15-Minute Arabic Learn in Just 12 Weeks

15 -MINUTE
ARABIC
L E A R N I N J U S T 12 W E E K S
MARION SARHAAN
ISBN: 97814 65 4 62930

CONTENTS
How to use this book 4
Senior Editors Angeles Gavira, Christine Stroyan WEEK 1
Project Art Editor Vanessa Marr
Jacket Design Development Manager Sophia MTT
INTRODUCTIONS
Jacket Designer Juhi Sheth Hello 8
Pre-Producer David Almond Relatives 10
Senior Producer Ana Vallarino
Publisher Liz Wheeler
My family 12
Publishing Director Jonathan Metcalf To be and to have 14
Review and repeat 16
Language content for Dorling Kindersley by
g-and-w publishing.
WEEK 2
This American Edition, 2018 EATING AND DRINKING
First American Edition, 2009
Published in the United States by DK Publishing In the coffee house 18
1450 Broadway, Suite 801, New York, NY 10018 In the restaurant 20
18 19 20 21 22 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
001—305458—Apr/2018
To want 22
Dishes 24
Copyright © 2005, 2012, 2013, 2018 Review and repeat 26
Dorling Kindersley Limited
DK, a Division of Penguin Random House LLC
All rights reserved. WEEK 3
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved MAKING ARRANGEMENTS
above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, Days and months 28
stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, Time and numbers 30
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) Appointments 32
without the prior written permission of On the telephone 34
the copyright owner.
Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited.
A catalog record for this book is available from the

WEEK 4
Library of Congress. TRAVEL
ISBN 978-1-4654-6293-0
At the ticket office 38
DK books are available at special discounts when purchased Going and taking 40
in bulk for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, or Taxi, bus, and metro 42
educational use. For details, contact: On the road 44
DK Publishing Special Markets,
1450 Broadway, Suite 801, New York, NY 10018
SpecialSales@dk.com
Printed in China
For the curious
www.dk.com
WEEK 5 WEEK 10
GETTING AROUND AT HOME
About town 48 At home 98
Directions 50 Inside the house 100
Sightseeing 52 The garden 102
At the airport 54 Animals 104
Review and repeat 56 Review and repeat 106
WEEK 6 WEEK 11
ACCOMMODATION SERVICES
Booking a room 58 Post office and bank 108
In the hotel 60 Services 110
On the boat 62 To come 112
Descriptions 64 Police and crime 114
Review and repeat 66 Review and repeat 116
WEEK 7 WEEK 12
SHOPPING LEISURE AND SOCIALIZING
Stores 68 Leisure time 118
In the bazaar 70 Sport and hobbies 120
At the supermarket 72 Socializing 122
Clothes and shoes 74 Review and repeat 124
Review and repeat 76 Reinforce and progress 126
WEEK 8 MENU GUIDE 128

WORK AND STUDY
Work 78 ENGLISH–ARABIC DICTIONARY 138
The office 80
Academic world 82 THE ARABIC SCRIPT 152
In business 84
Review and repeat 86 USEFUL SIGNS 158
WEEK 9 Acknowledgments 160

HEALTH
At the pharmacy 88
The body 90
At the doctor 92
At the hospital 94
4 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
How to use this book

This book teaches the Egyptian spoken
dialect of Arabic (see page 9). The main 18 WEEK 2
part of the book is devoted to 12
themed chapters, broken down into Warm up (1 minute) Fil kafiterya
five 15-minute daily lessons, the last of Count to ten. (pp.10–11) In the coffee house
Remind yourself how The traditional Arab café (il-ahwa), in the past m
which is a referesher lesson. So, in just to say “hello” and male-oriented, offers Arabic coffee or black tea,
“goodbye.” (pp.8–9) (water or “hubble bubble”) pipes, and perhaps a
12 weeks you will have completed Ask “Do you (plural) have of backgammon or dominoes. In recent times, m
the course. A concluding reference any children?” (pp.14–15) coffee houses have sprung up, catering to custo
all ages and genders.
section contains a menu guide, an
English-to-Arabic dictionary, and a Words to remember (5 minutes) ‫قهوة بدون حليب‬
guide to the Arabic script. Familiarize yourself with these phrases.
ahwa bidoon haleeb
black coffee
‫ شاي بحليب‬tea with milk
Warm up shay bi-haleeb
Each day starts with a warm up ‫ شاي بنعناع‬mint tea

shay bi-naanaaa
that encourages you to recall
‫ سندويتش‬sandwich
vocabulary or phrases you have
sandawitsh
learned previously. To the right of
‫ توست ومربى‬toast and jam
the heading bar you will see how long tost wi murabba
you need to spend on each exercise.
Instructions
Each exercise is numbered and introduced
by instructions that explain what to do. In
Cultural tip Traditional Arabic coffee is served in a small
some cases additional information is given cup, and is black and very strong. Brewed in a special jug, it
about the language point being covered. comes in three basic styles: saada (without sugar); mazboot
(medium sweet); and ziyaada (very sweet).
Cultural/Conversational tip In conversation (4 minutes)

These panels provide additional insights
into life in the Arabic-speaking world
and language usage.
.‫آخذ شاي بدون حليب‬ ‫حاجة ثانية؟‬ ‫عندكم بسبوسة؟‬

aakhud ahwa bi-haleeb haaga tanya aandukum basboosa
min fadlak Anything else? Do you have basboo
I’ll have a coffee with [semolina cake]?
milk, please.
124 W E E K 12 LEISURE AND SOCIALIZING
il-agweba RaagiA wi karrar il-agweba

Answers Cover with flap Answers Cov
Review and repeat
Animals Animals (3 minutes) To like (4 minutes) To like
❶ ‫سمكة‬ Name the numbered Use the different forms of the ❶ ‫بأحب‬
samaka animals in Arabic. verb biyhibb in these sentences. buhibb
❷ ‫عصفور‬ ❶ ena il-koora ❷ ‫بيحب‬
aas foor ❶ fish horse ❺ ❷ huwa is-sibaaha biyhibb
❸ ‫أرنب‬ ❸ heyya kura is-salla ❸ ‫بتحب‬
arnab ❹ enti it-tennis? bithibb
❹ ‫قطة‬ rabbit ❸ ❺ enta il-ghats? ❹ ‫بتحبي‬
otta bithibbee
❺ ‫حصان‬ ❷ bird ❺ ‫بتحب‬
h us aan bithibb
❻ ‫كلب‬ ❻ dog
kelb ❹ cat
How to use the flap

Preferences Preferences (4 minutes) An invitation (4 minutes) An invit
The book’s cover flaps allow ❶ .‫هي مش غاوية غطس‬ Say the following in Arabic: You are invited to dinner. Join in the conversation, ❶ .‫ا مشغولين‬
you to conceal the Arabic so

heyya mish ❶ She’s not big on diving.
replying in Arabic following the English prompts. aasfa, ihna
ghaawya ghats faadiyeen yohm il-khamees? mash-ghoo
❷ I prefer tennis.
❷ .‫أنا بأفضل التنس‬ ❶ I’m sorry, we’re busy. ❷ .‫اسب جدا‬
that you can test whether you

❸ I like soccer.
ena bafaddal it-tennis tayyib. wis-sabt? is-sabt mun
❹ He’s not interested in flowers. giddan
❸ .‫غاوية كورة‬/‫أنا غاوي‬ ❷ Saturday would be very good.
laazim teegee maaa zohgik ❸ ‫لساعة كام؟‬
have remembered correctly.

ena ghaawee/
ghaawya koora ❸ Of course. What time shall we come? tabaan. nee
❹ .‫هو مش غاوي ورد‬ is-saaaa ka

huwa mish
ghaawee ward
Revision pages
A recap of selected elements
of previous lessons helps to
reinforce your knowledge.
.‫الرحلة من أي بوابة؟ أيوه يا فندم‬
aywah yaa fendim ir-rihla min ayyi
H O W T O U SYes E Tsir.H Ibawwaaba
S BOOK 5
Ask: Which gate does
the flight leave from?
E AT I N G A N D D R I N K I N G 19
Match and repeat (4 minutes) Useful phrases
Useful phrases (5 minutes)
Selected phrases
Match the Learn
numbered items
these phrases. Readto
thethe Arabic
English words in the panel.
under the
‫تورتة‬ pictures and say the phrase in Arabic as shown relevant to the topic
‫صعود‬
you‫كارت‬
mainly torta
, shisha cake ّ
‫سكر‬
on the right. Then cover the Arabic with the flap ❶help speak and
and test yourself.
a game sukkar understand.
kart suaood
modern sugar
omers of boarding ❶ .‫آخذ شاي بدون حليب‬ ❷ ‫تذكرة‬
pass aakhud shay
tazkara
bidoon haleeb
❸ ‫جواز السفر‬
Read it is-safar
gawaaz
I’ll have a black tea.
These panels explain
❹ ‫شنطة‬
‫حاجة ثانية؟‬ how the Arabic script
h aaga tanya shantgive
works, a tips for
‫تروللي‬it, and show
reading
❺
useful signs.
trollee
‫قهوة بحليب‬ Anything else?
ahwa bi-haleeb
coffee with milk ‫عندكم فول؟‬
ticket ❷ aandukum fool
Read it The sign
below reads mataar
Do you have mashed (airport). It is written
passport ❸ fava beans? (from right to left):
‫كام الحساب؟‬
‫( م‬m), ‫( ط‬t ), ‫( ا‬aa),
kaam il-hisaab ‫( ر‬r). Notice that the
first a is not written
(see page 25 for more
How much is the bill? details on vowels in
Arabic script).
Words to remember (4 minutes)
❹ suitcase ❺ cart Familiarize yourself with these words and tes
on the right using the cover flap.
.‫ عندنا‬،‫أيوه‬ ‫ كام الحساب‬.‫شكرا‬ .‫ من فضلك‬،‫تسعة جنيه‬

a aywah. aandina ‫من فضلك؟‬ tisaa ginayh, min fadlak Text styles
osa Yes, we do. shukran. kaam il-hisaab Nine pounds, please. Distinctive text styles
min fadlak
differentiate Arabic
Thank you. How much is
the bill, please? and English, and the d
pronunciation guide.
G 125
ver with flap
In conversation
Illustrated dialogs
reflecting how ‫فيه بلكونة؟‬
vocabulary and feeh balkohna
phrases are used in Is there a balcony?
everyday situations Say it
appear throughout In these exercises Say it (2 minutes)
tation
the book. you are asked to
‫ احنا‬،‫آسفة‬
Do you have a single room, please?
apply what you
a
oleen
‫السبت منا‬
naasib
have learned, using Six nights.
‫ نيجي ال‬.‫طبعا‬
egee
aam different vocabulary. Is dinner included?
Conversational tip Some Arabic words c

two endings, -aat or -een, as in hammaam/ham
muwazzaf/muwazzafeen (employee/employees)
by altering the vowel sounds within a word, as
or mouse/mice. Examples of this type of plural
ghurfa/ghuraf (room/rooms), and tifl/atfaal (ch
6 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
13 8 DICTIONARY
Dictionary DICTIONARY
A mini-dictionary provides English to Arabic
ready reference from English This dictionary contains the vocabulary from 15-Minute Arabic, together with many
other frequently used words. You can find additional terms for food and drink in the
to Arabic for 2,500 words. Menu Guide (pp.128–37).

Arabic adjectives (adj) vary according to the gender of the word they describe and
whether it is singular or plural. In general, you can add -a to refer to the feminine
singular and the plural of objects. The most common ending for the plural of words
that refer to people is -een. Verbs are shown in the masculine singular form of the
128 MENU GUIDE present tense. MENU GUIDE
A am: I am ena artist fannaan

MENU GUIDE about (approximately)
ambulance isA aaf arts (subject of study)
This guide lists the most common terms America amreeka il-aadaab
H awaalee
you are likely to come across on Arabic American (man) amreekaanee; ashtray menfaDit segaayir
accelerator dawaasit
menus. The dishes are divided into (woman) amreekaaneyya; asleep: he’s asleep
il-benzeen
categories, and the Arabic script is given (adj) amreekaanee huwwa naayim
accepted ma'bool
to help you identify items on a menu. Ancient Egypt masr il-'adeema asthma rabwu
accident Hadsa
Ancient Egyptians qodamaa' at: at the post office fi mektab
accommodation maskan
il-maSreyyeen il-bareed; at night bil-layl;
accountant muHaasib
and wi, wa at 3 o’clock is-saA a talaata;
ache alam, wagaA
animal Haywaan at the traffic circle A and
adaptor (electrical) taw S eela
ankle kaaH el id-dawaraan
address Ainwaan
another (different) taanee; attractive gazzaab
adhesive bandage blaaster
(additional) iD aafee August aghusTus
admission charge rasm
answering machine ansar aunt (maternal) khaala;
id-dukhool
Appetizers, soups, and salads after baA d
antique store maHall
anteekaat
(paternal) A mma
Australia ostoraalya
afternoon baA d iD -Duhr antiseptic moTahher
‫سلطة باذنجان‬ aftershave koloniyit baA d Australian (man) ostoraalee;
salatit baadingaan eggplant salad apartment sha'a (woman) ostoraaleyya;
‫بيض مسلوق‬
ilHilaa'a apartment block A imaara
‫شوربة فراخ‬ shorbit firaakh chicken soup again marra tanya, taanee aperitif mosh-hee
(adj) ostoraalee
against Didd‫جبنة‬/‫جبن‬ Austria in-nemsa
‫تبولة‬
appetite shaheyya automatic otomaateeki
tabboola cracked wheat salad air-conditioning takeef hawa
Menu guide ‫شوربة سمك‬ shorbit samak fish soup
air freshener muATT‫لبنة‬ir hawa
air hostess muD eefa gaweyya
apples tofaaH
application form istimaara
away: far away baA eed;
go away! imshee!
‫بيض‬ appointment miA aad
Use this guide as ‫عصير فواكه‬ aaseer fawaakih fruit juice
air mail bareed gawwee apricot mishmish
awful weHish giddan
ax balTa
aircraft Tayyaara
‫مش‬ April abreel
a reference
axle il-aks
‫سلطة خضراء‬ salata khadra green salad airline khaTT Tayaraan architecture il-miA maar
airport ma‫مقلي‬
Taar ‫بيض‬ are: you are (masculine)
‫حمص‬ B
for identifying hummus hummus—puréed alarm clock menabbih enta; (feminine) enti;
chickpeas alcohol koH‫رومي‬
ool ‫جبنة‬ (plural) entum; we are baby Tifl, raD ee A
Algeria il-gazaa'ir iHna; they are humma baby wipes waraa'il aT faal
popular ‫شوربة عدس‬ shorbit aads lentil soup all kull, gamee A ;‫مكرونة‬
all the streets kull
area (region) manti'a
arm diraaA
back (not front) wara;
(body) D ahr
‫بطارخ‬ ‫قديمة‬ ‫جبنة‬
Arabic dishes. bataarikh mullet roe ish-shawaari A around Hawl backpack garabandeyya
‫شعرية‬
allergy Hassaaseyya arrivals (airport, etc) bad weHish, radee'
‫زيتون‬ zaytoon olives allowed masmooH wuS ool bag kees, shanTa
‫سلطة بلدي‬ salata baladee Oriental mixed salad

almost ta'reeban‫أومليت‬ arrive yohsal Bahrain il-baHrayn
also kamaan art fann bait TuA m
always dayman ‫عجة‬
‫مخلل‬ mekhallil pickles
art gallery metHaf fonoon bake yikhbiz
‫سلطة بطاطس‬ salatit bataatis potato salad

‫شكشوكة‬
‫جرجير‬ gargeer arugula
‫سلطة‬ salata salad ‫جبنة فالحي‬

‫سردين‬ sardeen sardines ‫مكرونة اسباجيتي‬
‫شوربة‬ shorba soup ‫جبنة بيضاء‬
Pronunciation guide
Many of the sounds in Arabic are similar to their English equivalents, but some,
indicated in this book by special characters, have no English equivalent:
h/H Arabic has two h sounds: h as in horse, and a second sound (H), as if
breathing on glasses to clean them.
s/S There are two s sounds: s as in silly, and S , which is more voiced.
d/D There are two d sounds: d as in ditch, and D, which is more voiced.
t/T There are two t sounds: t as in titch, and T, which is more voiced.
z/Z There are two z sounds: z as in zebra, and Z , which is more voiced.
kh A throaty h pronounced as in the Scottish loch.
gh A sound produced as if pronouncing r from the back of the throat, rather
than by rolling the tongue.
' A short pause or glottal stop as when the tt in bottle is dropped.
A A uniquely Arabic guttural sound similar to the exclamation ah!
Pronouncing these sounds correctly becomes easier the more you listen
to spoken Arabic.
HOW TO USE THE AUDIO APP 7
How to use the audio app

All the numbered exercises in each your 15-minute lessons using the book
lesson, apart from the Warm ups at the only, and then go back and work with
beginning and the Say it exercises at the the audio and the book together,
end, have recorded audio, available via a repeating the text in the gaps provided
free app. The app also includes a and then recording yourself. Or you can
function to record yourself and listen to combine the book and the audio right
yourself alongside native speakers. from the beginning, pausing the app to
To start using the audio with the read the instructions on the page as you
book, first download the DK 15 Minute need to. Try to say the words aloud, and
Language Course app on your smart– practise enunciating properly. Detailed
phone or tablet from the App Store or instructions on how to use the app are
Google Play. Open the app and type in available from the menu bar in the app.
the book’s ISBN (see page 1) to add it to Remember that repetition is vital
your Library. As soon as the ISBN is to language learning. The more
recognized, the audio will download. often you listen to a conversation or
There are two ways in which you can repeat an oral exercise, the more the
use the audio. The first is to read through language will sink in.
Menu, Help/How
to Use, Your Library
Getting started Lessons week
ARABIC 1 The list of weeks
ARABIC 2 by week
will open when the Is-saaaa wil-arqaam
Time and Numbers
Each numbered
audio has been exercise in a lesson
downloaded. From is listed in the app as
here you can tap into it appears in the
each week’s lessons. book. Tap on an
exercise to start.
When all the lessons A check mark

in a week have been indicates when
completed, the week an exercise has
button will be filled been completed.
with color and
show a check mark,
so you can track
your progress.
Audio for Record yourself

3 exercises
ARABIC 4 When you are in
ARABIC
Tap the play button Is-saaaa wil-arqaam

Time and Numbers
the Your recordings Is-saaaa wil-arqaam
Time and Numbers
to hear instructions, screen, you can
then the exercise. record yourself
You can pause the ‫ةدحاو ةعاسلا‬
reading the words or ‫ةدحاو ةعاسلا‬
audio at any point, is-saaaa waahda
one o’clock
participating in the is-saaaa waahda
one o’clock
and return to it. ‫ةسمخو ةدحاو‬
waahda wi khamsa
conversations with ‫ةسمخو ةدحاو‬
waahda wi khamsa
five past one native speakers, then five past one
‫عبرو ةدحاو‬ ‫عبرو ةدحاو‬
waahda wi ruba listen back (and waahda wi ruba
quarter past one quarter past one
‫ثلثو ةدحاو‬ rerecord if desired). ‫ثلثو ةدحاو‬
waahda wi tilt waahda wi tilt
You can tap twenty past one twenty past one
‫صنو ةدحاو‬ ‫صنو ةدحاو‬
any part of the waahda wi nuss waahda wi nuss
Add recording
exercise to play half past one
‫عبر الإ نينثا‬
half past one
‫عبر الإ نينثا‬
the audio from itnayn illa ruba Play recording itnayn illa ruba
quarter to two quarter to two
that point.
8 WEEK 1
Warm up (1 minute) Ahlan

The Warm Up panel Hello
appears at the beginning
Arabs are generally very effusive on meeting. The
of each lesson. It will
remind you of what you
wide variety of greetings are often accompanied by
have already learned back-slapping, handshakes, hugging, and kissing.
and prepare you for However, it is best to avoid physical contact with
moving ahead with the opposite sex on first meeting to avoid causing
the new subject. any unintentional offense.
.‫سالم‬
Words to remember (4 minutes) salaam
Hi!
Look at these greetings and say them aloud.
Conceal the text on the left with the cover
flap and try to remember the Arabic.
.‫ صباح الخير‬Good morning.
sabaah il-khayr
.‫ صباح النور‬Good morning.
sabaah in-noor (reply)
.‫ مساء الخير‬Good evening/

masaa il-khayr afternoon.
.‫ مساء النور‬Good evening/

masaa in-noor afternoon. (reply)
…‫ أنا اسمي‬My name is…

ena ismee…
.‫تشرفنا‬
ّ Pleased to
tusharrafna meet you.
In conversation: formal (4 minutes)
.‫صباح الخير‬ .‫صباح النور‬ .‫تشرفنا‬

ّ
.‫أنا اسمي مايك هولند‬ .‫أنا اسمي أمينة هاشم‬ tusharrafna
sabaah il-khayr. ena ismee sabaah in-noor. ena ismee Pleased to meet you.
mike holland ameena haashim
Good morning. Good morning.
My name is Mike Holland. My name is Amina Haashim.
INTRODUCTIONS 9
Put into practice (2 minutes)

Join in this conversation. Read the Arabic beside the pictures and follow the
instructions to make your reply. Then test yourself by concealing the answers
on the right with the cover flap.
.‫ مساء الخير‬.‫مساء النور‬
masaa il-khayr masaa in-noor
Good evening.
Say: Good evening. (reply)
.‫ أنا اسمي أمير زكي‬.‫تشرفنا‬

ّ
ena ismee ameer zaki tusharrafna
My name is Amir Zaki.
Say: Pleased to
meet you.
Conversational tip There are more than

20 countries, stretching from northwest Africa
well into Asia, where Arabic is the official language.
The formal language of the media and government is
standard across these countries but informal spoken
Arabic varies from region to region. It is spoken Arabic
that you will need to use in everyday situations such
as shopping and sightseeing. The Arabic taught in this
book is essentially Egyptian spoken dialect. This is one
of the most widely understood dialects throughout
the Arab world; Egypt is the region’s leading exporter
of popular culture in the form of movies, television
programs, and songs. However, some variations
have been included to make the Arabic more
widely applicable.
In conversation: informal (4 minutes)
!‫سالم يا سامي‬ .‫مع السالمة‬ .‫ مع السالمة‬.‫أيوه‬

salaam yaa saamee .‫أشوفك بكرة‬ aywah. maaasalaama
Bye, Sami! maaasalaama. ashoofik bukra Yes. Goodbye.
Goodbye. See you
tomorrow.
10 WEEK 1
Warm up (1 minute) Il-Aela

Say “hello” and “goodbye” Relatives
in Arabic. (pp.8–9)
In Arabic, relatives are categorized according to whether
Now say “My name is…” they are related to the mother (maternal) or the father
(pp.8–9) (paternal). The maternal uncle and aunt are khaal and
Say “Pleased to meet khaala; the paternal uncle and aunt are aamm and
you”. (pp.8–9) aamma. Cousins are referred to by the precise
relationship: ibn khaal (son of maternal uncle), and so on.
Match and repeat (4 minutes)

Look at the people in this scene and match their numbers with the list
at the side. Read the Arabic words aloud. Now, conceal the list with the
cover flap and test yourself.
❶ ‫ابن‬ grandfather ❸
ibn ❹ father ❺ mother

❷ ‫بنت‬
❷ daughter
bint
❸ ‫جد‬
gidd
❹ ‫أب‬
ab
❺ ‫أم‬
omm
❻ ‫جدة‬
gidda
❶ son grandmother ❻
Conversational tip Words referring to females often end

in -a – for example, gidda (grandmother). In Arabic, things as
well as people are masculine or feminine. Feminine things
nearly always end with -a – for example, kursee (chair) is
masculine but ahwa (coffee) is feminine.
INTRODUCTIONS 11
Words to remember: relatives (4 minutes)

Familiarize yourself with these words and phrases.
‫زوجة‬ ‫زوج‬ Read them aloud several times and try to memorize
zohga zohg them. Conceal the Arabic with the cover flap and
wife husband test yourself.
brother ‫أخ‬
akh
sister ‫أخت‬
ukht
children ‫أوالد‬
awlaad
I have four .‫أنا عندي أربع أوالد‬
children. ena aandee arbaa awlaad
I have a boy and .‫أنا عندي ولد وثالث بنات‬
three girls. ena aandee walad wi
talat banaat
‫ة‬/‫أنا متجوز‬
ana mitgawwiz/-a
I’m married (m/f).
Words to remember: numbers (5 minutes)

Memorize these words and then test one ‫واحد‬
yourself using the cover flap. waahid
Arabic plurals need to be learned two ‫اثنين‬
individually. For example, the plural of itnayn
bint (girl) is banaat; the plural of walad three ‫ثالثة‬
(boy) is awlaad, also used to mean children. talaata
Numbers lose the final -a when put four ‫أربعة‬

directly in front of another word: arbaaa
talat banaat (three girls). five ‫خمسة‬
khamsa
A feature of Arabic is the “dual” ending.
six ‫ستة‬
When talking about two of something,
sitta
you don’t usually use the number two,
itnayn. Instead you put -ayn on the end seven ‫سبعة‬
of the word: bintayn (two girls). sabaaa
eight ‫ثمانية‬
Say it (1 minute) tamanya
nine ‫تسعة‬
I have two boys.
tisaa
I have three children. ten ‫عشرة‬
I have a brother and two sisters. aashra
12 WEEK 1
Warm up (1 minute) Usritee

Say the Arabic for as My family
many members of the
My, your, his, and so on, are endings rather than
family as you can.
separate words in Arabic. So my daughter is bintee.
(pp.10–11)
The ending for your changes according to whether
Say “I have a girl and you are talking to a male, a female, or a group.
two boys”. (pp.10–11) If you add the endings to a word that finishes
with a, the a changes to t: zohgtee (my wife).

Say these endings aloud a few times. Conceal the Arabic with the cover flap and
try to remember the Arabic word for each item. Notice the special way of saying
“my father” and “my brother.”
-ee ‫ ي‬my
-ak ‫ َك‬your (to a male)
-ik ‫ ِك‬your (to a female)
-uh ‫ ه‬his
-ha ‫ ها‬her
-na ‫ نا‬our
-kum ‫ كم‬your (to a group)
-hum ‫ هم‬their
-abooya ‫ أبويا‬my father
-akhooya ‫ أخويا‬my brother
.‫دي أختي وده أخويا‬

dee ukhtee wi dah akhooya
This is my sister and this is my brother.
In conversation (4 minutes)
‫عندك أوالد؟‬
ِ ‫أنت‬
ِ .‫ أنا عندي ولد وبنت‬.‫أيوه‬ ‫وأنت؟‬
َ .‫ده ابني ودي بنتي‬
enti aandik awlaad aywah. ena aandee dah ibnee wi dee
Do you have walad wi bint bintee. w-enta
any children? Yes, I have a boy This is my son and this is
and a girl. my daughter. And you?
INTRODUCTIONS 13
Conversational tip Dah can mean this (is) or that (is);

the feminine equivalent is dee. You may also hear these
pronounced as haadah and haadee. Notice that you can
ask a question by simply raising the pitch of your voice at
the end of a statement: dee bintak? (Is that your daughter?);
dah ibnuh? (Is this his son?).

