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Starting from Ahlan |
Greetings
Hello!
أهلا!
ah-lan!
Good morning.
صباح الخير.
Sa-baaH il-khayr.
Good evening.
مساء الخير.
mesa il-khayr.
Have a great day!
نهارك أبيض!
na-harak (na-harik) ab-yaD!
What’s up?
إيه الأخبار؟
e-il-akh-bar?
Wherever it falls in a word, an Arabic “h” is pronounced like the first letter of the English word “hat.” Try sounding out “hat” as if you were a small child learning to spell: “h-a-t.” Then reverse the sounds and drop the “t,” producing “a-h.” This is the Arabic sound ah as in ah-lan (hello).
To help your pronunciation, the parts of the word that need to be emphasized are underlined; for example, iz-zay, ta-maam. Say these parts with more stress.
All good?
كله تمام؟
koll-o ta-maam?
Nothing much.
مافيش.
ma-feesh.
How are you? / How’s it going?
إزي الحال؟
iz-zay il-Haal?
Great.
تمام.
ta-maam.
Really great!
!آخر تمام
aa-khir ta-maam.
Things are okay.
ماشي الحال.
maa-shee il-Haal.
I have a headache.
عندي صداع.
Aandee So-daA.
You got a fifty I can borrow?
معاك خمسين سلف؟
maA-aak (maA-aaki) kham-seen salaf?
How’s all the family?
إزي الجماعة كلهم؟
iz-zay ig-gama-Aa koll-ohom?
How’s your wife? / How are the kids?
إزي المدام / إزي الأولاد؟
iz-zay il-mad-dam? / iz-zay il-ow-laad?
They’re all great. And you?
كلهم تمام. وانتوا؟
koll-ohom ta-maam. wen-too?
Goodbyes
Goodbye.
مع السلامة.
ma-Aas sa-laa-ma.
Bye.
سلام.
sa-laam.
See you tomorrow.
أشوفكوا بكرة.
ashoof-koo bukra.
See you later.
أشوفكوا بعدين.
ashoof-koo baA-dayn.
Take care.
خللي بالك.
khal-lee baa-lak (baa-lik).
An alternative in parentheses means that this is how the word should be pronounced both by and when speaking to a female. For example, “Take care” should be pronounced khal-lee baa-lik; and “Have a great day!” on page 1 is na-harik ab-yaD!
أشوفكوا على خير.
ashoof-koo Aala khayr.
Good night.
تصبحوا على خير.
tiSbaHoo Aala khayr.
Sweet dreams.
أحلام سعيدة.
aH-laam saA-eeda.
It’ll be better in the morning.
الصباح رباح.
iS-Sa-baaH ra-baaH.
Introductions
What’s your name?
اسمك ايه؟
is-mak (is-mik) eh?
My name is ________.
________ اسمي.
is-mee ________.
My friends call me ________.
________ أصحابي بيسموني.
aS-Haa-bee bey-sam-moo-nee ________.
Pleased to meet you.
فرصة سعيدة.
forSa saA-eeda.
Wherever it falls in a word, an Arabic “s” is pronounced like the first letter of the English word “sit.” Try not to let it slide to a “z” sound as we do in the English words “is” and “these.” In Arabic words such as is-mee (my name), keep the “s” sound true as in the English word “this.”
سمعت عنك كثير.
sa-maAt Aanak (Aanik) kiteer.
It’s been delightful.
أنا اتشرفت.
enat-shar-raft.
Lovely shoes.
حلوة الجزمة دي.
Hil-wa ig-gazma dee.
May I introduce ________.
________ أقدملك.
a’a-dim-lak (a’a-dim-lik) ________.
He’s my friend. / She’s my friend.
ده صديقي. / دي صديقتي.
dah Sadeeq-ee. / dee Sadiq-tee.
He’s from ________. / She’s from ________.
________ هو من ________. / هي من.
huw-wa min ________. / hey-ya min ________.
He’s a friend of ________.
________ ده صديق.
dah Sadeeq ________.
She’s a friend of ________.
________ دي صديقة.
dee Sadeeq-it ________.
They’re with us for ________ days.
قاعدين معانا ________ يوم.
aA-deen ma-Aa-na ________ yom.
Do you speak English?
بتتكلم (بتتكلمي) انجليزي؟
btit-kal-lim (btit-kal-limee) ingleezee?
!الانجليزي بتاعك هايل
!il-ingleezee bit-ta-Aak (bit-ta-Aik) hay-yil
I speak only a little Arabic.
باتكلم عربي خفيف.
bat-kal-lim Aarabee khafeef.
