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How to Start an Email in Arabic: Formal Salutations & Opening Lines
Writing formal Arabic letters and emails becomes easier when you know the standard polite phrases. This first part of our series guides you through crafting proper addresses, selecting appropriate salutations (المخاطبة) for various recipients, and using common opening phrases to initiate your Arabic correspondence.
Writing letters or emails in Arabic doesn’t have to be difficult; mastering a few standard, polite phrases can make it straightforward.
This article, the first in our series focuses on crafting the perfect Arabic salutation, along with essential Arabicopening phrases to begin your correspondence. (Here is part 2.)
We will look at common phrases, vocabulary lists and traps.
Address
Okay, this is very traditional. But maybe you still have to send a written letter.
| صندوق بريد |
| P.O. box |
| (Postfach) 1234 |
| يصل ويسلم ليد السيد بركات |
| For the attention of Mr. Barakat |
| Zu Händen von Herrn Barakat |
Arabic Salutation
The proper and respectful greeting is very important in Arab culture.
| السادة المحترمون جدًا |
| Dear gentlemen |
| Sehr geehrte Herren |
| السيدات المحترمات والسادة المحترمون |
| Dear ladies and gentlemen |
| Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren |
| السيد سالم المحترم جدًا |
| Dear Mr. Salem |
| Sehr geehrter Herr Salem |
| السيد الدكتور سالم المحترم |
| Dear Dr. Salem |
| Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Salem |
| أمي الحبيبة |
| Dear Mother |
| Liebe Mama |
| عزيزي حسن |
| Dear Hassan |
| Lieber Hassan |
| عزيزتي فاطمة |
| Dear Fatima |
| Liebe Fatima |
| فضيلة الشيخ |
| Esteemed Sheikh |
| Geschätzter Scheich |
| حضرة القاضي |
| Your Honor |
| Herr Vorsitzender (Anrede eines Richters) |
Arabic phrases to start the letter
Here are some example that may be useful if you have to write a letter or an email.
| نحن نشكركم على المعلومات التي نهتم بمعرفتها |
| We thank you for your information which we found interesting. |
| Wir danken Ihnen für Ihre Informationen, die wir mit Interesse zur Kenntnis genommen haben. |
| .نحن نشكركم على طلبكم 7 أغسطس |
| We thank you for your order dated 7th August. |
| Wir danken Ihnen für Ihre Bestellung vom 7. August. |
| .شكرًا جزيلا على العرض الذي قدمتموه يوم 15 أغسطس |
| Thank you very much for your offer dated 15th August. |
| Herzlichen Dank für Ihr Angebot vom 15. August. |
| .ردًا على خطابكم, أرسل لكم |
| In response to your letter I hereby send… |
| In Antwort auf Ihren Brief sende ich Ihnen… |
| .نود أن نجيب عن استفساركم بشأن |
| We are happy to respond to your inquiry regarding… |
| Wir beantworten gerne Ihre Anfrage bezüglich… |
| نظرًا لعدم وجود عنوان للاتصال بالمكان المطلوب, فإني ﻷرجوكم أن تبعثوا بهذا الخطاب إلى الجهة المختصة |
| In the absence of a contact address, I turn to you with a request to forward this letter to the right place. |
| Mangels einer Kontaktadresse wende ich mich an Sie mit der Bitte, diesen Brief an die richtige Stelle weiterzuleiten. |
| :أنا أود أن أحجز لديكم كما يلي |
| I would like to make the following reservation: |
| Ich möchte bei Ihnen Folgendes reservieren: |
| برجاء إبلاغنا بسعر 3 غرف مزدوجة بالحمام/التواليت وبالفطور في الفترة من 5-8 أغسطس |
| Please tell us the rate for 3 double rooms with bathroom/WC, breakfast included, for the period of 5th to 8th August. |
| Bitte teilen Sie uns den Preis für 3 Doppelzimmer mit Bad/WC und Frühstück für die Zeit vom 5. bis 8. August mit. |
| .نحن نتقدم بالشكر الجزيل على مكالمتكم |
| We thank you for your call. |
| Wir danken Ihnen für Ihren Anruf. |
| بالإشارة إلى خطابكم المؤرخ 4 أغسطس لهذا العام يؤسفنا أن نبلغ حضرتك أننا لا نستطيع |
| Concerning your letter dated 4th August 2018, we are very sorry to inform you that we are not able to… |
| Mit Bezug auf Ihr Schreiben vom 4. August dieses Jahres müssen wir Ihnen leider mitteilen, dass wir nicht in der Lage sind… |
| إنه يؤسفني أن أشكو لسيادتكم سوء الخدمة في فندقكم والذي نعرضت له خلال فترة إقامتي الأخيرة لديكم |
| Unfortunately, I have to complain about the poor service of your hotel during out last stay. |
| Leider muss ich mich über den schlechten Service Ihres Hotels während unseres letzten Aufenthalts beschweren. |
Now, how should we finish a formal letter? Check out part two!
Formal Endings for Arabic Letters & Emails (الْخِتامُ)
Crafting polite and appropriate conventional endings (الْخِتامُ) for Arabic letters and emails is crucial for formal correspondence. This article provides a comprehensive list of standard phrases and vocabulary to conclude your Arabic communications effectively, helping you avoid common…
This is very helpful. When sending an email in English would we use both English and Arabic in the greeting and sign off as a matter of courtesy?
Amazing, please try also to give tutorials and write a book on formal Arabic letters
Whoaaa nice! You also got them in German.
In the future, I would like to suggest you to write a book on writing skills in Arabic, especially on the stylistics, and the common terms and expression usage.