Written by Dania Ghraoui, a translator and language teacher with 10 years of experience.
At a Glance: The easiest Arabic wedding wish is mabrook, meaning “Congratulations.” For a warmer phrase, say alf mabrook, “A thousand congratulations.” For a Muslim wedding or nikah, you can use Barakallahu lakuma, “May Allah bless you both.” Formal cards usually need a fuller Modern Standard Arabic sentence, shown in the table below.
When a close friend or relative is getting married, you may want to find warm wishes to say on their wedding day or write in a message to congratulate them.
Wedding wishes are a common part of everyday social interactions, especially in summer, when many people choose to celebrate their weddings. That is why it helps to learn a few simple phrases for congratulating newlyweds.
This guide gives you practical phrases with pronunciation and meaning, so you can choose the right words for the occasion.
Before you go further!
Other articles help you practice congratulations in Arabic, explore Arabic love words, or learn more Arabic phrases to express happiness.
What Is the Best Arabic Wedding Wish to Use?
The best general Arabic wedding wish is alf mabrook, which means “a thousand congratulations.” It is warm, short, and natural in many Arab settings.
If you want a phrase that specifically mentions the occasion, say mabrook az-zawāj, meaning “Congratulations on the wedding.”
For a formal written message, use tahānīnā al-qalbiyyah bi-munāsabati zawājikumā. For a Muslim couple, the well-known dua for newlyweds gives the greeting a more religious tone.
Common Wedding Wishes in Arabic with Pronunciation
The following table includes some of the most common wedding wishes in Arabic. They suit a variety of situations and can be used in both spoken and written communication.
| Use Note | Meaning | Pronunciation | Arabic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
An everyday blessing for marriages |
A blessed Marriage |
Mubarak az-zawāj |
مُبارَك الزَّواج |
|
|
A simple, everyday word used for weddings, success, graduation, a new job, or any happy occasion. |
Congratulations. |
mabrook |
مَبْرُوك |
|
|
A warmer and more enthusiastic version of “congratulations.” Very common in spoken Arabic. |
A thousand congratulations. |
alf mabrook |
أَلْف مَبْرُوك |
|
|
A short and direct phrase used when congratulating someone on their marriage. |
Congratulations on the marriage. |
mabrook az-zawāj |
مَبْرُوك الزَّوَاج |
|
|
A formal and elegant phrase, suitable for wedding cards, messages, or public announcements. |
Our heartfelt congratulations on your marriage. |
tahānīnā al-qalbiyyah bi-munāsabati zawājikumā |
تَهَانِينَا القَلْبِيَّةُ بِمُنَاسَبَةِ زَوَاجِكُمَا |
|
|
A kind wish used after congratulating the couple. |
I wish you both a happy life. |
atamannā lakumā ḥayātan saʿīdah |
أَتَمَنَّى لَكُمَا حَيَاةً سَعِيدَةً |
|
|
Often used as part of a longer wedding wish rather than as a complete sentence on its own. |
A life full of love and happiness. |
ḥayātan malīʾatan bil-ḥubbi was-saʿādah |
حَيَاةً مَلِيئَةً بِالحُبِّ وَالسَّعَادَةِ |
|
|
A beautiful Islamic wedding blessing, often used in religious or formal wedding congratulations. |
May Allah bless you both. |
bāraka Allāhu lakumā |
بَارَكَ اللهُ لَكُمَا |
|
|
Used specifically for the marriage contract ceremony, particularly when it is held before or separately from the wedding celebration. |
Blessed marriage contract. |
ʿaqdu qirānin mubārak |
عَقْدُ قِرَانٍ مُبَارَك |
|
|
Used when speaking directly to the groom in a friendly, informal way. |
Congratulations, groom. |
mabrook yā ʿarīs |
مَبْرُوك يَا عَرِيس |
|
|
Used when speaking directly to the bride in a friendly, informal way. |
Congratulations, bride. |
mabrook yā ʿarūsah |
مَبْرُوك يَا عَرُوسَة |
|
The Use notes are very helpful to know where and to whom to say each phrase.
What to Say to Newlyweds in Arabic
In spoken Arabic, you can say Mabrook or alf mabrook when you meet the bride, groom, or their family.
You may also hear friendly phrases like mabrook yā ʿarīs for the groom and mabrook yā ʿarūsah for the bride.
These are warm, direct expressions, but more conversational than formal. They fit a voice note, a family visit, or a quick message under a wedding photo.
Formal Arabic Wedding Messages
Formal Arabic wedding messages are typically expressed in Modern Standard Arabic. They sound formal and polished in cards, emails, invitation replies, or social media captions.
A safe sentence is tahānīnā al-qalbiyyah bi-munāsabati zawājikumā, meaning “Our heartfelt congratulations on your marriage.” You can add atamannā lakumā ḥayātan saʿīdah, “I wish you both a happy life.” These phrases feel respectful without being overly formal.
