salaam
/səˈlɑːm
/exclamation
A common greeting in many Arabic-speaking and Muslim countries.But the guy was so calm, I came closer to him and said: Salaam. How are you doing?! He looked at me with his eyes barely opened, smiled, and said in a very faint voice: Fine, Thank Allah for everything!...
- Salaam. How's everything? I wish you luck on your mid-year exams.
noun
1A gesture of greeting or respect typically consisting of a low bow of the head and body with the hand or fingers touching the forehead: he greeted me with salaams and repeated cries of welcome...
- The poem begins with the customary praise to God and then lists her sorrows and in the end she gives her salaam to everybody.
- If you like coffee and you like ice cream, offer a deep salaam to the good people at Healthy Choice.
- While gray hair and a wrinkled face will get you nothing in the West except a name card from a plastic surgeon or a discounted fare on the city bus, a wai, a salaam, or a bow from the young is always proffered with sincerity.
1.1 (salaams) Respectful compliments: she had asked him to send me her salaams...
- Give my salaams to everyone there please? Inshallah we can come back soon. Maybe I'll be able to bring my wife next time.
- O Jabir! Allah will keep you alive until his time and you will see him. O Jabir! When you meet him, convey my salaams to him.
verb [no object]
Make a salaam: instead of salaaming he spat on the ground...
- As we drove into the qila's courtyard we saw a crowd of between twenty and 30 retainers massing to greet the rajah, all frantically bowing and salaaming; as Suleiman got out of the car the foremost ones dived to touch his feet.
- A week later, bowing and salaaming to me as grateful patients often do, he was discharged with a smile almost as long as the well healed incision on his thigh.
- I salaamed to her and, grateful for the chance to catch my breath, eat and make a couple of half-time adjustments in the game plan, walked to my office.
Origin
Early 17th century: from Arabic (al-)salām (‘alaikum) 'peace (be upon you)'.