибо), which is the standard word for “thank you.”

Salam aleykum (Салáм алéйкум)

If you are a speaker of Arabic, this greeting is likely to be familiar. Meaning “Peace be upon you,” this greeting is used across the Arabic-speaking and Muslim world in the context of “hello.” Islam is one of the biggest minority religions in Russia, representing about 10% of the 146 million population. It is not uncommon to hear this greeting used between friends in Russia, if they have some religious connection to Islam or an ethnic connection to a predominantly Muslim culture. This phrase can simply be repeated, but you can also say the true Arabic response wa aleykum salam (уа алeйкум cалaм), meaning “and upon you be peace,” if you want to express true respect and reverence.

Skol’ko let, skol’ko zim! (Сколько лет, сколько зим!)

If you really want to sound comfortable in Russian, you can use this colorful phrase as a greeting, which means “How many summers, how many winters?” signifying it has been a long time since you have last seen each other. This greeting, though poetic, is informal and is best used with old friends! The best response is any other friendly greeting and you can catch up from there.

Are you curious about what to say after the greeting?

Book a session today with one of our native Russian-speaking Language Partners at NaTakallam and start your conversational journey. By working alongside our skilled tutors from displaced backgrounds, you are making a social impact with each lesson!

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Counting in French with two French counting systems:

Counting in French – Two Different Systems

French, Getting Started with Language Learning / Suhara Mushtaq

Carrie had been living in France for several years and was pretty proficient in the language, so when she and another American friend decided to take a trip to French-speaking Switzerland, she didn’t expect to have any language problems! The accent took a little getting used to, but the actual problems came when she went to make a purchase — and encountered a number she’d literally never heard before. “What on earth is…septente-trois?!” she asked.

For those who learned the “standard,” what we really ought to call “Parisian” French taught in most schools, it can be a minor shock to learn that French actually has multiple competing number systems for the 60–90 range. You probably learned to count like this:

	Parisian French
10	dix
20	vingt
30	trente
40	quarante
50	cinquante
60	soixante
70	soixante-dix
80	quatre-vingt
90	quatre-vingt-dix

If you’re new to French, no, you’re not going crazy — 70 is literally “sixty-ten.” 71 is “sixty-eleven” (soixante-onze), then “sixty-twelve” (soixante-douze), and so on until you get to 80, which is… “four-twenty.” 81 is “four-twenty-and-one” (quatre-vingt-et-un), and so on until 90, which is “four-twenty-and-ten,” then 91 is “four-twenty-eleven” (quatre-vingt-onze), up to “four-twenty-nineteen” (quatre-vingt-dix-neuf) for 99 and then, thank goodness, we’re back to a more familiar system from the moment we hit 100 until 170.

In other words, the French count by tens until they reach sixty, at which point they switch to base twenty. But wait — isn’t this the country that invented the metric system? But they don’t always count in base 10? How did that happen?

As it happens, a base-10 or decimal counting system is far from universal. Many languages all over the world use a vigesimal or base-20 counting system, including Yoruba in Africa, Mayan and Inuit in the Americas, or Ainu in Japan. It’s easy enough to see how it happens: you have ten fingers and ten toes, so why not? (A few languages actually use other systems, like base 12, base 15, or base 60, but we won’t get into that here.) Most Indo-European languages, however, use a base-10 counting system — with one notable exception: the Celtic family. Modern speakers of Welsh and Scots-Gaelic still count in base 20, though they have a decimal system that schoolchildren might learn in, for instance, a math class. (In Irish, the decimal system is used even in everyday speech.)

Linguists theorize that when the ancestors of modern Celts left the Indo-European homeland, they picked up base-20 counting from the Basques, who also count in base 20 and who used to live in a much wider area of western Europe than they do today. And that’s where this little historical linguistics lesson becomes relevant to French, because France, if you think back to ancient history classes in school, used to be a Celtic country. In the year 58 BCE, future Roman Emperor Julius Caesar looked at the Celtic lands to the north of Italy, then called “Gaul,” and decided they needed some Roman roads. His subsequent conquest of Gaul brought the future country of France new taxes, a new language, and a new counting system — because Latin, unlike the Celtic-speaking Gauls, used base 10.