Read these phrases aloud several times and try to memorize them. Conceal the
Arabic with the cover flap and test yourself.
Do you have any ‫عندك اخوات؟‬
َ ‫أنت‬
َ
siblings? (to a male) enta aandak ikhwaat
Do you have any ‫عندك اخوات؟‬

ِ ‫أنت‬
ِ
siblings? (to a female) enti aandik ikhwaat
This is my husband. .‫ده زوجي‬

dah zohgee
This is my wife. .‫دي زوجتي‬

dee zohgtee
This is our .‫دي جدتنا‬

grandmother. dee gidditna
Is that your sister? ‫دي أختَ ك؟‬

(to a male) dee ukhtak
Is that your sister? ‫دي أختِ ك؟‬

(to a female) dee ukhtik
Say it (2 minutes)
Do you have any siblings?
(to a female)
Do you have any children?
(to a male)
I have two sisters.
This is my father.
Is that your mother?
.‫ أنا عندي ولدين‬.‫أيوه‬ (to a female)
aywah. ena aandee
waladayn
Yes. I have two boys.
14 WEEK 1
Warm up (1 minute) Yikoon wi Aand

Say “See you To be and to have
tomorrow.” (pp.8–9)
Arabic has a verb yikoon meaning to be, but it is usually
Say “I’m married” omitted in the present. So, he is from Egypt is huwa min
(pp.10–11) and muSr (literally he from Egypt). For I have, he has, and
“I have a brother.” so on, Arabic uses the word aand (at) with one of the
(pp.12–13) possessive endings (see page 12), as in ena aandee
akh (I have a brother).
Pronouns (5 minutes)
Familiarize yourself with how to say the Arabic
pronouns. When you are confident, practice the
sample sentences below.
ena ‫ أنا‬I [am]
enta/enti ‫أنت‬/
ِ ‫أنت‬
َ you [are] (m/f)
huwa ‫ هو‬he [is]
heyya ‫ هي‬she [is]
ihna ‫ احنا‬we [are]
entum ‫ أنتم‬you [are] (pl)
humma ‫هما‬
ّ they [are]
‫أنت منين؟‬/
ِ ‫أنت‬
َ Where are you from?
enta/enti minayn (to a male/female)
‫ أنتم منين؟‬Where are you from?
entum minayn (to a couple or group)
.‫أنا بريطانية‬
ena biritaaneeya
I’m British.
Read it In Arabic script the writing runs right to left

(look at the question marks in the panel above). There
are 28 letters in the alphabet but no capital letters. All
but six of the letters join up within a word. You don’t
normally “print” Arabic words using separated letters.
In addition, most Arabic letters change their shape
depending on their position in a word (the first letter,
a middle letter, or the last letter). However, they usually
retain some recognizable features wherever they
appear. Look at how the Arabic words ism (name)
and gidd (grandfather) are written (reading from
right to left):
(gidd) ‫ د = جد‬+ ‫( ج‬ism) ‫ م = اسم‬+ ‫ س‬+ ‫ا‬
.‫احنا من مصر‬
ihna min musr
We’re from Egypt.
INTRODUCTIONS 15
aand: to have (5 minutes)

Practice aand (to have) and the sample sentences,
then test yourself. The pronoun is optional: (ena) aandee
(I have); (huwa) aanduh (he has), etc.
I have ‫أنا عندي‬
ena aandee
you have ‫عندك‬
ِ ‫أنت‬/‫ك‬
ِ ‫عند‬
َ ‫أنت‬
َ
(m/f) enta aandak/enti aandik
he has ‫هو عنده‬
huwa aanduh
she has ‫هي عندها‬
heyya aandaha
‫عندكم ورد أحمر؟‬ we have ‫احنا عندنا‬
aandukum ward ahmar ihna aandina
Do you have red roses?
you have ‫أنتم عندكم‬
(pl) entum aandukum
they have ‫هما عندهم‬
ّ
humma aanduhum
He has a meeting. .‫هو عنده اجتماع‬

huwa aanduh igtimaaa
Do you have a cell phone? ‫عندك موبايل؟‬

َ ‫أنت‬
َ
(to a male) enta aandak mubayil
How many brothers ‫عندك كام أخ وأخت؟‬

ِ ‫أنت‬
ِ
and sisters do you enti aandik kaam akh
have? (to a female) w-ukht
Negatives (4 minutes)
A simple way to make sentences negative in Arabic is to use the word mish (not).
The negative of (ena) aandee is (ena) maandeesh (I don’t have).
I’m not British. .‫أنا مش بريطانية‬
ena mish biritaaneeya
He’s not vegetarian. .‫هو مش نباتي‬
huwa mish nabaatee
Are you (pl) not ‫أنتم مش من مصر؟‬
from Egypt? entum mish min musr
‫عجلة‬ I don’t have a sister. .‫أنا ماعنديش أخت‬
aagala
bicycle
ena maandeesh ukht
I don’t have children. .‫أنا ماعنديش أوالد‬
.‫ماعنديش سيارة‬
maandeesh sayyaara ena maandeesh awlaad
I don’t have a car.
16 WEEK 1
il-agweba RaagiA wi karrar

Answers Cover with flap
Review and repeat
How many? How many? (2 minutes)
❶ ‫ثالثة‬ Cover the answers with the flap. Then say these Arabic
talaata numbers out loud. Check you have remembered the
❷ ‫تسعة‬ Arabic correctly.
tisaa
❸
❸ ‫أربعة‬ ❷
arbaaa
❹ ‫اثنين‬ ❶
itnayn
❺ ‫ثمانية‬
tamanya ❺
❻ ‫عشرة‬ ❹ ❻
aashra
❼ ‫خمسة‬
khamsa
❽ ‫سبعة‬
sabaaa ❼
❾ ‫ستة‬ ❾
sitta ❽
Hello Hello (4 minutes)

❶ ...‫ أنا اسمي‬.‫صباح النور‬ You are talking to someone you have just met. Join
sabaah in-noor. in the conversation, replying in Arabic following the
ena ismee… English prompts.
❷ .‫تشرفنا‬
ّ S abaah il-khayr. ena ismee ameena haashim.
tusharrafna ❶ Answer the greeting and give your name.
❸ ‫ وأنتم؟‬.‫أنا عندي ولدين‬ dah zohgee
ena aandee waladayn. ❷ Say “Pleased to meet you.”
w-entum enta aandak awlaad?
❹ .‫مع السالمة‬ ❸ Say “Yes, I have two boys.
.‫أشوفِ ك بكرة‬ And you?”
maaasalaama. aandina bintayn
ashoofik bukra ❹ Say “Goodbye. See you tomorrow.”
INTRODUCTIONS 17
il-agweba
To have (5 minutes) To have

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of aand ❶ ‫عندي‬
(to have). Check you have remembered the a andee
Arabic correctly. ❷ ‫عندنا‬
❶ ena akh a andina
❷ ihna sayyaara ❸ ‫عندك‬

َ
❸ enta aandak
awlaad?
❹ humma ward ahmar? ❹ ‫عندهم‬
aanduhum
❺ huwa mubayil
❺ ‫عنده‬
❻ heyya waladayn
aanduh
❼ entum ikhwaat?
❻ ‫عندها‬
aandaha
❼ ‫عندكم‬
aandukum
Family (4 minutes) Family

Say the Arabic for each of the numbered family ❶ ‫أب‬
members. Check you have remembered the ab
Arabic correctly. ❷ ‫أم‬
❸ daughter omm
❺ grandmother
father ❶ mother ❷ ❸ ‫بنت‬
bint
❹ ‫جد‬
gidd
❺ ‫جدة‬
gidda
❻ ‫ابن‬
ibn
son ❻ grandfather ❹
18 WEEK 2
Warm up (1 minute) Fil kafiterya

Count to ten. (pp.10–11) In the coffee house
Remind yourself how The traditional Arab café (il-ahwa), in the past mainly
to say “hello” and male-oriented, offers Arabic coffee or black tea, shisha
“goodbye.” (pp.8–9) (water or “hubble bubble”) pipes, and perhaps a game
Ask “Do you (plural) have of backgammon or dominoes. In recent times, modern
any children?” (pp.14–15) coffee houses have sprung up, catering to customers of
all ages and genders.
Words to remember (5 minutes) ‫قهوة بدون حليب‬

ahwa bidoon haleeb
Familiarize yourself with these phrases.
black coffee
‫ شاي بحليب‬tea with milk
shay bi-haleeb
‫ شاي بنعناع‬mint tea
shay bi-naanaaa
‫ سندويتش‬sandwich
sandawitsh
‫ توست ومربى‬toast and jam
tost wi murabba
Cultural tip Traditional Arabic coffee is served in a small

cup, and is black and very strong. Brewed in a special jug, it
comes in three basic styles: saada (without sugar); mazboot
(medium sweet); and ziyaada (very sweet).
.‫آخذ شاي بدون حليب‬ ‫حاجة ثانية؟‬ ‫عندكم بسبوسة؟‬

aakhud ahwa bi-haleeb haaga tanya aandukum basboosa
min fadlak Anything else? Do you have basboosa
I’ll have a coffee with [semolina cake]?
milk, please.

Learn these phrases. Read the English under the
‫تورتة‬ pictures and say the phrase in Arabic as shown
torta
on the right. Then cover the Arabic with the flap
cake ّ
‫سكر‬
and test yourself.
sukkar
sugar
.‫آخذ شاي بدون حليب‬
aakhud shay
bidoon haleeb
I’ll have a black tea.
‫حاجة ثانية؟‬
h aaga tanya
‫قهوة بحليب‬ Anything else?

ahwa bi-haleeb
coffee with milk ‫عندكم فول؟‬
aandukum fool
Do you have mashed

fava beans?
‫كام الحساب؟‬
kaam il-hisaab
How much is the bill?
.‫ عندنا‬،‫أيوه‬ ‫ كام الحساب‬.‫شكرا‬ .‫ من فضلك‬،‫تسعة جنيه‬

aywah. aandina ‫من فضلك؟‬ tisaa ginayh, min fadlak
Yes, we do. shukran. kaam il-hisaab Nine pounds, please.
min fadlak
Thank you. How much is
the bill, please?
20 WEEK 2
Warm up (1 minute) Fil-matAam

Ask “How much is that?” In the restaurant
(pp.18–19)
There are a huge variety of different types of eating
Say “I don’t have places in the Arab world—from traditional vendors
a brother.” (pp.14–15) selling fool (fava beans) and falaafil (chickpea balls),
Ask “Do you have grilled kofta (minced meat), or firaakh (chicken) to
fava beans?” (pp.18–19) modern, Western-style five-star restaurants.

Memorize these words. Conceal the Arabic ❼ cup
with the cover flap and test yourself.
‫ المنيو‬menu
il-menu
‫ فواتح الشهية‬appetizers
fawaatih ish-
shaheyya
‫ الطبق الرئيسي‬main course
it-taba' ir-rayeesee ❺ spoon
❹ knife
‫ الحلو‬dessert
il-hilw
‫ الفطار‬breakfast
il-fitaar
‫ الغداء‬lunch
il-ghada
‫ العشاء‬dinner
il-aasha
❻ fork
‫ من‬،‫ مائدة ألربعة‬.‫اهال‬ ‫عندكم حجز؟‬ .‫ بإسم مبروك‬،‫أيوه‬

.‫فضلك‬ aandukum hagz aywah. bi-ism mabrook
ahlan. maa'ida li-arbaaa Do you have Yes, in the name
min fadlak a reservation? of Mabrook.
Hello. A table for
four, please.

Look at the numbered objects on this table and match them with
the items in the vocabulary list at the side. Read the Arabic words
aloud. Now, conceal the list with the cover flap and test yourself.
❶ ‫كوب‬
koob
❷ ‫فوطة‬
❶ glass
foo-ta
❸ ‫طبق‬
taba'
❹ ‫سكين‬
sikkeen
❺ ‫ملعقة‬
malaa'a
❻ ‫شوكة‬
shohka
❼ ‫فنجان‬
fingaan
❷ napkin

Learn these phrases and then test yourself using
the cover flap to conceal the Arabic.
What desserts do ‫عندكم إيه حلو؟‬
you have? aandukum eh hilw
❸ plate The check, please. .‫الحساب من فضلك‬

il-hisaab, min fadlak
‫تدخين أو دون تدخين؟‬ .‫دون تدخين‬ .‫اتفضلوا هنا‬

tadkheen aw doon tadkheen ittafaddaloo hina
doon tadkheen Non-smoking. Please [sit] over here.
Smoking or
non-smoking?
22 WEEK 2
Warm up (1 minute) Aawiz

What are “breakfast,” To want
“lunch,” and “dinner”
aawiz literally means wanting and can be used to
in Arabic? (pp.20–1)
make requests: ena aawiz il-menu min fadlak (I want
Say “I,” “you” (masculine), the menu, please); if it is clear who you are referring to,
“you” (feminine), “he,” you can drop the pronoun: aawiz ahwa? (Do you want
“she,” “we,” “you” (plural), coffee?). Use aawza if you are referring to a female,
“they.” (pp.14–15)
and aawzeen for groups.
aawiz: to want (6 minutes)

‫هما عاوزين شوكوالتة؟‬
ّ
Say the different forms of aawiz aloud. When you are humma aawzeen
shokolaata
confident, use the cover flap to test yourself.
Do they want chocolates?
‫ أنا عاوز‬I want (m)
ena aawiz
‫ أنا عاوزة‬I want (f)
ena aawza
‫ أنت عاوز‬you want (m)
enta aawiz
‫ أنت عاوزة‬you want (f)
enti aawza
‫ هو عاوز‬he wants
huwa aawiz
‫ هي عاوزة‬she wants
heyya aawza
‫ احنا عاوزين‬we want
ihna aawzeen
‫ أنتم عاوزين‬you want (pl)
entum aawzeen
‫هما عاوزين‬
ّ they want
humma aawzeen
Conversational tip
The Arabic phrase min fadlak (please) literally means
from your grace; min means from, and fadl means grace.
The ending -ak means your when talking to a male
(see pp.12–13). When talking to a female, use the
ending -ik (min fadlik) and, when talking to a group,
use -ukum (min fadlukum).
Polite requests (4 minutes)

You can use the word mumkin…? (possible…?) to mean can I/we have…?,
adding min fadlak (please) to make your request sound more polite
(see Conversational tip). Practice the following sample phrases.
Can I have a juice, please? ‫ من فضلك؟‬،‫ممكن عصير‬
(asking a male) mumkin aaseer,
min fadlak
Can I have a table ‫ من‬،‫ممكن مائدة الليلة‬

for tonight, please? ‫فضلك؟‬
(asking a female) mumkin maa'ida
il-layla, min fadlik
Can we have the ‫ من فضلكم؟‬،‫ممكن المنيو‬

menu, please? mumkin il-menu,
(asking a group) min fadlukum

Join in this conversation. Read the Arabic beside the pictures and follow the
instructions to make your reply. Then test yourself by concealing the answers
using the cover flap.
‫ عندكم حجز؟‬.‫ مساء الخير‬،‫ بس ممكن مائدة لثالثة‬،‫ال‬
masaa il-khayr. ‫من فضلك؟‬
aandak h agz
laa, bass mumkin
Good evening. Do you maa'ida li-talaata,
have a reservation? min fadlak
Say: No, but can I have
a table for three, please?
‫ عاوز أي واحدة؟‬.‫حاضر‬ .‫ من فضلك‬،‫جنب الشباك‬

h aadir. aawiz ganb ish-shibaak,
ayya wahda min fadlak
Certainly. Which
one do you want?
Say: Near the
window, please.
24 WEEK 2
Warm up (1 minute) Il-aTbaa'

Say “She’s British” and Dishes
“They’re from Egypt.”
Dishes vary from region to region in the Arabic-
(pp.14–15)
speaking world, but much of the cooking is grilled
Ask “Do you have or stewed. Not many restaurants offer a vegetarian
mint tea?” (pp.18–19) menu, but there are many traditional Arabic dishes
Say “I want a juice, that do not contain meat or can be prepared
please.” (pp.22–3) without it. Ask your waiter for advice.
Cultural tip
In the Middle East you can make a whole meal out of bread and
starters such as falafel (chick pea balls), fool (mashed fava beans),
humus (mashed chick peas), and many more.

Match the numbered items to the Arabic words in the
panel and test yourself using the cover flap.
❶ ‫خضار‬
khudaar
❷ ‫فواكه‬ fruit ❷
fawaakih
❸ ‫جبنة‬
gibna vegetables ❶
❹ ‫مكسرات‬
mukassaraat
❺ ‫شوربة‬
shorba cheese ❸
❻ ‫فراخ‬
firaakh
❼ ‫سمك‬
samak
❽ ‫مكرونة‬
makarona ❺ soup
chicken ❻
❾ ‫فواكه البحر‬
fawaakih il-bahr
❿ ‫لحمة‬
lahma
❽ pasta ❾ seafood
Words to remember: cooking methods (3 minutes)

Memorize these words. Conceal
the Arabic with the cover flap
‫ممكن لحمة مشوية؟‬
and test yourself. mumkin lahma
mashweyya
fried ‫مقلي‬
Can I have grilled meat?
ma'lee
grilled ‫مشوي‬
mashwee
roasted ‫في الفرن‬
fil-furn
boiled ‫مسلوق‬
masloo'
in tomato sauce ‫بالصلصة‬
bis-salsa
Say it (2 minutes) Words to remember: drinks (3 minutes)

Can I have fried fish? Familiarize yourself with these words and use the
cover flap to test yourself.
He wants soup.
I want pasta.
(mineral) water )‫مياه (معدنية‬
mayya (maadaneyya)
Do you want chicken?
tamarind drink ‫تمر هندي‬
tamru hindi
wine ‫نبيذ‬
nibeet
beer ‫بيرة‬
beera
nuts ❹
juice ‫عصير‬
aaseer
Read it In Arabic script, as in phone texting,

many vowels are not written. For example, the
fish ❼
Arabic word mumkin (possible) is written as “mmkn”
and samak (fish) as “smk.” It is possible to show the
vowels as marks above and below the main script,
but in most cases, written Arabic omits these. Look
at the elements that make up these two words and
the alternative written forms with and without
vowels. (Read the breakdowns from right to left.)
(mumkin) ‫مكن‬
ِ ‫ ُم‬or ‫ ن = ممكن‬+ ‫ ك‬+ ‫ م‬+ ‫م‬
(samak) ‫س َمك‬
َ or ‫ ك = سمك‬+ ‫ م‬+ ‫س‬
❿ meat
26 WEEK 2

Review and repeat
What food? What food? (4 minutes)
❶ ‫مكسرات‬ Name the numbered items. ❹ sugar
mukassaraat ❶ nuts
❷ ‫فواكه البحر‬
fawaakih il-bahr
❸ ‫لحمة‬ ❷ seafood
lahma
❹ ‫سكر‬
sukkar ❸ meat
❺ ‫كوب‬
koob glass ❺
This is my… This is my… (4 minutes)

❶ .‫دي زوجتي‬ Say these phrases in Arabic.
dee zohgtee ❶ This is my wife.
❷ ‫ده زوجها؟‬
dah zohg-ha ❷ Is that her husband?
❸ .‫دي بنتنا‬ ❸ That’s our daughter.
dee bintina
❹ ‫ده ابنَ ك؟‬ ❹ Is this your son?
(talking to a male)
dah ibnak
Can I have… Can I have… (3 minutes)

❶ ‫ممكن قهوة بدون‬ Say “Can I have?” the following: ❷ cake
‫حليب؟‬ sugar ❸
mumkin ahwa
bidoon haleeb ❶ black
coffee
❷ ‫ممكن تورتة؟‬
mumkin torta
❸ ‫ممكن سكر؟‬
mumkin sukkar
❹ ‫ممكن قهوة بالحليب؟‬
mumkin ahwa
bil-haleeb ❹ white
coffee
il-agweba
What food?
❻ ‫مكرونة‬
❻ pasta knife ❼ makarona
❼ ‫سكين‬
❽ cheese sikkeen
❽ ‫جبنة‬
juice ❿
gibna
❾ ‫فوطة‬
❾ napkin foo-ta
❿ ‫عصير‬
aaseer
Restaurant (4 minutes) Restaurant

You arrive at a restaurant. Join in the conversation, ❶ ‫ من‬،‫مائدة لستة‬
replying in Arabic following the English prompts. .‫فضلك‬
masaa il-khayr maa'ida li-sitta,
❶ Ask for a table for six. min fadlak
tadkheen aw doon tadkheen? ❷ .‫دون تدخين‬
❷ Say: non-smoking. doon tadkheen
ittafaddaloo hina ❸ ‫ممكن المنيو؟‬
❸ Ask for the menu. mumkin il-menu
aawzeen mayya ma adaneyya?
❹ ‫ من‬،‫ تمر هندي‬،‫ال‬
❹ Say: No. Tamarind drink, please.
.‫فضلك‬
h aadir
laa. tamru hindi,
❺ Say: I don’t have a glass. min fadlak
❺ .‫ماعنديش كوب‬
ma aandeesh koob
28 WEEK 3
Warm up (1 minute) Il-ayyaam

Say “He is vegetarian”
and “I have a bicycle.”
wish-shuhoor
(pp.14–15) Days and months
Say “She is not from Sometimes the word yohm (day) is used in
Egypt” and “I don’t front of the days of the week—for example,
have a car.” (pp.14–15) yohm il-itnayn (Monday). Friday is the main
What is the Arabic for day off in the Middle East, with offices and
“children”? (pp.10–11) schools also sometimes closed on Saturday.
Words to remember: days of the week (5 minutes)

Familiarize yourself with these words and test yourself using the flap.
‫ األثنين‬Monday
il-itnayn
‫ الثالثاء‬Tuesday
it-talaat
‫ األربعاء‬Wednesday
il-arbaaa .‫االجتماع بكرة‬
‫ الخميس‬Thursday il-igtimaaa bukra
The meeting is tomorrow.
il-khamees
‫ الجمعة‬Friday
il-gumaa
‫ السبت‬Saturday
is-sabt
‫ األحد‬Sunday
il-had .‫عندي حجز للنهاردة‬
aandee h agz l-innahaarda
‫ النهاردة‬today I have a reservation for today.
innahaarda
Useful phrases: days (2 minutes)

Learn these phrases and then test yourself using the cover flap.
.‫ االجتماع مش يوم الثالثاء‬The meeting isn’t
il-igtimaaa mish on Tuesday.
yohm it-talaat
.‫ باشتغل يوم الجمعة‬I work on Fridays.

bashtaghil yohm
il-gumaa
MAKING ARR ANGEMENTS 29
Words to remember: months (5 minutes)

January ‫يناير‬
yanaayir
February ‫فبراير‬
febraayir
March ‫مارس‬
maaris
April ‫أبريل‬
abreel
.‫عيد زواجنا في يوليو‬
aeedzawaagna fi yoolyo
May ‫مايو‬
Our wedding anniversary is in July. maayo
June ‫يونيو‬
yoonyo
July ‫يوليو‬
yoolyo
August ‫أغسطس‬
aghustus
September ‫سبتمبر‬
sebtembir
October ‫أكتوبر‬
oktobir
November ‫نوفمبر‬
nofembir
.‫رمضان شهر الصوم‬
ramadaan shahr is-sohm December ‫ديسمبر‬
Ramadan is the month of fasting. disembir
Useful phrases: months (2 minutes)

My children have a ‫أوالدي عندهم اجازة‬
holiday in August. .‫في أغسطس‬
awlaadee aanduhum
agaaza fi aghustus
My birthday is in June. .‫عيد ميالدي في يونيو‬

aeed milaadee
fi yoonyo
30 WEEK 3
Warm up (1 minute) Is-saaAa wil-arqaam

Count in Arabic from Time and numbers
1 to 10. (pp.10–11)
The Arabic word saaaa means hour or watch, and is
Say “I have a reservation.” used for telling the time: is-saaaa talaata three o’clock
(pp.20–1) “the hour three;” is-saaaa kaam? what’s the time? “the
Say “The meeting is on hour how many?”. In Arabic the hour comes first:
Wednesday.” (pp.28–9) itnayn illa khamsa (“two except five”—five to two).
Twenty minutes is referred to as tilt (a third).
Words to remember: time (4 minutes)

Memorize how to tell the time in Arabic.
‫ الساعة واحدة‬one o’clock
is-saaaa waahda
‫ واحدة وخمسة‬five past one
waahda wi khamsa
‫ واحدة وربع‬quarter past one
waahda wi ruba
‫ واحدة وثلث‬twenty past one
waahda wi tilt [“one and a third”]
‫ واحدة ونص‬half past one

waahda wi nuSS
‫ اثنين إال ربع‬quarter to two
itnayn illa ruba
‫ اثنين إال عشرة‬ten to two
itnayn illa aashra

the cover flap.
‫ الساعة كام؟‬What time is it?
is-saaaa kaam
‫ عاوزين الفطار الساعة كام؟‬What time do you

aawzeen il-fitaar want breakfast?
is-saaaa kaam
.‫ االجتماع الساعة اثنا عشر‬The meeting is

il-igtimaaa is-saaaa at 12 o’clock.
itnaashar
Words to remember: higher numbers (6 minutes)

For the numbers from 20 to 99 in eleven ‫احدى عشر‬
Arabic, say the units first followed h idaashar
by the tens, linking the numbers
with wi (and)—for example, waahid twelve ‫اثنا عشر‬
wi aishreen (21, “one and twenty”); itnaashar
sitta wi talaateen (36, “six and thirteen ‫ثالثة عشر‬
thirty”); tamanya wi sabaaeen
(78, “eight and seventy”). talat aashar
A thousand is elf. The dual ending fourteen ‫أربعة عشر‬

-ayn (see pp.10–11) is used for 200 arbaat aashar
(miyatayn) and 2,000 (elfayn).
fifteen ‫خمسة عشر‬
khamast aashar
sixteen ‫ستة عشر‬
sitt aashar
seventeen ‫سبعة عشر‬
sabaat aashar
eighteen ‫ثمانية عشر‬
tamant aashar
nineteen ‫تسعة عشر‬
tisat aashar
twenty ‫عشرين‬
a ishreen
thirty ‫ثالثين‬
talaateen
forty ‫أربعين‬
arbaaeen
‫أنا عاوز األوتوبيس نمرة‬
fifty ‫خمسين‬
.‫ثالثة وخمسين‬
khamseen
ena aawiz il-otobees nimra
talaata wi khamseen sixty ‫ستين‬
I want the number 53 bus. sitteen
seventy ‫سبعين‬
Say it (2 minutes) sabaaeen
25 eighty ‫ثمانين‬
68 tamaneen
84 ninety ‫تسعين‬
tisaeen
91
hundred ‫مائة‬
five to ten.
mia
twenty past eleven.
What time is lunch?
32 WEEK 3
Warm up (1 minute) Il-mawaAeed

Say the days of the week. Appointments
(pp.28–9)
For a foreigner, conducting business in the Arab
Say “three o’clock.” world can require a considerable amount of tact
(pp.30–1) and patience. The traditional notion of hospitality
What’s the Arabic for also extends to business situations. You may well
“today” and “tomorrow”? be offered drinks and snacks at meetings and it
(pp.28–9) is polite to accept them.
‫سالم باليد‬
salaam bil-yad
handshake
Learn these phrases and then test yourself
‫ نتقابل بكرة؟‬Shall we meet
nit'aabil bukra tomorrow?
‫ مع مين؟‬With whom?
maaa meen
‫ أنت فاضي امتى؟‬When are
enta faadi imta you free?
.‫ أنا مشغول‬،‫ آسف‬Sorry, I am busy.

aasif, ena mashghool
‫ الخميس كويس؟‬Is Thursday OK?
il-khamees kwayyis
.‫ أيوه ده يناسبني‬That suits me. ‫مرحب‬
marhab
aywa, dah
Welcome.
yinaasibnee
.‫مساء الخير‬ ‫ميعادك مع مين؟‬ .‫مع األستاذ حسن‬

.‫أنا عندي ميعاد‬ miaaadak maaa meen maaa l-ustaaz hasan
masaa il-khayr. Who is your With Mr. Hassan.
ena aandee miaaad appointment with?
Good afternoon. I have
an appointment.

