Friends of Morocco

Language: Arabic Greeting: Salam oo-alley koom

Comments In Moroccan Arabic, as in Arabic everywhere, this is the standard basic greeting. It translates literally to "Peace be unto you" and the response, "Oo-alley koom salam" means "and unto you be peace."

Greetings in Morocco will go on for many minutes--sometimes up to 1/2 hour--and the parties ask about each other's health, faith in Allah, families, work, etc. Other shorter greetings include "La bess?" meaning literally "No harm" or something like "How's it going?" "Salam," used when passing someone on the street you sort of know but don't stop to talk to, and "Ash khbarak?"--"What's new (with you)?"

Moroccans will shake hands when greeting pretty much anyone, touching the heart immediately after the handshake to show that the greeting is sincere. Sometimes instead of touching the heart, they will kiss their own hand after the handshake, as a sign of particular esteem or affection. In the case of family or close friends, women greeting women and men greeting men will kiss each other's cheeks back and forth a few times. In the north, it's right cheek--left cheek--left cheek. In other parts of the country, it could be right--left--right, or right--left only. How much you kiss cheeks also depends on how much you like the person, or how long it's been since you've seen them. The longer it's been, the more kisses are exchanged. Women and men who are not related NEVER kiss.