When working in the Middle East, knowledge of a little bit of Arabic is a wonderful way to converse and socialize with the surrounding community.
To know the language, it will help you understand the culture and to understand the culture will make the trip and experience even more enjoyable and easy.
Below is a list of basic words, phrases, and statements.
PHRASES:
(
ARABIC- ENGLISH)
PHRASE: Assalaam Alaikum -Peace be up on
you
REPLY: Wa Alaikum assalaam -And peace
be upon you
PHRASE: Marhabbah
- hello
REPLY: Marhabbtain - hello
PHRASE: Sabah al khair- Good morning
REPLY: Sabah al nour- Good morning to
you
PHRASE: Masah al khair-
Good afternoon/evening
REPLY: Masah al noor- Good afternoon/evening to you
PHRASE: Shukran (jazeelan)
-Thank you (very much)
REPLY: Aafwaan -You're welcome
OR La Shukran - No, thank you
PHRASE:Ahlan wa sahlan -Welcome
REPLY:Ahlan beek - welcome to you (to a male)
OR Ahlan beech (to a female)
OR Ahlan beekum (to a group)
PHRASE: Shu-ukhbaarak -What's your news?
PHRASE: Aysh ismuk or Shu Ismuk?- What is your name?
REPLY: Ismi.... - My name is.....
STATEMENTS/QUESTIONS:
STATEMENT/QUESTION: Titakellem Ingleezi?- Do you speak English?
REPLY: Ana la atakellem al arabi- I don't speak Arabic
STATEMENT/QUESTION: Terref Arabi? Do you know Arabic?
REPLY: Sshwai, Sshwai- A little bit
OR
REPLY: Atakullum ingleezi- I speak English
STATEMENT/QUESTION: Inta min weyn?- Where are you from?
Ana min.....
England? Ingliterra
United States? Umreeka
UAE? Al imaraat
Palestine? Fulesteen
Australia? Oostraaalia
REPLY:Oo inta?- And you?
STATEMENT/QUESTION: Wayn al hammam?- Where is the toilet?
STATEMENT/QUESTION:
Mumken Asaduq - Can i help you?
Yani- “like” or
“you know”
Maasalaamah -Goodbye
Inshallah -If Allah wishes
Maashallah -What Allah wishes
Mabrook - Congratulations
Naam - Yes?
Aywa - yeah/ok
La - no
Min fudluk - Please
Shoo? - what?
Shoofi mafi? -What's up? or What's the matter?
Shoo hada? - what is this?
Itfudul -Be my
guest / My pleasure
Tamaam - perfect
Baadin - later
Dilwaati - now
Ilyoum - today
Bukra - tomorrow
Ashoofook bukra - see you tomorrow
Tabaan - of course
Andi - I have
Kull -everything
Wayn- where
Maata - when
Keyf – how
shoo – what
leysh – why
meen – who
DIRECTIONS:
Sida - straight
Yasar - left
Yameen - right
Shwey Schwey – slow, drive slower
Khalas –finish or stop
Awwul - first
Thanee - second
Thalith - third
Rabbea - forth
Muffruq – turning
Shariya – road
Ishaara - Traffic light / signal
Fouq – up
That - down
NUMBERS:
0 -siffr
1 -wahid
2 -itnain
3 -thalatha
4 -arba
5 -khumsah
6 -settah
7 -sabaa
8 -thamaaneeya
9 -tissaa
10 -asharah
11 -ihda shaar
12- ithna shaar
13 -thalatha shaar
14 - arba ata shaar
15 -khamsta shaar
16 -sitta shaar
17 -saba ata shaar
18 -tamantha shar
19 -tis ata shar
20 -ishrin
21 -wahid wa ishrin
22 -ithain wa ishrin
23 -thalatha wa ishrin
24 -arbaa wa ishrin etc
30 -thalath een
40 -arba een
50 -khamseen
60 -sitteen
70 -sabeen
80 -thamaneen
90 -tiseen
100 -miyya
200 -mittain
300 -thalatha miyaa
400 -arba miyya etc
1000 -alf
2000 -alfain
3000 -thalaathat aalaf
4000 -arbaat aalaf
REPLY: Masah al noor- Good afternoon/evening to you
REPLY: Aafwaan -You're welcome
OR La Shukran - No, thank you
REPLY:Ahlan beek - welcome to you (to a male)
OR Ahlan beech (to a female)
OR Ahlan beekum (to a group)
PHRASE: Keef haluk? -How are you?
PHRASE: Aysh ismuk or Shu Ismuk?- What is your name?
REPLY: Ismi.... - My name is.....
STATEMENTS/QUESTIONS:
STATEMENT/QUESTION: Titakellem Ingleezi?- Do you speak English?
REPLY: Ana la atakellem al arabi- I don't speak Arabic
STATEMENT/QUESTION: Terref Arabi? Do you know Arabic?
REPLY: Sshwai, Sshwai- A little bit
OR
REPLY: Atakullum ingleezi- I speak English
STATEMENT/QUESTION: Inta min weyn?- Where are you from?
Ana min.....
England? Ingliterra
United States? Umreeka
UAE? Al imaraat
Palestine? Fulesteen
Australia? Oostraaalia
REPLY:Oo inta?- And you?
STATEMENT/QUESTION: Wayn al hammam?- Where is the toilet?
WORDS:
Yaallah – come on / let’s go Mafi Mushkil – there is no problem/ there is no worriesMaasalaamah -Goodbye
Inshallah -If Allah wishes
Maashallah -What Allah wishes
Mabrook - Congratulations
Naam - Yes?
Aywa - yeah/ok
La - no
Min fudluk - Please
Shoo? - what?
Shoofi mafi? -What's up? or What's the matter?
Shoo hada? - what is this?
Baadin - later
Dilwaati - now
Ilyoum - today
Bukra - tomorrow
Ashoofook bukra - see you tomorrow
Tabaan - of course
Andi - I have
Kull -everything
Wayn- where
Maata - when
Keyf – how
shoo – what
leysh – why
meen – who
DIRECTIONS:
Yasar - left
Yameen - right
Shwey Schwey – slow, drive slower
Khalas –finish or stop
Awwul - first
Thanee - second
Thalith - third
Rabbea - forth
Muffruq – turning
Shariya – road
Ishaara - Traffic light / signal
Fouq – up
That - down
NUMBERS:
1 -wahid
2 -itnain
3 -thalatha
4 -arba
5 -khumsah
6 -settah
7 -sabaa
8 -thamaaneeya
9 -tissaa
10 -asharah
11 -ihda shaar
12- ithna shaar
13 -thalatha shaar
14 - arba ata shaar
15 -khamsta shaar
16 -sitta shaar
17 -saba ata shaar
18 -tamantha shar
19 -tis ata shar
20 -ishrin
21 -wahid wa ishrin
22 -ithain wa ishrin
23 -thalatha wa ishrin
24 -arbaa wa ishrin etc
30 -thalath een
40 -arba een
50 -khamseen
60 -sitteen
70 -sabeen
80 -thamaneen
90 -tiseen
100 -miyya
200 -mittain
300 -thalatha miyaa
400 -arba miyya etc
1000 -alf
2000 -alfain
3000 -thalaathat aalaf
4000 -arbaat aalaf