ahla اهلا
Tunisian Derja · interjection
“ahla” (اهلا) is an interjection in Tunisian Derja meaning hi, hello.
Meanings
- hi, hello
- welcome
Usage
Ahla is a very common greeting, friendly and neutral, used at any hour, in speech as well as in messages. It is used to greet (ahla, chna7welek ?, "hi, how are you?") or to welcome someone: ahla bik, ahla bikom, "welcome to you" (singular, plural). The full formula ahla w sahla is warmer or more ceremonious. The usual reply is ahla bik or simply ahla. It is not used to take leave: to say goodbye, other phrases such as bslema are used.
Example
أهلا، شنحوالك؟
ahla, chna7welek ?
“Hi, how are you?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “ahla” but also “ahlan”, “aahla” and “ahlaa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.