What common Ramadan greeting means "blessed Ramadan"?

The common Ramadan greeting “Ramadan Mubarak” means “blessed Ramadan.”

Mubarak comes from an Arabic root associated with blessing, goodness, and felicity. Muslims use the phrase during the holy month as a warm wish for a spiritually meaningful and blessed observance. It can be said in person, written in cards, or shared in messages and social media.

A frequent mix-up is “Ramadan Kareem,” another widely used greeting. Kareem means generous or noble, so the phrase is commonly understood as “generous Ramadan,” rather than the more literal “blessed Ramadan.” “Eid Mubarak” is also different: it is chiefly used for Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking Ramadan’s end, or Eid al-Adha.

“Salam Alaikum” means “peace be upon you” and is a general Islamic greeting used throughout the year. None of these expressions is required for the fast itself; they are customary greetings whose exact usage can vary among regions and Muslim communities.