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maşallah

maşallah

[MAH-shah-lah] int. 

how wonderful / how impressive / how beautiful

DT: what god has willed 

A religious, Arabic word that is commonly used all throughout Turkey, mostly without a religious connotation. We use “maşallah” when responding to seeing or hearing about something impressive or beautiful, and wishing to keep the evil away.

If you’re overwhelmingly impressed, try pronouncing it slowly, emphasizing the first and third syllable, (‘MAH-shah-LAH’!) and you’ll really win over the locals.

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