Join in this conversation. Read the Arabic beside the pictures on the left and then
follow the instructions to make your reply. Then test yourself by concealing the
answers on the right with the cover flap.
‫ نتقابل الخميس؟‬/.‫ أنا مشغول‬،‫آسف‬
.‫ أنا مشغولة‬،‫آسفة‬
nit'aabil il-khamees
Shall we meet aasif, ena mashghool/
Thursday? aasfa, ena mashghoola
(m/f)
Say: Sorry, I’m busy.
‫ يناسبك امتى؟‬.‫الثالثاء بعد الظهر‬

yinaasabak imta it-talaat baad id-duhr
When suits you?
Say: Tuesday afternoon.
Conversational tip
If you are talking as a female or to a female, you need
to add the ending -a to descriptive words such as aasif
(sorry), faadi (free), mashghool (busy), and mitakh-khar
(late). A woman would say: aasfa, ena mashgoola (Sorry,
I am busy) or ena mitakh-khara (I am late). You would
ask a woman enti faadya? (Are you free?).
‫الساعة كام ميعادك؟‬ .‫ بس أنا متأخر‬،‫الساعة ثالثة‬ .‫ اتفضل استريح‬.‫معلش‬

is-saaaa kaam miaaadak is-saaaa talaata, bass maaalesh. itfaddal
What time is your ena mitakh-khar estarayyah
appointment? Three o’clock, but Never mind. Please
I’m late. take a seat.
34 WEEK 3
Warm up (1 minute) Aalat-tilifohn

Say “I’m sorry.” (pp.32–3) On the telephone
What is the Arabic for Public telephones are becoming less common in many
“I have an appointment.”? countries. If you think you will need to make a lot of
(pp.32–3) phone calls, it is often a good idea to buy a local SIM
How do you say “when?” card for your cell phone. Emergency and directory
in Arabic? (pp.32–3) numbers vary from country to country.

Match the numbered items to the Arabic in
the panel on the left, then test yourself.
❶ ‫شاحن‬
shaahin ❶ charger
❷ ‫أنسر‬
ansar
❸ ‫تليفون‬
tilifohn
❹ ‫موبايل‬
mubayil
❺ ‫سماعات‬
sammaaaaat
❸ telephone
headphones ❺
❹ cell
.‫ معاك عزة بركات‬.‫آلو‬ ‫ممكن أكلم األستاذ‬ ‫مين معايا؟‬

aaloh. maaak a zza ‫بدران من فضلك؟‬ meen maaaya
barakaat mumkin akallim Who’s calling?
Hello. Azza Barakat il-ustaaz badraan,
speaking. min fadlik
Can I speak to
Mr. Badraan, please?

Practice these phrases and then test yourself using the cover flap.
.‫ النمرة غلط‬.‫أنا آسف‬
ena aasif, in-nimra
ghalat
I’m sorry, wrong number.
‫ممكن أشتري‬ ‫ممكن أسيب رسالة؟‬

‫سمكارت محلي؟‬ mumkin aseeb risaala
mumkin ashtari sim-
kart mahallee
Can I buy a local
SIM card?
Can I leave a message?
Read it
❷ answering Most Arabic letters are joined to those before and
machine
after it in a word. When a letter comes last in a word,
it usually has a “tail” or some kind of flourish. For
example, the letters g (s) and k (sh) have a left-hand
tail, but lose this when not the final letter, leaving just
the small “w” shape (with three dots above for sh):
maaris (March) ‫ س = مارس‬+ ‫ ر‬+ ‫ ا‬+ ‫م‬
Say it (2 minutes) aasif (sorry) ‫ ف = آسف‬+ ‫ س‬+ ‫آ‬
Can I speak to Mr Hassan? shaahin (charger) ‫ ن = شاحن‬+ ‫ ح‬+ ‫ ا‬+ ‫ش‬
Can I buy a charger? See how many instances of the letters g (s)
and k (sh) you can spot in this lesson.
.‫هاري نولز من مطابع كابيتال‬ .‫ الخط مشغول‬.‫أنا آسفة‬ .‫حاتصل بعدين‬

haaree noolz min ena aasfa. il-khatt hatassil baadayn
mataabia kabitaal mashghool I’ll call back later.
Harry Knowles from I’m sorry. The line
Capital Printers. is busy.
36 WEEK 3

Review and repeat
Sums Sums (4 minutes) Telephones (3 minutes)
❶ ‫ستة عشر‬ Say the answers to What are the numbered
sitt aashar these sums out loud in items in Arabic?
Arabic. Then check you
❷ ‫سبعة وثالثين‬ cell ❶
have remembered
sabaaa wi-talateen correctly.
❸ ‫ثالثة وخمسين‬
❶ 10 + 6 = ?
talaata
wi-khamseen ❷ 14 + 25 = ?
❹ ‫أربعة وسبعين‬ ❸ 66 − 13 = ?
arbaaa ❹ 40 + 34 = ?
wi-sabaaeen headphones ❺
I want... I want… (3 minutes)

❶ ‫عاوز‬ Fill the gaps with
aawiz the correct form
❷ ‫عاوزة‬ of aawiz (want).
aawza ❶ huwa ahwa
❸ ‫عاوزين‬ ❷ heyya mayya
aawzeen ❸ ihna aaseer
❹ ‫عاوزين‬ ❹ hum shokolaata?

aawzeen ❺ enta shay?
❺ ‫عاوز‬ ❻ enti eh?
aawiz
❻ ‫عاوزة‬
aawza
il-agweba
Telephones
❶ ‫موبايل‬
❷ answering
mubayil
machine
❷ ‫أنسر‬
ansar
❸ ‫سمكارت‬
sim-kart
❹ ‫تليفون‬
tilifohn
SIM card ❸
sammaaaaat
telephone ❹
When? (2 minutes) When?

What do these sentences mean? ❶ I have a meeting
on Monday.
❶ ena aandee igtimaaa yohm il-itnayn
❷ My birthday is
❷ aeed milaadee fi sebtembir
in September.
❸ innahaarda il-gumaa
❸ Today is Friday.
❹ bashtaghil yohm il-had
❹ I work on Sundays.
Time (3 minutes) Time

Say these times in Arabic. ❶ ‫الساعة واحدة‬
is-saaaa waahda
❷ ‫واحدة وخمسة‬
waahda wi
khamsa
❸ ‫واحدة وثلث‬
waahda wi tilt
❶ ❷ ❸ ❹ ‫واحدة ونص‬
waahda wi nuSS
❺ ‫واحدة وربع‬
waahda wi ruba
❻ ‫اثنين إال عشرة‬
itnayn illa a shra
❹ ❺ ❻
38 WEEK 4
Warm up (1 minute) Fi shibbaak it-tazaakir

Count to 100 in tens. At the ticket office
(pp.10–11, pp.30–1)
The plural of tazkara (ticket) is tazaakir: talat tazaakir
Ask “What time is it?” l-aswaan (three tickets to Aswan). Two tickets is tazkartayn,
(pp.30–1) an example of the final a of tazkara changing to t when the
Say “Half past one.” dual ending -ayn is added (see pp.11–12).
(pp.30–1)
Words to remember (3 minutes) ‫قطار‬ ‫ركاب‬ ‫رصيف‬

'atr rukkaab raseef
Learn these words and then test yourself. train passengers platform
‫ محطة القطار‬train station

mahattit il-'atr
‫ محطة األوتوبيس‬bus station
mahattit il-ohtobees
‫ تذكرة‬ticket
tazkara
‫ ذهاب‬single
dhahaab
‫ ذهاب وعودة‬round-trip
dhahaab w-aawda
‫ درجة أولى‬first class
daraga oola
‫ درجة ثانية‬second class
daraga tanya
.‫المحطة زحمة‬
il-mahatta zahma
The station is crowded.
،‫تذكرتين لألقصر‬ ‫ذهاب وعودة؟‬ ‫ الزم نحجز كراسي؟‬.‫أيوه‬

.‫من فضلك‬ dhahaab w-aawda aywah. laazim nihgiz karaasi
tazkartayn li-lu'Sur, Round-trip? Yes. Do we have to
min fadlik reserve seats?
Two tickets to
Luxor, please.
TR AVEL 39

the cover flap.
How much is a ticket ‫بكام التذكرة ألسوان؟‬
to Aswan? bikaam it-tazkara
l-aswaan
Two tickets to .‫ من فضلك‬،‫تذكرتين للقاهرة‬
Cairo, please. tazkartayn lil-qaahira,
min fadlak
.‫القطار متأخر‬ Do I have to ‫الزم أغير القطار؟‬
il-'atr mitakh-khar change trains? laazim aghayyir il-'atr
The train is late.
Can I pay by card? ‫ممكن أدفع بالكارت؟‬
‫لوحة‬
lawha mumkin adfaa bil-kart
sign
Do we have to ‫الزم نحجز كراسي؟‬
reserve seats? laazim nihgiz karaasi
What time is the train ‫قطار اسكندرية الساعة كام؟‬

for Alexandria? 'atr iskindereyya
is-saaaa kaam
Say it (2 minutes) Cultural tip

Traveling by train in the Arab world may be less
What time is the train
glamorous than in the past but it can still be an
to Aswan?
economic alternative to air travel. Many tourists
How much is a ticket enjoy taking a comfortable sleeper car (arabit nohm)
to Luxor? from Cairo to Luxor or Aswan.
.‫ال مش مهم‬ ‫ممكن أدفع بالكارت؟‬ ‫ رصيف‬.‫إيوه ممكن‬

.‫ستين جنيه من فضلك‬ mumkin adfaa bil-kart .‫نمرة خمسة‬
laa mish muhimm. Can I pay by card? aywah mumkin. raseef
sitteen gunayh min fadlik nimra khamsa
No, that’s not necessary. Yes, you can. Platform
Sixty pounds, please. number five.
40 WEEK 4
Warm up (1 minute) RaayiH wi aakhid

What is “train” in Arabic? Going and taking
(pp.38–9)
Raayih and aakhud mean going and taking and are
What does “bikaam placed directly after the subject, without the need for
it-tazkara l-aswaan?” am, is, or are. As with aawiz (want), you will need to
mean? (pp.38–9) add -a for a female and -een for a group: huwa raayih
Ask a male and a female (he is going); ommee raayha (my mother is going);
“When are you free?” humma aakhdeen (they are taking).
(pp.32–3)
raayih: going (6 minutes)

The pronoun isn’t needed if the subject is clear. However,
you should use the correct form of raayih for a male,
a female, or a group: raayih/raayha/raayheen fayn? where
are you going? (masculine/feminine/plural)
‫رايحة‬/‫ أنا رايح‬I am going (m/f)
ena raayih/raayha
‫ أنت رايح‬you are going (m)
enta raayih
‫ أنت رايحة‬you are going (f)
enti raayha
‫ هو رايح‬he is going
huwa raayih
‫ هي رايحة‬she is going
heyya raayha
‫ احنا رايحين‬we are going
ihna raayheen
‫ انتم رايحين‬you are going (pl) .‫أنا رايح الجيزة‬
entum raayheen ena raayih ig-geeza
‫هما رايحين‬
ّ they are going I’m going to Giza.
humma raayheen
Conversational tip
You may have noticed that when you add -a for
a female or -een for a group to raayih (going),
aakhid (taking), or aawiz (want), the i sound
disappears. Although strictly the combination
produces, for example, raayiha and aawizeen,
in everyday speech the sounds are compressed
to become “raayha”, “aawzeen”, and so on: humma
aawzeen tazkartayn (they want two tickets); heyya
raayha ig-geeza (she’s going to Giza).
TR AVEL 41
aakhid: taking (6 minutes)

Say these short phrases aloud. Use the cover flap to test yourself. When you are
confident, practice the longer sentences below.
‫آخذة‬/‫ أنا آخذ‬I am taking
ena aakhid/aakhda (m/f)
‫آخذة‬/‫ أنت آخذ‬you are taking

enta aakhid/enti aakhda (m/f)
‫ هو آخذ‬he is taking
huwa aakhid
.‫احنا آخذين المترو النهاردة‬
‫ هي آخذة‬she is taking
ihna aakhdeen il-metro
innahaarda heyya aakhda
We’re taking the ‫احنا آخذين‬/‫هما‬/‫انتم‬

ّ we/you (pl)/they
metro today. ihna/entum/ are taking
humma aakhdeen
.‫ هو مش آخذ تاكسي‬He’s not taking

huwa mish a taxi.
aakhid taaksi
‫انتم آخذين األوتوبيس؟‬ Are you (pl) taking

entum aakhdeen the bus?
il-otohbees

Cover the text on the right and complete the dialog in Arabic.
‫ رايح فين؟‬.‫أنا رايح األقصر‬
raayih fayn ena raayih lu'Sur
Where are you going?
Say: I’m going to Luxor.
‫ أنت آخذ تاكسي؟‬.‫ أنا آخذ القطار‬،‫ال‬

enta aakhid taaksi laa. ena aakhid il-'atr
Are you taking
a taxi?
Say: No, I’m taking
the train.
42 WEEK 4
Warm up (1 minute) Taaksi, otohbees,

Say “I’m not taking
a taxi.” (pp.40–1)
wi metro
Ask a group of people
Taxi, bus, and metro
“Where are you going?” Egyptians generally use the word otohbees for bus,
(pp.40–1) but in other regions you might hear baas or the
Say “80” and “40”. more official haafila. You may also be able to catch
(pp.30–1) a microbus or a shared taxi, depending on where
you want to go.

Familiarize yourself with these words and
test yourself using the cover flap.
‫ أوتوبيس‬bus/coach
otohbees
‫ شباك تذاكر‬ticket office
shibbaak tazaakir
‫ محطة مترو‬metro station
mahattit metro
‫ موقف أوتوبيس‬bus stop
mawqaf otohbees
‫ أجرة تاكسي‬taxi fare
ogrit taaksi
‫ موقف تاكسي‬taxi stand
mawqaf taaksi
‫ بيقف هنا؟‬١٧ ‫نمرة‬
nimra sabaat aashar
bi-yu'uf hina
Does the number 17
stop here?
In conversation: taxi (2 minutes)
.‫خان الخليلي من فضلك‬ .‫ اتفضل‬.‫ماشي‬ ‫ممكن أنزل هنا من فضلك؟‬

Khan il-khalilee maashi. ittafaddal mumkin anzil hina
min fadlak OK. Please get in. min fadlak
Khan il-khalili, please. Can I get out
here, please?
TR AVEL 43

I want a taxi .‫عاوز تاكسي للكرنك‬
to Karnak. aawiz taaksi lil-karnak
When is the next bus? ‫امتى األوتوبيس الجاي؟‬

imta il-otohbees
ig-gaay
How do I get to ‫ازاي أوصل المتحف؟‬

the museum? izzay awS al il-methaf
How far is it? ‫المسافة قد إيه؟‬

il-misaafa adda eh
Please wait for me. .‫استناني من فضلك‬

istanaanee min fadlak
Cultural tip There is a metro system Say it (2 minutes)

in Cairo with lines identified by color.
Does the number 6
The Red and Blue Lines run north to
stop here?
south and the Green Line runs east to
west. Expansion is planned but the Are you going to
network is currently limited. However, if Khan il-khalili?
your destination is on a metro line, you
How do I get to
can avoid the traffic jams above ground.
the train station?
In conversation: bus (2 minutes)
‫رايح عند المتحف؟‬ .‫ جنيه من فضلك‬.‫أيوه‬ .‫قوللي لما نوصل‬

raayih aand il-methaf awyah. ginayh min fadlik ullee lama nohsil
Are you going to Yes. A pound please. Tell me when we arrive.
the museum?
44 WEEK 4
Warm up (1 minute) AalaT-Tareeq

Say “I have...” On the road
(pp.14–15)
Self-drive car rental is not popular in the Middle East,
Say “my father,” “my although it is possible for the adventurous traveler to
sister,” and “my son.” do this. It is more relaxing to hire a car with a driver.
(pp.10–11, pp.12–13) If you decide to drive yourself, stick to the daytime,
Say “I’m going to Luxor.” be clear about the route, and learn to recognize
(pp.40–1) your destination in Arabic script.

Match the numbered items
to the list on the left, then
test yourself. ❶ trunk
❶ ‫شنطة‬
shanta
❷ ‫بربريز‬
barabreez
❸ ‫كبوت‬
kabboot
❹ ‫عجلة‬
aagala
❺ ‫كاوتش‬
kawitsh
❻ ‫باب‬
baab
❼ ‫فانوس‬ door ❻
wheel ❹
fanoos
❽ ‫اكسضام‬
iksidaam tire ❺ Conversational tip
Many words used by Egyptians
for car parts are adapted from
European languages. The terms
used vary from region to region.
Road features (2 minutes)
‫ميدان‬ ‫إشارة‬ ‫شرطي المرور‬

midaan ishaara shurtee il-muroor
square/traffic circle traffic lights traffic policeman
TR AVEL 45

The turn signal .‫اإلشارة مش شغالة‬
isn’t working. il-ishaara mish
shagh-ghaala
Fill it up, please. .‫امالها من فضلك‬

imlaaha min fadlak
❷ windshield
Familiarize yourself with these words then test
❸ hood yourself using the flap.
gas ‫بنزين‬
benzeen
diesel ‫ديزل‬
deezil
oil ‫زيت‬
zayt
engine ‫موتور‬
motoor
license ‫رخصة‬
rukhS a
headlights ❼ ❽ bumper
Read it Six of the 28 letters of the Arabic
alphabet are never joined to the next (left-
Say it (1 minute) hand) letter in a word: ‫( د‬d); ‫( ذ‬z/d); ‫( ر‬r); ‫( ز‬z);
‫( و‬w/oo); ‫( ا‬a/aa). This makes them easier to
The headlights aren’t working. recognize as they don’t significantly change
I don’t have gaas. their shapes. Look, for example, at the word
‫( ميدان‬midaan), which contains both ‫ د‬and ‫ا‬.
‫كوبري علوي‬ ‫التول‬ ‫زحمة مرور‬

kubree aulwee it-tol zahmit muroor
overpass toll gate traffic jam
46 WEEK 4

Review and repeat
Transport Transport (3 minutes)
❶ ‫أوتوبيس‬ Name these forms of transport in Arabic.
otohbees
bus ❶
❷ ‫تاكسي‬
taaksi
❸ ‫عجلة‬
aagala
❹ ‫مترو‬
metro
❺ ‫سيارة‬
sayyaara
car ❺
Going/taking Going/taking (4 minutes)

❶ ‫رايحة‬ Use the correct form of the word in brackets.
raayha ❶ enti fayn? (raayih)
❷ ‫رايحين‬ ❷ humma ig-geeza (raayih)
raayheen ❸ huwa il-methaf (raayih)
❸ ‫رايح‬ ❹ entum il-metro? (aakhid)
raayih ❺ heyya mish taaksi (aakhid)
❹ ‫آخذين‬
❻ enta il-otohbees? (aakhid)
aakhdeen
❺ ‫آخذة‬
aakhda
❻ ‫آخذ‬
aakhid
TR AVEL 47
il-agweba
You? (4 minutes) You?

Use the correct phrase ❶ ‫أنت عاوز عصير؟‬
for you (enta, enti, or enta aawiz aaseer
entum) in each question.
❷ ‫أنت عندك ميعاد؟‬
❶ Ask a male “Do you enti aandik meeaaad
want a juice?”
❸ ‫أنتم من مصر؟‬
❷ Ask a female entum min muSr
“Do you have ❹ ‫أنت رايحة فين؟‬
❷ taxi an appointment?”
enti raayha fayn
❸ Ask a group “Are you ❺ ‫أنتم عندكم تورتة؟‬
from Egypt?” entum aandukum
torta
❹ Ask a female “Where
❹ metro are you going?”
❺ Ask in a café “Do you

have cake?”
bicycle ❸
Tickets (4 minutes) Tickets

You’re buying tickets at a train station. Follow ❶ ،‫تذكرتين ألسوان‬
the conversation, replying in Arabic following .‫من فضلك‬
the numbered English prompts. tazkartayn l-aswaan,
sabaah il-khayr, ayy khidma? min fadlik
❶ Two tickets to Aswan, please. ❷ ‫ ذهاب وعودة‬،‫أيوه‬
dhihaab wi-aawda? .‫من فضلك‬
❷ Yes. Round-trip, please. aywah. dhahaab
tisaeen ginayh, min fadlak w-aawda, min fadlik
❸ What time is the train? ❸ ‫القطار الساعة كام؟‬
is-saaa khamsa wi-nuss il-'atr is-saaaa kaam
❹ Do we have to reserve seats? ❹ ‫الزم نحجز كراسي؟‬
laa. mish muhimm laazim nihgiz
❺ Thank you. Goodbye. karaasi
❺ .‫ مع السالمة‬.‫شكرا‬
shukran.
maaasalaama
48 WEEK 5
Warm up (1 minute) Hawl il-madeena

Ask “How do you get to About town
the museum?” (pp.42–3)
Note that the word kubree (bridge) is used widely in
Say “I want to take the Egypt, but jisr is also common in other parts of the Arab
metro” and “I’m not world. Be careful, too, not to confuse mektaba
taking a taxi.” (pp.40–1) (bookstore or library) and mektab (office)—the only
difference is the final a sound.

Match the numbered locations to the
words in the panel.
❶ ‫كوبري‬
kubree ❶ bridge
❷ ‫برج‬
borg
❸ ‫دار األوبرا‬
daar il-obra
❹ ‫ميدان‬
meedaan
❺ ‫مسجد‬
masgid
❷ tower
❻ ‫متحف‬
methaf
❼ ‫سوق‬
soo'

Familiarize yourself with these words
and test yourself using the cover flap.
‫ محطة بنزين‬gas station
mahattit
benzeen ❹ square
‫ مكتب سياحة‬tourist office
mektab siyaaha
opera ❸
‫ مكتبة‬library/ house
mektaba bookstore
‫ وسط البلد‬town center

wust il-balad
❺ mosque
GETTING AROUND 49
Conversational tip The common expressions feeh (there is/are) and ma feesh
(there isn’t/aren’t) will be understood throughout the Arabic-speaking world, but in
some dialects of Arabic ma feesh is pronounced ma fee, without the final sh sound.
Likewise, ma aandeesh (I don’t have) and ma aandinaash (we don’t have) can be
pronounced ma aandee and ma aandinaa, again without the final sh sound.

Is there a gas station ‫فيه محطة بنزين قريبة‬
near here? ‫من هنا؟‬
feeh mahattit benzeen
urayyiba min hina
(Is it) far from here? ‫بعيد من هنا؟‬

biaeed min hina
.‫المسجد في وسط البلد‬ There is a market .‫فيه سوق جنب الكوبري‬
il-masgid fi wust il-balad next to the bridge. feeh soo' ganb
The mosque is in the il-kubree
town center.

Join in this conversation. Read the Arabic on the left
and follow the instructions to make your reply. Then
‫فيه مكتبة قريبة من هنا؟ أي خدمة؟‬
ayyi khidma feeh mektaba urayyiba
Can I help you? min hina
Ask: Is there a
bookstore near here?
.‫ جنب المتحف‬،‫بعيد من هنا؟ أيوه‬

aywah, ganb il-methaf biaeed min hina
Yes, next to the museum.
Ask: Is it far from here?
❻ museum
.‫ هناك‬،‫ ال‬.‫شكرا‬
laa, hinaak shukran
No, over there.
Say: Thank you.
❼ market
50 WEEK 5
Warm up (1 minute) Il-ittigaahaat

How do you ask “How Directions
far is it?” (pp.42–3)
When finding your way around a town or city you
Say “We’re taking are not familiar with, it always helps to be able to ask
the bus.” (pp.40–1) for directions. The smaller streets may not always be
Ask a group of people well known, so it is a good idea to find out what the
“Where are you going?” local landmarks are, such as markets, stores, or
(pp.40–1) important buildings.
Useful phrases (4 minutes) ‫تمثال‬

timsaal
Learn these phrases and then test yourself. statue
.‫يمين‬/‫ خذ شمال‬Turn left/right.

khud shimaal/ (talking to a male)
yimeen
.‫يمين‬/‫ خذي شمال‬Turn left/right.
khudee shimaal/ (talking to a female)
yimeen
‫ على طول‬straight ahead
aala tool
‫ ازاي أوصل البازار؟‬How do I get to

izzay awS al il-bazaar the bazaar?
‫ أول يمين‬first right

awwil yimeen
‫ ثاني شمال‬second left
taanee shimaal
‫شارع رئيسي‬
shaarea rayeesee
main street
‫فيه مطعم قريب؟‬ .‫ جنب المحطة‬،‫أيوه‬ ‫ازاي أوصل المحطة؟‬

feeh mataam uraayyib aywah. ganb il-mahatta izzay awS al il-mahatta
Is there a restaurant Yes, near the station. How do I get to the station?
nearby?
GETTING AROUND 51

Familiarize yourself with these words and test yourself
using the flap.
junction ‫تقاطع‬
taqaatua
corner ‫ناصية‬
nasya
!‫أنا تهت‬
street ‫شارع‬
ena tuht
shaarea
I’m lost!
the end of the street ‫آخر الشارع‬
‫عمارة‬
aakhir ish-shaarea
a imaara
apartment block map ‫خريطة‬

khareeta
at ‫عند‬
aand
in front of ‫قدام‬
uddaam
Say it (2 minutes)
Turn right at the
corner. (to a male)
Turn left in front of the
museum. (to a female)
How do I get to the
restaurant?
‫احنا فين؟‬
ihna fayn
Where are we?
.‫خذي شمال عند اإلشارة‬ ‫المسافة قد إيه؟‬ .‫خمس دقائق مشي‬

khudee shimaal aand il-misaafa adda eh khamas da’aayi
il-ishaara How far is it? mash-yuh
Turn left at the traffic lights. A five-minute walk.
52 WEEK 5
Warm up (1 minute) Ziyaarit

Say the days of the week
il-maAaalim
How do you say
Sightseeing
“six o’clock”? (pp.30–1) While many government offices are closed on Friday,
Ask “What time is it?” the main tourist sites are open every day. The smaller
(pp.30–1) ones often have shorter opening hours on Fridays.
It is always worth checking the times of opening
before your visit.

‫ دليل سياحي‬guidebook
daleel siyaahi
‫ تذاكر دخول‬entrance tickets
tazaakir dukhool
‫ مواعيد الزيارة‬opening times
mawaaeed iz-ziyaara
‫ أجازة رسمية‬public holiday
agaaza rasmeyya
‫ دخول مجاني‬free entrance
dukhool maggaani ‫جولة مع دليل‬
gawla maa daleel
guided tour
Cultural tip
You may be offered the services of a guide at tourist sites—sometimes this is
optional, but sometimes a guided tour is part of the ticket. You should tip the
guide at the end of the tour.
‫بتفتحوا بعد الظهر؟‬ ‫ بس بنقفل‬،‫أيوه‬ ‫فيه تسهيالت للمعاقين؟‬

bi-tiftahoo baad id-duhr .‫الساعة خمسة‬ feeh tas-heelaat
Do you open in aywah, bass bi-ni'fil lil-muaaqeen
the afternoon? is-saaaa khamsa Are there facilities
Yes, but we close for the disabled?
at five o’clock.
GETTING AROUND 53

What time do you ‫بتقفلوا الساعة كام؟‬/‫بتفتحوا‬
open/close? bi-tiftahoo/bi-ti'filoo
is-saaaa kaam
Where are the restrooms? ‫فين الحمامات؟‬

fayn il-hammaamaat
Are there facilities ‫فيه تسهيالت للمعاقين؟‬

for the disabled? feeh tas-heelaat
lil-muaaqeen

Cover the text on the right and complete the dialog in Arabic.
.‫ المتحف مقفول‬،‫بتفتحوا يوم الثالثاء؟ آسف‬
aasif. il-methaf ma'fool bi-tiftahoo yohm
Sorry. The museum it-talaat
is closed.
Ask: Do you open
on Tuesdays?
.‫ بس بنقفل بدري‬،‫الساعة كام؟ أيوه‬

aywah, bass bi-ni'fil badree is-saaaa kaam
Yes, but we close early.
Ask: At what time?
.‫ فيه أسانسير‬،‫أيوه‬ .‫ عاوزة تذكرتين دخول‬.‫شكرا‬ ‫ الدليل السياحي‬.‫اتفضلي‬

aywah, feeh asanseer shukran. aawza .‫ده مجاني‬
hinaak tazkirtayn dukhool ittfaddalee. id-daleel
Yes, there’s an elevator Thank you. I want is-siyaahi dah maggaani
over there. two entrance tickets. Here you are. This
guidebook is free.
54 WEEK 5
Warm up (1 minute) Fil-maTaar

Say “half past one.” At the airport
(pp.30–1)
Although airports are generally an international
What’s the Arabic for environment, it is often useful to be able to ask
“ticket,” “two tickets,” and your way around the terminal in Arabic. It’s a
“three tickets”? (pp.38–9) good idea to make sure you have some small
Say “I am going change when you arrive at the airport; you may
to Aswan.” (pp.40–1) need to pay for a luggage cart or tip a porter.

