# Happy Ramadan? Good Ramadan? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096 "2003-10-28T20:20:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/1 "2003-10-28T20:20:31Z")
How do I greet my Muslim friends now that it’s Ramadan? Do I wish them a merry Ramadan, happy Ramadan, good Ramadan, or what? I know it’s a solemn time of year, but there must be some way of marking the occasion in conversation. Also, how do you pronounce it? I’ve heard RAM-a-dan, ram-a-DAN, and equal stress on all syllables, but I think the only people I’ve heard were Americans who were also guessing. ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/2 "2003-10-28T21:10:19Z")
“Ramadan mubarak,” if I recall correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/3 "2003-10-28T21:38:49Z")
**Catalyst** is right. _Ramadân mubârak_. The stress accent goes on the long vowels (_â_). The _d_ in Ramadan is an “emphatic” d, pronounced differently from the ordinary d. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/4 "2003-10-28T22:26:37Z")
Mubarak is pretty close to the Hebrew for ‘blessed’ (the object of a blessing, not the past tense verb) - does it mean the same thing? Thanks for the responses! ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/5 "2003-10-29T10:15:09Z")
“Ramdhan Mubarak” is used, IIRC, on the night that the new moon of Ramdhan is spotted (or rather not spotted!), rather than as a general greeting. I think it is also used for the first time you meet a friend during Ramdhan. As for pronounciation, “Ramdhan” is pronounced with the “dh” being a “z” sound. In fact, I believe that a better phonetic spelling is “Ramzan”. The first a is short, whereas the second a is longer. “Mubarak” is pronounced exactly how it is spelt. The first syllably “Mu” is short, and the stress is on the “bar”. The end, “rak”, is pronounced more with an “u” sound than an “a” sound. “Mubarak” means blessings/felicitations, so the two probably derive from the same root. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/6 "2003-10-29T10:27:03Z")
If you can’t handle the Arabic, I have been informed by several Muslims that saying “Have a blessed fast” is quite acceptable. Which is what the phrase everyone is quoting means. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/7 "2003-10-29T10:35:37Z")
**Angua** , it’s pronounced Ramzan only in Hindi and Urdu — they drop the unaccented open vowel in the middle. In Persian and Turkish it’s pronounced with three syllables: Ramazan. In Arabic the d is an emphatic d sound. The Hebrew and Arabic words for ‘blessed’, _mevorakh_ and _mubârak_, are related. They share the same Semitic root [**brk**](http://www.bartleby.com/61/roots/S51.html), ‘to bless’. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/8 "2003-10-29T14:16:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > \*\ ***Angua** , it’s pronounced Ramzan only in Hindi and Urdu — they drop the unaccented open vowel in the middle. In Persian and Turkish it’s pronounced with three syllables: Ramazan. In Arabic the d is an emphatic d sound. > \*\* Well, funnily enough, being of a Hindi background, I was pronouncing it how I would pronounce it. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/9 "2003-10-29T14:21:32Z")
Well, I’m assuming you usually speak to your friend in English, so [Happy Ramadan](http://greetz.com/ramadan/view.html?ram1.gif) works. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/10 "2003-10-29T15:06:10Z")
Jomo Mojo is spot on as usual, although it’s also perfectly acceptable to say “Ramadhan Kareem”, which means “Happy Ramadhan”. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/11 "2003-10-29T15:08:23Z")
And how’s the fasting going by the way, **Angua**? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/12 "2003-10-29T15:15:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bibliovore \* > \*\*And how’s the fasting going by the way, **Angua**? 🙂 \*\* I’m not fasting - the diabetes prevents me from doing so. But I am being good. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/13 "2003-10-29T15:23:45Z")
Good girl. 😃 I’m _really_ craving a double-whopper with cheese meal right about now, followed by a ciggie. Only an hour and a bit to go! ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/14 "2003-10-29T15:26:28Z")
😃 Bad **Bibliovore!** ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/15 "2003-10-29T15:40:59Z")
Hey, I’ve been a good boy so far! I haven’t broken my fast or flirted or bad-mouthed anyone or anything! Sunset in _T_ minus one hour and counting. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/16 "2003-10-29T15:44:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bibliovore \* > **Hey, I’ve been a good boy so far! I haven’t broken my fast or flirted or bad-mouthed anyone or anything** Wow - that’s impressive. 🙂 Neither have I. I haven’t even sworn - how good is that?! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![byomtoob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@byomtoob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/byomtoob)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/17 "2003-10-29T15:48:56Z")
I suppose Ramadan Tovah would be bad form (That would be Happy Ramadan in Hebrew).;j ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/18 "2003-10-29T15:54:37Z")
Not really bad form, but you might get a few blank stares. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/19 "2003-10-29T17:54:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by byomtoob \* > \*\*I suppose Ramadan Tovah would be bad form > (That would be Happy Ramadan in Hebrew).;j \*\* I guess “Would you like a bite of my bacon cheeseburger?” would be right out too? I’m just kidding! ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096/20 "2003-10-29T19:41:23Z")
Dude, don’t tempt me! 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-ramadan-good-ramadan/210096.md?page=2)