Vocabulary Cards — Session 1: Hello & Goodbye

Print this page. Cut along the dotted lines. Each card is index-card sized. Carry them in your pocket. Look at one card during car rides, snack time, before bed.

Card 1

Say it: MAR-ha-ba Means: Hello

🎨 Picture: A child waving with one hand, smiling.

Use it when: You walk into a room. You see a friend. You meet a neighbor in the hallway.

Card 2

Say it: AH-lan Means: Welcome! / Hi! (warmer than marhaba)

🎨 Picture: A child with arms open, welcoming someone into a house.

Use it when: Someone arrives at your home. You greet a relative you love. Someone waves at you from across a room.

Card 3

Say it: sa-BAH al-KHAYR Means: Good morning. (literally: "Morning of goodness")

🎨 Picture: The sun rising over a Levantine village. A child stretching.

Use it when: You wake up. You see mama, baba, teta in the morning. You greet a teacher when you walk into class.

Card 4

Say it: ma-SAA al-KHAYR Means: Good evening. (literally: "Evening of goodness")

🎨 Picture: The moon and stars over the same village. A warm window glowing.

Use it when: It's evening. After the sun sets. When you see family after a long day.

Card 5

Say it: ma'-as-sa-LAA-ma Means: Goodbye. (literally: "With peace / safety")

🎨 Picture: A child waving goodbye at a doorway, with a small smile.

Use it when: You leave. Anyone leaves. Someone hangs up the phone. End of class. Going to bed.

A bonus card — for the family

Card 6 (bonus)

Say it: YAL-la Means: Come on! / Let's go!

🎨 Picture: A child pulling a parent's hand toward the door, both laughing.

Use it when: You want to go somewhere. You want someone to hurry. You want to start something.

This is a Levantine word EVERY Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, and Jordanian uses every single day. It is the name of this whole course: Yalla Arabic!

How to use these cards

1. Keep them somewhere visible. Fridge, backpack pocket, by the bed.
2. Practice 30 seconds a day. Just pick one card. Say it. Use it.
3. Don't try to memorize. Just notice. Letters become familiar, then friends.
4. Watch your kid pick them up. Most kids pick a favorite card. Use that one most.

On the alphabet you'll see

In marhaba and ahlan and salaama, you'll see different letters. We'll meet them slowly — one per session. Today we only learned أ (alif). The others come next session, the next session, and the next.

For now: just say the words. The letters will arrive on their own time.

Yalla Arabic · Vocabulary Cards · Session 1