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Islamic phrases

Ramadan Mubarak in Arabic

Ramadan Mubarak in Arabic is رمضان مبارك (ramaḍān mubārak), meaning "blessed Ramadan." Equally common is رمضان كريم (ramaḍān karīm), "generous Ramadan," especially in Egypt. The usual reply to Ramadan Kareem is الله أكرم (allāhu akram), "God is more generous," and to Ramadan Mubarak, علينا وعليك (ʿalēna w ʿalēk), "to us and to you."

رمضان مبارك
ramaḍān mubārak

Literally: “blessed Ramadan”

Understood and used in every Arab country and by Muslims worldwide
By dialect

Ramadan Mubarak across the Arab world

Arabic changes from country to country. Here's what you'll actually hear.

Standard (MSA)رمضان مبارك / شهر مباركramaḍān mubārak / shahr mubārak

Standard greeting in writing, cards and announcements. "Shahr mubārak" means "blessed month."

Egyptianرمضان كريمramaḍān karīm

The classic Egyptian greeting, heard everywhere once the lanterns go up. The reply is الله أكرم (allāhu akram).

Levantineرمضان كريم / رمضان مباركramaḍān karīm / ramaḍān mbārak

Both are common in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. People also say كل عام وانتو بخير (kill ʿām w intu bkhēr).

Gulfمبارك عليكم الشهرmbārak ʿalēkum ash-shahar

"May the month be blessed for you." Very common in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE.

Darijaرمضان مبارك سعيدramḍān mbārk saʿīd

Moroccan Darija. You'll also hear عواشر مبروكة (ʿwāshr mabrūka) for holy days and seasons.
Variations

Other ways to say ramadan mubarak

ArabicMeaningWhen to use it
رمضان كريمramaḍān karīm
Generous RamadanAll dialects; especially Egypt and the Levant
كل عام وأنتم بخيرkull ʿām wa antum bi-khayr
May you be well every yearAll-purpose greeting for Ramadan, Eid, birthdays and new years
شهر مباركshahr mubārak
Blessed monthAll dialects; common in messages and in the Gulf
مبارك عليكم الشهرmbārak ʿalēkum ash-shahar
May the month be blessed for youGulf Arabic
رمضان مبارك علينا وعليكمramaḍān mubārak ʿalēna w ʿalēkum
A blessed Ramadan for us and for youWarmer, longer form used across dialects
صوماً مقبولاًṣawman maqbūlan
May your fast be acceptedSaid to someone fasting, often near iftar
Replies

How to respond

الله أكرمallāhu akram

God is more generous (the classic reply to Ramadan Kareem)

علينا وعليكʿalēna w ʿalēk

To us and to you (reply to Ramadan Mubarak; to a group: w ʿalēkum)

وأنتم بخيرwa antum bi-khayr

And may you be well (reply to kull ʿām wa antum bi-khayr)

وانت من عوادهw inta min ʿuwwādah

And may you live to see it again too (Gulf reply to ʿasākum min ʿuwwādah)

Pronunciation

How to say it right

The sounds English speakers find tricky, and how to get them right.

Practise with feedback

  1. Ramadan has a ḍ (ض), a heavy d made with the tongue pressed wide against the palate. It sounds deeper than English d: ra-ma-ḌĀN.

  2. Stress the last syllable of Ramaḍān and hold its long ā. English speakers often say RA-ma-dan; Arabs say ra-ma-ḌĀN.

  3. In mubārak, hold the long ā in the middle: mu-BĀ-rak. In Levantine and Gulf speech the first vowel drops: mbārak.

  4. In karīm, the long ī carries the stress: ka-RĪM.

In a sentence

Example sentences

رمضان مبارك، وكل عام وأنتم بخير.ramaḍān mubārak, wa kull ʿām wa antum bi-khayr.

Ramadan Mubarak, and may you be well every year.

Standard (MSA)
رمضان كريم يا حاج! - الله أكرم.ramaḍān karīm ya ḥāg! - allāhu akram.

Ramadan Kareem, sir! - God is more generous.

Egyptian
رمضان كريم، تعوا افطروا عنا بكرا.ramaḍān karīm, taʿu ifṭaru ʿanna bukra.

Ramadan Kareem, come have iftar at our place tomorrow.

Levantine
مبارك عليكم الشهر، عساكم من عواده.mbārak ʿalēkum ash-shahar, ʿasākum min ʿuwwādah.

Blessed month to you, may you live to see it again and again.

Gulf
Culture

Using it like a local

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. The Quran describes it as "shahru ramaḍāna lladhī unzila fīhi l-qur'ān," "the month of Ramadan in which the Quran was revealed" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185). Greetings start the evening the new moon is confirmed and continue all month.

Some scholars prefer Ramadan Mubarak over Ramadan Kareem, reasoning that generosity belongs to God rather than the month itself; that is partly why the reply allāhu akram, "God is more generous," exists. Most people use both greetings freely, and either is polite.

If you're not fasting, it's still kind to greet friends with Ramadan Kareem and to avoid eating or drinking openly in front of them during the day. An invitation to iftar, the sunset meal, is a real sign of welcome, so accept if you can.

FAQ

Ramadan Mubarak: common questions

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What is the difference between Ramadan Mubarak and Ramadan Kareem?

رمضان مبارك (ramaḍān mubārak) means "blessed Ramadan" and رمضان كريم (ramaḍān karīm) means "generous Ramadan." Both are correct and common. Kareem is especially popular in Egypt and the Levant; Mubarak is more common in the Gulf and among non-Arab Muslims.

How do you reply to Ramadan Kareem?

The traditional reply is الله أكرم (allāhu akram), "God is more generous." You can also say علينا وعليك (ʿalēna w ʿalēk), "to us and to you," or وأنتم بخير (wa antum bi-khayr).

How do you reply to Ramadan Mubarak?

Say علينا وعليك (ʿalēna w ʿalēk), "to us and to you," or علينا وعليكم (ʿalēna w ʿalēkum) to a group. Saying Ramadan Mubarak back or adding وأنت بخير (wa inta bi-khēr) is also natural.

Can non-Muslims say Ramadan Mubarak?

Yes. Muslims generally appreciate the greeting from friends, coworkers and neighbors of any faith. Ramadan Kareem or Ramadan Mubarak are both safe, friendly choices.

Keep learning

Related words & phrases

All words
عيد مباركEid Mubarakʿīd mubārakبَارَكَ اللهُ فِيكَMay Allah Bless Youbārak allāhu fīkجَزَاكَ اللهُ خَيْرًاJazakAllah Khairjazāka llāhu khayranالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْAssalamu Alaikum (Peace Be Upon You)as-salāmu ʿalaykumمبروكCongratulationsmabrūkسُبْحَانَ اللهِSubhanAllahsubḥāna-llāhأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَAstaghfirullahastaghfiru-llāhإِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَInna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Raji'uninnā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn

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