I might be a bit biased, but I think Arabic is one of the most underrated languages. It is the national language of 27 countries and 420 million people. It is also the liturgical language of 1.6 billion Muslims, yet my Arabic class in the States had 10 people.
I think more people should learn Arabic, so I have a list of 10 basic words and phrases that you should know in Arabic. Please note that these are all in Modern Standard Arabic. There are many dialects including Egyptian Arabic that differ slightly.
1. سلام عليكم pronounced "As-salmu alaykum". This literally means "peace upon you" and it is a universal greeting. You can say it to anyone, anywhere, at anytime of day. The response to this is "wa-alaikum-salam" which literally means "and upon you peace".
2. كيف حالك؟ pronounced "kaif halak" for a boy or "kaif halek" for a girl". This literally means "how's the news?" But it is used to say "how are you?" There are many responses for this. You can say "Ana bekher" which plainly means "I'm good". You can also say "elhamduallah" which means "thanks be to God". You can say both or one or the other. Whatever floats your boat.
3. مع السلامة pronounced "ma el-salama". Literally translated, it means "with peace". However, it is used to say bye. The response would be "ma el-salama".
4. ان شاء الله pronounced "inshallah". This basically means "by God's will". Arabs use this all the time. "I will go to the cinema tomorrow, inshallah." "I will pass the test, inshallah." The texting abbreviation is "isA".
5. من فضلك pronounced "men fadlak" if you talk to a boy or "men fadlek" of you talk to a girl. This literally means "from your favor" but it's used to say "please".
6. شكرًا pronounced "shokran". This means "thank you". You use it to show gratitude to someone for something they did for you.
7. ما اسمك؟ pronounced "ma ismak" for a boy or "ma ismek" for a girl. This means "what's your name?" It is used when you don't know someone's name.
8. (انا اسمي... (كوري pronounced "Ana ismy... (Corie)". Can you guess what it means? Right!/Wrong! It means "my name is... (Corie)". It is used to introduce yourself in any given situation.
9. كل عام و انت/انتم بخير pronounced "kol am wa enta (boy)/enty (girl)/entom (multiple people) bekher". This means "every year and you be good". This is said on any special occasion. Birthday? Kol am wa enta bekher! Mother's Day? Kol am wa enty bekher. Wedding? Kol am wa entom bekher. When someone says this to you, the response is "wa enta bekher" when responding to a boy or "wa enty bekher" when responding to a girl.
10. انا احبك pronounced "Ana ohebak" for a boy and "Ana ohebek" for a girl. This means I love you <3
That's it! I hope you guys enjoyed this post and maybe you'll take up Arabic... or not. Let me know if you'd like another post like this because I do know more Arabic words and phrases. Also let me know if you learned anything or if it was just confusing.
I was featured on the AFS-USA blog. You can see the post here: http://www.afsusa.org/afs-blog/study-abroad/article/?article_id=7798
I couldn't have done it without your support of me and this blog so shokran gedan (very much).
Ana ohebokom (I love you all) and I will talk to you again soon. Until then,
Learn something today.
Ma el-salamaaaaaaaaaa
Corie.
The backgrounds in the pictures are mine. The first is the sunset I saw on the way to the pyramids once. And the other is the Red Sea in El Sokhna. :)
Congratulations on being featured on the AFS blog. You are doing such a good job of documenting your experiences in Egypt. We certainly look forward to reading about your exploits. Continue to have fun and learn. Uncle Peter
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Uncle Peter :-)
DeleteI learned Shukran for thank you. Years ago I was at UCLA when two Arabs passed me on a path. One said to the other, "bint hallowa" I said Shukran. They got very excited, and asked if I was Arab.,I said "la" and continued to class. I learned Arabic playing "ma jeune telletta" at University of Illinois with Egyptian friends.
DeleteVery useful
ReplyDeleteNo upto date
ReplyDeleteHi Corie, I found this very useful, thanks. My friend is calling her son Keef, I see it's an Arabic word. What is the meaning of that word on its own? Would it work as a name in Arabic? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe name Kaif is a Muslim baby name. In Muslim the meaning of the name Kaif is: Pleasure. High spirits.
DeleteThanks for your helpful reply, Rio Raji. Great name, lovely meaning! I'll pass that on to the parents.
DeleteI love to learned Arabic language...
ReplyDeleteShokran.....
Aminah
Good grammar,please send me those lessons to pilisievans@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteShokran
Inappropriate post from Ana REX, please remove! Pathetic that people feel the need to do this when others are engaged in proper discussion.
ReplyDeleteShukran. I learned all of these things in 1961-1963. I also learned Ah-dee-nee bossa, give me a kiss. I named my parakeet Habibi and taught him to say it. I also learned a few Egyptian curse words and a lot more. We played "majoon telletta" and I learned a lot more words so my Arab friends couldn't cheat among themselves. Years later I was walking across campus at UCLA when 2 Arabs approached . one said "Bint Halloweh" I said Shukran. They became very excited and asked if I was Arab. I said Lah.
DeleteShukran. I learned all of these things in 1961-1963. I also learned Ah-dee-nee bossa, give me a kiss. I named my parakeet Habibi and taught him to say it. I also learned a few Egyptian curse words and a lot more. We played "majoon telletta" and I learned a lot more words so my Arab friends couldn't cheat among themselves. Years later I was walking across campus at UCLA when 2 Arabs approached . one said "Bint Halloweh" I said Shukran. They became very excited and asked if I was Arab. I said Lah.
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I learned Arabic from Egyptian friends at the U of Illinois in the early 60s. Learned to swear. Fortunately only Egyptians know what I'm saying. I use it on phony Robocalls.
ReplyDeleteI love that :)
ReplyDeleteThis is really helpful, shokron!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to more of it!
This is really helpful, shokron!
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Thanks buddy for this. Please update more so everyone can learn more arabic love quotes
ReplyDeleteMashaAllah tabarak Allah... This is so great... May God bless you... You are going far, inshaAllah
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