A capital “A” in the pronunciation is a deep gutteral “a” which sounds like it’s coming from the stomach. Imagine you are trying to say “ah” at the dentist when the drill touches a nerve! The word Aarabee (Arabic) begins with this sound.
Getting Help
Can you help me?
ممكن تساعدني (تساعديني)؟
momkin tisa-Aid-nee (tisaA-dee-nee)?
Can you do me a favor?
ممكن تعمللي معروف؟
momkin tiA-mil-lee maA-roof?
Do you have any change, please?
معاك فكة من فضلك؟
maA-aak (maA-aaki) fakka min faDlak (faDlik)?
Would you keep an eye on . . .
ممكن عينك على . . .
momkin Aeye-nak (Aeye-nik) Aala . . .
my bag, please?
شنطتي، من فضلك؟
shan-Tittee min faDlak (faDlik)?
my seat, please?
الكرسي، من فضلك؟
ik-korsee min faDlak (faDlik)?
Thank you.
شكرا.
shok-ran.
Thank you very much.
ألف شكر.
elf shokr.
Don’t mention it.
العفو.
il-Aaf-wu.
Don’t worry about it.
ولا يهمك.
wa-laa yi-him-mak (yi-him-mik).
Excuse me.
لا مؤاخذة.
laa mo-aakh-za.
Sorry.
(آسف (آسفة.
aasif (asfa).
Forgive me.
(سامحني (سامحيني.
sa-miH-nee (sam-Hee-nee).
A capital “H” in the pronunciation represents a breathy “h” sound. Imagine you are saying “huh” while breathing on your glasses to clean them.
Asking
| who? | مين؟ |
meen? |
| what? | إيه؟ |
eh? |
| when? | امتى؟ |
imta? |
| where? | فين؟ |
fayn? |
| why? | ليه؟ |
leh? |
| which? | أنهي؟ |
anhee? |
| how? | إزاي؟ |
iz-zay? |
| how much? | بكام؟ |
bi-kaam? |
| how many? | كام؟ |
kaam? |
Answering
| yes. | أيوه. |
aywah. |
| no. | لأ. |
laa’a. |
| maybe. | يمكن. |
yimkin. |
| I don’t know. | ماعرفش. |
ma-Aaraf-shi. |
An apostrophe in the pronunciation, as in laa’a (no) for example, represents a short break or glottal stop. This is the sound produced when you say “butter” while dropping the “tt” in the middle of the word.
Numbers
How old are you?
عندك كام سنة؟
Aan-dak (Aan-dik) kaam sana?
I’m [23] years old.
عندي [تلاتة وعشرين] سنة.
Aan-dee [talaata wi-Aish-reen] sana.
How much does this cost?
بكام ده (دي)؟
bi-kaam dah (dee)?
It costs [127] pounds.
بـ[مية سبعة وعشرين] جنيه.
bi [meyya sab-Aa wi-Aish-reen] gi-nayh.
| white | أبيض |
ab-yaD |
| pink | بمبة |
bamba |
| purple | بنفسجي |
bnaf-si-gee |
| red | أحمر |
aH-mar |
| orange | برتقاني |
burtu-’aanee |
| yellow | أصفر |
aS-far |
| green | أخضر |
akh-Dar |
| blue | أزرق |
az-ra’ |
| brown | بني |
bon-nee |
| gray | رمادي |
ro-maadee |
| black | أسود |
is-wid |
“kh” in the pronunciation represents a single Arabic sound. This is the sound made while clearing your throat, similar to the “ch” in the Yiddish “chutzpah” or the German “Bach.” Examples include khamsa (five) and akh-Dar (green).
