Skip to main content
to salaam

to salaam

9.6
To give a low bow to show respect when greeting someone
  • verb
  • /səˈlɑːm/
translation icon : saludar con un salam
  • When meeting elders, it is customary to salaam as a sign of respect.

Examples

  • I shall be practicing how to salaam when you pass by.

  • Then he and the Ustez salaamed each other, and the man walked back into the mosque.

    Blog text (3)
  • To show respect, he decided to salaam the guests at the ceremony.

  • She taught her children to salaam their relatives when they arrived.

Synonyms

to salute
vsto salaam
  • Formal
106 3.5

To show respect by a formal gesture or words

is a specific cultural bow with right palm on forehead showing respect

How Respectful

prostrate
5 7.0
to salaam
9.6
to salute
  • Formal
106 3.5
to shake hands
138 1.0
to nod
442 1.0
to wave
584 1.0

Surface Forms

salaam infinitive
salaamed past
salaamed past participle
salaaming present participle
salaams third person singular

Etymology

Salaam comes from the Arabic salaam meaning 'peace', the same idea as Hebrew shalom. To salaam someone is to offer them 'peace' and respect, often with a low bow or a hand to the forehead.