Top 15 Helpful Arabic

Phrases to Use in Qatar

As salaamu alaykum ‫السالم عليكم‬

This is a general formal greeting you can use which means “Peace Be Upon You,” and it is
generally exchanged by Muslims all over the world.

Marhaba / Hala / Ahlan ً‫ أهال‬/ ‫ هال‬/ ‫مرحبا‬

These are more casual ways of greeting someone compared to marhaba or salam alaikum, like
‘Hello!’ or ‘Hi!’. Give a warm welcome to your colleagues at work on Monday with hala!

Yallah hiyah ‫يالله ح ّيه‬

A colloquial Qatari greeting that’s equivalent to ‘What’s up?’ or ‘Howdy!’

Kafu ‫كفو‬
Whether to a friend for acing an interview or to your kid for taking the trash out, this is a word to
describe admiration, respect, and pride for an accomplishment.

Mashallah ‫ماشاء اهلل‬

Formally pronounced ‘Ma sha’ allah’, this word is an expression of joy, appreciation, and
thankfulness. It literally means ‘God has willed’, and can be said when you admire something or
someone’s achievement. If, for example, you really love your friend’s new shoes, you can add
mashallah to your compliment. In this use, the word mashallah also avoids an impression of envy
to the one receiving the compliment.

Khalas ‫خالص‬
When enough is enough, the word ‘khalas’ is used. When you want something to end like a
discussion with a friend, or your son to stop drawing on the walls, just say ‘khalas’. Place a ‘t’ at
the end to indicate you’re finished with something, whether it’s work or your dinner – ‘khalast!’

Ma’assalama ‫مع السالمه‬

This is a beautiful way of saying ‘goodbye.’ It’s a parting ‘with peace.’ Ma’assalama is sweet,
respectful, and polite!

Shukran (jazeelan) (ً‫شكرا ً (جزيال‬

Shukran means ‘thank you.’ Expressing one’s thankfulness means twice as much when you’ve
made the effort to say it in the receiver’s mother tongue. And, if you want to give special thanks,
or say ‘thank you very much’, just add ‘jazeelan’ at the end. Easy!

@QatarAmerica qataramerica.org
 Top 15 Helpful Arabic
Phrases to Use in Qatar

Afwan ً ‫عفوا‬
Similarly, if someone thanks you, you can say ‘you’re welcome’ in Arabic. Afwan may also be
used to express ‘excuse me’ when you need to ask for directions for example.

Yalla ‫يالله‬
When you spend enough time in Qatar, you hear this word a lot! Yalla can mean ‘let’s go’, ‘come
on’, and ‘hurry up.’ Live long in Qatar and you’ll find yourself using the word when a friend or
family member is taking their sweet time. What will feel natural to you will leave your guests or
friends from back home puzzled.

Ajeeb ‫عجیب‬
Ajeeb originally comes from the word ‘strange’ in Arabic, Urdu, and Hindi, but it’s since become
a way of saying ‘miraculous,’ ’amazing’, ‘cool’, or ‘magical.’

Insha’allah ‫ان شاء اهلل‬

One of the most important words for living in Qatar (or anywhere in Muslim countries) is insha’allah!
Patience might come from within, but some believe the act of saying insh’allah helps us be calm
and patient. While it literally means ‘God willing’, it can also be translated as ‘hopefully’, or ‘with
God’s help.’ If you wish for something to happen, or don’t know when something will happen, you
can add insha’allah. The word is also used if you wish for someone to get better when they’re
sick, or if you hope they’ll arrive safely from their travels.

Hatha almabna jameel ‫هذا املبنى جميل‬

There are many amazing buildings and structures in Doha, so this is a way of saying ‘this is a
beautiful building.’

Inshallah n’shoofakum qareeban (fe Amreeka)

(‫ إن شاء اهلل نشوفكم قريبا (يف أمريكا‬// Tasharafna (ya…) .. ‫ترشفنا يا‬
I hope to see you soon (in America) // It was a pleasure
First impressions stick! If the person you’re introduced to is an Arabic speaker, and you want
to let them know that it was a pleasure meeting them, say it in Arabic. It’s all in one word –
tasharafna! For a personal touch, add ‘ya’ and their name!

Al’alaqa bayna Qatar wa Amreeka mohema jedan !

‫العالقة بني قطر و أمريكا مهمة جدا‬
This means: ‘The U.S.-Qatar partnership is very important!’

@QatarAmerica qataramerica.org