Today, all languages descended from Latin, called “Romance languages,” count in base 10, as you will know if you’ve ever studied Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, or Romanian, among others. Many French speakers, however, never completely abandoned the Gaulish system of counting in base 20, even after the Gaulish language itself became extinct. Over time, however, various base-10 alternative numbers have become more or less common in different parts of the French-speaking world. So a more complete picture of the French counting system looks something like this:

trois-vingts	60	Literally “three-twenty.” This one isn’t used anywhere anymore, but it crops up frequently in French documents from a few centuries ago, so you can see that the base-20 counting pattern used to be more widespread than it is today.
soixante	60	Happily, this is the only number for “sixty” you need to know for any French-speaking country or region.
trè-vingt-dix	70	With trois-vingts gone the way of the French kings, it should be no surprise that trè-vingt-dix is hot on its heels. You may still hear it in some rural areas of eastern France near the Swiss border, but that’s about it.
soixante-dix	70	This is what you’ll hear in most of France, Canada, West Africa and sometimes in East Africa.
septante	70	This, however, is what you’ll encounter in Switzerland, large swaths of rural eastern and southern France, Belgium and former Belgian colonies in East Africa. (While West Africa was colonized by France, East Africa was colonized by Belgium, and today French speakers there might use either Belgian or French terms. Those who are closest to the institutions put in place by the Belgians are most likely to use Belgian expressions! Travel comic artist Itchy Feet did a fun strip on the topic.)
quatre-vingt	80	You get this one in most of France, Canada, Africa and Belgium — but not Switzerland.
octante	80	A lot of French people who use quatre-vingts believe that this is the word for “eighty” used in Belgium and Switzerland — the same areas that use septante and nonante. But as noted above, the Belgians actually say quatre-vingt, just like the French do, and the Swiss mostly use huitante (see below). In fact, while historical documents show that this word used to be more common, the only place you’ll hear it today is scattered parts of rural eastern France and a little bit in rural western Switzerland.
huitante	80	Huitante is the preferred word for “eighty” in Francophone Switzerland, though you might occasionally hear it in some rural areas of southeastern France and southern Belgium. You’ll also hear some variations such as utante and otante.
quatre-vingt-dix	90	This is the word you’ll hear in most of France, Canada and West Africa. Some people in East Africa also use it.
nonante	90	This is used in pretty much the same places you’ll hear septante: Switzerland, Belgium, East Africa and rural areas of France along the eastern and southern borders and coastline.

So, there you have it! And you thought at least learning to count would be easy! The good news is that the system used in most of France and taught in most textbooks — the one that appears in the first table up above — is understood pretty much everywhere, so if you ever decide to take a trip to Switzerland, don’t worry that they won’t be able to understand you! Just brush up on your Latin roots (remember, sept means “seven,” which should be a clue if you come across septante) and be prepared to ask if you come across a number you don’t recognize. You’ll most likely get a good-natured laugh, and the person will be happy to either “translate” it for you or write it down!

Resources:
https://francaisdenosregions.com/2016/10/08/septante_nonante/
https://francaisdenosregions.com/2017/03/26/comment-dit-on-80-en-belgique-et-en-suisse/
https://blog.pimsleur.com/2020/08/17/counting-systems-in-different-languages/
https://www.lefigaro.fr/langue-francaise/francophonie/ces-chiffres-gaulois-que-nous-employons-sans-le-savoir-20190621

Not sure why you should be learning French? Here are five solid reasons! Or maybe you want to learn a few different way to say hello in French? How about a few ways to talk about love? Otherwise, check out this list of French words that made their way from Arabic!

Finally, want to practice your French while making a social impact? Sign up here to kick-start your language journey with NaTakallam. Based on your language-learning needs and aspirations, you’ll be paired up with one of our fantastic, native-speaking Language Partners from displaced backgrounds. Make a friend for life AND discover a new culture. On y va!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mikaela Bell is a freelance editor and content writer with a background in anthropology and linguistics. An American based in France, she is also fond of reading, cooking, studying languages, fibercrafts and Irish stepdance.

