So you’ve learned to say “Hello” and a handful of other basic greetings in Arabic at least a dozen ways, but there’s more to conversation than just saying “Hi”. When you’re Arabic speaking friend says, “Hello, how are you?” in Arabic you want at the very least to be able to say, “I am good” in Arabic, and that’s what this article is all about today – how to keep the conversation going by asking and answering the Arabic equivalent to “How are you?” No matter if you’re feeling good, bad, tired, or however you’re feeling, you’ll know how to reply in both formal and informal ways with these basic Arabic words for beginners.


If you’re traveling to one of the Arabic speaking countries, you should know that conversation is an essential part of Arab culture. Indeed, Arabs are known for their hospitality and knowing how to ask about them in their native tongue will earn you much respect and appreciation. Whether it’s over coffee with old friends or meeting new ones, the words and phrases you’ll learn today will be an important part of your Arabic language toolkit.

If you want to ask someone or a group of people How are you in Arabic, use the following:

EnglishTransliterationArabic
How are you in Arabic kayfa halluka (m.)
kayfa halluki (f.) 		كيف حالك
كيف حالكِ


If you’re asked these questions, here’s how to respond:

EnglishTransliterationArabic
Fine thank you in Arabic El 7amdolela kowayes الحمد لله كويس
Very well in Arabic Kowayes awy كويس اوي
As always in Arabic kalmuʻtaad كالمعتاد
A little tired in Arabic Ta’ban shewaya تعبان شوية
I’m sick in Arabic Ana ayan انا عيان
So-so in Arabic Ya’ani يعني
Not bad in Arabic Mesh wehesh مش وحش
Bad in Arabic Wehesh وحش
All good in Arabic Kolo tamam كله تمام


Just as in English, a common follow-up question is “And you?”, as follows:

EnglishTransliterationArabic
And you in Arabic (formal) Whadretak? و حضرتك؟
And you in Arabic (informal) W enta? وانت؟


If someone tells you that he or she is not feeling well, you can use the following:

EnglishTransliterationArabic
Get well in ArabicAlf salama الف سلامة
God bless you in Arabic Allah yesalemak*الله يسلمك

*Allah yesalemak is the response of alf salama.


If someone is feeling great you might want to say the following:

EnglishTransliterationArabic
Nice to hear in Arabic Kowayes كويس


Becoming familiar with these words and phrases when you learn to speak Arabic will lead you to be more confident, which in turn will make a positive difference in your conversations with people from the Arab world.


What’s the best way to learn Arabic? Why, of course, it’s through learning with Arabic learning apps. If you’re looking for the best app to learn Arabic with, then why not download the Kaleela Arabic learning app to your iOS or Android mobile device today? With Kaleela you can learn Arabic alphabet letters, Arabic pronunciation, and you can even learn to ask “How are you?” in Egyptian Arabic and other Arabic dialects like Levantine Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic! Of course, you’ll also learn all about Arab culture all along the way.

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