Months and Seasons
| spring | الربيع |
ir-ra-beeA |
| summer | الصيف |
iS-Sayf |
| fall / autumn | الخريف |
il-kha-reef |
| winter | الشتا |
ish-shi-ta |
[three] months ago
من [تلات] شهور
min [tal-at] sho-hoor
last month
الشهر اللي فات
ish-shah-r illi faat
this month
الشهر ده
ish-shah-r dah
next month
الشهر الجاي
ish-shah-r ig-gayy
in [three] months
بعد [تلات] شهور
baAd [tal-at] sho-hoor
من [تلات] سنين
min [tal-at] sineen
last year
السنة اللي فاتت
is-sana illi faat-it
this year
السنة دي
is-sana dee
next year
السنة الجاية
is-sana ig-gay-ya
in [three] years
بعد [تلات] سنين
baAd [tal-at] sineen
Days and Weeks
| Monday | الاتنين |
il-itnayn |
| Tuesday | التلات |
it-talaat |
| Wednesday | الأربع |
il-arbaA |
| Thursday | الخميس |
il-khamees |
| Friday | الجمعة |
ig-gomAa |
| Saturday | السبت |
is-sabt |
| Sunday | الحد |
il-Hadd |
من [تلت] أيام
min [talat] tay-yaam
the day before yesterday
أول امبارح
ow-wil im-baariH
yesterday
امبارح
im-baariH
today
النهاردة
in-nahaar-da
tomorrow
بكرة
bukra
the day after tomorrow
بعد بكرة
baAd bukra
in [three] days
بعد [تلت] أيام
baAd [tal-at] tay-yaam
weekend
آخر الأسبوع
aa-khir il-usboo-A
last [Monday]
[الاتنين] اللي فات
[il-itnayn] illi faat
this [Monday]
[الاتنين] ده
[il-itnayn] dah
next [Monday]
[الاتنين] الجاي
[il-itnayn] ig-gayy
النهاردة إيه؟
in-nahaar-da eh?
What’s today’s date?
تاريخ النهاردة إيه؟
ta-reekh in-nahaar-da eh?
September 16th.
ستاشر سبتمبر.
sit-tAashar seb-tem-bir.
Today is the [16th].
النهاردة [ستاشر].
in-nahaar-da [sit-tAashar].
two weeks ago
من أسبوعين
min usboo-Aayn
last week
الأسبوع اللي فات
il-usboo-A illi faat
this week
الأسبوع ده
il-usboo-A dah
next week
الأسبوع الجاي
il-usboo-A ig-gayy
in two weeks
بعد أسبوعين
baAd usboo-Aayn
Telling Time
Excuse me, what time is it?
الساعة كام من فضلك؟
is-saa-Aa kaam min faDlak (faDlik)?
الساعة . . .
is-saa-Aa . . .
9:00 [in the morning].
(تسعة (الصبح.
tis-Aa [iS-SobH].
3:00 [in the afternoon].
(تلاتة (بعد الضهر.
talaata [baAd iD-Duh-r].
11:00 [in the evening].
(حداشر (بالليل.
Hid-ashar [bil-layl].
4:00.
أربعة.
arba-Aa.
4:05.
أربعة وخمسة.
arba-Aa wi-khamsa.
4:15 (quarter past 4).
أربعة وربع.
arba-Aa wi-rubA.
4:20.
أربعة وتلت.
arba-Aa wi-tilt.
6:30 (half past 6).
ستة ونص.
sit-ta wi-nuSS.
6:35 (twenty-five to 7).
ستة ونص وخمسة.
sit-ta wi-nuSS wi-khamsa.
سبعة إلا ربع.
sab-Aa illa rubA.
6:55 (five to 7).
سبعة إلا خمسة.
sab-Aa illa khamsa.
in the morning
الصبح
iS-SobH
midday
الضهر
iD-Duh-r
in the afternoon
بعد الضهر
baAd iD-Duh-r
in the evening
بالليل
bil-layl
two days ago
من يومين
min yomayn
tomorrow night
بكرة بالليل
bukra bil-layl
The three capital letters “D,” “T” and “S” in the pronunciation represent “back” versions of these sounds. The contrast is similar to the different initial sounds when you say the English words “till,” “dig” and “sip” (with your tongue close to your teeth), compared to “toll,” “dog” and “sop” (with your tongue further back in your mouth). Try it yourself.
حياخد (حتاخد) وقت قد إيه؟
Ha-yakhud (Ha-takhud) wa’t ’addi eh?
An hour.
ساعة.
saa-Aa.
A couple of hours.
ساعتين.
saA-tayn.
Half an hour.
نص ساعة.
nuSSi saa-Aa.
Ten minutes.
عشر دقايق.
Aashar da-’aay-i’.
before
قبل
abl
after
بعد
baAd
a couple of hours ago
من ساعتين
min saA-tayn
in a couple of hours
بعد ساعتين
baAd saA-tayn
a couple of hours later
بعدها بساعتين
baAda-haa bi-saA-tayn
قبلها بساعتين
abla-haa bi-saA-tayn
I’ll see you . . .
أشوفكوا . . .
ashuf-koo . . .
tomorrow morning.
بكرة الصبح.
bukra iS-SobH.
[Thursday] night.
يوم [الخميس] بالليل.
yom [il-khamees] bil-layl.
every day
كل يوم
koll-i yom
forever
على طول
Aala Tool
always
دايما
dayman
sometimes
ساعات
saA-aat
never
أبدا
aba-dan