أهلين

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.

أَهْلِين • (ʾahlēn, ʾahlain)

1. 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!

• مرحبا (marḥaba), أهلا (ʔahlan), بونجور (bōnjūr), السلام عليكم (as-salāmu ʕalaikum)

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).

• IPA^(key): /ʔah.leːn/, [ʔahˈleːn]

• Audio (Ramallah)

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أهلين • (ʔahlēn)

1. dual of أهلا (ʔahla, “welcome”): response to أهلا (ʔahla) or أهلا وسهلا (ʔahla w-sahla)