You've heard them at weddings, in the group chat and from every auntie at the airport. These are the words that carry Arab family life. Here's what they mean, how to use them, and why they're impossible to fully translate.
Yalla (يلا)
Meaning: Let's go, come on, hurry up.
The most versatile word in Arabic. "Yalla" can start a road trip, end a phone call or get the kids out the door. "Yalla bye" is how many Arabs end a call, usually followed by another 45 minutes of talking. See: Yalla Bye Tee and Yalla Retro Sunset Tee.
Khalas (خلاص)
Meaning: Enough, it's done, stop.
Said firmly, it ends arguments. Said softly, it means "it's okay, it's over." Our Khalas Dictionary Tee breaks it down: 1. enough, 2. it's done, 3. the final word, no appeals.
Ma3lesh (معلش)
Meaning: Never mind, it's okay, sorry.
The "3" stands for the Arabic letter ع (ain), a sound English doesn't have. Ma3lesh is the gentle word you say when someone spills tea, misses a flight or burns the rice. See the Ma3lesh Dictionary Tee.
Wallah (والله)
Meaning: I swear (literally, "by God").
Adds instant credibility to any statement, whether or not it's deserved. "Wallah I'm on my way" usually means you haven't left yet, which is exactly what our Wallah I'm On My Way Tee says. It's also our name.
Habibi / Habibti (حبيبي / حبيبتي)
Meaning: My love, my dear.
Habibi is for a man or boy, habibti for a woman or girl. Used for partners, kids, friends, the waiter and the stranger who held the door. Our Little Habibi and Little Habibti kids tees are the cutest way to use it.
Sahtein (صحتين)
Meaning: Bon appétit, literally "two healths."
Said to anyone eating. The polite reply is "ala albak" (on your heart). Get the Sahtein Tee for the foodie in the family.
Shu ya3ni? (شو يعني)
Meaning: What does that mean? So what?
Equal parts genuine question and full-body eye roll. It's on the Shu Ya3ni Tee.
A note on spelling
Arabic has many dialects, and Arabic-speakers online use numbers for sounds English lacks (3 for ع, 7 for ح, 2 for ء). That's why you'll see "ma3lesh," "maalesh" and "ma'alesh" for the same word. All correct, depending on whose teta you ask.
Wear the words you grew up with: shop our Funny & Slang collection.