salam سلام
Moroccan Darija · interjection
“salam” (سلام) is an interjection in Moroccan Darija meaning hello, hi (greeting).
Meanings
- hello, hi (greeting)
- peace
Usage
Salam is the most common greeting in Morocco. It is used at any time of day, with anyone, including when walking into a shop. It is the short form of "salamu 3alaykum", which is more formal or religious and is answered with "wa 3alaykum salam". It is often followed by a form of address: "salam a sidi", "salam a lalla", "salam khti". The expression "gol salam" means "say hello, greet". In the sense of "peace", the word appears mainly in religious or fixed formulas. It is safe to use: neither too casual nor too solemn.
Example
سلام آ سيدي
Salam a sidi
“Hello, sir.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “salam” but also “slam”, “salaam” and “slm”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “salam” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “hi, hello”; “bye, so long (when leaving)”: salam in Algerian.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “hello, hi (greeting)”; “peace”: salam in Tunisian.