bessalama بالسلامة
Algerian Darja · expression
“bessalama” (بالسلامة) is an expression in Algerian Darja meaning safe and sound, without incident.
Meanings
- safe and sound, without incident
- goodbye
Usage
Bessalama literally means "with peace" or "with health". It is added to verbs of movement to wish someone a good journey: trou7 bessalama, twassel bessalama, terja3 bessalama. It is also used to wish for recovery, for example yenoud bessalama, "may he get well". On its own, in the form bslama, it is a common, familiar farewell, a bit like "bye" when leaving. The usual reply is Allah ysalmek. The word is warm and is used in all registers, without a strong religious connotation.
Example
روح بالسلامة وعيطلي كي توصل
rou7 bessalama w 3ayetli ki tosal
“Go safely and call me when you arrive.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “bessalama” but also “bslama”, “beslama” and “bsslama”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “bessalama” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “goodbye”; “safe travels”: bslama in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “goodbye”; “safe journey, farewell”: bisslema in Tunisian.