أهلين

Dual of أهلا‎ (ʾahlan), from Arabic أَهْلاً‎ (ʾahlan), so as to “double” the good wishes received; hence at first used only as a response to the singular form. Compare the same in مرحبا‎ (marḥaba), مرحبتين‎ (marḥabtain), and even بونجور‎ (bōnjūr), بونجورين‎ (bōnjūrain). However, أهلين is now also used independently, or as a response to other greetings.

أَهْلِين (ʾahlēn, ʾahlain)

1. hello; hi; particularly as a responce to أهلا‎ (ʾahlan)

   ‏!أهلا يا جوليا! — أهلين يا زينب! وين هالغيبة‎

   ʾAhlan ya Jūlya! — ʾAhlain ya Zainab! Wain hal-ġaibi!

   Hi, Julia! — Hello, Zainab! Long time no see!

• مرحبا‎ (marḥaba), أهلا‎ (ʾahlan), بونجور‎ (bōnjūr), السلام عليكم‎ (as-salāmu ʿalaikum)