What’s the Buzz? Exploring Common Ways to Say ‘How Are You’ in Arabic

When you’re just starting to learn a new language, greetings are probably one of the first topics you face (after learning the basics, like the alphabet). And usually, you’ll have more than one single option. Today, we’ll focus on different ways of saying How are you in Arabic. Although it looks simple at first, you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of this phrase. It can help you nail any conversations, regardless of their formality or the status of the people you’re communicating with.

How to Say How Are You in Arabic: Common Expressions

There are several different options you can use to ask your interlocutor about their well-being in Arabic. Some are quite universal and appropriate for both formal and informal circumstances. Others require a specific context, like the gender of the person you’re addressing. So, to help you understand subtle differences, we’ve prepared a comprehensive list of the most widespread phrases of saying How are you in Muslim.

• كيف حالك؟ – Kayf Hāalak? – How are you?

Starting strong with probably the most used phrase that you might hear in any Arabic-speaking country. It is quite polite but not too formal, so you can use it in both official and casual settings.

• عافاك؟ – Āfak? – How are you?

This one is a bit less formal than the previous one. Therefore, you can definitely use it as a casual way to ask your close friend or a family member about their well-being. However, when it comes to formal settings, you might consider some other options.

• هل أنتم؟ – Hal ʿAntum? – How are you?

Imagine the situation when you meet a group of people at the same time, and you want to ask how they are doing altogether. This phrase is a perfect option! It is quite formal and polite and is used as a plural form of the traditional ‘how are you’ phrase.

• iإزيّك؟ / إزيّك؟ – Ezzayyak?/Ezzayyek? – How are you?

This is how you say How are you in Arabic female and male addressees. The expression is quite informal, so make sure that you’re using it in casual and relaxed settings, like in conversations with your friends.

• عامل إيه؟ – ʿāmel ʾeīh? – What’s up?

The phrases mentioned above are quite universal, so let’s spice them up a bit with some local expressions. For example, this one is a widespread Egyptian way to start a conversation. As you can see, it is quite informal, making it perfect for casual conversations.

• أخبارك إيه؟ – Akhbarak eeh? – What’s your news?

And here is another common expression from Egypt. It is also informal, so you can use it when talking to friends you haven’t seen in a while. It can be used literally to ask about recent news or, more loosely, like a casual ‘What’s up’ phrase.

• كيداير؟ – Kidayer? – How are you?

This expression is widely used in several Arabic-speaking countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, Libya, and others. You can use this form when talking to a man or choose the phrase كيدايرة (kidayera) to address a woman.

• شلونك؟ – Shlonak? – How are you?

This one comes from Gulf Arabic, making it popular in Iraq, Syria, and many other countries. It is quite polite but more informal, mostly used among close friends or family members.

• شخبارك؟ – Shakhbārak – What's your news?

The last expression on this list is also universal and frequently used in different Arabic-speaking countries. You can either use it by itself or add it to one of those mentioned above ‘how are you’ phrases. However, it is a bit informal, so keep that in mind and use it in the appropriate context.

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Popular Responses to Arabic How Are You

Since the conversation usually consists of at least two people, you need to know not only how to ask questions but also to respond to them. So, here’s our list of some appropriate Arabic responses you can use when someone’s asking you about your well-being.

• أنا بخير – Ana bḫīr – I’m fine.

It is one of the most common phrases you can use to answer the question from today’s topic. It is Standard Arabic, meaning that the expression will be recognized in different parts of the Arab-speaking world.

• أنا كويس / أنا كويسة – Ana kwayyes / Ana kwayyesah – I’m good.

This is another common expression widely recognized among native speakers. It is quite polite, and you can change the ending according to your gender.

• تمام الحمد لله – Tamām el-ḥamdo lellah – I’m fine, thank God.

This one is more of a polite and formal way to respond to the question. It has a bit of a religious context, so make sure you are familiar with the context before using it.

• مش وحش – Meš weḥeš – Not bad.

If you are feeling a bit ‘meh,’ this Arabic phrase is the best way to tell your interlocutor about it. It implies that you are not completely bad but not perfect either.

• أنا بخير، شكراً – Ana bikhaer, shokran – I’m fine, thank you.

This is a very polite response you can use to not only tell the person asking about your well-being but also express your gratitude towards them for their question.

• بخير والحمدلله – Bikhaer wal hamdulillah – I’m good, thanks to God.

And here’s another way to respond in Standard Arabic. It is also very polite, and we’ll once again remind you to be mindful when using it in different conversations.

• كلو تمام – Kolo tamaam – Everything’s fine.

If you are already wondering, where are the regional phrases and responses, here they are! For example, this one is used in Egyptian Arabic as a way to tell the person you’re talking to that you are alright.

• ماشي الحال – Mashi lhal – Things are going well.

This one comes from Gulf Arabic and is more formal than the previous one. It also implies that you’re fine and everything is alright but in a more official and polite manner.

• لست بخير – Lastu bikhaer – I am not good.

We all have bad days, and it’s important to know how to tell our friends about them. This Arabic expression is a good way to respond to the ‘How are you’ question on the days you feel tired, unwell, or simply not good.

• منيح – Mniḥ – I’m good.

We want to finish this list with this short yet common phrase from Levantine Arabic. It is very informal, so don’t hesitate to use it when talking to your pals and peers.

Learn to Say How Are You in Arabic with Promova

What can we say? Studying a new language is not just memorizing rules and vocabulary. It is also respecting the culture behind it. When studying Arabic, Spanish, Italian, or any other language, you need to dive into it as much as you can. For your convenience and efficient learning, you should have access to proper tools and resources.

With the convenient Promova application, you can access all that you need in one place. This is your one-stop solution for practicing speaking, listening, reading, writing, picking up essential vocabulary and useful phrases, and even learning some facts about the culture. Within the app, you can master English, Arabic, Spanish, Korean, French, and many other languages.

After getting the app, you’ll see that our lessons are made by passionate language experts; we make an effort to give you great and, obviously, fun materials. In addition, we simply put emphasis on bite-sized learning. This makes this kind of information not overwhelm you, and learn things that only make sense, without any hassles. 

You can download the app from Google Play or App Store since it is compatible with most modern iOS and Android devices. Don’t hesitate a minute! Download Promova today, and get down to work. Whether you are just starting your journey as a beginner or maintaining cutting-edge skills as an experienced student, we have something for you in our storage.

Conclusion

All in all, we can’t underestimate the power of simple greetings and ‘how are you’ phrases. They can help you easily communicate with friends or strangers in a foreign language, deeply understand the culture, and feel more confident during both formal conversations and casual small talks. Therefore, we hope that today’s phrases in Arabic will be useful for you. And that’s it for now! We are eagerly waiting to see you in the next article!