Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Bahrain is cosmopolitan; English "Hello/Hi" is universal in business and expat circles. Traditional Arabic greetings vary by time and familiarity:
| Greeting | Arabic | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Marhaba | مرحبا | Universal, formal/neutral |
| Sabah al-khayr | صباح الخير | Morning ("Good morning") |
| Masa' al-khayr | مساء الخير | Evening ("Good evening") |
| Shlonak / Shlonic | شلونك / شلونج | Informal "How are you?" (M/F) |
| Keif halak / halik | كيف حالك / حالج | Polite "How are you?" (M/F) |
| Wa alaykum as-salam | وعليكم السلام | Reply to "As-salamu alaykum" |
Handshakes (right hand) common among same gender; wait for opposite gender to initiate. "Ahlan wa sahlan" (welcome) also frequent.