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14 Unique Ways to Say Hello in Spanish

Getting Started with Language Learning, Spanish / moulham

We know you want to go beyond Dora-level greetings (no shade to her, she’s an icon!) so here are some ways to expand how you can start a conversation like a local. In case you are exploring different languages for study, check out our “saying hello” series in French, Russian, and Persian!

Learn 14 ways to greet someone in Spanish and use more natural expressions for your next Spanish class or meetup with a Spanish-speaking friend.

Want to dive deeper? Book a session for free with our language partners affected by displacement and get to know the culture, context, and histories behind these expressions.

You probably think you know how to greet someone in Spanish. But this language has traveled across continents and evolved along the way, so forget what you learned in freshman year – we’re about to show you all the coolest ways to say hello in Spanish from across the Hispanic world!

1. Hola – across the Spanish-speaking world Okay, yes, we’re starting with the basics: the one and only infamous hola. Its literal meaning is simply “hello” or “hi.” The good thing about this phrase is that it’s very neutral on the formality scale, meaning it can be used in almost every situation. Hola is used during any time of day and can be repeated back in response.

2. Pura vida – Costa Rica Pura vida broken down translates to “pure life,” and in Costa Rica it is another way of saying “hello.” Although this is quite a casual phrase, it has very friendly connotations, so you can hear it used by everyone on the streets. An appropriate response would be to repeat pura vida back. Do note that this term is very versatile and can, for instance, be used when saying “goodbye” or replying to “How are you?” (assuming you want to answer by saying that “All is well”!)

3. Bueno – Mexico In Spanish, bueno translates to “good,” but in this context, it is a greeting used over the phone in Mexico to mean “hello.” However, do keep in mind that this is used in a more casual scenario, when answering a call from a friend, family member or someone close to you. Bueno can then be repeated back by the caller.

4. Buenas – across the Spanish-speaking world Buenas is a shortened form of the three phrases buenos días, buenas tardes and buenas noches. Respectively, they all mean “good morning,” “good afternoon” and “good evening.” Buenas is a lot less formal. When greeted with this phrase, you can respond by repeating it back, or by simply saying hola.

5. Épale – Venezuela Exclusive to Venezuela, épale is a very informal way of greeting between people of all ages (from little kids all the way up to adults), meaning “Hi!” or “What’s up?” This can be used at any time of day and the response is usually the same or, much like buenas, can be hola.

6. ¿Qué tal? – across the Spanish-speaking world While it’s familiar to most as “How are you?” ¿Qué tal? is very versatile in its meaning depending on the situation. It can be used as an informal greeting amongst friends and family, similar to the English “What’s up?” And as for the reply, our conversational language partners can teach you the ways to express yourself like a native in Spanish.

7. Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches – across the Spanish-speaking world As previously mentioned earlier in the article, these phrases translate respectively to “good morning,” “good afternoon” and “good evening.” They are slightly more formal ways of greeting someone.

Regardless of its literal meaning, buenos días or “good day” is used strictly in the morning – though the morning is often considered to last until 2 pm! Buenas tardes is then used until late afternoon. Buenas noches means “good night,” but it can be used to greet someone after sunset.

8. ¿Qué onda? – across Latin America Literally translated, ¿Qué onda? means, “What wave?” However, the closest English alternative would be “What’s up?” or perhaps, “What’s the vibe?” This is quite informal and is mainly used between friends. On certain occasions, ¿Qué onda? can be used simply as a greeting, without expecting a direct answer. In that case, when greeted with ¿Qué onda?, you can repeat it back, and add on a ¿Cómo estás? (meaning “How are you?”).

9. Quihubo / Quiubo – across Latin America Quihubo or quiubo are both a contraction of ¿Qué hubo?, meaning figuratively, “How are you doing?” or “How’s it going?” They are informal greetings, and we only recommend using them in casual conversation between friends and family. There are many ways to respond to quihubo; in Mexico in particular, it is commonplace not to repeat this greeting back. Phrases such as ¿Qué onda? can be applied instead.

