alaykum

Alaykum is an Arabic prepositional phrase meaning “upon you.” It appears most prominently as part of the common greeting as-salāmu ʿalaykum, which translates to “peace be upon you.” The phrase combines the preposition ʿalā (“upon”) with the second-person plural suffix -kum, attached to ʿalay. In typical usage, alaykum is addressed to more than one person.

In everyday use, the full greeting as-salāmu ʿalaykum is exchanged when meeting or parting, and is common among Muslims and Arabic speakers worldwide. The standard reciprocal response is wa ʿalaykum as-salām, meaning “and upon you be peace.” Variants may occur in different dialects, but the core exchange remains widely understood.

Phonology and transliteration: the Arabic inscription is عَلَيْكُم and is commonly transliterated as ʿalaykum or simply alaykum. The initial ʿayn is a voiced pharyngeal sound that English speakers typically approximate with a glottal or silent placeholder. The suffix -kum marks second-person plural, addressing you all, including mixed-gender groups.

Notes: alaykum is used within a larger expression and is not typically a stand-alone greeting outside of the standard phrase. It is culturally associated with politeness, hospitality, and conventional etiquette in many Muslim communities.

See also: Islamic greeting, as-salāmu ʿalaykum, wa ʿalaykum as-salām.