أهلين
North Levantine Arabic edit
Etymology edit
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 edit
أَهْلِين • (ʾahlēn, ʾahlain)
- 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 edit
- مرحبا (marḥaba), أهلا (ʔahlan), بونجور (bōnjūr), السلام عليكم (as-salāmu ʕalaikum)
South Levantine Arabic edit
South Levantine Arabic phrasebook
 | This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness. |
Etymology edit
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 edit
Interjection edit
أهلين • (ʔahlēn)
- dual of أهلا (ʔahla, “welcome”): response to أهلا (ʔahla) or أهلا وسهلا (ʔahla w-sahla)