Arabic/Being Polite

Being polite is important. It is rather simple to be polite in Arabic. Just learn some of these and use them, at the right time. And remember a few golden rules. If you refuse a gift, an Arab will insist that you take it (This insisting and refusing can go on for up to a minute, between Arabs). So if an Arab offers you meat, and you are a vegetarian, either eat it or have a good excuse (medical excuses are often acceptable). أهلا ahlan ah-lan Hello It means more than hello, but its usage is very similar to hello. *السلام عليكم al_salaamu `alaykum as-sa-laa-mu-`a-lay-kum Peace be upon you. This is a very common greeting, although its usage is approved religiously. It is very common among Muslims; even muslims who understand no Arabic attempt to say it, whenever greeting someone. It's always better to say this greeting. *مع السلامة ma`a al_salaamah(-ti) ma-`as-sa-laa-mah with peace Only said when leaving someone. If you said this when you just met someone, it would seem awkward. الله يسلمك allahu salmik(a/i) aL-laa-hu-sal-mik (May) God keep you in peace. Often a reply to مع السلامة (ma`a alsalaamah). أهلا وسهلا ahlan wa sahlan ah-lan-wa-sah-lan Usage: Expressing great happiness at seeing someone. وداعا wa-daa-`an bye شكرا shukran shuk-ran thanks شكرا لك shukran shuk-ran-lak(a/i) thank you شكرا جزيلا shukran jazeelan shuk-ran-ja-zee-lan thanks a lot Note this is not the sarcastic usage in Arabic. من فضلك min faDlik(a/i) min-faD-lik please أرجوك arjook(a/i) ar-jook I'm begging you. تفضل tafaDDal ta-faD-Dal Please help yourself (when speaking to a man). تفضلي tafaDDalee ta-faD-Da-lee Please help yourself (when speaking to a woman). تفضلوا tafaDDaloo ta-faD-Da-loo Same as above but when talking to a group, as long as the group is not all female. كيف حالك kayfa Haaluk kay-fa-Haa-luk How are you doing? You must know this saying, every Arab asks every other Arab of the same gender and his son this question. بـخيـر bikhair bi-khair fine Only used when answering "How are you doing?" الـحمد لله al_Hamdu lillaah al-Ham-du-lil-Laah Thank God. Of course its meaning is not that simple. Often used to answer "كيف حالك؟ ", and said when good news is heard (like a relative passed their final exam). Literally it means: Praise be to God, that is, when answering the above questions with al-Ham-du-lil-Laah, you're praising God for the goodness received. مرحبا MarHabaan "Hello", when talking to anyone