Yallah, join The National’s Saeed as he takes a weekly deep dive into the cultural gems and quirks of the Arab world and its diaspora ...
A morning salutation in Arabic is a treat for the senses.
These greetings, when translated, include nods to the sunshine, the scent of flowers and the lingering taste of sweet desserts. And if that’s not heady enough, they are often delivered with a rich rhythm and tone that'll mean you can’t help but start your day on the right note.
To appreciate the value that Arabic speakers place on their morning hello, all you have to do is go to Twitter at the start of each day. There, you will often find the phrase sabah al kheir (good morning) listed as a trending hashtag in both the UAE and Egypt.
This particular greeting is one of the most important phrases to learn when living in the region. But if you get bored of saying sabah al kheir numerous times a day, there are plenty of other salutations you can adopt to raise the spirits of those near and dear.
Here are five other ways to say good morning, with an explanation of what they mean and when to use them. Like most greetings, they only work when said with feeling.
1. Sabaho
As with most languages, Arabic is not immune to certain phrases being snipped but managing to retain most of their meaning. Sabaho is a case in point. A common greeting, it is a clipped version of sabah al kheir and translates simply as "morning". Because of its informal nature, keep it limited to family, friends and close colleagues. For the elderly and office management, best to stick with the full sabah al kheir.
2. Yes'eed Sabhakom
This is a lovely greeting that works in both the streets and the boardroom. Translating to "may you have a nice morning", it's another regional favourite full of the trademark warmth and generosity that characterises everyday interactions in the Arab world. Another phrase that riffs on this is sabah al sa'ada, which means "may you have a happy morning".
3. Sabah Al Jasmine
This is a classic morning welcome heard across the Levant. The colloquial phrase often used in Jordan and Palestine literally translates to "a morning full of jasmine". With the flower renowned for its beauty, elegance and calming effects, this wonderful and rich greeting basically covers all the bases you need for a great day ahead. Other floral salutations include sabah al ward (morning of flowers) and the Egyptian equivalent sabah al ful (morning of seeds).
4. Sabah Al Ishta
You can’t get any more Egyptian than this delicious saying. Named after the thick, creamy and luxurious cheese used in pastries such as kunafa and qatayef, this salutation basically wishes you a day as sweet as ishta. Another sweet tip: ishta can also be used as a reply to a greeting. If someone asks you how your day is going, just reply with ishta, which would mean your day was pretty swell.
5. Sah El Noum
The Arabic equivalent of "wakey, wakey”, this is a cheeky term used to address latecomers, the drowsy and those caught sleeping in class. Delivered in a sarcastic tone, it is advised that you use this term only around your inner circle. Uttering such a welcome to a harried boss at the start of a morning meeting may result in that being one of your final exchanges in that workplace.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Duminy's Test career in numbers
Tests 46; Runs 2,103; Best 166; Average 32.85; 100s 6; 50s 8; Wickets 42; Best 4-47
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
5th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
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Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
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Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?
West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference: Winners – Dubai Tigers; Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
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Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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