Islamic Wedding Wishes in Arabic
For Islamic wedding wishes in Arabic, many Muslims use a dua for the newlywed. A well-known Prophetic wording appears in Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi 1091:
| Meaning | Pronunciation | Arabic | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
May Allah bless you, send blessings upon you, and bring goodness between you both. |
bāraka Allāhu laka, wa bāraka ʿalayka, wa jamaʿa baynakumā fī khayr |
بَارَكَ اللهُ لَكَ، وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْكَ، وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ |
|
|
May Allah bless you both and unite you both in goodness. |
bāraka Allāhu lakumā, wa bāraka ʿalaykumā, wa jamaʿa baynakumā fī khayr |
بَارَكَ اللهُ لَكُمَا، وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْكُمَا، وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ |
|
The first form is used when addressing one of the newlyweds. The second form adapts the wording to address both spouses together.
How to Reply to Arabic Wedding Congratulations Phrases
If someone says “mabrook” to you, you can reply with a thank-you or a blessing. The phrase changes slightly depending on who you are addressing.
| Meaning | Pronunciation | Arabic | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
May Allah bless you. |
Bāraka allhu bikum |
بَارَكَ اللهُ بِكم |
|
|
May Allah bless you too. (to a male) |
Allāh ybārik fīk |
الله يبَارِك فِيكْ |
|
|
May Allah bless you too. (to a female) |
Allāh ybārik fīki |
الله يبَارِك فِيكِ |
|
|
May Allah bless you all. |
Allāh ybārik fīkum |
الله يبَارِك فِيكُم |
|
|
Thank you. |
shukran |
شُكْرًا |
|
|
May it happen to you next! |
ʻUqbālak |
عُقبَالَك |
|
The ending varies according to gender and number: -ka for a male, -ki for a female, and -kum for plural.
Which Phrase Should You Choose?
Choose the phrase depending on your relationship with the couple and the place where the message appears. A short phrase can sound warmer in speech, while a longer phrase may look better on a card. The table below gives a simple guide.
| Context | Why it fits | Best Arabic Phrase | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Speaking to a friend |
Short, warm, and natural. |
أَلْف مَبْرُوك |
|
|
Writing a formal card |
Respectful and polished. |
تَهَانِينَا القَلْبِيَّةُ بِمُنَاسَبَةِ زَوَاجِكُمَا |
|
|
Congratulating a Muslim couple |
A brief religious blessing. |
بَارَكَ اللهُ لَكُمَا |
|
|
For a Nikah or marriage contract |
Specific to the marriage contract. |
عَقْدُ قِرَانٍ مُبَارَك |
|
Arabic Wedding Vocabulary Learners Should Know
Here are wedding-related Arabic words that are useful to learn:
| Meaning | Pronunciation | Arabic | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Marriage |
Zawāj |
زَوَاج |
|
|
Wedding |
ʿUrs |
عُرس |
|
|
Wedding Celebration |
Hafl Zifāf |
حَفلُ زِفَاف |
|
|
Groom |
ʿArīs |
عَرِيس |
|
|
Bride |
ʿarūs |
عَرُوس |
|
|
Marriage contract |
ʿAqd qirān |
عَقدُ قِرَان |
|
|
Legal term for marriage |
Nikāḥ |
نِكَاح |
|
|
Blessing |
barakah |
بَرَكَة |
|
|
Invitation |
Daʿwah |
دَعْوة |
|
These words will help you better understand Arabic wedding and marriage phrases. They will also enrich your Arabic vocabulary for this common occasion.
Review Beautiful Wedding Wishes
Final word
If you remember only one phrase, make it alf mabrook. It is short, kind, and useful for most wedding settings. From there, you can choose a formal message, a direct spoken phrase, or an Islamic dua depending on the couple and the moment.
Learn with AlifBee
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FAQs
How do you say wedding greetings in Arabic?
You can say mabrook or alf mabrook. For a fuller written wish, use tahānīnā al-qalbiyyah bi-munāsabati zawājikumā, which means “Our heartfelt congratulations on your marriage.” See the table above for the Arabic spelling.
How do you say congratulations on your wedding in Arabic?
Say mabrook az-zawāj. It means “Congratulations on the wedding.” You can also say alf mabrook ʿalā zawājikumā, meaning “A thousand congratulations on your marriage.”
What does Barakallahu lakuma mean?
Bāraka Allāhu lakumā means “May Allah bless you both.” Lakumā means “for you two,” so this phrase addresses the couple together. It is common in Muslim wedding wishes
Is “mabrook” correct for weddings?
Yes. Mabrook is one of the simplest Arabic ways to congratulate someone on a wedding. Alf mabrook sounds warmer and more celebratory, so it is often a better choice for a wedding message.
What is the difference between Mabrook and Mubarak?
Mabrook is the common everyday word for “congratulations.” Mubarak means “blessed” and appears in more formal or fixed greetings, such as ʿaqdu qirānin mubārak, “a blessed marriage contract.”