‫ التسجيل‬check-in
it-tasgeel
‫ مغادرة‬departures
mughaadra
‫ وصول‬arrivals
wusool
‫ جمارك‬customs
gamaarik
‫ رحلة‬flight
rihla
‫ صالة‬terminal
saala
‫ بوابة‬gate ‫الرحلة من أي بوابة؟‬
bawwaaba ir-rihla min ayyi bawwaaba
Which gate does the flight leave from?

‫ رحلة أسوان في ميعادها؟‬Is the flight to
rihlit aswaan fi Aswan on time?
miaaad-ha
.‫ مش القي شنطي‬I can’t find

mish laa'ee shonatee my luggage.
GETTING AROUND 55

Join in this conversation. Read the Arabic on the left and follow the instructions to
make your reply. Then test yourself by concealing the answers using the cover flap.
‫رحلة الغرقة في ميعادها؟ أي خدمة؟‬
ayyi khidma rihlit il-gharda'a fi
Can I help you? miaaad-ha
Ask: Is the flight to
Hurghada on time?
.‫الرحلة من أي بوابة؟ أيوه يا فندم‬

aywah yaa fendim ir-rihla min ayyi
Yes sir. bawwaaba
Ask: Which gate does
the flight leave from?

Match the numbered items to the Arabic words in the panel.
❶ ‫كارت صعود‬
kart suaood
boarding ❶ ❷ ‫تذكرة‬
pass tazkara
❸ ‫جواز السفر‬
gawaaz is-safar
❹ ‫شنطة‬
shanta
❺ ‫تروللي‬
trollee
ticket ❷ Read it The sign

below reads mataar
(airport). It is written
passport ❸ (from right to left):
‫( م‬m), ‫( ط‬t ), ‫( ا‬aa),
‫( ر‬r). Notice that the
first a is not written
(see page 25 for more
details on vowels in
Arabic script).
❹ suitcase ❺ cart
56 WEEK 5

Review and repeat
Places Places (4 minutes)
❶ ‫متحف‬ Name the numbered places in Arabic.
methaf
❷ ‫ميدان‬
midaan
❸ ‫كوبري‬
kubree ❶ museum ❷ square ❸ bridge
❹ ‫سوق‬
sooq
❺ ‫برج‬
borg
❹ market ❺ tower ❻ mosque
❻ ‫مسجد‬
masgid ❼ opera house
❼ ‫دار األوبرا‬
daar il-obra
Car parts Car parts (3 minutes)

❶ ‫بربريز‬ Name these car parts in Arabic.
barabreez
❶ windshield
❷ ‫إشارة‬
ishaara
❸ ‫كبوت‬
kabboot
❹ ‫عجلة‬
aagala
❺ ‫باب‬
baab
❻ ‫اكسضام‬
iksidaam
❺ door
❹ tire
GETTING AROUND 57
il-agweba
Questions (4 minutes) Questions

Ask the questions that match these answers. ❶ ‫(أنت) رايح فين؟‬
❶ ena raayih il-ahraam (enta) raayih fayn
❷ bi-ni'fil is-saaaa arbaaa ❷ ‫بتقفلوا الساعة كام؟‬
❸ ihna aawzeen shaay bi-ti'filoo is-saaaa
kaam
❹ laa. maandeesh awlaad
❸ ‫(أنتم) عاوزين إيه؟‬
❺ khamas da'aayi mash-yuh
(entum) aawzeen eh
❹ ‫عندك أوالد؟‬
aandak awlaad
❺ ‫المسافة قد إيه؟‬
il-misaafa adda eh
Verbs (4 minutes) Verbs

Ask for directions to ❶ ‫إزاي أوصل المتحف؟‬
each of these places izzay awS al il-methaf
in Arabic.
❷ ‫إزاي أوصل البرج؟‬
❶ the museum izzay awS al il-borg
❸ ‫إزاي أوصل السوق؟‬
❷ turn signal ❷ the tower
izzay awS al is-sooq
❸ the market ❹ ‫إزاي أوصل المسجد؟‬
❸ hood
izzay awS al il-masgid
❹ the mosque
❺ ‫إزاي أوصل البازار؟‬
❺ the bazaar izzay awS al il-bazaar
❻ bumper
58 WEEK 6
Warm up (1 minute) Hagz ghurfa

Ask “Can I pay by card?” Booking a room
(pp.38–9)
Accommodation for visitors in Arabic-speaking
Ask “How much is that?” countries ranges from luxury hotels and upscale
(pp.18–19) holiday complexes to small, family-run guest houses.
Ask “Do you have any Staff on the front desk of larger hotels usually speak
children?” (to a female) good English, but other staff and owners of small
(pp.10–11) hotels may not.

Practice these phrases and then test yourself by concealing the Arabic on the left
‫ شامل الفطور؟‬Is breakfast included?
shaamil il-futoor
‫ فيه تكييف هواء؟‬Is there air-conditioning?

feeh takeef hawa
‫ فيه خدمة غرف؟‬Is there room service?

feeh khidmit ghuraf
‫ المغادرة الساعة كام؟‬What time is

il-mughaadra check-out?
is-saaaa kaam
‫فيه غرف فاضية؟‬ ‫ فيه غرفة لشخصين؟‬،‫أيوه‬ ‫فيه سرير أطفال؟‬

feeh ghuraf fadya aywah. feeh ghurfa feeh sireer atfaal
Do you have any li-shakhS ayn Is there a cot?
vacant rooms? Yes, there’s a double room.
AC C O M M O DAT I O N 59

Familiarize yourself with these words and test yourself by concealing the Arabic
on the right using the cover flap.
room ‫غرفة‬
ghurfa
single room ‫غرفة لشخص‬
ghurfa li-shakhs
double room ‫غرفة لشخصين‬
ghurfa li-shakhsayn
bathroom ‫حمام‬
h ammaam
balcony ‫بلكونة‬
‫فيه بلكونة؟‬ balkohna
feeh balkohna shower ‫دش‬
Is there a balcony? dush
Say it (2 minutes) breakfast ‫فطور‬

futoor
Do you have a single room, please?
key ‫مفتاح‬
Six nights. moftaah
Is dinner included?
Conversational tip Some Arabic words can be made plural by adding one of
two endings, -aat or -een, as in hammaam/hammaamaat (bathroom/bathrooms) or
muwazzaf/muwazzafeen (employee/employees). However, many other plurals are made
by altering the vowel sounds within a word, as occurs in English with goose/geese
or mouse/mice. Examples of this type of plural include layla/leyaalee (night/nights),
ghurfa/ghuraf (room/rooms), and tifl/atfaal (child/children). You will need to learn
these plurals individually.
‫ عاوزين كام ليلة؟‬.‫ فيه‬،‫أيوه‬ .‫ثالث ليالي‬ .‫ اتفضلوا المفتاح‬.‫ماشي‬

aywah, feeh. aawzeen talat leyaalee maashi. ittafaddaloo
kaam layla Three nights. il-moftaah
Yes, there is. How many That’s fine. Here’s the key.
nights do you want?
60 WEEK 6
Warm up (1 minute) Fil-fundu'

Say “Is/Are there…?” In the hotel
and “There isn’t/aren’t…”
aawiz/aawza/aawzeen (m/f/pl) meaning want
(pp.48–9)
can also be used to mean need. Arabic doesn’t have
What does “ayyi an equivalent of the English a, an, or some. So I need
khidma?” mean? a blanket is (ena) aawiz/aawza bataneyya (literally
(pp.48–9) need blanket) and we need some towels is (ihna)
aawzeen fuwat (need towels).

Match the numbered items in this hotel bedroom with the Arabic text in the panel
and test yourself using the cover flap.
❶ ‫تليفزيون‬ ❶ television
tileefizyon ❷ chair
❷ ‫كرسي‬
kursee
❸ ‫روب حمام‬ curtains ❹
light ❺
rohb hammaam
❹ ‫ستاير‬
sataayir ❸ bathrobe
❺ ‫نور‬
noor
➏ ‫شبشب‬
shibshib
➐ ‫فوطة‬
foota
❽ ‫سرير‬
sireer
❾ ‫مخدة‬
makhadda
❼ towel ❽ bed
❻ slippers
pillow ❾
Cultural tip In a double room in an Egyptian hotel, you may find one long pillow
instead of two individual ones on the bed. You may also see an arrow on the floor or
on a piece of furniture. This points towards Mecca, the direction Muslims face to pray.
Toilets usually include a small cleansing shower,
sometimes inside the bowl itself, with an accessible
tap to control the flow.

The room is very .‫حر جدا‬/‫الغرفة برد‬
cold/hot. il-ghurfa bard/harr
giddan
There are no towels. .‫مافيش فوط‬

ma feesh fuwat
We need some soap. .‫عاوزين صابون‬

aawzeen S aboon
The shower .‫الدش مش شغال‬

doesn’t work. id-dush mish shagh-ghaal
The elevator is out .‫األسانسير عطالن‬

of order. il-asanseer aatlaan

Practice these phrases and then complete the dialogue in Arabic.
‫ أي خدمة؟‬.‫عاوزة مخدة‬
ayyi khidma aawza makhadda
Can I help you?
Say: I need
a pillow.
.‫ حابعتها حاال‬.‫والتليفزيون عطالن‬

h abaat-ha h aalan wal-tileefizyon
I’ll send one aat laan
straight away.
Say: And the television
is out of order.
62 WEEK 6
Warm up (1 minute) Aalal markib

Ask “Can I?” On the boat
(pp.34–5)
Boat trips of all kinds are popular with tourists in the
Say “The elevator is out Middle East, whether a diving or fishing excursion in
of order.” (pp.60–1) the Red Sea, a serene and spectacular float down the
Say “We need soap.” Nile in a traditional faluka, or a luxurious sightseeing
(pp.60–1) cruise in a “floating hotel.”
‫ممكن نأجر مركب؟‬

mumkin niaggar markib
Learn these words and then test yourself by Can we rent a boat?
concealing the Arabic with the cover flap.
‫ مركب‬boat
markib
‫ يخت‬yacht
yakht
‫ مركب غطس‬dive boat
markib ghats
‫ مركب صيد‬fishing boat
markib sayd
‫ لنش‬motorboat/
lansh launch
‫فلوكة‬
filooka
faluka
‫عاوزين نحجز رحلة‬ ‫أنا عندي أحسن فلوكة‬ ‫ الرحلة كام ساعة؟‬.‫ماشي‬
.‫على النيل‬ .‫في النيل كله‬ maashi. ir-rihla kaam
aawzeen nihgiz rihla ena aandee ahsan saaaa
aalan-neel filooka fin-neel kulluh OK. How many hours
We want to book I have the best faluka is the trip?
a trip on the Nile. on the whole Nile.
Words and phrases to remember (3 minutes)

Learn these words and phrases and then test yourself using the cover flap.
lifejacket ‫سترة النجاة‬
Say it (2 minutes) sutrit in-nagaah
Can we rent diving gear? diving gear ‫عدة الغطس‬
I need a fishing rod. a iddit il-ghats
How much is the trip fishing gear ‫عدة الصيد‬

for children? a iddit iS-S ayd
fishing rod ‫سنارة‬

‫شراع‬ ‫عبارة‬ sinnaara
shiraaa aabbaara
sail ferry bait ‫طعم‬

t ua m
Can we rent equipment? ‫ممكن نأجر عدة؟‬

mumkin ni'aggar aidda
I’m a beginner. .‫أنا مبتدئ‬
ena mubtadi'
I can’t swim. .‫ماعرفش أعوم‬
maaarafsh aaoom
I’m an experienced .‫أنا سباح ماهر‬
swimmer. ena sabbaah maahir
Is fishing allowed here? ‫الصيد مسموح هنا؟‬

iS-S ayd masmooh hina
Is it suitable for children? ‫دي مناسبة لألطفال؟‬

dee munaasba lil-at faal
‫ممكن ساعتين أو ثالث‬ ‫بكام الرحلة دي لشخصين؟‬ .‫ثالثين جنيه النفر‬

.‫ساعات‬ bikaam ir-rihla dee talateen ginayh
mumkin saaatayn ow li-shakhS ayn in-nafar
talaat saaaaat How much is this trip Thirty pounds per person.
It can be two or three hours. for two people?
64 WEEK 6
Warm up (1 minute) Il-waSf

How do you say Descriptions
“the room is hot”?
Adjectives are descriptive words. In Arabic an
(pp.60–1)
adjective usually follows the thing it describes and
What is the Arabic is in the same gender, as in sireer kibeer (a large bed,
for “bed,” “towel,” masculine/singular) or ghurfa kibeera (a large room,
and “pillow”? (pp.60–1) feminine/singular); but il-ghurfa kibeera (the room
[is] large).

Most adjectives change depending on whether the thing described is masculine
or feminine. Generally, the feminine form of an adjective ends in -a. Be aware
that this addition sometimes affects the pronunciation; the preceding vowel
sounds may be contracted.
‫ة‬-/‫ سخن‬hot .‫الجو كويس‬
sukhn/sukhna ig-gaw kwayyis
‫ة‬-/‫ بارد‬cold The weather is nice.
baarid/baarda
‫ة‬-/‫ كبير‬big/large
kibeer/kibeera
‫ة‬-/‫ صغير‬small
sughayyar/sughayyara
‫ دوشة‬noisy
dawsha (m/f)
‫ة‬-/‫ هادي‬quiet
haadi/haadya
‫ة‬-/‫ جديد‬new
gideed/gideeda
‫ة‬-/‫ قديم‬old
adeem/adeema
‫ة‬-/‫ كويس‬nice/good
kwayyis/kwayyisa
Read it The feminine ending -a is written in

Arabic script as a circle with two dots above: ‫ة‬.
This is called taa marboota (tied-up T) because
it can also be pronounced -t or -it when placed
in certain word combinations. For example,
‫( غرفة‬ghurfa, room), but ‫( غرفة األوالد‬ghurfit
il-awlaad, the children’s room).

Learn these phrases. Note that you can qualify a description by using giddan (very) or
shwayya (a little) after the adjective.
The coffee is cold. .‫القهوة باردة‬
il-ahwa baarda
My room is very noisy. .‫غرفتي دوشة جدا‬

ghurfitee dawsha giddan
The car is a little small. .‫السيارة صغيرة شوية‬

is-sayyaara sughayyara
shwayya
I need a new pillow. .‫عاوز مخدة جديدة‬

aawiz makhadda
gideeda

Join in this conversation. Cover up the text on the right and complete the dialog
in Arabic. Check and repeat if necessary.
.‫ دي غرفتكم‬.‫المنظر جميل جدا‬
dee ghurfitkum il-manzar gameel
This is your room. giddan
Say: The view is
very beautiful.
.‫ الحمام هناك‬.‫ده صغير شوية‬

il-hammaam hinaak dah sughayyar shwayya
The bathroom is
over there.
Say: It’s a little small.
.‫ الفندق مليان‬،‫ آسف‬.‫مش مهم‬

aasif. il-fundu' malyaan mish muhimm
I’m sorry. The hotel is full.
Say: It’s not important.
66 WEEK 6

Review and repeat
Descriptions Descriptions (3 minutes)
❶ ‫باردة‬ Put the word in brackets into Arabic. Use the correct
baarda masculine or feminine form.
❷ ‫كبير‬ ❶ il-ghurfa (cold)
kibeer ❷ il hammaam (large) giddan
❸ ‫سخنة‬ ❸ il-mayya (hot) shwayya
sukhna ❹ il-bahr (beautiful)
❹ ‫جميل‬ ❺ ena aawiz ghurfa (quiet)
gameel
❺ ‫هادية‬
haadya
In the hotel In the hotel (3 minutes)

❶ ‫تليفزيون‬ Name these items you might find in a hotel room.
tileefizyon
❹ curtains
❷ ‫كرسي‬ ❶ television ❷ chair
kursee
❸ ‫روب حمام‬ ❸ bathrobe
rohb hammaam
❹ ‫ستاير‬
sataayir
❺ ‫نور‬
noor
❻ ‫شبشب‬
shibshib
❼ ‫فوطة‬
foota
❽ ‫سرير‬
sireer
❾ ‫مخدة‬ ❼ towel
makhadda ❽ bed
❻ slippers
il-agweba
At the hotel (4 minutes) At the hotel

You are booking a room in a hotel. Follow the ❶ ‫فيه غرف فاضية؟‬
conversation, replying in Arabic where you can feeh ghuraf fadya
see the English prompts.
❷ ‫فيه تكييف هواء؟‬
ayyi khidma? feeh takeef hawa
❶ Do you have any vacant rooms?
❸ .‫ثالث ليالي‬
feeh ghurfa li-shakhs
talat leyaalee
❷ Is there air-conditioning?
❹ ‫شامل الفطور؟‬
aywa. aawiz kaam layla?
❸ Three nights. shaamil il-futoor
maashi
❹ Is breakfast included?
Negatives (5 minutes) Negatives

Make these sentences negative ❶ .‫الغرفة مش هادية‬
using mish (not). il-ghurfa mish
❺ light haadya
❶ il-ghurfa haadya
❾ pillow ❷ il-ahwa sukhna ❷ .‫القهوة مش سخنة‬
il-ahwa mish
❸ ihna min muSr
sukhna
❹ il-mataam ganb
❸ .‫احنا مش من مصر‬
il-mahatta
ihna mish
❺ huwa aawiz min muSr
makhadda gideeda
❹ ‫المطعم مش جنب‬
.‫المحطة‬
il-mataam mish
ganb il-mahatta
❺ ‫هو مش عاوز‬
.‫مخدة جديدة‬
huwa mish aawiz
makhadda gideeda
68 WEEK 7
Warm up (1 minute) Il-maHallaat

Ask “How do I get to Stores
the station?” (pp.50–1)
Small, traditional stores and stalls are common in
Say “Turn left at the Middle Eastern towns and cities. You will also find
traffic lights” and local markets and street vendors everywhere selling
“The station is near fresh produce and sometimes drinks and snacks.
the museum.” However, there are growing numbers of supermarkets
(pp.50–1)
and out-of-town shopping centers.

Match the stores numbered 1 to 9
to the Arabic in the panel. Then
❶ ‫مخبز‬
makhbaz
❷ ‫حلواني‬
h alawaanee ❶ bakery ❷ pastry shop
❸ ‫كشك سجاير‬
koshk sagaayir
❹ ‫جزار‬
gazzaar
❺ ‫محل عصير‬
mahall aaseer
❻ ‫مكتبة‬
mektaba ❹ butcher ❺ juice bar
❼ ‫سماك‬
ّ
sammaak
❽ ‫جواهرجي‬
gawahirgee
❾ ‫بنك‬
bank
❼ fish counter ❽ jeweler
Cultural tip A common sight on the streets of Cairo is the makwagee

(ironing shop). For a small cost, you can have all your ironing done and
delivered to you within a few hours. Other shops and services often
available include the mahaal gulood (leather shop), which does shoe
repairs, and the labbaan (milkman), who sells and delivers fresh milk,
yogurt, and milk-based puddings.
SHOPPING 69

using the flap.
grocery store ‫بقال‬
ba'aal
antique store ‫محل انتيكات‬
mahall anteekaat
‫محل الورد فين؟‬
hairdresser ‫كوافير‬
mahaal il-ward fayn
(women’s) kwaafeer
Where is the florist?
‫خضري‬
produce stand khudaree
‫مكتب البريد‬
post office mektab il-bareed
‫محل جزم‬
shoe store mahall gizam
‫محل تنظيف‬
dry cleaner mahall tandeef
❸ cigarette kiosk

Familiarize yourself with these phrases and then test
yourself using the cover flap.
Where is the ‫الكوافير فين؟‬
hairdresser? il-kwaafeer fayn
‫أدفع فين؟‬
❻ bookstore
Where do I pay?
adfaa fayn
I’m just looking, ،‫بأخذ فكرة بس‬
thank you. .‫شكرا‬
bakhud fikra bass, shukran
Do you sell SIM cards? ‫بتبيعوا سمكارت؟‬

bitbee aoo sim-kart
❾ bank May I have two ‫ممكن اثنين من‬
of those? ‫دول؟‬
mumkin itnayn min dool
Say it (2 minutes)
Can you order that ‫ممكن تجهزلي طلبي؟‬
Where is the bank? for me? mumkin tigahhizlee talabee
Do you sell cheese?
May I have five of those?
70 WEEK 7
Warm up (1 minute) Fil-bazaar

What is Arabic for 40, In the bazaar
56, 77, 82, and 94?
Shopping in the traditional bazaars of the
(pp.10–11, pp.30–1)
Arab world is an experience not to be missed.
Say “I need a big room.” As well as the usual tourist souvenirs, bazaars
(pp.64–5) often have areas dedicated to particular local
Ask “Do you have crafts or products, such as perfumes, spices,
a small car?” (pp.58–9, rugs, jewelry, leather, and furniture.
pp.64–5)

Match the numbered items in this scene with the text in the panel.
brass ❶
❶ ‫نحاس‬
nahaas
❷ ‫ورق بردي‬
waraq bardee
❸ ‫قطن‬
ut n
❹ ‫حرير‬
h areer
silver ❺
❺ ‫فضة‬
fadda
❻ ‫جالبية‬
galabeyya
❼ ‫صدف‬
sadaf
robe ❻
❼ mother-
of-pearl
.‫عاوزة جالبية قطن‬ !‫ جميلة‬.‫عندي دي‬ ‫ بكام دي؟‬.‫ جميلة‬،‫أيوه‬

aawza galabeyya utn aandee dee. gameela aywah, gameela. bi-kaam dee
I want a cotton galabeyya. I have this one. Beautiful! Yes, it’s beautiful. How
much is it?
SHOPPING 71
Cultural tip Bartering is an essential part of the shopping experience in a bazaar.

Stall holders expect you to haggle, but it is better to keep the negotiation light-hearted
rather than turning it into a battle of wills. You will always strike a better bargain if you
are prepared to buy more than one item from the same stall.

Learn these phrases. Then cover up the answers on
the right. Read the English under the pictures and
❷ papyrus say the phrase in Arabic as shown on the right.
❸ cotton ‫أي خدمة ثانية يا مدام؟‬
ayyi khidma tanya
❹ silk yaa madaam
Anything else, madam?
.‫دي غالية جدا‬

dee ghalya giddan
That’s very expensive.
‫ده آخر كالم؟‬

Say it (1 minute) dah aakhir kalaam
I want a silk galabeyya.

One hundred and
Is that your final price?
ninety is fair.
That’s expensive.
.‫مية وثمانين بس‬ ‫ مية‬.‫ دي غالية‬،‫ال‬ ‫ مية وسبعين‬.‫ماشي‬

mia wi-tamaneen bass .‫وخمسين كويس‬ .‫علشانك انت بس‬
Only 180. laa, dee ghalya. mia maashi. mia wi-sabaaeen
wi-khaseen kwayyis aalashaanik enti bass
No, that’s expensive. OK. 170 just for you.

150 is fair.
72 WEEK 7
Warm up (1 minute) Fil-subermarkit

What are these items At the supermarket
you could buy in a
Until relatively recently, self-service shopping
supermarket? (pp.24–5)
was not common in the Arabic-speaking world.
samak However, increasing numbers of supermarkets
gibna are now appearing in the larger towns and
makarona resorts. These often have their own bakery,
lahma
butcher, and cheese counter, and may also
khudaar
firaakh
serve prepared meals.