10. ¿Qué bolá? – Cuba While many of the phrases you will see in this post can be used in a variety of Spanish-speaking countries, ¿Qué bolá? is specific to Cuba. Due to the identical pronunciation of ‘b’ and ‘v’ in Spanish, bola and vola (the original word) can be used interchangeably in this greeting. Vola comes from the word volar, meaning “to fly” – so the literal translation of ¿Qué bolá? is, therefore, “How does it fly?” However, this informal greeting is in fact an equivalent of “How’s it going?” An appropriate response would be to repeat the phrase back.

11. Habla – Peru Literally, habla means “speak” and it is a very informal way of greeting a close friend in Peru. It is used as a replacement for “hello” and is often followed up with “How are you?” Because these two phrases are so often paired together, you can simply respond by telling the person how you are.

12. Wena – Chile In Chile, wena is an informal greeting used among friends to say “hi” or “hello.” The same can be repeated back in response.

13. Holiii – across Latin America Holiii is a derivative of hola. It is considered a very cute and informal greeting, a bit like “hiiii!” It is used among teenagers and young adults, and can be repeated back in response – alternatively, hola can be used as well.

14. Oye – across the Spanish-speaking world It literally means “hear,” but the English version of oye is “hey!” Not only is it used as a way to greet someone, but also as a way to grab someone’s attention. Due to its informality, oye is best applied in situations when talking to someone your age or younger. A correct way to respond would be with hola.

Fancy brushing up on your Spanish while making a social impact? Sign up here to kick-start your language journey with NaTakallam. Based on your language-learning needs and aspirations, you’ll be paired up with one of our fantastic, native-speaking Language Partners from displaced backgrounds. Make a friend for life AND discover a new culture. Vamos!

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7 Ways to Say Goodbye in Arabic

Arabic, Getting Started with Language Learning / moulham

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1. Bkhatirkon (بخاطركُن)

This word is the closest term for “goodbye” in the Levantine dialect, though it literally means something like “by your permission/mind.” (Think of the old-fashioned “by your leave” in English!) Note that the ending -kon here implies that you’re speaking to more than one person; you’ll use bkhatrak and bkhatrik for speaking to an individual man or woman, respectively. This word can be used in most contexts, as it is friendly but still polite!

2. Ma’ssalaame (مع السلامة)

This is the most popular way to say goodbye, meaning “with safety.” What not everyone knows, however, is that this is typically used as a reply to another farewell said by the person who is leaving. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to say it if you’re the one leaving, because why would you tell those who are staying behind to go “with safety”? Nonetheless, it’s common enough that it’s good to have it in your back pocket.

**3. Bil izn (بالإذن)**

Similar to bkhatirkon, this literally means “by permission” and is a nice way of exiting a meeting or social situation, even if you’re just popping out for a second. Asking permission of the other person or people before leaving is a gesture of respect and courtesy.

4. ***Mnshoufkon bi kheir (*منشوفكن بخير)**

If you want to play it cool and be casual, you can use this phrase, which means “see you [plural] in good [shape].” Or perhaps just “see you” with just the first word (mnshoufkon). This is useful with friends and in other informal settings.

Again, note that the form shown here with -kon is for speaking to a group, and the prefix mn- means that you’re also speaking for a group! So think of this phrase as conveying the same information as “We’ll be seeing you all!”

If you want to speak as “I” instead of “we,” substitute b- for mn-, and change -kon to -ak or -ik to speak to an individual man or woman. So bshoufik بشوفك (“I’ll be seeing you [feminine]”) and bshoufak بشوفك (“I’ll be seeing you [masculine].”)

**5. Diiro belkon a’a halkon (ديرو بالكن ع حالكن)**

This phrase is a nice way to tell your friends “take care of yourself.” You can also use it as a warning, if you want to sound dramatic! Diir belak a’a halak دير بالك ع حالك is the masculine singular form of this one, while diiri belik a’a halik ديري بالك ع حالك is the feminine singular.

