Arabic Culture and Language Toolkit Developed by hrslo

The principle of the universe is movement... If it stops moving, it will return to non-existence. Ibn 'Arabi: "The Book Unveiling the Effects of Travels“.

The Arabic Alphabet

Greetings

• Marhaba مرحبا

• hello!

•  sabah al-khayr صباح الخير good morning  

• kayfa haluk? كيف حالك

• How are you? 

Dialogues/Greeting

Useful expressions ( greeting)

• bihayr بخير

• fine!

• min fadlik   من فضلك

• Please

• shukran! شكرا

• Thank you  

• ‘afwan! عفوا

• You are welcome

How to reply to greetings?

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• As-salaam ‘aleykum (peace be with you)

• Wa ‘aleykum as-salaam ( and peace be with you)

• Sabaah el-khair (good morning)

• Sabaah ennour (reply to Sabaah el-khair)

• kayf Haaluk?( How are you?- to a man)

• Kayf Haaluki? (to a woman)

• Anaa bi khair, shukran ( I am fine thank you)

• Bikhair, al-Hamdu-lillah (I am fine, thanks to Allah)

• Wa anta?( and you? - to a man)

• Wa anti( to a woman)

What is your name?

•  ma ismuk?  ما اسمك؟ What is your name? 

• ismii اسمي فريدة

• My name is 

• Tasharrafna تشّرفنا

• Nice to meet you

• ma'assalama مع السلامة

• Goodbye!

HOW TO ASK QUESTIONS?

• Where [is/ are] --- feyn (ayna)?  

• What? --- maa dhaa?  

• What's that? --- maa haadhaa?  

• When? --- mataa?

• Why? --- limaadhaa?

• Why not? --- lima laa?

• How? --- keyf?

• Who? --- man?

• How many? --- kam?

Asking for help

• Min fadlek/min fadleki (to a woman) Excuse me! (to ask for something)

• Ayna ajedu al merhad?(Where is the bathroom?)

• Hal tatakallamu allogha alengleziya?

• ( do you speak English?)

• Ada’tu tareeki! (I am lost/ « I lost my road »

Most common questions and replies

• Hal tureed musa’ada? (Do you need help?)

• Na’am/ Laa (yes/ no)

• Ma esmouk? (what is your name?)

• Esmee…( my name is…)

• Men ayna anta (man) /anti?(woman) (where are you from?)

• Anaa men Washington/ men el bank adawli (I am from Washington, from the World Bank.

• Ayna taskun? (where do you live?)

• A’eeshu fel welayat almotaheda ( I live in the US)

• Ma mehnatuk? Mehnatuki(woman)? (What do you do for a living?)

• A’mal ka khabiir fil-iqtisaad (I work as an economist)

Looking for someone/Giving directions

• Abhatu ‘an Assayeda Roberta? Hal hiya mawjuda? (I am looking for Mrs Roberta, is she here?

• Maa huwa rakmu lmiktab? (what is the number of the office?)

• Rakm mi’a (number 100)

• Imshee ala tuul, thumma ‘arrij yaminan/shemaalan ( go straight! Then turn right!/left!)

• Ta’ala/ta’alee (woman) ma’ee! (come with me!)

• Shukran jazeel! (thank you very much!)

At the end of a stay, what to say?

• Hal istamta’ata bewaktika/bewaktiki (fem.) huna?(did you enjoy/like it here?)

• Al yemen baladun jameel jidan! (Yemen is a beautiful country!)

• Shukran ‘ala kul lmusa’ada! (thank you for all the help!)

• Sallem ‘ala assayed ‘ali men ajlee (Say hello to Mr Ali for me)

• Yajebu an adhaba al aan! ( I have to go now)

• Sa arje’o shahr alkaadam Insh Allah (I will come back next month God’s willing)

• Ma’a salama wa fursa sae’eda (Good bye and nice meeting you)

Special Wishes

• Bettawfeeq! ( Good luck!)

• Eid meelad sa’eed! (Happy birthday!)

• Sana sa’eeda! ( Happy New Year!)

• A’yaad meelad sa’eeda (Merry Christmas!)

• Eid mobarak! ( Happy Eid!)

• Ramadan kareem ( Happy Ramadan!)

• Mabruuk! (Congratulations!)

• Shahia tayeba! ( Enjoy your meal!)

• Rahimaka Allah! ( when sneezing, Bless you!)

If you misunderstand the language…

• ‘afwan! (I am sorry)

• aasef/aasfa (fem.)! ( I regret, I am sorry… for a mistake)

• La moshkela!/ mush moshkela (no problem!)

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