One of my favorite parts about learning Arabic was discovering the depth of the language—and experiencing how people’s warmth and kindness shine through in the way they communicate. In everyday conversation, native Arabic speakers make very casual use of expressions that paint a more vivid picture for non-native ears. 
While Arabic expressions made sense when I translated them into English, they had a slightly odd, Shakespearean flavor. To me, being greeted with “may God give you health” by taxi drivers felt somewhat dramatic—especially because my greeting would have been a simple “hello”.
As my Arabic got better, not only did this rich use of language become completely woven into my daily life, but its absence in English began to feel increasingly like a loss.
With that, I’d like to share with you just a few of the beautiful expressions that I heard nearly every day during my stay in Jordan—and if you plan on visiting an Arabic-speaking country, I encourage you to give them a try!

يعطيكِ العافية

y3atik el3afye (when addressing a male)

y3atiki el3afye (when addressing a female)

This expression is, by far, the one I heard the most. Its literal translation is “May He (God) give you health”. The use is quite versatile—you could say it to a shop owner after entering their property, or you may use it to greet somebody when making a call.

You can also use this expression when, for example, a friend can’t make it to the hangout you’ve proposed because she has too much work. In this context, "يعطيكِ العافية" serves as a gesture of encouragement, wishing your friend an easier journey as they complete a long day of tasks.
Many Arabic expressions come with a response. For يعطيكِ العافية, it’s الله يعافيك (Allah y3afik (to a male) / Allah ya3fiki (to a female))—meaning, “may God give you health as well”

سلامتك

Salamtak (when addressing a male)

Salamtik (when addressing a female)
Literally translated as “your health/safety,” this is something that Arabic speakers say to someone who is sick—just like we’d say “get well soon” in English. Its corresponding answer is, "الله يسلمك" (Allah ysalmak (to a male) / Allah ysalmek (to a female)), meaning, “may God keep you safe as well.”

صحتين

Sa7tein

At a restaurant, when the waitstaff brings you your plate of food, it might often be accompanied by this expression. It literally means, “two healths,” and it’s used as a way to wish someone double the health while they eat!

حمدالله على السلامه

ḥamdillāh 3lā as-salāmeh

This expression is very commonly used when somebody has just returned from a trip. In English, it literally means “Thank God for your safety,” and its response is "الله يسلمك" (Allah ysalmak (to a male) / Allah ysalmek (to a female))—the same response used for سلامتك (Salaamtak).

من عيوني

Men 3youni

This one is my personal favorite—while it literally means “from my eyes,” it’s perfectly normal (and common enough) to say it when somebody asks you (or thanks you) for a favor and you want to say, “of course!”.
For me, part of what makes learning a new language truly magical is gaining insight into cultural aspects. In this case, Arab culture is incredibly warm and welcoming—and the Arabic language is just as vibrant and full of heart.
If you use any of these on a native Arabic speaker, I guarantee you’ll impress them!
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