أهلين

North Levantine Arabic

Etymology

Dual of أهلا (ʔahlan), from Arabic أَهْلاً (ʔahlan), so as to “double” the good wishes received; hence at first used only as a response to the singular form. Compare the same in مرحبا (marḥaba), مرحبتين (marḥabtain), and even بونجور (bōnjūr), بونجورين (bōnjūrain). However, أهلين is now also used independently, or as a response to other greetings.

Interjection

أَهْلِين • (ʾahlēn, ʾahlain)

1. hello; hi; particularly as a response to أهلا (ʔahlan)

   !أهلا يا جوليا! — أهلين يا زينب! وين هالغيبة

   ʾAhlan ya Jūlya! — ʾAhlain ya Zainab! Wain hal-ġaibi!

   Hi, Julia! — Hello, Zainab! Long time no see!

Synonyms

• مرحبا (marḥaba), أهلا (ʔahlan), بونجور (bōnjūr), السلام عليكم (as-salāmu ʕalaikum)

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

Dual of أهلا (ʔahlan), from Arabic أَهْلاً (ʔahlan), so as to “double” the good wishes received; hence at first used only as a response to the singular form. Compare the same in مرحبا (marḥaba), مرحبتين (marḥabtēn).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔah.leːn/, [ʔahˈleːn]

• Audio (Ramallah)

  (file)

Interjection

أهلين • (ʔahlēn)

1. dual of أهلا (ʔahla, “welcome”): response to أهلا (ʔahla) or أهلا وسهلا (ʔahla w-sahla)