Salama Dawoud: Arabic Greeting Is Correct With or Without ‘Waw’

Dr. Salama Dawoud, former president of Al-Azhar University and professor of rhetoric and criticism, has clarified that the familiar Arabic greeting “كل عام وأنتم بخير” is correct both with and without the letter waw.

His clarification addresses a linguistic debate over the preferred wording of the expression, commonly used to offer good wishes on recurring occasions.

The two versions are “كل عام وأنتم بخير,” which includes waw before “أنتم,” and “كل عام أنتم بخير,” which omits it. Both convey a wish for the recipient’s well-being year after year.

Dawoud’s position is that neither form needs to be corrected simply because the speaker has included or left out the waw. Those exchanging the greeting can use either version.