Look at the numbered product categories and
match them to the Arabic words in the panel household ❶
on the left. products
❶ ‫منتجات منزلية‬
muntagaat manzileyya fruit ❷
❷ ‫فواكه‬
fawaakih
❸ ‫مشروبات‬
mashroobaat
❹ ‫وجبات جاهزة‬
wagbaat gahza
❺ ‫منتجات تجميل‬
muntagaat tagmeel drinks ❸
❻ ‫منتجات ألبان‬
muntagaat albaan ready meals ❹
❼ ‫خضار‬
khudaar
❽ ‫منتجات مجمدة‬
muntagaat mugammada
vegetables ❼ frozen foods ❽
Conversational tip The Arabic words for everyday items such as basic foods can
vary depending on the dialect of the region. For example, in Egypt bread is generally
called aaysh and milk is called laban, but in some other parts of the Arabic-speaking
world, the words khubz and haleeb are more common.
SHOPPING 73

May I have a bag, please? ‫مكن كيس من فضلك؟‬
mumkin kees min fadlak
Where are the drinks? ‫المشروبات فين؟‬

il-mashroobaat fayn
Where do I pay? ‫أدفع فين؟‬

adfaa fayn
Is this card accepted? ‫الكارت ده مقبول؟‬

il-kart dah ma'bool
➎ beauty
products
Learn these words and then test yourself using
the cover flap.
bread ‫عيش‬
aaysh
milk ‫لبن‬
laban
❻ dairy butter ‫زبدة‬

products zibda
salt ‫ملح‬
malh
pepper ‫فلفل‬
filfil
Say it (2 minutes)
laundry detergent ‫مسحوق غسيل‬
Where are the dairy mas-hooq ghaseel
products? toilet paper ‫ورق تواليت‬
May I have some wara' twaalett
ham, please?
diapers ‫حفاضات‬
Where are the h afaad aat
frozen foods?
74 WEEK 7
Warm up (1 minute) Il-malaabis

Ask “Can I have…?”
(pp.22–3)
wil-gizam
Ask “Do you have…?”
Clothes and shoes
(pp.12–13) Clothes and shoes are measured in metric sizes.
Say “38,” “42,” and “46.” Given time you can have items tailor made for
(pp.10–11, pp.30–1) a reasonable price. Clothes specifically for ladies
are described as hareemee—from the old word
Say “big” and “small.”
hareem, meaning women.
(pp.64–5)

Match the numbered items of clothing to the Arabic words in the panel on the left.
Test yourself using the cover flap.
❶ ‫قميص‬
ameeS
❷ ‫كرافتة‬
kravatta
❸ ‫جاكتة‬
shirt ❶
jaketta
❹ ‫جيب‬ tie ❷
gayb
❺ ‫كم‬
komm jacket ❸
❻ ‫بنطلون‬
bantalon
❼ ‫جيبة‬ pocket ❹
jeeba
❽ ‫جزمة‬ sleeve ❺
gazma
pants ❻
Cultural tip Words for Western

clothing vary between regions:
jeeba (skirt) can also be gunella or
tannoora. Traditional garments vary
in style and have different names in
different areas. Such items include
the Egyptian galabeyya robe, the
Palestinian kufeyya scarf, and
the long, white dishdasha or
thawb worn in the Gulf.
SHOPPING 75

Is there a larger size? ‫فيه مقاس أكبر؟‬
feeh mi'aas akbar
No, that’s not suitable. .‫ ده مش مناسب‬،‫ال‬

laa, dah mish munaasib
I’ll take the pink one. .‫آخذ الوردي‬

aakhud il-wardee

Most adjectives can be made feminine by adding ‫م‬
(pp.64–5), but the principal colors have a special
feminine form.
red ‫حمراء‬/‫أحمر‬
(m/f) ahmar/hamra
white ‫بيضاء‬/‫أبيض‬
(m/f) abyad/bayda
blue ‫زرقاء‬/‫أزرق‬
(m/f) azra'/zar'a
yellow ‫صفراء‬/‫أصفر‬
(m/f) asfar/safra
green ‫خضراء‬/‫أخضر‬
❼ skirt (m/f) akhdar/khadra
black ‫سوداء‬/‫أسود‬
(m/f) iswid/sohda
Read it In Arabic script, 1 and 9 are easily

recognizable, but other numbers look quite
different. A zero is written as a dot:
٠ (0), ١ (1), ٢ (2), ٣ (3), ٤ (4), ٥ (5),
٦ (6), ٧ (7), ٨ (8), ٩ (9).
❽ shoes
76 WEEK 7

Review and repeat
Bazaar Bazaar (3 minutes)
❶ ‫فضة‬ Name the numbered items in Arabic.
fadda ❷ robe cotton ❹ ❺ silk
❷ ‫جالبية‬ ❶ silver brass ❸
galabeyya
❸ ‫نحاس‬
nahaas
❹ ‫قطن‬
ut n
❺ ‫حرير‬
h areer
Description Description (2 minutes)

❶ The shirt is a little What do these sentences mean?
expensive.
❶ il-ameeS ghalee shwayya
❷ The room is
very small. ❷ il-ghurfa sughayyara giddan
❸ We want a large car. ❸ ihna aawzeen sayyaara kibeera
Shops Shops (3 minutes)

❶ ‫مخبز‬ Name the numbered shops in Arabic. Then check
makhbaz your answers.
❷ ‫جواهرجي‬
gawahirgee
❸ ‫مكتبة‬
mektaba
❹ ‫سماك‬
ّ
sammaak ❶ bakery ❷ jeweler ❸ bookstore
❺ ‫حلواني‬
h alawaanee
❻ ‫جزار‬
gazzaar
❹ fish counter ❺ pastry shop ❻ butcher

SHOPPING 77
il-agweba
Supermarket (3 minutes) Supermarket

What is the Arabic for the ❶ ‫منتجات منزلية‬
numbered product categories? muntagaat
manzileyya
❷ ‫منتجات تجميل‬
❶ household products muntagaat tagmeel
❷ beauty products ❸ ‫مشروبات‬

mashroobaat
❸ drinks ❹ ‫منتجات ألبان‬
muntagaat albaan
❹ dairy products ❺ ‫منتجات مجمدة‬
muntagaat
mugammada
❺ frozen foods
Museum (4 minutes) Museum

Follow this conversation, replying in Arabic following ❶ ‫عاوزين خمس تذاكر‬
the English prompts. .‫دخول‬
ayyi khidma? aawizeen khamas
❶ We want five entrance tickets. tadhaakir dukhool
mia wi-khamseen, min fadlak ❷ !‫ده غالي جدا‬
❷ That’s very expensive! dah ghaali giddan
shaamil gawla maa dileel ❸ ‫فيه أسانسير؟‬
❸ Is there a lift? feeh asanseer
aywah. il-asanseer hinaak ❹ ‫ خمس تذاكر‬.‫ماشي‬
❹ OK. Five tickets, please. .‫من فضلك‬
ittafaddal maashi. khamas
❺ Thank you. Where are the restrooms? tadhaakir min
fadlak(-ik)
❺ ‫ فين الحمامات؟‬.‫شكرا‬
shukran. fayn
il-hammaamaat
78 WEEK 8
Warm up (1 minute) Ish-shughl

Say “I have a meeting.” Work
(pp.14–15)
When describing occupations, you don’t need the
What is the Arabic for equivalent of am/are/is or a/an, saying ena tabbaakh
the following family (I [male] am a cook); heyya mumarrida (she is a nurse).
members: sister, brother, When referring to a female, add -a to the occupation—
mother, father, son, and for example, doktoora (female doctor).
daughter? (pp.10–11)
Words to remember: jobs (7 minutes)

‫ دكتور‬doctor
doktoor
‫ دكتور أسنان‬dentist
doktoor asnaan
‫ ممرض‬nurse
mumarrid
‫ مدرس‬teacher
mudarris
‫ محام‬lawyer
muhaami
.‫أنا سباك‬
‫ محاسب‬accountant ena sabbaak
muhaasib I’m a plumber.
‫ مصمم‬designer
muS ammim
‫ سكرتير‬secretary
sekertayr
‫ كهربائي‬electrician
kahrabaa'ee
‫ سباك‬plumber
sabbaak
‫ طباخ‬cook/chef
tabbaakh
‫سيدة أعمال‬/‫ رجل أعمال‬businessman/

ragul aamaal/ businesswoman
sayyidit aamaal .‫هي طالبة‬
heyya taaliba
She is a student.
WORK AND STUDY 79

make your reply. Then test yourself using the flap.
‫ بتشتغل إيه؟‬.‫أنا رجل أعمال‬
btishtaghil eh ena ragul aamaal
What’s your job?
Say: I’m a businessman.
‫ عندك شركة؟‬.‫ عندي شركة صغيرة‬،‫أيوه‬

aandak sherika aywah, aandee
Do you have a company? sherika sughayyara
Say: Yes. I have a
small company.
!‫ بتشتغل إيه؟ عظيم‬،‫وأنت‬

aazeem w-enta, btishtaghil eh
Great!
Say: And you, what’s
your job?
.‫ أنا دكتور‬.‫أختي كمان دكتورة‬

ena doktoor ukhtee kamaan doktoora
I’m a doctor.
Say: My sister is
also a doctor.
Words to remember: workplace (3 minutes)

Familiarize yourself with these words and then test yourself.
branch ‫فرع‬
fara
department ‫قسم‬
qism
manager ‫مدير‬
mudeer
employee ‫موظف‬
muwazzaf
trainee ‫تحت التمرين‬
.‫المركز الرئيسي في القاهرة‬ taht it-tamreen
il-markaz ir-ra'eesee fil qaahira
Head office is in Cairo.
80 WEEK 8
Warm up (1 minute) Il-mektab

Practice different ways The office
of introducing yourself
Any business or office has its own vocabulary,
in different situations
(pp.8–9). Mention your
but there are many words that are useful in
name, occupation most businesses. Arabic computer keyboards
(pp.78–9), and other show the individual letters (see The Arabic
information you’d like alphabet, pp.155–56) and the software joins
to volunteer. the letters as you type.

Familiarize yourself with these words.
Read them aloud and try to memorize
them. Conceal the Arabic with the
cover flap and test yourself. ❶ lamp
‫ شاشة‬monitor/screen
shaasha laptop ❺
‫ فار‬mouse
faar
‫ ايميل‬email keyboard ❹
email ❷ stapler
‫ انترنت‬internet
internet telephone ❸
‫ كلمة المرور‬password
kilmit il-muroor
‫ رسالة صوتية‬voicemail
risaala S ohteyya
‫ مفتاح للواي فاي‬Wi-Fi code
muftaah lil-wifi
‫ ماكينة تصوير‬photocopier
makanit taS weer
‫ أجندة‬diary
ajenda
‫ كارت شخصي‬business card
kart shakhS ee
‫ اجتماع‬meeting
pen ❾
igtimaaa
‫ مؤتمر‬conference notepad ❿
mu'tamar drawer
WORK AND STUDY 81

Can I use the photocopier? ‫ممكن استخدم ماكينة‬
‫التصوير؟‬
mumkin astakhdam
maakanit it-taS weer
I (m) want to make .‫عاوز آخذ ميعاد‬

an appointment. aawiz aakhud miaaad
I (f) want to send .‫عاوز ابعث ايميل‬

an email. aawiza abaat email
❻ desk Match the numbered items to the Arabic words

on the right. Try to memorize them and then test
❶ ‫لمبة‬
❼ clock lamba
❷ ‫دباسة‬
dabbaasa
❸ ‫تليفون‬
❽ printer
tilifohn
❹ ‫كيبورد‬
keebord
❺ ‫كمبيوتر محمول‬
kombyootir mahmool
❻ ‫مكتب‬
mektab
❼ ‫منبه‬
menabbih
❽ ‫ماكينة طباعة‬
makanit tabaaa
❾ ‫قلم‬
Say it (2 minutes)
alam
I have a laptop. ❿ ‫نوتة‬
I want to arrange nota

a meeting. ⓫ ‫درج‬
Do you have email? dorg

82 WEEK 8
Warm up (1 minute) Il-Aalam

Say “library” and “Great!”
(pp.48–9, pp.78–9)
il-akaadeemee
Ask “What is your
Academic world
job?” and answer “I’m a In most Arabic-speaking countries, students are selected
teacher.” (pp.78–9) for a college degree according to their results in final
school exams. Competition for places in faculties such
as medicine and engineering is often fierce.

‫ مجالك إيه؟‬What is your field?
magaalak/-ik eh (m/f)
.‫ أبحاث في الكيمياء العضوية‬Research in biochemistry.

abhaath fil-kimyaa
il-audwiyya
.‫ عندي شهادة في الحقوق‬I have a degree in law.

aandee shihaada
fil-huqooq
.‫ حالقي محاضرة عن المعمار‬I’m going to give a lecture

hal'ee muhadra on architecture.
aan il-mia maar
‫ أنا بروفيسير‬،‫أهال‬ ‫من أي جامعة؟‬ .‫من جامعة اسكندرية‬

.‫هالة شوقي‬ min ayyi gamaa min gamait iskandareyya
ahlan, ena brofeseer From which university? From the University
haala shawqi of Alexandria.
Hello, I’m Professor
Hala Shawqi.
WORK AND STUDY 83

Familiarize yourself with these words and then test yourself by concealing the Arabic
on the right with the cover flap.
conference ‫مؤتمر‬
mu'tamar
lecture ‫محاضرة‬
muhadra
trade fair ‫معرض تجاري‬
maarad tugaaree
lecture hall ‫قاعة محاضرات‬
qaaait muhadraat
exhibition ‫معرض‬
maarad
university lecturer ‫أستاذ جامعي‬
ustaaz gaamaee
professor ‫بروفيسير‬
brofeseer
.‫عندنا جناح في المعرض التجاري‬
aandina ginaah fil-maarad it-tugaaree medicine ‫طب‬
t ibb
We have a stand at the trade fair.
science ‫علوم‬
auloom
Say it (2 minutes) arts ‫آداب‬
Research in medicine. aadaab
I have a degree in engineering. engineering ‫هندسة‬

handasa
Where’s the lecture hall?
‫مجالك إيه؟‬ .‫أبحاث في هندسة البترول‬ .‫عظيم! وأنا كمان‬

magaalik eh abhaath fi handasit il-betrool aa zeem. w-ena kamaan
What’s your field? Research in Great! Me too.
petro-engineering.
84 WEEK 8
Warm up (1 minute) Fil-Aamaal

Ask “Can I …?” (pp.34–5) In business
Say “I want to send You will make a good impression and receive a more
an email.” (pp.80–1) friendly reception if you make the effort to begin your
Say “I want to arrange an business meetings with a few introductory words in
appointment.” (pp.80–1) Arabic, even if your vocabulary is limited. After that,
everyone will probably be happy to continue the
meeting in English.

‫عميل‬
Familiarize yourself with these words and aameel
then test yourself by concealing the Arabic client
with the cover flap.
‫ جدول‬schedule
gadwal
‫ تسليم‬delivery
tasleem
‫ دفع‬payment
dafa
‫ ميزانية‬budget
mizaaneyya
‫ سعر‬price
siar
‫ فاتورة‬invoice
fatoora
‫ عرض‬proposal
aard
‫ أرباح‬profits
arbaah
‫ مبيعات‬sales
mubeeaaat
‫تقرير‬
taqreer
report
Cultural tip The concept of hospitality extends to business

in the Arab world. As a visiting client you can expect to be
fed and entertained, and as a supplier you should
consider taking gifts and entertaining your business
customers when they visit you.
WORK AND STUDY 85

‫نمضي العقد؟‬ Practice these useful business phrases and then test
nimdee il-aa'd yourself by concealing the Arabic using the cover flap.
Shall we sign the contract?
.‫ابعث لي العقد من فضلك‬
ibaatlee il-aa'd min fadlak
‫مدير‬
mudeer
manager
Please send me
the contract.
‫اتفقنا على الجدول؟‬

ittafa'na aalal gadwal
Have we agreed
the schedule?
‫ميعاد التسليم امتى؟‬

miaaad it-tasleem imta
When is the delivery date?
‫الميزانية كام؟‬
il-mizaaneyya kaam
How much is the budget?
Read it Many letters of the Arabic alphabet share

‫عقد‬ the same shape and are only distinguished by the
aa'd number of dots above or below. These dots are an
contract integral part of the letter, just like the dot of the “j”
or the cross of the “t”. They should not be confused
Say it (2 minutes) with the optional vowel marks (see pp.25 and 157).
Letters that share shapes are:
Please send me
‫( ب‬b), ‫( ت‬t), and ‫( ث‬th/t) ‫( د‬d) and ‫( ذ‬dh/z)
the schedule.
‫( س‬s) and ‫( ش‬sh) ‫( ر‬r) and ‫( ز‬z)
Have we agreed
the price? ‫ ( ج‬j/g), ‫( ح‬h), and ‫( خ‬kh) ‫( ص‬S) and ‫( ض‬d)
How much is the invoice? ‫( ط‬t ) and ‫( ظ‬z/d) ‫( ع‬a) and ‫( غ‬gh)
86 WEEK 8

Review and repeat
At the office At the office (4 minutes)
❶ ‫دباسة‬ Name these items.
dabbaasa
❷ ‫لمبة‬ ❸ laptop
lamba lamp ❷
❸ ‫كمبيوتر محمول‬
kombyootir mahmool
❹ ‫قلم‬
pen ❹
alam
❺ ‫منبه‬
❶ stapler
menabbih
❻ ‫نوتة‬
nota
❼ ‫مكتب‬
mektab
desk ❼ ❻ notepad
Jobs Jobs (3 minutes)

❶ ‫دكتور‬ What are these jobs in Arabic?
doktoor ❶ doctor
❷ ‫سباك‬
sabbaak ❷ plumber
❸ ‫طباخ‬ ❸ cook/chef
tabbaakh
❹ ‫محاسب‬ ❹ accountant
muhaasib
❺ student
❺ ‫طالب‬
taalib ❻ lawyer
❻ ‫محام‬
muhaami
WORK AND STUDY 87
il-agweba
Work (4 minutes) Work

Answer these questions following ❶ .‫أنا أستاذ جامعي‬
the English prompts. ena ustaaz gaamaee
shughlak eh? ❷ .‫من جامعة لندن‬
❶ Say: I am a university lecturer. min gamait london
min ayyi gamaa? ❸ .‫أبحاث في الطب‬
❷ Say: From the University
of London. abhaath fit-tibb
magaalak eh? ❹ .‫عظيم! وأنا كمان‬
❺ clock
❸ Say: Research in medicine. aazeem. w-ena
h alqee muh adra innahaarda

kamaan
❹ Say: Great! Me too.
How much? (4 minutes) How much?

Answer the question with the amount shown ❶ ‫ جنيه‬٨
in brackets. tamanya ginayh
❶ bikaam il-ahwa? ❷ ‫ جنيه‬١٩٠
(8 pounds) miya wi-tisaeen ginayh
❸ ‫ جنيه‬٧٥
khamsa wi-sabaeen
ginayh
❷ bikaam il-ghurfa? ❹ ‫ جنيه‬٣٦
(190 pounds) sitta wi-talateen
ginayh
❸ bikaam il-galabeyya?
(75 pounds)
❹ bikaam ir-rihla?
(36 pounds)
88 WEEK 9
Warm up (1 minute) Fis-saydaleyya

Say “Can I help you?”. At the pharmacy
(pp.60–1)
The Arabic word for medicine is dawa. Pharmacists
Say “I have,” “do you are qualified to give advice on minor ailments and
have?” (masculine/ sell over-the-counter medicines. You may also be
feminine), “he has,” able to buy strong painkillers and antibiotics from
and “she has.” a pharmacy, but it is always advisable to consult a
(pp.14–15)
doctor before taking such medicines.

Match the numbered items to the Arabic
words in the panel on the left and test
❷ syrup
❶ ‫رباط‬
robaat
bandage ❶
❷ ‫دواء سائل‬
dawa saayil
❸ ‫نقط‬
nu'at
❹ ‫بالستر‬
blaaster
❺ ‫حقنة‬
❹ adhesive drops ❸
h u'na
bandage
❻ ‫كريم‬
kreem
❼ ‫حبوب‬ cream ❻
h uboob
syringe ❺
.‫صباح الخير‬ .‫عندي مغص‬ ‫عندك إسهال؟‬

‫أي خدمة؟‬ aandee maghas aandak is-haal
sabaah il-khayr. I have a stomachache. Do you have diarrhea?
ayyi khidma
Good morning. Can
I help you?
H E A LT H 89

headache ‫صداع‬
s odaaa
stomachache ‫مغص‬
maghas
diarrhea ‫إسهال‬
is-haal
cold ‫برد‬
bard
cough ‫كحة‬
kohha
.‫عندي صداع‬
aandee sodaa a toothache ‫ألم أسنان‬
I have a headache. alam asnaan
Say it (2 minutes) Useful phrases (4 minutes)

I have a cold. Practice these phrases and then test yourself using
the cover flap.
Do you have that
as a cream? I have sunstroke. .‫أخذت ضربة شمس‬
He has toothache. akhadt darbit shams
Do you have that ‫عندكم ده نقط؟‬
as drops? aandakum dah nu'at
I have an allergy .‫عندي حساسية للبنسلين‬
to penicillin. aandee h assaaseyya
lil-benesilin
❼ tablets
.‫ بس عندي صداع‬،‫ال‬ .‫جرب ده‬ ‫عندكم ده حبوب؟‬

laa, bass aandee S odaaa garrab dah aandukum dah huboob
No, but I have a headache. Try this. Do you have that
as tablets?
90 WEEK 9
Warm up (1 minute) Il-gism

Say “I have toothache” The body
and “I have a cough.”
You are most likely to refer to parts of the body in
(pp.88–9)
the context of illness—for example, when describing
What’s the Arabic for a problem to a doctor. A useful phrase for talking
“red,” “yellow,” and about discomfort is aandee alam fi… (I have a pain
“black” (masculine in…). To ask What’s the matter? say maalak? when
and feminine forms)?
talking to a man and maalik? to a woman.
(pp.74–5)
Match and repeat: body (6 minutes)

Match the numbered parts of the head ❶
body with the list on the left. Test ❾ shoulder
yourself by using the cover flap.
❿ arm
❶ ‫رأس‬ neck ❷
raas hand
❷ ‫رقبة‬
chest ❸
ra'aba
❸ ‫صدر‬
S idr
❹ ‫كوع‬
kooa
❺ ‫بطن‬ elbow ❹
batn
❻ ‫رجل‬ stomach ❺
rigl
❼ ‫ركبة‬
rukba
❽ ‫قدم‬
qadam leg ❻
❾ ‫كتف‬
kitf
knee ❼
❿ ‫ذراع‬
diraaa
⓫ ‫يد‬
yad
foot ❽
H E A LT H 91
Match and repeat: face (3 minutes)

Match the numbered
hair ❶ ❷ eye facial features with the
list below.
❸ nose ❶ ‫شعر‬
ear ❺ shaar
❹ mouth ❷ ‫عين‬
aayn
❸ ‫أنف‬
anf
❹ ‫فم‬
fam
❺ ‫أذن‬
uthun

I have a pain in my back. .‫عندي ألم في ظهري‬
aandee alam fi dahree
I have a swelling on .‫عندي ورم في ذراعي‬

my arm. aandee waram fi diraaaee
I don’t feel well. .‫عندي شعور بالتعب‬

aandee shuaoor bit-taab

Join in this conversation and test yourself using the cover flap.
‫ مالك؟‬.‫عندي شعور بالتعب‬
maalik aandee shu aoor
What’s the matter? bit-taab

Say: I don’t feel well.
‫ فين األلم؟‬.‫عندي ألم في كتفي‬

fayn il-alam aandee alam fi kitfee
Where does it hurt?
Say: I have a pain
in my shoulder.
92 WEEK 9
Warm up (1 minute) Aand id-doktoor

Say “I have a At the doctor
stomachache.”
Unless it’s an emergency, you should book
(pp.88–9)
an appointment with the doctor. You will be
Say “I have an allergy.” expected to pay when you leave, but you can
(pp.88–9) usually reclaim the money if you have medical
What is the Arabic insurance. Your hotel or a local pharmacy may
for “I’m not British”? be able to tell you the names and addresses of
(pp.14–15) doctors in the area.
Useful phrases you may hear (3 minutes)

Practise these phrases and then test yourself using
the cover flap to conceal the Arabic on the left.
‫ بتشتكي من إيه؟‬What’s the
bitishkee min eh problem?
.‫ الحالة مش خطرة‬It’s not serious.

il-haala mish khatra
‫ الزم نعنل شوية‬We have to do
.‫ تحاليل‬some tests.
laazim naamal
shwayyit tahaaleel
.‫ عندك التهاب‬You have (m/f)
aandak/-ik iltihaab an infection.
‫تروحي‬/‫ الزم تروح‬You must (m/f)
.‫ المستشفى‬go to hospital. .‫حاكتب لك روشتة‬
haktub lak/lik roshetta
laazim tirooh/tiroohee
il-mustashfa I’m going to write you (m/f)
a prescription.
‫بتشتكي من إيه؟‬ .‫عندي ألم في صدري‬ .‫اكشف عليك من فضلك‬

bitishkee min eh aandee alam fi sidree akshif aalayki min fadlik
What’s the problem? I have a pain in my chest. Let me examine you, please.
H E A LT H 93
Cultural tip
Most doctors speak good English, but support staff may not.
When telephoning for an appointment, you may need to explain
your problem briefly in Arabic to a receptionist or nurse.
Useful phrases you may need to say (4 minutes)

I have diabetes. .‫عندي السكر‬
aandee is-sukkar
I have epilepsy. .‫عندي صرع‬
aandee s a-raa
I have asthma. .‫عندي ربو‬

aandee rabwu
I have a heart condition. ‫عندي مشكلة في‬
.‫القلب‬
aandee mushkila fil-elb
I have a temperature. .‫عندي حرارة‬
.‫أنا حامل‬ aandee h araara
ena haamil I’m feeling (m/f) faint. .‫ة بالضعف‬/‫حاسس‬

I am pregnant. h aasis/-a bid-duaf
It’s urgent. .‫الحالة مستعجلة‬
Say it (2 minutes) il-haala mistaa gila
My son has diabetes.
I have a pain in my arm.
It’s not urgent.
‫الحالة خطرة؟‬ .‫ عندك عسر هضم بس‬،‫ال‬ !‫طمنتني‬

il-haala khatra laa, aandik ausur hadm bass tamintanee
Is it serious? No, you only What a relief!
have indigestion.
94 WEEK 9
Warm up (1 minute) Fil-mustashfa

Ask “Where are At the hospital
the toilets?” (pp.52–3)
It is useful to know a few basic phrases relating
Ask “Is it serious?” to hospitals and medical treatment for use in an
(pp.92–3) emergency, or in case you have to visit a friend or
What is the Arabic for colleague in hospital. As a visitor you should
“mouth” and “head”? have adequate insurance to cover any treatment
(pp.90–1) or hospital stay.

Familiarize yourself with these phrases. Conceal the Arabic with the cover flap
and test yourself.
‫ إيه مواعيد الزيارة؟‬What are the
eh mawaaaeed iz-ziyaara visiting hours?
‫ حتأخذ وقت قد إيه؟‬How long will

h ataakhud wa't adda eh it take?
‫ حتألم؟‬Will it hurt?
h at-allim
.‫ نام هنا من فضلك‬Lie down

naam hina, min fadlak here, please.
(to a man)
.‫ نامي هنا من فضلك‬Lie down

naamee hina, here, please.
min fadlik (to a woman)
.‫ ما تاكلش حاجة‬Don’t eat

maa takulsh haaga anything.
(to a man)
.‫ ما تاكليش حاجة‬Don’t eat ‫أنت أحسن؟‬

maa takleesh haaga anything. enti ahsan
(to a woman) Are you feeling better?
.‫ افتح فمك من فضلك‬Open your

iftah famak mouth, please.
min fadlak (to a man)
.‫ افتحي فمك من فضلك‬Open your
iftahee famik min fadlik mouth, please.
(to a woman)
.‫ الزم نعمل تحليل دم‬We have to do

laazim naamal a blood test.
tahleel dam
‫فين غرفة االنتظار؟‬
fayn ghurfit il-intizaar
Where is the waiting room?
H E A LT H 95

emergency ‫قسم الطوارئ‬
department qism it-tawaari'
x-ray department ‫قسم األشعة‬
qism il-ashiaa
children’s ward ‫عنبر األطفال‬
aanbar il-at faal
operating theatre ‫غرفة العمليات‬
ghurfit il-aamaliyyaat
waiting room ‫غرفة االنتظار‬
ghurfit il-intizaar
.‫صورة األشعة طبيعية‬ stairs ‫سلم‬

soorit il-ashiaa tabeeaeyya sillim
The x-ray is normal.

Join in this conversation. Cover up the text on the right and complete the answering
part of the dialog in Arabic. Check your answers and repeat if necessary.
.‫الحالة خطرة؟ عندك التهاب في الكلى‬
aandak iltihaab fil-kily il-haala khatra
You have a kidney
infection.
Ask: Is it serious?
.‫حتألم؟ الزم نعمل تحليل دم‬

laazim naamal hat-allim
tahleel dam
We have to do
a blood test.
Ask: Will it hurt?
Say it (2 minutes) Read it The Arabic letter ‫ ق‬is pronounced as a

throaty “q” in more formal Arabic, as in the word
Don’t move your arm.
qism (department). But the sound is dropped in
Where is the informal Egyptian Arabic, turning qahwa (coffee) into
children’s ward? ahwa and sooq (market) into soo'. In other regions it
becomes a hard “g” (gahwa, soog). Whichever way
Do I need an x-ray?
it is pronounced, it is always written as ‫ق‬:
(qism) ‫( = قسم‬m) ‫ م‬+ (s) ‫ س‬+ (q) ‫ق‬
96 WEEK 9

Review and repeat
The body The body (4 minutes)
❶ ‫رأس‬ Name the numbered ❶ head
raas body parts in Arabic.
❷ ‫ذراع‬
chest ❸ ❷ arm
diraaa
❸ ‫صدر‬
S idr
❹ ‫بطن‬ stomach ❹
batn
❺ ‫رجل‬
leg ❺
rigl
❻ ‫ركبة‬ knee ❻
rukba
❼ ‫قدم‬
qadam
foot ❼
On the phone On the phone (4 minutes)

❶ ‫ممكن أكلم األستاذ‬ You are arranging an appointment. Follow the
‫سالم؟‬ conversation, replying in Arabic following
mumkin akallim the English prompts.
il-ustaaz saalim aaloh. maaak
❷ ‫هاري نولز من مطابع‬ a zza barakaat
.‫كابيتال‬ ❶ Can I speak to

haaree noolz min Mr. Saalim?
mataabia kabitaal meen maaaya?
❸ ‫ممكن أسيب رسالة؟‬ ❷ Harry Knowles from
Capital Printers.
mumkin aseeb risaala
il-khatt mashghool
❹ .‫االجتماع الساعة تسعة‬ ❸ Can I leave a message?
il-igtimaaa
is-saaaa tisaa tabaan
❹ The meeting is
❺ .‫مع السالمة‬ at 9 o’clock.
maaasalaama maashi. shukran
❺ Goodbye.
H E A LT H 97
il-agweba
Clothing (3 minutes) Clothing

Say the Arabic words for the numbered items ❶ ‫كرافتة‬
of clothing. kravatta
❷ ‫جاكتة‬
jaketta
tie ❶ ❸ ‫جيبة‬
❷ jacket
jeeba
❹ ‫جزمة‬
pocket ❻ gazma
❺ ‫بنطلون‬
bantalon
❸ skirt ❻ ‫جيب‬
gayb
pants ❺
❹ shoes
At the doctor’s (4 minutes) At the doctor’s

Say these phrases in Arabic. ❶ .‫عندي شعور بالتعب‬
❶ I don’t feel well. aandee shuaoor
bit-taab
❷ I have diabetes.
❷ .‫عندي السكر‬
❸ I have a pain in aandee is-sukkar
my shoulder.
❸ .‫عندي ألم في كتفي‬
❹ I am pregnant.
aandee alam fi kitfee
❹ .‫أنا حامل‬
ena haamil
98 WEEK 10
Warm up (1 minute) Fil-bayt

Say the months of the At home
year in Arabic. (pp.28–9)
The Arabic word for house is bayt, and apartment
Ask “Where are is sha'a. Many city-dwellers live in apartment blocks
the toilets?” (pp.52–4) (aimaaraat), but more traditional houses can still be
Say “The lift is out of found in rural areas. Villas (villaat) with gardens are
order.” (pp.60–1) also common in the suburbs of major cities and in
tourist resorts.

