أهلا وسهلا

Arabic

Arabic phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

Etymology

Shortening of longer phrase لَقَدْ صَادَفْتُمْ أَهْلًا وَوَطِئْتُمْ سَهْلًا (laqad ṣādaftum ʔahlan wa-waṭiʔtum sahlan, “You have come across your own people and you have trodden on even ground”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔah.lan wa.sah.lan/

Interjection

أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا • (ʔahlan wasahlan)

1. welcome

Descendants

• → Finnish: ähläm sähläm
• → Finnish: ählämi

References

1. A Learner's Dictionary Of Classical Arabic Idioms Page 138. Entry 941.

North Levantine Arabic

North Levantine Arabic phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

Etymology

From Arabic أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا (ʔahlan wasahlan).

Interjection

أهلا وسهلا • (ʾahla w-sahla)

1. welcome

South Levantine Arabic

South Levantine Arabic phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

Etymology

From Arabic أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا (ʔahlan wasahlan).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔah.la‿w.sah.la/, [ˌʔah.la‿wˈsah.la]

• Audio (Ramallah):

  (file)

Interjection

أهلا وسهلا • (ʔahla w-sahla)

1. welcome

   Synonym: أهلا (ʔahla)

2. you're welcome (as a reply to شكرا (šukran, “thank you”))

   Synonym: عفوا (ʕafwan)

Usage notes

• Common responses are:
  • أهلين (ʔahlēn, literally “two welcomes”)
  • أهلا فيك (ʔahlan fīk(i), literally “welcome to you”)
  • يا مية أهلا وسهلا (ya mīt ʔahla w-sahla, literally “a hundred time welcome”)

See also

• مرحبا (marḥaba, “hello”)
• هلا (hala, “hi”)