Congratulations
مبروك(mabrûk) is the word for any good news: a wedding, a new job, a passed exam, a new car. It has a fixed reply, بارك الله فيك(bâraka llâhu fîka) (may God bless you), which you say instead of شكرا.
| Congratulations! — God bless you. | مبروك! — بارك الله فيك.mabrûk! — bâraka allâhu fîka. |
| You passed the exam? Congratulations! | نجحت في الامتحان؟ مبروك!najaHta fil-imtiHân? mabrook! |
When you admire something — a house, a child, a success — say ما شاء الله(mâ shâ'a llâhu) (what God has willed). It praises without tempting fate.
| How wonderful, your house is very beautiful! | ما شاء الله، بيتك جميل جدا!mâ shâ'a llâhu, baytuka jamîlun jiddan! |
God willing
إن شاء الله(in shâ'a llâh) (if God wills) goes with almost any statement about the future, from religious and non-religious speakers alike. It can come first or last.
| I will visit you tomorrow, God willing. | سأزورك غدا إن شاء الله.sa'azûruka ghadan in shâ'a llâh |
Holiday wishes
At the two Eids you say عيد مبارك('îdun mubârakun) (a blessed holiday). كل عام وأنتم بخير(kullu 'âmin wa antum bikhayr) — literally may you be well every year — works for every holiday and anniversary, and it is said to one person as well as to many.
| Happy Eid, and may you be well every year! | عيد مبارك وكل عام وأنتم بخير!eidun mubârakun wa kulla âmin wa antum bikhayrin! |
With pleasure, and don't mention it
| you hear | you answer | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| هل تساعدني؟ | بكل سرور(bikulli surûrin) | with pleasure |
| شكرا! | لا شكر على واجب(lâ shukra 'alâ wâjib) | don't mention it (no thanks for a duty) |
| Thanks for the help! — Don't mention it. | شكرا على المساعدة! — لا شكر على واجب.shukran ala al-musâ'adati! — lâ shukra ala wâjibin. |
شكرا جزيلا(shukran jazîlan) is thank you very much.
Bad news
للأسف(lil'asaf) and مع الأسف(ma'a al-asafi) both mean unfortunately and usually open the sentence. يا للخسارة(yâ lal-khasârah) is what a shame!
| Unfortunately, I can't come to the party. | للأسف، لا أستطيع أن أحضر الحفلة.lil'asafi, lâ astatî'u an ahdura alhaflata. |
| Unfortunately, the manager is busy now. | مع الأسف، المدير مشغول الآن.ma'a al-asafi, al-mudîru mashghûlun al-âna |
| The party is over? What a shame! | انتهت الحفلة؟ يا للخسارة!intahat al-haflah? yâ lalkhasârah! |