Match the numbered items to the list and test yourself using the flap.
❶ ‫مدخنة‬
madkhana ❶ chimney ❷ window
❷ ‫شباك‬
shibbaak
❸ ‫سطح‬
sath
❹ ‫بلكونة‬
balkohna
❺ ‫شيش‬
sheesh
❻ ‫حائط‬
h aa'it
❼ ‫باب‬
baab
❽ ‫جراج‬
garaaj
shutters ❺ wall ❻
Cultural tip Most homes in the Arabic-speaking world have

shutters at every window and balcony door. These are closed
at night and also during the heat of the day in summer to keep
the rooms cool. Curtains, where they are used, tend to be for
decoration. Many windows also have mesh screens fitted to
protect against mosquitos and other insects.
AT H O M E 99

room ‫غرفة‬
ghurfa
floor ‫أرضية‬
ardeyya
ceiling ‫سقف‬
sa'f
‫اإليجار كام في الشهر؟‬ bedroom ‫غرفة نوم‬
il-eegaar kaam fish-shahr ghurfit nohm
How much is the rent per month? bathroom ‫حمام‬
h ammaam
❸ roof ❹ balcony
kitchen ‫مطبخ‬
metbakh
dining room ‫غرفة سفرة‬
ghurfit sufra
living room ‫غرفة جلوس‬
ghurfit guloos

Practice these phrases and test yourself.
‫فيها تكييف؟‬
feehaa takeef
Is there air-conditioning?
‫فاضية دلوقتي؟‬
fadya dilwa'ti
❼ door ❽ garage
Is it vacant now?
Say it (2 minutes)
‫الفيلال مفروشة؟‬
Is there a dining room? il-filla mafroosha
Is the apartment
furnished?
Is the villa furnished?
Is it vacant in July?
10 0 WEEK 10
Warm up (1 minute) Daakhil il-bayt

What is the Arabic for Inside the house
“kitchen,” “floor,” and
Villas or apartments can be rented furnished or
“shutters”? (pp.98–9)
unfurnished. You will need to check in advance
Say “beautiful,” “old,” whether the cost of utilities is included in the rent.
and “big.” (pp.64–5) You may also need to pay a share of the communal
upkeep and sometimes contribute to the cost of
employing a bawwaab (doorman).

Match the numbered items to the list in the panel below.
❶ chair
❶ ‫كرسي‬
kursee
❷ ‫حوض مطبخ‬
h ohd me t bakh
❸ ‫ميكرويف‬
meekroweef
❹ ‫فرن‬
furn
❺ ‫بوتاجاز‬
butagaaz
❻ ‫ثالجة‬
tallaaga
❼ ‫مائدة‬
maa'ida
fridge ❻
❹ oven ❺ range table ❼
.‫الفرن هنا‬ ‫فيه غسالة كمان؟‬ .‫ وهنا فريزر كبير‬،‫أيوه‬

il-furn hina feeh ghasaala kamaan aywah, wi-hina freezar kibeer
The oven is here. Is there a washing Yes, and here is
machine as well? a big freezer.
AT H O M E 10 1

closet ‫دوالب‬
doolaab
sofa ‫كنبة‬
kanaba
rug ‫سجادة‬
siggaada
.‫الكنبة جديدة‬
il-kanaba gideeda bath ‫بانيو‬
The sofa is new. banyo
❷ kitchen sink ❸ microwave toilet ‫تواليت‬
twaalett
bathroom sink ‫حوض حمام‬
hohd hammaam

Practice these phrases and then test yourself using
the cover flap.
The range isn’t working. .‫البوتاجاز مش شغال‬
il-butagaaz mish
shagh-ghaal
Is electricity included? ‫ده شامل الكهرباء؟‬
Say it (2 minutes) dah shaamil ik-kahrabaa
The rug isn’t clean. .‫السجادة مش نظيفة‬
Is there a microwave?
is-siggaada mish nideefa
The sofa isn’t clean.
The oven isn’t working.
.‫كل حاجة جديدة جدا‬ .‫وغسالة األطباق هنا‬ !‫الحوض جميل‬

kullahaaga gideeda giddan wi-ghasaalit il-atbaa' hina il-hohd gameel
Everything is very new. And here is the dishwasher. The sink is beautiful!
10 2 WEEK 10
Warm up (1 minute) Il-ginayna

Say “I need.” (pp.64–5) The garden
What is the Arabic The garden of a house or villa may be communal or
for “day” and “today”? partly shared. A charge for the upkeep of the garden
(pp.28–9) may be included in the rent. It is wise to check with
Say the days of the week. the agent. In the Middle East, gardens are usually
(pp.28–9) watered in the late afternoon or evening, after the
hottest part of the day has passed.

using the flap.
‫ ماكينة قص الحشيش‬lawn mower
makanit uss il-hasheesh
‫ شوكة‬pitchfork
❷ tree
shohka
❸ plants
‫ جاروف‬spade
gaaroof
‫ رشاش‬sprinkler
rash-shaash
path ❶
❽ rocks pond ❼ ❻ palm

AT H O M E 10 3

The gardener comes .‫الجنايني بييجي يوم الحد‬
on Sunday. il-gunaynee biyeegee
yohm il-had
Can you cut the grass? ‫ممكن تقص الحشيش؟‬

mumkin ti'uss
il-hasheesh
Is the garden private? ‫الجنينة خاصة؟‬

il-ginayna khaaSS a
We need to water .‫عاوزين نسقي الجنينة‬

the garden. aawzeen nis'ee il-ginayna
❹ bridge Match the numbered items to the words in the panel

on the right.
❶ ‫ممر‬
mamarr
❷ ‫شجرة‬
shagara
❸ ‫زرع‬
❺ flowers zara
❹ ‫كوبري‬
kubree
❺ ‫ورد‬
ward
❻ ‫نخلة‬
Say it (2 minutes) nakhla
❼ ‫بركة‬
We need to water
birka
the plants.
❽ ‫صخور‬
The palm is beautiful!
S okhoor
The gardener comes
on Thursday.
10 4 WEEK 10
Warm up (1 minute) Il-Haywaanaat

Say “My name is John.” Animals
(pp.8–9)
Traditionally, Arabs have valued horses for their speed,
Say “The pond is camels for their stamina, and birds of prey for their
beautiful.” (pp.102–03) grace. Nowadays, house pets such as smaller dogs,
What’s “fish” in Arabic? birds, and fish are fairly popular. Cats are usually wild
(pp.24–5) and live on the streets.

Match the numbered animals to the Arabic words in the
panel on the left. Then test yourself using the cover flap.
❶ ‫عصفور‬ ❷ cat
aas foor
bird ❶
❷ ‫قطة‬
otta
❸ ‫سمكة‬
samaka
❹ ‫كلب‬
kelb ❸ fish
❺ ‫حصان‬
h us aan ❺ horse

‫ الكلب ده أليف؟‬Is this dog friendly?
il-kelb dah aleef
‫ اسمه إيه؟‬What’s his name?
ismuh eh
.‫غاوية قطط‬/‫ أنا مش غاوي‬I’m not keen (m/f) on cats.
ena mish ghaawee/
ghawya otat
.‫ الكلب ده ما بيعضش‬This dog doesn’t bite.
il-kelb dah mabyaoddish
‫الجمل ده بيعض؟‬
il-gamal dah byaodd
Does this camel bite?
AT H O M E 10 5
Cultural tip Large dogs are often kept outside as guard dogs
rather than treated as pets. Look out for this sign (Beware of the
dog). You may also encounter packs of dogs roaming the streets.
Give them a wide berth and they will generally avoid you.

water buffalo ‫جاموسة‬
gamoosa
sheep ‫خروف‬
kharoof
cow ‫بقرة‬
ba'ara
donkey ‫حمار‬
‫السمكة دي نوعها أيه؟‬ h umaar
is-samaka dee nowaha eh rabbit ‫أرنب‬

What type of fish is that? arnab
Read it
The in Arabic is il. It is written ‫ ال‬in Arabic script and
❹ dog is always joined to the following word – for example,
‫( كلب‬kelb/dog), ‫( الكلب‬il-kelb/the dog). The l sound
of il sometimes changes to the first letter of the
following word, but the script is not affected:
‫( السمكة‬is-samaka/the fish).

make your reply. Then test yourself by concealing the answers with the cover flap.
‫ ده كلبك؟‬.‫ اسمه ال كي‬،‫أيوه‬
dah kelbik aywah, ismuh laakee
Is this your dog?
Say: Yes, his name
is Lucky.
.‫ أنا مش غاوي كالب‬.‫ما بيعضش‬

ena mish ghaawee kilaab mabyaoddish
I’m not keen on dogs.
Say: He doesn’t bite.
10 6 WEEK 10

Review and repeat
Colours Colors (4 minutes)
❶ ‫أبيض‬ Complete the sentences with the Arabic word for the
abyad color in brackets. Watch out for the masculine and
feminine forms.
❷ ‫أزرق‬
azra' ❶ il-amees . (white)
❸ ‫حمراء‬ ❷ il-bantalon . (blue)
h amra ❸ il-kravatta . (red)
❹ ‫أصفر‬ ❹ il-ward . (yellow)
aS far ❺ il-gazma . (black)
❺ ‫سوداء‬
sohda
Kitchen Kitchen (4 minutes)

❶ ‫بوتاجاز‬ Say the Arabic words for the numbered items.
butagaaz
range ❶ fridge ❷
❷ ‫ثالجة‬
tallaaga
❸ ‫حوض مطبخ‬
h ohd me t bakh
❹ ‫ميكرويف‬
meekroweef
❺ ‫فرن‬
furn
❻ ‫كرسي‬
kursee
❼ ‫مائدة‬
maa'ida chair ❻
table ❼
❺ oven
AT H O M E 107
il-agweba
House (4 minutes) House

You are visiting a house. Join in the conversation, asking ❶ !‫السجادة جميلة‬
questions in Arabic following the English prompts. is-siggaada gameela
ghurfit il-guloos hina ❷ ‫فيه غرفة سفرة كمان؟‬
❶ The rug is beautiful! feeh ghurfit sufra
aywah, wi-adeema giddan kamaan
❷ Is there a dining room as well? ❸ ‫فيه جراج؟‬
laa, bass feeh maa'ida kibeera feeh garaaj
fil-metbakh ❹ ‫فاضية دلوقتي؟‬
❸ Is there a garage?
fadya dilwa'ti
aywah, wi feeh ginayna kamaan
❹ Is it vacant now?
At home (3 minutes) At home

microwave ❹ Say the Arabic for the ❶ ‫غسالة‬
following items. ghassaala
❸ kitchen sink
❶ washing machine ❷ ‫كنبة‬
❷ sofa kanaba
❸ pond ❸ ‫بركة‬
❹ kitchen birka
❺ tree ❹ ‫مطبخ‬
❻ garden metbakh
❺ ‫شجرة‬
shagara
❻ ‫جنينة‬
ginayna
10 8 W E E K 11
Warm up (1 minute) Mektab il-bareed

Ask “How do I get to the
station?” and “Where’s
wil-bank
the post office?” Post office and bank
(pp.50–1, pp.68–9)
The postal service in the Arabic-speaking world
What’s the Arabic for is variable and may be slow. If you need to change
“passport”? (pp.54–5) money, remember that a bank or an exchange
Ask “What time is it?” bureau will almost always give you a better rate
(pp.30–1) than the foreign exchange desk of a hotel.
Words to remember: post (3 minutes)

Familiarize yourself with these words and test yourself using the cover flap to conceal
the Arabic on the left.
‫ جواب‬letter ‫كارت بوستال‬
gawaab kart bostaal
postcard
‫ طرد‬parcel
tard
‫ بريد جوي‬air mail

bareed gawwee
‫ طوابع‬stamps
tawaabia
‫ صندوق بريد‬mail box
sundoo' bareed
‫ ساعي البريد‬mailman
saaaee l-bareed ‫ظرف‬
z arf
envelope
.‫عاوز أصرف فلوس‬ ‫معاك اثبات شخصية؟‬ .‫ معايا جواز السفر‬،‫أيوه‬

aawiz asrif fuloos maaak ithbaat shakhS eyya aywah, maaaya
gawaaz is-safar
I’d like to change Do you have identification?
some money. Yes, I have my passport.
SERVICES 10 9
Words to remember: bank (2 minutes)

Familiarize yourself with these words and test yourself using the cover flap to conceal
the Arabic on the right.
‫كارت االئتمان‬ money ‫فلوس‬
kart il-i'timaan
fuloos
credit card
ATM/cashpoint ‫صرف آلي‬
sarf aalee
cashier ‫صراف‬
S arraaf
notes ‫بنكنوت‬
banknote
change ‫فكة‬
‫فيه ماكينة صرف آلي؟‬ fakka
feeh makeenit sarf aalee
exchange rate ‫سعر الصرف‬
Is there an ATM? siar is-sarf

I’d like to change .‫عاوز أصرف فلوس‬
some money. aawiz asrif fuloos
Say it (2 minutes) What is the ‫سعر الصرف إيه؟‬
exchange rate? siar is-sarf eh
I’d like to change
some dollars. I’d like to send ‫عاوز أبعث ده‬
Do you sell stamps?
this by air mail. .‫بالبريد الجوي‬
aawiz abaat dah
Where’s the mail box? bil-bareed il-gawwee
.‫وقع هنا من فضلك‬ ‫عاوز ميات وال خمسينات؟‬ .‫ميات من فضلك‬

waqqaa hina min fadlak aawizmiyaat walla miyaat min fadlik
Sign here please. khamseenaat Hundreds, please.
Would you like hundreds
or fifties?
110 W E E K 11
Warm up (1 minute) Il-khidmaat

What is the Arabic for Services
“doesn’t work”?
You can combine the Arabic words on these pages
(pp.60–1)
with the vocabulary you learned in week 10 to help
What’s the Arabic for you explain basic problems and cope with arranging
“today” and “tomorrow”? most repairs. When organizing building work or a
(pp.28–9) repair, it’s a good idea to agree the price in advance.

‫ سباك‬plumber
sabbaak
‫ كهربائي‬electrician
kahrabaa'ee
‫ ميكانيكي‬mechanic
mikaneekee
‫ بناء‬builder
bannaa
‫ عامل نظافة‬cleaner
aaamil naddaafa
‫ نقاش‬decorator
na'aash
‫ نجار‬carpenter
naggaar
.‫أنا محتاج ميكانيكي‬
ena mihtaag mikaneekee
I need a mechanic.
.‫غسالة األطباق مش شغالة‬ .‫ الخرطوم بايظ‬،‫أيوه‬ ‫ممكن تصلحه؟‬

ghassaalit il-atbaa' mish aywah il-khartoom baayiz mumkin tisallahoo
shagh-ghaala Yes, the hose is broken. Can you repair it?
The dishwasher
doesn’t work.
SERVICES 111

Can you clean ‫ممكن تنظف الحمام؟‬
the bathroom? mumkin tinaddaf
il-hammaam
Can you repair ‫ممكن تصلح السخان؟‬
the boiler? mumkin tisallah
is-sakh-khaan
Do you know a ‫تعرف كهربائي كويس؟‬

good electrician? taaraf kahrabaa'ee kwayyis
‫ممكن تصلح المكوى؟‬
mumkin tisallah il-makwa
Can you repair the iron?

Practice these phrases. Cover up the text on the right and complete the dialog
in Arabic. Check your answers and repeat if necessary.
‫رسومات هندسية‬ .‫ممكن تصلحه؟ الكرسي بايظ‬
rusoomaat handaseyya il-kursee baayiz mumkin tisallahoo
architect’s drawings The chair is broken.
Ask: Can you repair it?
.‫ محتاج نجار‬،‫تعرف نجار كويس؟ ال‬

laa. mihtaag naggaar taaraf naggaar kwayyis
No, you need a carpenter.
Ask: Do you know
.‫حابتدي شغل بكرة‬ a good carpenter?
habtidi shughl bukra
I’ll start work tomorrow.
.‫ الزم واحد جديد‬،‫ال‬ ‫ممكن تجيبه النهاردة؟‬ .‫ حارجع بكرة الصبح‬،‫ال‬

laa laazim waahid gideed mumkin tigeeboo innahaarda laa hargaa bukra is-subh
No, you need a new one. Can you bring it today? No, I’ll come back
tomorrow morning.
112 W E E K 11
Warm up (1 minute) Yeegee

Say the days of the week To come
There are several ways of saying come. The word
How do you say gayy(a) (coming) can be used with personal pronouns to
“cleaner”? (pp.110–11) mean I’m coming, she’s coming, and so on. You need to
Say “It’s 9.30,” “10.45,” add the ending -een for the plural (gayyeen). However,
“12.00.” (pp.30–1) questions using aawiz(a) or mumkin require the use of
agee or teegee (see below).
To come (6 minutes)
Practice the different ways of saying come by reading aloud the phrases below.
When you are confident, use the cover flap to conceal the Arabic to test yourself.
‫هو جاي‬/‫أنت‬/‫ أنا‬I’m/you’re/he’s
ena/enta/huwa gayy coming (m)
‫هي جاية‬/‫أنت‬/‫ أنا‬I’m/you’re/she’s

ena/enti/heyya gayya coming (f)
‫هما جايين‬/‫أنتم‬/‫ احنا‬we’re/you’re/they’re

ihna/entum/ coming (pl)
humma gayyeen
‫ أجي‬I come
agee
‫ تيجي‬you come
teegee (m and f)
‫ ممكن أجي؟‬Can I come?

mumkin agee
‫ عاوز تيجي؟‬Do you (m) want
aawiz teegee to come?
‫ عاوزة تيجي؟‬Do you (f) want

aawza teegee to come? .‫هما جايين بالقطر‬
humma gayyeen bil-'atr
They’re coming by train.
Conversational tip
In Arabic the word gayy(a) (coming) also
means next as in next week or next plane—
for example, mumkin tigee il-usbooa
ig-gayy? (can you come next week?);
it-tayyaara ig-gayya is-saaaa kaam?
(what time is the next plane?).
SERVICES 113

Learn these phrases and then test yourself using the cover flap. Notice that there is
a special phrase meaning Come!
When can I come? ‫ممكن أجي امتى؟‬
mumkin agee imta
Are you (pl) coming ‫أنتم جايين بكرة؟‬
tomorrow? entum gayyeen bukra
Do you (m/f) want ‫عاوز(ة) تيجي معانا؟‬
to come with us? aawiz/-a teegee maana
Come! (to a male/ )‫وا‬/‫تعال (ي‬
female/group) taaaala/taaaalee/
taaaaloo
‫ممكن تيجي يوم الحد؟‬

mumkin teegee yohm il-had
Can you come on Sunday?

Practice these phrases. Then cover up the text on the right and say the answering
part of the dialog in Arabic. Check your answers and repeat if necessary.
‫ أي خدمة؟‬.‫ كوافير سوزي‬.‫عاوزة ميعاد من فضلك‬
kwafeer suzi. ayyi khidma aawza miaaad min fadlik
Suzi’s hair salon.
Can I help you?
Say: I want an
appointment, please.
‫ممكن أجي النهاردة؟ عاوز تيجي امتى؟‬

aawza teegee imta mumkin agee innahaarda
When do you
want to come?
Ask: Can I come today?
‫ الساعة كام؟‬.‫ أيوه‬.‫عاوزة أجي عشرة ونص‬

aywah. is-saaaa kaam aawza agee aashra wi-nuSS
Yes. What time?
Say: I want to
come at 10:30.
114 W E E K 11
Warm up (1 minute) Il-bolees

What’s the Arabic for
“big” and “small”?
wil-gareema
(pp.64–5) Police and crime
Say “The room is big” If you are the victim of a crime while traveling or
and “The bed is small.” living overseas, you will need to go to the police
(pp.60–1, pp.64–5) station to report it. Initially, you may have to
explain your complaint in Arabic, so some basic
vocabulary is useful.
Words to remember: crime (4 minutes)

Familiarize yourself with these words.
‫ سرقة‬robbery
sir'a
‫ محضر‬police report
mahdar
‫ حرامي‬thief
h araamee
‫شرطة‬/‫ بوليس‬police
bolees/shur ta
‫ شاهد‬witness
shaahid
‫ محام‬lawyer
muhaami .‫أنا عاوز محام‬
ena aawiz muhaami
I need a lawyer.

Learn these phrases and then test yourself using the
cover flap to conceal the Arabic on the left.
.‫ أنا اتسرقت‬I’ve been robbed.
ena itsara't
‫ سرقوا إيه؟‬What was stolen?
‫كاميرا‬
sar'oo eh
kameera ‫محفظة‬
‫ شفت الفاعل؟‬Did you see who did it? camera mah faza
purse
shuft il-faaail
‫ السرقة حصلت امتى؟‬When did the
is-sir'a hasalit imta theft happen?
SERVICES 115
Words to remember: appearance (5 minutes)

Learn these words. Remember: adjectives have a feminine form ending in -a.
man/woman ‫سيدة‬/‫رجل‬
raagil/sayyida
tall ‫طويلة‬/‫طويل‬
(m/f) taweel/taweela
short ‫قصيرة‬/‫قصير‬
(m/f) uS ayyar/ uS ayyara
young ‫صغيرة‬/‫صغير‬
.‫هو قصير وبشنب‬ (m/f) S ughayyar/S ughayyara
huwa usayyar wi bi-shanab
He is short, with a mustache. old ‫عجوزة‬/‫عجوز‬
(m/f) aagooz/aagooza
fat ‫سمينة‬/‫سمين‬
(m/f) sameen/sameena
thin ‫رفيعة‬/‫رفيع‬
(m/f) rufayyaa /rufayyaaa
his hair/her ‫شعرها طويل‬/‫شعره‬

hair is long shaaroo/shaaraha taweel
.‫شعره أسود وقصير‬ with glasses ‫بنظارة‬
shaaroo iswid wi-usayyar bi-naddaara
His hair is black and short.
Read it The police are referred to as either il-bolees or ish-shurta and this is what you
may see written on police cars and stations:

Practice these phrases. Then cover up the text on the right and follow the instructions
to make your reply in Arabic.
‫ كان شكله إيه؟‬.‫قصير وسمين‬
kaan shekloo eh uS ayyar wi-sameen
What was he like?
Say: Short and fat.
‫ وشعره؟‬.‫طويل وأسود‬
wi-shaaroo taweel wi iswid
And his hair?
Say: Long and black.
116 W E E K 11

Review and repeat
To come To come (3 minutes)
❶ ‫جاي‬ Put the correct form of come into the gaps.
gayy ❶ enta bukra?
❷ ‫جايين‬ ❷ humma bil-qitaar
gayyeen ❸ (ena) mumkin yohm is-sabt?
❸ ‫أجي‬ ❹ heyya il-usbooa ig-gayy
agee ❺ enti aawza maana?
❹ ‫جاية‬
gayya
❺ ‫تيجي‬
teegee
Bank and post Bank and post (4 minutes)

❶ ‫كارت االئتمان‬ Name these items.
kart il-i'timaan
❷ ‫كارت بوستال‬
kart bostaal
❸ ‫طرد‬
tard
❹ ‫ظرف‬ ❶ credit card

z arf
❷ postcard ❸ package
❹ envelope
SERVICES 117
il-agweba
Appearance (4 minutes) Appearance

What do these descriptions mean? ❶ He is tall and thin.
❶ huwa taweel wi-rufayyaa ❷ Her hair is short.
❷ shaaraha usayyar ❸ The man is short
(and) with glasses.
❸ ir-raagil usayyar wi bi-naddaara
❹ She’s old and fat.
❹ heyya aagooza wi-sameena
❺ I am tall with
❺ ena taweel wi bi-shanab a mustache.
The pharmacy (4 minutes) The pharmacy

You are asking a pharmacist for advice. Join in ❶ .‫عندي كحة‬
the conversation, replying in Arabic following aandee kohh a
the English prompts.
❷ .‫ بس عندي صداع‬،‫ال‬
ayyi khidma? laa, bass aandee
❶ I have a cough. sodaaa
aandak bard kamaan? ❸ ‫عندك ده دواء سائل؟‬
❷ No, but I have a headache.
aandak dah
aandina h uboob dawaa saayil
❸ Do you have this as a syrup?
❹ ‫ بكام ده؟‬.‫شكرا‬
aywah. ittafaddal
shukran. bikaam dah
❹ Thank you. How much is that?
118 W E E K 12
Warm up (1 minute) Wa't il-firaagh

What is the Arabic for Leisure time
“museum” and “library”?
Like and prefer are usually followed by il (the):
(pp.48–9)
bithibb il-fann? (Do you like art?); ena bafaddal
Say “I don’t like cats.” il-riyaada (I prefer sports). But il is usually dropped
(pp.104–05) after the expression ghaawee/ghaawya (keen on):
Ask a female “Do huwa ghaawee masrah (He is keen on/likes the theater);
you want…?”. (pp.22–3) heyya ghaawya mooseeqa (She is keen on/likes music).
.‫أنا بأحب الرقص‬

ena buhibb ir-ra's
Familiarize yourself with these words and test I like dancing.
yourself using the cover flap to conceal the
Arabic on the left.
‫ مسرح‬theater
masrah
‫ سينما‬movies
sinima
‫ رياضة‬sport
riyaada
‫ زيارة المعالم‬sightseeing
ziyaarit il-maaaalim
‫ موسيقى‬music
mooseeqa
‫ فن‬art
fann
‫أهال! عاوزة تلعبي تنس؟‬ .‫أنا مش غاوية رياضة‬ ‫ هواياتك إيه؟‬،‫أمال‬

ahlan! aawza tilaabee tennis ena mish gaawya riyaada ummaal, hiwayaatik eh
Hello, do you want to I’m not big on sports. So then, what are
play tennis? your interests?
LEISURE AND SOCIALIZING 119

What are your ‫هواياتك إيه؟‬
(m/f) interests? hiwayaatak/-ik eh
I like art. .‫أنا باحب الفن‬
ena buhibb il-fann
I prefer the movies. .‫أنا بأفضل السينما‬
ena bafaddal is-sinima
I like (m) the theater. .‫أنا غاوي مسرح‬
.‫بيحب ألعاب الكمبيوتر‬
ena ghaawee masrah
biyhibb alaaab il-kompyootir
He likes computer games.
I don’t like (f) sports. .‫أنا مش غاوية رياضة‬
ena mish ghaawya riyaada
That’s boring. .‫ده ممل‬
dah mumill
‫راقصة‬
raaqisa
dancer
‫زي تقليدي‬
ziyy taqleedee
traditional costume
Say it (2 minutes)
I like music.
I prefer sport.
I’m not a big fan of
computer games.
.‫بأفضل الرقص‬ .‫الرقص ممل‬ .‫ أشوفك بكرة‬.‫معلش‬

bafaddal ir-ra's ir-raqS mumill maaalesh. ashoofak bukra
I prefer dancing. Dancing is boring. Never mind. I’ll see
you tomorrow.
12 0 W E E K 12
Warm up (1 minute) Ir-riyaaDa

Ask “Do you (f) want to
play tennis?” (pp.118–19)
wil-hiwaayaat
Say “I like the theater”
Sport and hobbies
and “I prefer sightseeing.” The word koora means ball, globe, or sphere.
(pp.118–19) It is placed first in the Arabic names for many
Say “I’m not big on art.” sports: koorat il-qadam (literally, “ball of the foot”),
(pp.118–19) koorat is-salla (“ball of the basket”). Soccer is
often shortened to simply il-koora (the ball).