6. Illa liqaa (إلى اللقاء)

Finally, the formal goodbyes. Though not common in daily conversation, these last two are helpful to know if you wish to become more actively engaged in the Arabic-speaking world. This expression literally means “until the meeting” (so, similar to the English “until we meet again”), and thus it implies that you expect to be seeing the other person again soon!

If you’re feeling the casual vibe of the Levantine dialect but also like the classical feel of MSA, check out our integrated course, where you’ll be learning both in a seamless, strategic way!

7. Wada’an (وداعًا)

In contrast to illa liqaa, this formal farewell implies that you don’t really expect to see the person again, a bit like the French adieu, so be careful whom you use it with!

That’s it! Hopefully now you feel a bit more confident and ready to close out a variety of social interactions in Arabic without sounding too repetitive. But of course, there’s much more to learning a language than memorizing phrases.

If you’re looking for more in-depth instruction, or you’d just like a chance to practice these expressions with someone sure to be sympathetic before you take them on the road, sign up for NaTakallam sessions with one of our native Arabic language partners, today!

50 Spanish Words That Come From Arabic

Arabic, Getting Started with Language Learning, Spanish / moulham

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Did you know that thousands of Spanish words have Arabic origins? From aceite (oil) to ojalá (“God willing”), the Arabic influence on Spanish dates back to the Arab rule of Al-Andalus between 711 and 1492 AD. In this blog, discover 50 fascinating Spanish words rooted in Arabic and explore the rich cultural and linguistic connections between the two languages.

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The Spanish language and culture has traveled to different corners of the world, interacting with diverse communities throughout Latin America, parts of the US, the Caribbean islands, Europe, and even in Africa and Asia! Spanish is the official language in over 20 countries, one of the six official languages of the United Nations, and currently the fastest-growing language with more than 580 million speakers worldwide. Given its Latin roots, it is also a familiar language for learners and speakers of other Romance languages, such as French, Italian and Portuguese.

But did you know… about the impact of Arabic over the Spanish language? That’s right! The influence of Arabic on the Spanish language, mostly through loanwords, largely originated from the Arab rule in the Iberian Peninsula between 711 and 1492 AD, notably in Al-Andalus (الأَنْدَلُس) of southern Spain, referred to as Andalusia, today. As a result, there are approximately 4,000 Spanish words with Arabic origins, to date!

Travel back in time with our top 50 favorite Spanish words that have come from Arabic.

