Language/Dari/Vocabulary/Basic-Greetings
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Greetings and introductions are the first and most important step to start a conversation in any language. Whether you are traveling to a Dari-speaking country, meeting new Dari-speaking friends, or learning Dari for personal or professional reasons, knowing some basic Dari greetings and responses will make all the difference! This lesson will cover the most common Dari greetings and how to respond to them.
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Common Food Items & Travel related Vocabulary.
Useful Phrases
Here are some useful Dari phrases to greet someone:
| Dari | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| سلام علیکم | "salaam aleikum" | Peace be upon you (formal and religious) |
| درود | "dorood" | Hello (formal) |
| سلام | "salaam" | Hello (informal) |
| خوش آمدید | "khosh amadid" | Welcome (formal) |
To respond to a greeting, you can use one of the following phrases:
| Dari | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| وعلیکم سلام | "wa aleikum salaam" | And upon you, peace (formal and religious) |
| درود بر شما | "dorood bar shoma" | Greetings to you (formal) |
| سلام | "salaam" | Hello (informal) |
| خوش آمدید | "khosh amadid" | Welcome (formal) |
When meeting someone for the first time, it is common to follow the greeting with some basic questions:
| Dari | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| حال شما چطور است؟ | "haal-e shoma chetoor ast?" | How are you? (formal) |
| حالت چطوره؟ | "haalet chetore?" | How are you? (informal) |
| خداحافظ | "khoda haafez" | Goodbye (formal and religious) |
| خدا نگهدار | "khoda negahdaar" | Goodbye (informal) |
To answer the question "How are you?" you can use the following responses:
| Dari | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| خوبم | "khobam" | I'm fine |
| خوبی؟ | "khobi?" | Are you fine? (informal) |
| خوبم، مرسی | "khobam, mersi" | I'm fine, thanks. |
| نه بد نیستم | "na bad nistam" | I'm not bad. |
Cultural Information
In Dari-speaking countries, greetings play an important role in daily life. It is common to greet elders and people in positions of authority with a more formal greeting, such as "salaam aleikum" or "dorood". In informal settings, like with friends or peers, you can use the more casual "salaam".
When asking "How are you?" in Dari, it is important to note that asking about someone's health and well-being is a culturally sensitive topic. Therefore, it is recommended to ask in a polite and respectful manner.
In addition, shaking hands is a common way to greet someone in formal settings, especially between men, while a hug or a kiss on the cheek is more common in informal settings. Taking off shoes when entering someone's house or a place of worship is also a common custom in Dari-speaking countries.
Practice
Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Find a Dari-speaking friend or partner and try some of the following conversations:
Conversation 1: Person A: سلام Person B: سلام، خوش آمدید. حالتون چطوره؟ Person A: خوبم، مرسی. شما چطورید؟ Person B: من هم خوبم، مرسی.
Conversation 2: Person A: درود بر شما Person B: درود بر شما. اسم شما چیه؟ Person A: اسم من ماریاست، شما هستید؟ Person B: بله، من فرید هستم.
Conversation 3: Person A: سلام علیکم Person B: وعلیکم سلام. پدر و مادر شما حالشون چطوره؟ Person A: خدا رحمت کنه، هر دو مشغول کار هستند، خودتان چطورید؟ Person B: من هم نسبتاً خوبم، مرسی.
Conclusion
Congratulations on completing this lesson on basic Dari greetings! Now you know how to greet someone in formal and informal settings, how to respond to greetings and how to ask about someone's well-being. Keep practicing your Dari and exploring the rich culture of Dari-speaking countries!
Other Lessons
- Relationships
- Weather Vocabulary
- Eating Out
- Family Members
- Fruits
- Days of the Week
- Modes of Transportation
- Health
- Numbers 1 20
- Food
Sources
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