Familiarize yourself with these words and then test yourself.
‫ كرة القدم‬soccer .‫باحب الغطس جدا‬
koorat il-qadam buhibb il-ghats giddan
‫ كرة السلة‬basketball I like diving
koorat is-salla very much.
‫ السباحة‬swimming
‫تنك هواء‬
is-sibaaha tank hawa
‫ ركوب الخيل‬horse-riding oxygen tank
rukoob il-khayl
‫ صيد السمك‬fishing
sayd is-samak
‫ الجري‬running
ig-garee
‫زعانف‬
zaaaanif
fins

Learn these phrases and then test yourself.
.‫ أنا باحب الكرة‬I like soccer.
ena buhibb il-koora
.‫ هي بتحب الجري‬She likes running.

heyya bithibb ig-garee
.‫ هو بيحب التنس جدا‬He likes tennis very much.

huwa biyhibb
it-tennis giddan
biyhibb: to like (4 minutes)

biyhibb is a useful verb meaning like or likes. The negative is made by putting
ma- before the verb and -(i)sh after it: mabuhibbish (I don’t like); mabiyhibbish
(he doesn’t like).
I like ‫(أنا) باحب‬
(ena) buhibb
you like (m/f) ‫بتحبي‬/‫(أنت) بتحب‬
(enta/enti) bithibb/-ee
he likes ‫(هو) بيحب‬
(huwa) biyhibb
she likes ‫(هي) بتحب‬
(heyya) bithibb
‫بتحبي المراكب؟‬/‫بتحب‬
bithibb/bithibbee il-maraakib
What do you like (m) doing? ‫بتحب تعمل إيه؟‬
Do you like (m/f) boats? bithibb taamil eh
‫نظارة بحر‬ What do you like (f) doing? ‫بتحبي تعملي إيه؟‬
naddaarit bahr bithibbee taamilee eh
mask
I don’t like diving. .‫ما باحبش الغطس‬
‫بدلة غطس‬ mabuhibbish il-ghats
badlit ghat s
wet suit
She doesn’t like soccer. .‫ما بتحبش الكرة‬
mabithibbish il-koora

Join in this conversation following the English prompts.
‫ بتحب تعمل إيه؟‬.‫أنا باحب التنس‬
bithibb taamil eh ena buhibb it-tennis
What do you like doing?
Say: I like tennis.
‫ بتحب الكرة؟‬.‫ أنا مش غاوي كرة‬،‫ال‬

bithibb il-koora laa, ena mish
Do you like football? ghaawee koora
Say: No, I’m not big
on football.
‫ أنا باحب كرة وكرة السلة؟‬،‫أيوه‬

wi-koorat-salla.‫السلة جدا‬
And basketball? aywah, buhibb koorat
Say: Yes, I like basketball is-salla giddan
very much.
12 2 W E E K 12
Warm up (1 minute) Iz-ziyaaraat

Say “my husband” and Socializing
“my wife.” (pp.10–11)
Food and shelter are central to the idea of
Say the days of the week hospitality, which is deeply embedded in
in Arabic. (pp.28–9) Arabic culture. You can expect to receive
Say “Sorry, I’m busy.” numerous invitations from people you
(pp.32–3) meet, and are likely to be offered generous
amounts of food.
‫ضيفة‬
d ayfa
Useful phrases (3 minutes) guest
Practice these phrases and then test yourself.

‫ عاوزين نعزمكم على‬We’d like to
.‫ العشاء‬invite you (pl)
to dinner.
aawzeen nia zimkum
aalal aasha
‫ فاضيين يوم الخميس؟‬Are you (pl) free

faadiyeen yohm il-khamees on Thursday?
.‫ معلش‬،‫ يوم ثاني‬Perhaps

yohm taani, maalaysh another day.
Cultural tip When you visit someone’s house for the first
time, it is usual to bring flowers or some cakes. If you are invited
again, having seen your host’s house, you can bring something a
little more personal.
.‫عاوزين نعزمكم يوم الثالثاء‬ .‫ احنا مشغولين‬،‫آسفة‬ ‫طيب والخميس؟‬

aawzeen nia zimkum yohm aasfa, ihna mash-ghooleen tayyib wil-khamees
it-talaat I’m sorry, we’re busy. OK. What about Thursday?
We’d like to invite you
on Tuesday.
LEISURE AND SOCIALIZING 12 3

party ‫حفلة‬
h afla
‫صاحبة البيت‬
sahbit il-bayt invitation ‫عزومة‬
hostess aazooma
Read it You now know the principles of how Arabic

script works and can recognize some individual letters
and words. You’ll find more information on pp.152–57.

Join in this conversation, replying in Arabic.
‫ عاوزين نعزمكم على‬.‫بكرة مناسب جدا‬
.‫ العشاء بكرة‬bukra munaasib giddan
aawzeen nia zimkum
aalal aasha bukra
We’d like to invite you
to dinner tomorrow.
Say: Tomorrow would
be very good.
‫ الساعة ثمانية كويس؟‬.‫ شكرا على العزومة‬،‫أيوه‬

is-saaaa tamanya kwayyis aywah. shukran
Is 8 o’clock OK? aalal aazooma
Say: Yes. Thank you for

.‫األ كل لذيذ‬ the invitation.
il-alk lazeez
The food is delicious.
.‫ الخميس مناسب جدا‬،‫أيوه‬ .‫الزم تيجي مع زوجك‬ .‫ شكرا على العزومة‬،‫طبعا‬

aywah, il-khamees laazim teegee maaa zohgik tabaan. shukran aalal
munaasib giddan Be sure to bring aazooma
Yes, Thursday would be your husband. Of course. Thank you for

very good. the invitation.
124 W E E K 12

Review and repeat
Animals Animals (3 minutes)
❶ ‫سمكة‬ Name the numbered
samaka animals in Arabic.
❷ ‫عصفور‬
aas foor ❶ fish horse ❺
❸ ‫أرنب‬
arnab
❹ ‫قطة‬ rabbit ❸
otta
❺ ‫حصان‬ ❷ bird
h us aan
❻ ‫كلب‬
kelb ❹ cat
Preferences Preferences (4 minutes)

❶ .‫هي مش غاوية غطس‬ Say the following in Arabic:
heyya mish ❶ She’s not big on diving.
ghaawya ghats
❷ I prefer tennis.
❷ .‫أنا بأفضل التنس‬
❸ I like soccer.
ena bafaddal it-tennis
❹ He’s not interested in flowers.
❸ .‫غاوية كورة‬/‫أنا غاوي‬
ena ghaawee/
ghaawya koora
❹ .‫هو مش غاوي ورد‬
huwa mish
ghaawee ward
il-agweba
To like (4 minutes) To like

Use the different forms of the ❶ ‫بأحب‬
verb biyhibb in these sentences. buhibb
❶ ena il-koora ❷ ‫بيحب‬
❷ huwa is-sibaaha biyhibb
❸ heyya kura is-salla ❸ ‫بتحب‬
❹ enti it-tennis? bithibb
❺ enta il-ghats? ❹ ‫بتحبي‬
bithibbee
❺ ‫بتحب‬
bithibb
❻ dog
An invitation (4 minutes) An invitation

You are invited to dinner. Join in the conversation, ❶ .‫ احنا مشغولين‬،‫آسفة‬
replying in Arabic following the English prompts. aasfa, ihna
faadiyeen yohm il-khamees? mash-ghooleen
❶ I’m sorry, we’re busy. ❷ .‫السبت مناسب جدا‬
tayyib.
wis-sabt? is-sabt munaasib
❷ Saturday would be very good. giddan
laazim teegee maaa zohgik ❸ ‫ نيجي الساعة كام؟‬.‫طبعا‬
❸ Of course. What time shall we come? tabaan. neegee
is-saaaa kaam
42 formW
Fill in the blanks with the correct of Eaand
EK 4 ❶ ‫عندي‬
(to have). Check you have remembered the a andee
126 correctly.
Arabic Taaksi,
W E E K 1 2 Warm up (1 minute)
❷ ‫عندنا‬ otohbees,
progresswi❸ metro
❶ ena akh andina a
Reinforce
❷ i na
h sayyaara and
Say “I’m not taking
a taxi.” (pp.40–1)
‫عندك‬َ
❸ enta awlaad?
Ask a group of people
Taxi, andak
bus, and metro
a
Regular
❹ hummapracticewardisahthe
mar? key to maintaining and advancing ❹ ‫عندهم‬ W
“Where are you going?” Egyptians 34
generally use the word otohbees
anduhum
forE Ebus,
K 3
your language
❺ huwa skills. In(pp.40–1)
mubayil this section you will but find aavariety
in other regionsofyou might hear baas or the
suggestions
❻ heyya for reinforcing
waladayn Say “80”and extending your
and “40”.
❺ ‫عنده‬
moreknowledge
official haafila. You may also be
aanduh
Warm
able toupcatch
(1 minute) Aala
of Arabic. Many involve returning to exercises in
❼ entum ikhwaat? (pp.30–1) a microbus
❻ the
you want ‫عندها‬
or a
book
to go.
shared taxi, depending on where
Say “I’m sorry.” (pp.32–3) On th
and using the dictionary to extend their scope. Try going
aandaha What is the Arabic for Public tel
back through the lessonsWords in a different
to rememberorder(4and ❼ ‫عندكم‬
mix and
minutes)
“I have an appointment.”? countries
(pp.32–3) phone ca
aandukum
match activities to make up your
Familiarize own
yourself with15-minute
these words and daily How do you say “when?” card for y
program, or focus on topics thatusing
test yourself aretheofcover
particular
flap. relevance in Arabic? (pp.32–3) numbers
to your current needs. ‫ أوتوبيس‬bus/coach

otohbees
‫ شباك تذاكر‬ticket office Match and repeat
Family (4 minutes) Family Keep warmed up (4 minutes)
shibbaak tazaakir
Re-visit the Warm
Match up boxesitems to the Arab
the numbered
Say the Arabic for each of the numbered family ❶ ‫أب‬
‫ محطة مترو‬metro station to remind yourself
the panel ofleft,
on the keythen test yourself
members. Check you have remembered the ab words and phrases. Work
mahattit metro ❶ ‫شاحن‬
Arabic correctly. ❷ ‫أم‬ your way through all of
❸ daughter ‫ موقف أوتوبيس‬bus stop omm shaa h in ❶c
grandmother
them ❷ on‫أنسر‬
a regular basis.
mawqaf
❺ otohbees
father ❶ mother ❷ ❸ ‫بنت‬ ansar
‫ أجرة تاكسي‬taxi fare bint ❸ ‫تليفون‬
ogrit taaksi ❹ ‫جد‬ tilifohn
Review and repeat again❹ ‫موبايل‬
‫ موقف تاكسي‬taxi stand gidd
Work
❺ ‫ جدة‬through a Review andmubayil repeat
mawqaf taaksi
lesson
gidda as a way of reinforcing words
‫هنا؟‬ ‫بيقف‬ ١٧
and phrases presented in the ‫نمرة‬ course.
❻ ‫ابن‬ nimra saba
sammaa
at aashar
aaat
Return
ibn
to the main lesson for any topic
bi-yu'uf hina
on which you are no longer confident.
Does the number 17
stop here?
In conversation: taxi (2 minutes) headphones ❺
son ❻ grandfather ❹
Carry on conversing
Re-read the In .‫خان الخليلي من فضلك‬ .‫ اتفضل‬.‫ماشي‬ ‫ممكن أنزل هنا من فضلك؟‬
conversation panels. Khan il-khalilee maashi. ittafaddal mumkin anzil hina
min fadlak OK. Please get in. min .‫بركات‬
fadlak ‫ معاك عزة‬.‫آلو‬ ‫كلم األستاذ‬
Say both parts of
Khan il-khalili, please. Can aaloh.
I get out
maaak a zza ‫ن فضلك؟‬
the conversation,
here,barakaat
please? mumkin a
paying attention to il-ustaaz b
Hello. Azza Barakat
the pronunciation. speaking. min fadlik
GETTING AROUND 53 Can I spea
Mr. Badraa
What time do you ‫بتقفلوا الساعة كام؟‬/‫بتفتحوا‬
open/close? bi-tiftahoo/bi-ti'filoo Practice phrases
is-saaaa kaam Return to the Useful
phrases and Put into
Where are the restrooms? ‫فين الحمامات؟‬ practice exercises.
fayn il-hammaamaat Test yourself using the
cover flap. When you
are confident, adapt
Are there facilities ‫فيه تسهيالت للمعاقين؟‬ the phrases, using
for the disabled? feeh tas-heelaat new words from
lil-muaaqeen the dictionary.

Say “I need.” (pp.64–5) The garden Practice these phrases and then test
70 WEEK 7
What is the Arabic The garden of a house or villa may be communal or T
for “day” and “today”? partly shared. A charge for the upkeep of the garden
Warm up (1 minute)
(pp.28–9) Fil-bazaar
may be included in theR E IItN
rent. F OtoRcheck
is wise C Ewith
AND PROGRESS 127
Cultural tip Bartering is an essential
the agent. In the Middle East, gardens are usually
Say the days of the week.
What is Arabic for 40,
(pp.28–9)
In the bazaar
watered in the late afternoon or evening, after the
Stall holders expect you to haggle, but it
rather than turning it into a battle of wil
56, 77, 82, and 94?
Match, Shopping in the
hottest part of traditional
the day hasbazaars
passed.of the are prepared to buy more than one item
(pp.10–11, repeat,
pp.30–1) and extend Ca
Arab world is an experience not to be missed.
Remind yourself of words
Say “I need a big room.”
related to specific topics
As well as the usual tourist souvenirs, bazaars
by returning to the Match
(pp.64–5) often and
haverepeat and Words
areas dedicated to local
to particular Usef
remember
Ask “Do you haveexercises. Testcraftsyourself using
or products, suchthe cover spices,
as perfumes,
flap. Discover new Learn th
a small car?” (pp.58–9,
Familiarize yourself withwords
rugs,
these in
words that
jewelry, area
and leather,byand
referring
test yourself furniture. Is
the right
to thethe
pp.64–5)
using dictionary
flap. and menu guide. ❷ papyrus say the p
‫ ماكينة قص الحشيش‬lawn mower
❸ cotton
makanit uss il-hasheesh
‫ شوكة‬pitchfork ❹ silk
❷ tree
Match the numbered shohka
items in this scene with the text in the panel.
plants
❸brass
❶ ‫نحاس‬
❶
‫ جاروف‬spade
nahaas gaaroof Anything
❷ ‫ورق بردي‬
‫رشاش‬ sprinkler
waraq bardee rash-shaash
❸ ‫قطن‬ Ma
ut n
Match
❹ ‫حرير‬ ❹ bridge
on the
h areer
silver ❺ That’s ve
❺ ‫فضة‬
fadda
‫جالبية‬
❻ path ❶
Say it (1 minute)
galabeyya
❼ ‫صدف‬ I want a silk galabeyya.
sadaf One hundred and
robe ❻ Is that yo
ninety is fair.
❼ mother- That’s expensive.

of-pearl
In conversation (5 minutes) Say it (2 minutes)
Say it again We need to water

the plants.
The Say it exercises are a useful instant
reminder for each lesson. Practice these, The palm is beautiful!
using your own choice of vocabulary from The gardener comes
the dictionary or elsewhere in the lesson. on Thursday.
.‫عاوزة جالبية قطن‬ !‫❽ جميلة‬
.‫دي‬ ‫عندي‬
rocks ‫دي؟‬
pond‫بكام‬
❼ .‫❻ جميلة‬
،‫أيوه‬
palm .‫مية وثمانين بس‬ ‫ مية‬.‫ي غالية‬
aawza galabeyya utn aandee dee. gameela aywah, gameela. bi-kaam dee mia wi-tamaneen bass .‫سين كويس‬
I want a cotton galabeyya. I have this one. Beautiful! Yes, it’s beautiful. How Only 180. laa, dee gh
Using other resources much is it? wi-khaseen
No, that’s
150 is fair.
As well as working with this book, Join a language class or club. There are
try the following ideas to extend often evening and day classes available
and improve your Arabic: at a variety of different levels. Or you
Visit Egypt, or another Arabic- could start a club yourself if you have
speaking country, and try out your friends who are also interested in
new skills with native speakers. keeping up their Arabic.
Although this course focuses on Expand your new knowledge of the
Egyptian Arabic, you’ll find this is Arabic script. Look at the back of
widely understood by Arabic food packages and other products.
speakers from many regions. You will often find a list of ingredients
Find out if there is an Arabic or components in Arabic. See if you
community near you. There may can spot familiar letters and words
be shops, cafés, restaurants, or clubs. and work out some other words
Try to visit some of these and use by comparing them to the
your Arabic to order food and drink English equivalent.
and strike up conversations. Most Find language-learning websites,
native speakers will be happy to some of which offer online help
speak Arabic to you. and activities.
128 MENU GUIDE
MENU GUIDE
This guide lists the most common terms
you are likely to come across on Arabic
menus. The dishes are divided into
categories, and the Arabic script is given
to help you identify items on a menu.
Appetizers, soups, and salads

‫سلطة باذنجان‬ salatit baadingaan eggplant salad
‫شوربة فراخ‬ shorbit firaakh chicken soup
‫تبولة‬ tabboola cracked wheat salad
‫شوربة سمك‬ shorbit samak fish soup
‫عصير فواكه‬ aaseer fawaakih fruit juice
‫سلطة خضراء‬ salata khadra green salad
‫حمص‬ hummus hummus—puréed

chickpeas
‫شوربة عدس‬ shorbit aads lentil soup
‫بطارخ‬ bataarikh mullet roe
‫زيتون‬ zaytoon olives
‫سلطة بلدي‬ salata baladee Oriental mixed salad
‫مخلل‬ mekhallil pickles
‫سلطة بطاطس‬ salatit bataatis potato salad
‫جرجير‬ gargeer arugula
‫سلطة‬ salata salad
‫سردين‬ sardeen sardines
‫شوربة‬ shorba soup

MENU GUIDE 129
‫ورق عنب‬ wara' aenab stuffed vine leaves
‫طحينة‬ taheena tahini—sesame

seed paste
‫بابا غنوج‬ baaba ghannoog tahini with eggplant
‫سلطة طماطم‬ salaatit tamaatem tomato salad
‫شوربة خضار‬ shorbit khudaar vegetable soup
‫سلطة زبادي‬ salaatit zibaadee yogurt salad
Eggs, cheese, and pasta

‫بيض مسلوق‬ bayd masloo' boiled eggs
‫جبنة‬/‫جبن‬ gibn/gibna cheese
‫لبنة‬ labna strained yogurt
‫بيض‬ bayd eggs
‫مش‬ mish salty cheese
‫بيض مقلي‬ bayd ma'lee fried eggs
‫جبنة رومي‬ gibna roomee hard cheese
‫مكرونة‬ makarona macaroni
‫جبنة قديمة‬ gibna adeema mature cheese

‫شعرية‬ sheareeya noodles (angel hair)
‫أومليت‬ omlayt omelet
‫عجة‬ aegga omelet with onions
and parsley
‫شكشوكة‬ shakshooka scrambled eggs
with mince
‫جبنة فالحي‬ gibna fallaahee soft farmer’s cheese
‫مكرونة اسباجيتي‬ makarona spaghetti spaghetti
‫جبنة بيضاء‬ gibna bayda white cheese
13 0 MENU GUIDE
Fish
‫أنشوجة‬ anshooga anchovies
‫كابوريا‬ kaaboriya crab
‫تعبان البحر‬ tiabaan il-bahr eel
‫سمك‬ samak fish
‫سمك صيادية‬ samak sayyadeeya fish with rice
‫سمك مقلي‬ samak ma'lee fried fish
‫سمك مشوي‬ samak mashwee grilled fish
‫استاكوزا‬ estakoza lobster
‫سمك بوري‬ samak booree mullet
‫اخطبوط‬ akhtaboot octopus
‫جمبري‬ gambaree shrimps
‫سردين‬ sardeen sardines
‫قاروص‬ aroos sea bass
‫سمك موسى‬ samak moosa sole
‫سبيط‬ subbayt squid
‫تونة‬ toona tuna
Meat and fowl

‫لحم بقري‬ lahm ba'aree beef
‫ دجاج‬/ ‫فراخ‬ firaakh/dajaaj chicken
‫ ريش‬/ ‫كستليتة‬ kosteleeta/reyash cutlets
‫بط‬ batt duck
‫اسكالوب‬ eskaalob cutlet
‫فيليتو‬ feeletto fillet

MENU GUIDE 131
‫كباب‬ kebaab grilled cubes of meat

(usually lamb)
on a skewer
‫لحم ضاني‬ lahm daanee lamb
‫كبدة‬ kebda liver
‫لحم‬ lahm meat
‫كفتة‬ kofta meatballs or minced

meat on a skewer
‫لحم مفروم‬ lahm mafroom minced meat
‫مشويات مشكلة‬ mashweeyaat meshekkila mixed grill
‫حمام‬ hamaam pigeon
‫روزبيف‬ roosbeef roast beef
‫شاورمة‬ shaawerma sliced spit-roast lamb/

chicken
‫ديك رومي‬ deek roomee turkey
‫سجق‬ sogo' sausages
‫بتلو‬ betello veal
Traditional Arabic dishes

‫مسقعة‬ mesa'aaa eggplant with
minced meat
‫فول بالزيت‬ fool biz-zayt fava beans with oil
‫محشي‬ mah-shee stuffed vegetables
‫كسكس بالضاني‬ kuskus bid-daanee couscous—lamb

and steamed semolina
‫فتة‬ fatta rice with bread

and meat
‫كباب سمك‬ kebaab samak grilled fish on a skewer
132 MENU GUIDE
‫طعمية‬/‫فالفل‬ falaafel/taamayya falafel—fried balls

of ground beans
or chickpeas
‫كشري‬ kosharee mixed rice, lentils, pasta,

and onions with a
piquant sauce
‫بسلة باللحمة‬ bisilla bil-lahma meat cooked with peas
‫تورلي‬ torli mixed vegetable stew
‫طاجن بامية‬ taagin bamya okra stew
‫صفيحة‬ sefeeha pastry base topped

with minced lamb
‫ملوخية بالفراخ‬ molookheeya bil-firaakh traditional soup of

greens with chicken
Vegetables
‫خرشوف‬ kharshoof artichokes
‫باذنجان‬ baadingaan eggplant
‫بنجر‬ bangar beetroot
‫كرمب‬ koronb cabbage
‫جزر‬ gazar carrots
‫أرنبيط‬ arnabeet cauliflower

‫كرفس‬ karafs celery
‫كوسة‬ koosa zucchini
‫خيار‬ khiyaar cucumber
‫ثوم‬ thoom garlic
‫فاصوليا‬ fasoliya haricot beans
‫عدس‬ aads lentils
‫خس‬ khass lettuce
MENU GUIDE 133
‫بامية‬ baamya okra
‫بصل‬ basal onions
‫بسلة‬ bisilla peas
‫بطاطس‬ bataatis potatoes
‫فجل‬ figl radishes
‫رز‬ rozz rice
‫سبانخ‬ sabaanekh spinach
‫بصل أخضر‬ basal akhdar scallions
‫ذرة‬ dorra sweetcorn
‫بطاطا‬ bataataa sweet potatoes
‫طماطم‬ tamaatem tomatoes
‫لفت‬ lift turnips
Fruit and nuts

‫لوز‬ lohz almonds
‫تفاح‬ tuffaah apples
‫مشمش‬ mishmish apricots
‫موز‬ mohz bananas
‫توت‬ toot berries
‫جوز هند‬ gohz hind coconut
‫تين‬ teen figs
‫جريب فروت‬ grayb froot grapefruit
‫عنب‬ aenab grapes
‫بندق‬ bundo' hazelnuts
‫ليمون‬ laymoon limes/lemons
‫منجة‬ manga mangoes

13 4 MENU GUIDE
‫شمام‬ shammaam melon
‫برتقال‬ borto'aan oranges
‫خوخ‬ khohkh peaches
‫فول سوداني‬ fool soodaanee peanuts

‫كمثرى‬ kommetra pears
‫أناناس‬ anaanaas pineapple
‫فزدق‬ fuzdu' pistachio nuts
‫برقوق‬ bar'oo' plums
‫زبيب‬ zibeeb raisins
‫فراولة‬ farawla strawberries
‫يوستفندي‬ yoostefendee tangerines
‫بطيخ‬ batteekh watermelon
Desserts
‫كريم كرامل‬ krem karamel crème caramel
‫حلويات‬ halawiyaat dessert
‫خشاف‬ khoshaaf dish of stewed fruits
‫بقالوة‬ ba'laawa fine layered pastry

and nuts in syrup
‫سلطة فواكه‬ salatit fawaakih fruit salad
‫عسل‬ aasal honey
‫آيس كريم‬ ays kreem ice cream
‫أم علي‬ omm aalee “Mother of Ali”—

pudding with
raisins and milk
‫كنافة‬ kunaafa angel-hair pastry with
nuts and syrup
MENU GUIDE 135
‫رز بلبن‬ ruzz bi-laban rice pudding
‫بسبوسة‬ basboosa semolina cake

with syrup
‫معمول‬ maamool cake stuffed with dates
‫قشطة‬ ishta thick cream
‫ملبن‬ malban Turkish delight
Drinks
‫قهوة مضبوط‬ ahwa mazboot Arabic coffee,
medium sweet
‫قهوة زيادة‬ ahwa ziyaada Arabic coffee,

very sweet
‫بيرة‬ beera beer
‫قهوة‬ ahwa coffee
‫قهوة بالحليب‬ ahwa bil-haleeb coffee with milk
‫قهوة سادة‬ ahwa saada coffee without sugar
‫كوال‬ cola cola
‫كركديه‬ karkaday fuchsia tea
‫عصير جوافة‬ aaseer gawaafa guava juice
‫عصير ليمون‬ aaseer laymoon lemon juice
‫عصير منجة‬ aaseer manga mango juice
‫مياه معدنية‬ mayya maadaneyya mineral water
‫شاي بالنعناع‬ shaay bin-naanaa mint tea
‫عصير برتقال‬ aaseer bortogaal orange juice
‫نبيذ أحمر‬ nabeet ahmar red wine
‫صودا‬ Sooda soda water
‫عصير فراولة‬ aaseer farawla strawberry juice