Alcancía (Piggy bank) – from Al-kanz (الكنز), meaning ‘treasure’ in Arabic
Albaricoque (Apricot) – derived from the Arabic word for ‘plum’, al-barquq (اَلْبَرْقُوق‎)
Arroz (Rice) – from ar-ruzz (أَرُزّ‎)
Aceite (Oil) – from az-zait (الزيت)
Aceituna (Olive) – from az-zaytūn (الزَّيْتُون)
Azafrán (Saffron) – from the Arabic word az-za’farān (اَلزَّعْفَرَان) ultimately derived from Persian.
Azúcar (Sugar) Arabic – from as-sukkar (السكر)
Arrecife (Coral reef) – from ar-raseef (الرصيف), meaning ‘platform’ or ‘sidewalk’ in Arabic
Albahaca (Basil) – from al-habagh (الحبق)
Algodón (Cotton) – from al-quton (القطن)
Alcalde (Mayor) – from al-qādi (القاضي), derived from the Arabic word for ‘the judge’
Aldea (Village) – from al-daya’a (اَلضَّيْعَة), meaning a ‘small village’ in Arabic
Ajedrez (Chess) – evolved al-shatranj (الشطرنج), from Middle Persian chatrang (چترنگ), and ultimately derived from an Indian strategy game called chaturanga (चतुरङ्ग) in Sanskrit, referring to the ‘four arms’ of an army in the ancient times
Alcohol (Alcohol) – from al-kuhol (الكحول)
Álgebra (Algebra) – derived from the Arabic word al-jabr (الجبر), meaning ‘reunion/resetting of broken parts’
Algoritmo (Algorithm) – derived from the surname of 9th-century Persian mathematician, Al-Khwarizmi (الْخُوَارِزْمِيّ), roughly transliterated to Medieval Latin as algorismus, whose works introduced advanced mathematics to the West
Alfombra (Carpet/rug) – derived from the Arabic word hanbal (حَنْبَل), originally referring to Moroccan ceremonial tapestry’ still widely using in Morocco today
Almohada (Pillow) – from the Arabic word al-mikhaddah (المخدة), meaning cushion or pillow
Alquiler (To rent) – from the Arabic word al-kirraʾ (الكِرَاء), meaning to ‘rent/hire/lease’
Asesino (Murderer) – with a fascinating etymology and story, evolved from the Arabic word hashashin (حشَّاشين), meaning ‘hashish users’, derived from the word hashish (حشيش), meaning ‘grass’ or ‘[powdered] hemp’
Atún (tuna) – from the Arabic al-tun (التون), derived from ancient Greek thynnos (θύννος), meaning ‘tuna’
Azul (Blue) – from Arabic word lāzuward (لَازُوَرْد), meaning ‘lapis lazuli’, a stone with a deep blue color
Albóndiga (Meatball) – derived from the Arabic word al-bunduq (البندق), meaning ‘hazelnut’, due to its resemblance of shape and color. The Arabic word has allegedly evolved from the Ancient Greek Ποντικόν κάρυον, meaning the ‘nut of/from Pontus [region]’
Barrio (Neighborhood) – derived from the Arabic word barri (بَرِّيّ)‎ which originally meant ‘outside [of the city]’
Brújula (Compass) – from bousola (بوصلة)
Bellota (Acorn) – from balluta (بَلُّوطَة)‎
Berenjena (eggplant) – from badenjān (باذنجان)
Café (Coffee) – borrowed from Dutch koffie, taken from Turkish kahveh, and derived from Arabic qahwa (قهوة), which originally meant ‘wine’. It is also argued that the Arabic word is derived from the Ethopian city, Kaffa, where the coffee plant was discovered
Cifra (digit) – evolved from sefr (صفر) meaning ‘zero’ in Arabic, ultimately from Sanskrit sunya (शून्य), meaning ‘empty’ or ‘void’
Dado (Dice) – derived from the Arabic word a’dad (عدد) meaning ‘numbers’
Elixir (Elixir) – from al-iksir (الإكسير)
Guitarra (Guitar) – from gitara (غيتارة)
Hasta (Until) – from hatta (حتى)
Hazaña (Feat/deed) – from the Arabic word hasana (حَسَنَة), meaning ‎‘good deed’
Jarabe (Medication) – from the Arabic word sharāb (شَرَاب), meaning ‘a drink/beverage/wine/coffee/syrup’
Jarra (Earthenware jar) – from the Arabic word jarrah (جَرَّة), meaning ‘earthen receptacle’ or ‘made of glass, porcelain’
Jirafa (Giraffe) – from zarāfah (زرافة)
Joroba (Plateau) – from the Arabic word hadaba (هَضَبَة), meaning ‘hill’ or ‘plateau’
Limón (Lemon) – from the Arabic word limun (ليمون), derived from Persian limu (لیمو)
Mezquino (Stingy or petty) – from the Arabic word miskeen‎ (مِسْكِين), meaning poor or miserly, originally derived from Akkadian, the oldest known Semitic language, spoken in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq)
Mazmorra (Dungeon) – from the Arabic word matmura (مَطْمُورَة)‎, meaning ‘cellar’
Momia (Mummy) – from the Arabic word moomiya’ (مومياء), ultimately derived from the Persian word moomiya’ (مُومِيَاء‎ ) from Persian moom (موم‎), meaning ‘wax’
Naranja (Orange) – from the Arabic word nāranja (نارنج), derived from the Persian word nārang (نارنگ) referring to the bitter orange fruit, ultimately from Sanskrit nāraṅga (नारङ्ग) meaning ‘orange tree’
Noria (Ferris wheel) – from the Arabic word nā’oora (نَاعُورَة‎), ultimately derived from the old Syriac words nāʿōrtāʾ (ܢܥܘܪܬܐ‎) meaning ‘water wheel/growler’
Ojalá (Hopefully/Let’s hope so) – from the Arabic word inshālla (ان شاء الله), meaning ‘God-willing’ or ‘if God wills’
Sandía (Watermelon) – from the Classical Arabic word sindiyyah (سندية), meaning [the fruit] from the Sindh region (in India and Pakistan), derived from the Sanskrit word sindhu (सिन्धु), also meaning ‘of or from the Sindh’
Tarea (Homework) – from the Arabic word tariha (طَرِيحَة), meaning ‘endeavor’, from the root taraha (طرح), ‘to throw’
Taza (Mug/Cup) – from the Arabic word tassa (طاسة), ultimately from the Persian word tās (تاس) meaning ‘mug’
Tambour (Drum) – from the Arabic word tunbūr (طُنْبُور‎), derived from the Persian word tabir (تبیر), meaning ‘to drum’
Zanahoria (Carrot) – from old Arabic isfanāriyya (إِسْفَنَارِيَّة), ultimately derived from the ancient Greek phrase stafulinos agrios (σταφυλίνη ἀγρία) meaning ‘wild carrot’. Fun fact: both Arabic and Greek use different words for ‘carrot’ today!

Want to dive deeper into language and etymology? NaTakallam can help you with that! Our language partners from refugee or displaced backgrounds can help you pick up Spanish and/or Arabic, while also providing you with a cultural experience that will help you transcend borders.

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1. Khodâhâfez (خداحافظ) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

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4. Tâ ba’d (تا بعد) — Across the Persian-Speaking World

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1. Bkhatirkon (بخاطركُن)

2. Ma’ssalaame (مع السلامة)

3. Bil izn (بالإذن)

4. Mnshoufkon bi kheir (منشوفكن بخير)

5. Diiro belkon a’a halkon (ديرو بالكن ع حالكن)

6. Illa liqaa (إلى اللقاء)

1. Bkhatirkon (بخاطركُن)

2. Ma’ssalaame (مع السلامة)

3. Bil izn (بالإذن)

4. Mnshoufkon bi kheir (منشوفكن بخير)

5. Diiro belkon a’a halkon (ديرو بالكن ع حالكن)

6. Illa liqaa (إلى اللقاء)

1. Bkhatirkon (بخاطركُن)

2. Ma’ssalaame (مع السلامة)

3. Bil izn (بالإذن)

4. Mnshoufkon bi kheir (منشوفكن بخير)

5. Diiro belkon a’a halkon (ديرو بالكن ع حالكن)

6. Illa liqaa (إلى اللقاء)

1. Bonjour – across the francophone world

2. Bonsoir – across the francophone world

3. The Double Meanings of Salut and Ça va ? – across the francophone world

4. Quoi de neuf? – across the francophone world

5. Coucou – France

6. Jourbon – France

7. Ciao – Switzerland

8. Adieu – Switzerland

9. Bon matin – Quebec

10. Bonjou and Bonswa – Haitian creole

11. C’est comment? – Côte d’Ivoire

1. Salam (سلام)

2. Sobh bekheir (صبح بخير)

3. Zohr bekheir (ظهر بخير)

4. Asr bekheir (عصر بخیر)

5. Vaght bekheir (وقت بخیر)

6. Rooz bekheir (روز بخير)

7. Dorood (درود)

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**3. Bil izn (بالإذن)**

4. ***Mnshoufkon bi kheir (*منشوفكن بخير)**

**5. Diiro belkon a’a halkon (ديرو بالكن ع حالكن)**

**3. Bil izn (بالإذن)**

4. ***Mnshoufkon bi kheir (*منشوفكن بخير)**

**5. Diiro belkon a’a halkon (ديرو بالكن ع حالكن)**

**3. Bil izn (بالإذن)**

4. ***Mnshoufkon bi kheir (*منشوفكن بخير)**

**5. Diiro belkon a’a halkon (ديرو بالكن ع حالكن)**

**1. Bonjour – across the francophone world**