13 6 MENU GUIDE
‫عصير قصب‬ aaseer asab sugar-cane juice
‫تمر هندي‬ tamru hindi tamarind drink
‫شاي‬ shaay tea
‫شاي بحليب‬ shaay bi-haleeb tea with milk
‫مياه‬ mayya water
‫نبيذ أبيض‬ nabeet abyad white wine
‫نبيذ‬ nabeet wine
Basic foods
‫زبدة‬ zibda butter
‫دقيق‬ di'ee' flour
‫بن‬ bunn ground coffee
‫بهارات‬ buhaaraat herbs
‫مربى‬ murabba jelly
‫لبن‬/‫حليب‬ haleeb/leban milk
‫مستردة‬ mostarda mustard
‫زيت‬ zayt oil
‫فلفل أسود‬ felfel iswid pepper (black)
‫ملح‬ malh salt
‫سكر‬ sukkar sugar
‫شاي‬ shaay tea
‫خل‬ khall vinegar
‫زبادي‬ zabaadee yogurt

MENU GUIDE 137
Types of bread
‫عيش‬/‫خبز‬ khobz/aaysh bread
‫بقسماط‬ bo'somaat breadsticks
‫عيش محمص‬ aaysh muhammas crispbread
‫عيش بلدي‬ aaysh baladee thin round

brown bread
‫سندويتش‬ sandawitch sandwich
‫عيش فينو‬ aaysh feenoo baguette
‫عيش شامي‬ aaysh shaamee white pita bread
Methods of preparation
‫في الفرن‬ fil-furn baked
‫مشوي على‬ mashwee aalal-fahm barbecued
‫الفحم‬
‫مسلوق‬ masloo' boiled
‫محمر‬ muhammar deep-fried
‫مقلي‬ ma'lee fried
‫مشوي‬ mashwee broiled
‫بالصلصة‬ bis-salsa in tomato sauce
‫محشي‬ mahshee stuffed
13 8 DICTIONARY
DICTIONARY
English to Arabic
This dictionary contains the vocabulary from 15-Minute Arabic, together with many
other frequently used words. You can find additional terms for food and drink in the
Menu Guide (pp.128–37).
Arabic adjectives (adj) vary according to the gender of the word they describe and
whether it is singular or plural. In general, you can add -a to refer to the feminine
singular and the plural of objects. The most common ending for the plural of words
that refer to people is -een. Verbs are shown in the masculine singular form of the
present tense.
A am: I am ena artist fannaan

ambulance isA aaf arts (subject of study)
about (approximately)
America amreeka il-aadaab
H awaalee
American (man) amreekaanee; ashtray menfaDit segaayir
accelerator dawaasit
(woman) amreekaaneyya; asleep: he’s asleep
il-benzeen
(adj) amreekaanee huwwa naayim
accepted ma'bool
Ancient Egypt masr il-'adeema asthma rabwu
accident Hadsa
Ancient Egyptians qodamaa' at: at the post office fi mektab
accommodation maskan
il-maSreyyeen il-bareed; at night bil-layl;
accountant muHaasib
and wi, wa at 3 o’clock is-saA a talaata;
ache alam, wagaA
animal Haywaan at the traffic circle A and
adaptor (electrical) taw S eela
ankle kaaH el id-dawaraan
address Ainwaan
another (different) taanee; attractive gazzaab
adhesive bandage blaaster
(additional) iD aafee August aghusTus
admission charge rasm
answering machine ansar aunt (maternal) khaala;
id-dukhool
antique store maHall (paternal) A mma
after baA d
anteekaat Australia ostoraalya
afternoon baA d iD -Duhr antiseptic moTahher
aftershave koloniyit baA d Australian (man) ostoraalee;
apartment sha'a (woman) ostoraaleyya;
ilHilaa'a apartment block A imaara
again marra tanya, taanee (adj) ostoraalee
aperitif mosh-hee Austria in-nemsa
against Didd appetite shaheyya
air-conditioning takeef hawa automatic otomaateeki
apples tofaaH
air freshener muATTir hawa away: far away baA eed;
application form istimaara
air hostess muD eefa gaweyya go away! imshee!
appointment miA aad
air mail bareed gawwee awful weHish giddan
apricot mishmish
aircraft Tayyaara ax balTa
April abreel
airline khaTT Tayaraan axle il-aks
architecture il-miA maar
airport maTaar are: you are (masculine)
alarm clock menabbih enta; (feminine) enti; B
alcohol koHool (plural) entum; we are baby Tifl, raD ee A
Algeria il-gazaa'ir iHna; they are humma baby wipes waraa'il aT faal
all kull, gamee A ; area (region) manti'a back (not front) wara;
all the streets kull arm diraaA (body) D ahr
ish-shawaariA around Hawl backpack garabandeyya
allergy Hassaaseyya arrivals (airport, etc) bad weHish, radee'
allowed masmooH wuS ool bag kees, shanTa
almost ta'reeban arrive yohsal Bahrain il-baHrayn
also kamaan art fann bait TuA m
always dayman art gallery metHaf fonoon bake yikhbiz
ENGLISH TO AR ABIC 139
baker khabbaaz bite (verb) yiA oDD ; (noun) brooch brosh

bakery makhbaz ADD a; (by insect) ladgha brother akh
balcony balkohna bitter murr brown bunnee
ball koora black iswid/sohda bruise kadma
ballpoint pen alam gaaf blanket baTTaneyya brush (for sweeping) meknasa;
banana mohza, mohz blind (cannot see) aA ma (paint, tooth) fursha
band (musicians) fir'a blinds sitaara bucket gardal
bandage robaaT blister fa'foo'a budget (noun) mizaaneyya
bank bank blood dam; blood test builder bannaa
barbecued mashwee A lal-faHm taHleel dam building mabnaa
barber Hallaa' blouse bilooza bumper iksiD aam
basement badroom blow-dryer sishwaar burglar liSS
basin (sink) HohD blue (m/f) azra'/zar'a burn (verb) yiHra'; (noun) Har'
basket salla boarding card kart suA ood bus otohbeeS , baaS , Haafila
basketball koorat is-salla boat markib; (rowing) qaareb bus station maHaTTit il-otobeeS
bath banyo; to have body gism bus stop mawqaf otobeeS
a bath yistaHamma boil (verb) yighlee business aA maal
bathrobe rohb Hammaam boiled masloo' business card kart shakhS ee
bathroom Hammaam bolt (noun: on door) terbaas businessman raagil aA maal
battery baTTaareyya bones A aDm businesswoman sayyidit aAmaal
bazaar bazaar, soo' book (noun) kitaab; busy (occupied) mashghool;
beach shaaTi' (verb) yiHgiz (street) zaHma
beans fool booking office mektab il-Hagz but bass, laakin
beard liH ya bookstore mektaba butcher gazzaar
beautiful gameel boot boot butter zibda
beauty products border Hudood button zoraar
muntagaat tagmeel boring mumill buy yishtiri
because A lashaan born: I was born in … ; by: by the window ganb/
bed sireer ena mawlood fi … bi-gaanib ish-shibaak;
bed linen melaayaat is-sireer bottle izaaza
bedroom ghurfit nohm bottle opener fattaaHit azaayiz C
beef laHm ba'aree bottom (of sea, box, etc) qaA cabbage kurunb
beer beera box sundoo' café ahwa, maqha
before abl boy walad cake torta, kayka
beginner mubtadi' boys awlaad calculator aala Haasba
behind wara, khalf bra sutyaan call: what’s it called?
beige bayj bracelet eswera, siwaar ismuh/ismaha eh?
bell garas brakes (noun) faraamil camel gamal
belly dance ra'S baladee branch farA camera kameera
below taHt, asfal brass naHaas campsite muA skar
belt Hizaam bread A aysh, khubz can: can I have …? mumkin …?
beside ganb, bi-gaanib breakdown can (tin) Aulba
best aHsan, afD al (car) A arabeyya ATlaana; can opener fattaaHit Aulab
better aHsan (nervous) inhiyaar A asabee Canada kanada
between bayn breakfast fiTaar, fuToor Canadian (man) kanadee;
bicycle A agala, darraaga breathe yitnaffis; I can’t (woman) kanadeyya; (adj)
big kibeer breathe mish aa'dir atnaffis kanadee
bikini mayoh bekeenee bridge kubree, jisr cancer saraTaan
bird A aSfoor briefcase shanTa candle shamA a
birthday A eed milaad; happy British biriTaanee canoe kaanoo
birthday! A eed milaad broiled mashwee cap (bottle) ghaTaa';
saA eed! birthday present broken maksoor, baayiz; (hat) caab
hadeeyit A eed milaad broken leg rigl maksoora car A arabeyya, sayyaara
14 0 DICTIONARY
car seat (for a baby) chimney madkhana come yeegee; I come from …
kursee aT faal China iS-S een ena min …; we came last
caravan karafaan Chinese (man) Seenee; (woman) week gayna il-usbooA illi
carburetor karboraateer S eeneyya; (adj) S eenee faat; come! (m/f/pl)
card kart chocolate shokolaata; taA aala!/taA aalee!/taA aaloo!
careful: be careful! box of chocolates coming (m/f/pl) gayy/
khalli baalak! A ilbit shokolaata gayya/gayyeen
carpenter naggaar church kaneesa company (business) sherika
carpet siggaada cigar sigaar complicated muA aqqad
carrot gazar cigarette kiosk koshk sagaayir computer kombyootir
case (suitcase) shanTa cigarettes sagaayir computer games alA aab
cash kaash, naqdan; (coins) city madeena, balad il-kombyootir
fakka; to pay cash yidfaA city center wusT il-balad, concert Hafla mooseeqeyya
kaash, yidfaA naqdan wusT il-madeena conditioner (hair) balsam
castle alA a class (school) fasl; first class shaA r
cat oTTa daraga oola; second class conductor (bus) komsaree;
catacombs saraadeeb daraga tanya (orchestra) qaa'ed
cathedral kaatedraa'eyya classical Arabic il-fuS-Ha il-orkestra
cauliflower arnabeeT classical music mooseeqa, conference mu'tamar
cave kahf klaaseekeyya congratulations! mabrook!
CD seedee clean (adj) niD eef; constipation imsaak
ceiling sa'f (verb) yinaDD af consulate unSuleyya
cell phone mubayil, maHmool, cleaner (person) A aamil contact lenses A dasaat
gawwaal naDD aafa laaSiqa
cemetery ma'bara clear (obvious) waaDiH ; contraceptive maaniA
center markaz; town center (water) S afee; is that lil-Haml
wusT il-balad clear? dah waadiH? contract A a'd
certainly HaaDir clever shaaTir cook (noun) Tabbaakh;
certificate shahaada client A ameel (verb) yuTbukh
chair kursee clock menabbih, saaA a cookie baskaweet
chambermaid A amilit il-fundu' close (near) urrayyib; (stuffy) cool baarid
change (noun: money) fakka; katma; (verb) yi'fil copper naHaas
(verb: money) yiSrif; (verb: clothes malaabis cork fell
trains, clothes) yighayyar club naadi; (cards) sebaatee corkscrew barreema
charger (for phone, etc) clutch debriyaaj corner rukn; (street) naSya
shaaHin coach (bus) otohbeeS , baaS ; corridor mamarr
cheap rakheeS (of train) A rabeyyit il-qiTaar cosmetics mustaHD araat
check Hisaab, fatoora, sheek coach station maHaTTit tagmeel
checkbook daftar sheekaat il-otohbees cost (verb) yitkallif; what does
check-in it-tasgeel coat balTo it cost? bi-kaam dah?
check-out il-mughaadra coat hanger shamaaA a cotton uTn
cheers! (health) fi S aHHitak! cockroach S or S aar cotton wool uTn Tibbee
cheese gibna, jubn coffee ahwa cough (verb) yikoHH , yisA al;
chef sheef, Tabbaakh coffee pot kanaka (noun) koHHa, soA aal
cherry kereez coin Aumla country (state) dawla;
chess shaTarang cold (illness) bard; country (not town) reef
chessboard laWHit (adj) bard, baarid course (dish) Taba'; main
ish-shaTarang collar yaa'a course iT-Taba' ir-ra'eesee
chest (anatomical) Sidr collection (stamps, etc) cousin (male) (paternal) ibn
chewing gum lebaan, masteeka magmooA a A amm; (maternal) ibn khaal;
chicken firaakh, dajaaj color lohn (female) (paternal) bint
child Tifl comb (noun) meshT; A amm; (maternal) bint
children awlaad, aT faal (verb) yimashshaT khaal
cow ba'ara desert S aHraa' dry cleaner maHall tanD eef

crab kaboria designer muS ammim during khilaal
cramp taqallos il-aD alaat dessert il-Hilw dust cloth minfaD a
cream kreem diabetes (maraD) is-sukkar duty-free aswaa' Horra
credit card kart/biTaa'it diamond (jewel) il-maas;
i'timaan (cards) id-deenaaree E
crew Taaqem diapers Hafaadaat each (every) kull
crib sireer aT faal diarrhea is-haal ear uzun, widn
crime gareema diary (agenda) ajenda; early badree, mubakkir
crowded zaHma (journal) mufakkera earrings Hala'
cruise riHla baHreyya dictionary qaamoos east sharq
crutches A okkaaz die yimoot easy sahl
cry (weep) yibkee; diesel deezil eat yaakul
(shout) yiS eeH different mukhtalif; eggs bayD
cucumber khiyaar difficult saA b Egypt musr
cup fingaan dining room ghurfit is-sufra/ eight tamanya
cupboard doolaab iT-TaA aam either: either of them ayy
curtains sataayir dinner A ashaa' minhum; either … or
customs gamaarik direction ittigaah ya'ima … aw …
cut (noun) aTA ; (verb) directory (telephone) daleel elastic band astik
yi'TaA , yi'uSS dirty wisikh, qazer elbow kooA
disabled muA aqeen, A agaza electric bik-kahrabaa
D dishes (menu) aTbaaq electrician kahrabaa'ee
dad baba dishwasher ghasaalit il-aTbaa electricity kahrabaa
dairy (shop) labbaan disposable diapers HafaaD aat elevator asanseer, miSA ad
dairy products dive yighTas else: anything else Haaga
muntagaat albaan dive boat markib ghaTs tanya; someone else waaHid
damp reTooba diving ghaTs taanee; somewhere else
dance/dancing ra'S diving board menaSSit il-ghaTs makaan taanee
dangerous khaTar divorced (man) muTallaq; email email
dark D alma, meD allim (woman) muTallaqa email address Aunwaan
daughter bint, ibna do yaA mal il-eemail
day yohm doctor doktoor, Tabeeb embarrassed maksoof
dead mayyit document watheeqa embassy sifaara
deaf aTrash dog kelb embroidery taTreez
dear (person) A zeez; doll A roosa emerald zumorrod
(expensive) ghaalee dollar dolaar emergency Tawaari'
December disembir donkey Humaar Emirates il-imaaraat
deck chair kursee blaaj door baab employee muwazzaf
decorator naqqaash double room ghurfa empty faaD ee
deep A meeq li-shakhS ayn end nihaaya; (last) aakhir
degree (university) shihaada down asfal engaged (couple)
deliberately A mdan drawer dorg makhToobeen; (occupied)
delicious lazeez dress fustaan mashghool
delivery tasleem drink (verb) yishrab; (noun) engine (motor) motoor,
dentist doktoor/Tabeeb asnaan mashroob; would you like muHarrik
dentures Taqm asnaan a drink? tishrab(ee) Haaga? engineering handasa
deny yinkir drive (verb) yisoo' England ingeltera
deodorant diodoraan driver sawwaa', saa'iq English ingleezee; (language)
department qism driver's license rukhsit qiyaada ingleezee (man) ingleezee
departure raH eel drops nu'aT (woman) ingleezeyya
departures (airport, etc) drunk sakraan enlargement takbeer
mughadra dry gaaf enough kifaaya
142 DICTIONARY
entertainment tasleyya fat (of person) sameen, for A alashaan, li; for me
entrance dukhool, madkhal badeen; (on meat) dihn A alashaanee
entrance tickets tazaakir father ab, waalid foreigner agnabee
id-dukhool faucet Hanafeyya, S anboor forest ghaaba
envelope Zarf, maZroof February febraayir fork shohka
epilepsy saraA feel (touch) yilmis; fountain pen alam Hibr
equipment Aidda ferry A abbaara four arbaA a
eraser asteeka fever Homma fourth ir-raabiA
escalator sillim bik-kahrabaa fiancé khaTeeb fracture kasr
especially makhS ooS fiancée khaTeeba France faransa
evening masaa field (of study) magaal; free (of) khaali (min); (no cost)
every kull (meadows) meroog maggaani; (available) faaDi
everyone kulliwaaHid fig teen freezer freezir
everything kulliHaaga filling (tooth) Hashoo French faransee
everywhere kullimakaan film film French fries baTaaTis
example misaal; filter filtir muHamarra
for example masalan finger S obaaA Friday (yohm) il-gumA a
excellent mumtaaz fins z A aanif fridge tallaaga
excess baggage wazn zaayed fire naar; (blaze) Haree’a fried ma'lee
exchange (verb) yibaadil fire extinguisher Taffaayit Haree' friend S aaHib, S adeeq
exchange rate siA r iS-S arf fireworks sawareekh friendly laTeef; (tame) aleef
excursion nuzha first awwal; first aid isA aafaat front: in front of udaam, amaam
excuse me! (to get attention) awwaleyya; first floor frost saqee A
law samaHt! id-door il-awwal frozen products muntagaat
exhibition maA raD fish (singular) samaka; mugammada
exit makhrag (plural, food) samak fruit fawaakih
expensive ghaalee fishing sayd is-samak fruit juice A aS eer fawaakih
experienced maahir fishing boat markib sayd fry yi'lee
extension tamdeed fishing rod sinnaara frying pan Taasit il-alee
eye Ayn; eyes Aynayn fish seller sammaak full malyaan; I’m full ena
eye drops nu'aT lil-Ayn five khamsa shabA aan
fizzy fawwaar full board iqaama kamla
F flag A alam funnel (for pouring) qumA
face wish, wajh flash (camera) flaash funny muDHik; (odd) ghareeb
facilities (equipment, etc) flashlight misbaaH yadawee furnished mafroosh
tas-heelaat flat (level) musaTTaH ; furniture athaath
faint (unclear) baahit; I feel (apartment) sha'a
faint Haasis biD -DuAf flavor TaA m G
fair (funfair) malaahee; (just) flea burghooth garage garaaj
false teeth Ta'msnaan flight riHlit Tayaraan garden ginayna, Hadeeqa
family usra, A ela; flip-flops shibshib gardener gunaynee
my family usritee; A eltee floor (of room) arD eyya garlic toom
fan (ventilator) marwaHa; flour di'ee' gas benzeen
(enthusiast) muA gab flowers ward, zuhoor gas station maHaTTit benzeen
fan belt sayr il-marwaHa flu inflooenza gate (airport, etc) bawwaaba
far biA eed; how far is it? fly (verb) yiTeer; gear (equipment) Aidda
il-masaafa adda eh? (insect) debaana gearbox Sundoo' it-tiroos
fare ogrit is-safar fog D abaab German almaanee
farm mazraA a folk music mooseeqa Germany almaanya
farmer muzaariA haA beyya get (fetch) yigeeb; have you got
fashion il-mohD a food akl, TaA aam …? A ndak/-ik …?
fast saree A ; (noun: during poisoning tasammum get back: we get back
Ramadan, etc) S ohm foot qadam tomorrow; nirgaA bukra
get in yudkhul; (arrive) yohsil H here hina

get off (bus, etc) yinzil hair shaA r hi salaam
get out yukhrug haircut (for man) H elaaqit hieroglyphs heeroghleefee
get up (rise) yi'oom ish-shaA r; (for woman) high A aalee
gift hideyya uSS ish-shaA r hill tell
girl bint hairdresser Hallaaq, him: it’s him dah huwa; it’s
girls banaat kwaafeer for him dah A alashaan-uh
give yeddee, yaATee half nuSS ; half an hour nuSS hire yia'ggar, yista'gir
glad mabsooT; I’m glad saaA a half past two itnayn his …-uh; his book ketaabuh;
ena mabsooT wi-nuSS his house baytuh
glass (material) izaaz, zugaag; hammer shakoosh, miTraqa history taareekh
(for drinking) kubayya, koob hand yad, eed hitchhiking otostop
glasses (spectacles) naD aara handbrake faraamil yad HIV positive mareeD HIV
gloves gwentee handkerchief mandeel hobby hiwaaya
glue S amgh handle (door) mi'baD Holland holanda
handsome waseem honest S aadi', ameen
go yirooH
happy saA eed, mabsooT honey A asal
goggles naD aarit mayya
harbor meena honeymoon shahr il-A asal
going (m/f/pl) raayiH/
hard naashif, qaasee; (difficult) hood (car) kabboot
raayHa/raayeen
S aAb
horn (car) kalaks; (animal) arn
gold dahab
hat burnayta, qubaA a horrible fazee A
good kwayyis; good morning
have (own) yamtalik; I have … horse HuS aan
sabaaH il-khayr; good
A andee …; I don’t have … ma
horse-riding rukoob il-khayl
afternoon/evening
A andeesh …; can I have …?
hose kharToom
masaa' il-khayr
mumkin …?; have you got …? hospital mustashfa
goodbye maA asalaama host S aHb il-bayt
A ndak/-ik …?; I have to go
government Hukooma hostess S aHbit il-bayt
granddaughter Hafeeda now laazem amshee
dilwa'tee hot (water) (mayya) sukhna;
grandfather gidd (weather) Harr
grandmother gidda hay fever Homma l-'ash
he huwa hotel fundu'
grandson Hafeed hour saaA a
head raas
grapes ainab house bayt, manzil
head office markaz ra'eesee
grass (lawn) Hasheesh, Aushb household products
headache sodaaA
gray ramaadee muntagaat manzileyya
headlights fanoos (amaamee)
great! A azeem! how? izzay? kayf?; how many?
headphones sammaaA aat
Great Britain bireeTaanya kaam?; how much? bikaam?
hear yismaA
il-Auzma hundred meyya
hearing aid samaaA aat
Greece il-yoonaan hungry: I’m hungry
il-aS amm
Greek yoonaanee heart elb ena gaA aan
green (m/f) akhD ar/khaDra heart attack nawba elbeyya hurry: I’m in a hurry;
grill shawwaaya heating tadfe'a ena mustaA gil
grocery ba'aal heavy ti'eel husband zohg
first floor id-door il-arD ee heel kaA b
guarantee (noun) D amaan; hello ahlan; (on the I
(verb) yiDman telephone) aaloh I ena
guard Haaris help (noun) musaaA ada; (verb) ice telg
guest D ayf yisaaAid; help! in-nagda!; ice cream ays kreem
guidebook daleel siyaaHi hepatitis iS-Sufraa ice cube Hittit telg
guitar gitaar her: it’s her dee heyya; it’s identification ithbaat
Gulf il-khaleeg for her dah A alashaan-ha; shakhS eyya
Gulf States duwwal il-khaleeg her book ketaabha; her if iza, lau
gun (rifle) bundu'eeya; house baytha; (possessive) ignition ik-kontakt
(pistol) musaddas -ha it’s hers dah bitaaA ha ill mareeD
14 4 DICTIONARY
immediately fawran jelly murabba laundry (place) maghsala;

important muHimm jellyfish qandeel il-baHr (dirty clothes) il-ghaseel
impossible mustaH eel jeweler gawaahirgee law qanoon; (subject of
in fi; in English bil-ingleezee; job waZeefa study) il-Huqooq
included shaamil joke nukta lawn mower makanit uss
India il-hind Jordan il-urdunn il-Hasheesh
Indian (man) hindee; (woman) journey riHla lawyer muHaami
hindeyya; (adj) hindee juice A aS eer laxative mussah-hil
indigestion Ausur haDm juice bar maHall A aS eer lazy kaslaan
infection A dwa, iltihaab July yoolyo leaf wara'it shagar
information maA loomaat jumper buloofar learn yit A allim
inhaler (for asthma, etc) junction taqaatuA leather gild
bakh-khaakha June yoonyo leave yiS eeb
injection Hu'na just: he’s just gone out lissa Lebanon libnaan
injury iS aaba khaarig; just two itnayn bass lecture muHaDra
ink Hibr lecture hall qaaAit muHaDraat
inner tube anboob daakhilee
insect Hashara
K left (not right) shimaal,
yasaar
keen on ghaawi
insect repellent Taarid left luggage (locker) khizaanit
key moftaaH
lil-Hasharaat shonaT
keyboard keebord
inside daakhil leg rigl
kidney kolya
insomnia araq leisure time wa't il-faraagh
insurance ta'meen kilo keelo
lemon lamoon
interest (hobby) hiwaaya kilometer keelometr
lemonade lamoonaata
interesting shayyiq kitchen meTbakh
length Tool
internet internet knee rukba
lens A adasa
interpret yitargim knife sikkeen
less a'all
invitation A ozooma, knitting it-tereeko
lesson dars
daAwa know yaA raf; I don’t know
letter (mail) gawaab;
invite yiA zim ma aA rafsh
(alphabet) Harf
invoice fatoora Kuwait il-kuwayt
letter box Sundoo' il-bareed
Iraq il-Airaaq lettuce khass
Ireland irlanda L library mektaba
Irish irlandee label biTaa'a Libya leebya
Irishman irlandee lace dantella license rukhS a
Irishwoman irlandeyya laces (of shoe) robaaT il-gazma license plate lawHit il-arqaam
iron (metal) Hadeed; lake buHayra life Hayaa
(for clothes) makwa lamb kharoof S oghayyar life jacket sutrit in-najaah
ironmonger Haddaad lamp lamba, miSbaaH lift (could you give me?)
is: he is … huwa …; lampshade abajoora mumkin tiwassalnee?
she is … heyya … land (noun) arD ; (verb) yuhbuT light (not heavy) khafeef;
Islam islaam language lugha (not dark) faatiH ;
island gazeera laptop kombyootir mahmool (illumination) noor
it huwa, heyya large kibeer lighter wallaaA a, qadaaHa
Italy eeTaalya last (final) akheer; last week like: I like swimming ena
itch (noun) Hakka gildeeya il-usbooA illi faat; last month buHibb is-sibaaHa; that’s like
ish-shahr illi faat; at last! … dah zayy …; what does he
J akheeran! look like? shekloo eh?
jacket jaketta late mit'akh-khar; the bus is lime (fruit) lamoon
January yanaayir late il-otobees mit'akh-khar line khaTT; the line is busy
jazz mooseeqa il-jazz later baA dayn il-khaTT mashghool; (queue)
jealous ghayraan laugh yiDHak S aff;
jeans jeenz laundromat maghsala lip salve marham shiffa
ENGLISH TO AR ABIC 14 5
lipstick rooj material (cloth) umaash motorboat lansh, qaareb

list qaa'ima, lista matter: what’s the matter? motorway Tareeq Horr
liter litr (m/f) maalak?/maalik? mountain gebel
little (small) sughayyar; just mattress martaba mouse faar
a little shwayya bass Mauritania moretaanya mouth fum, bo'
liver (human) kabid May maayo move yitHarrak; (house)
living room ghurfit guloos maybe yimkin yoA zzil
lobster estakoza me: it’s me (speaking) ena movie film
local maHallee batkallim; it’s for me movies is-seenima
lollipop maSS aaS a dah A alashaanee movie theater sinima
long Taweel; how long does it meal wagba Mr. il-ustaaz, is-sayyid
take? yaakhud kaam wa't? meat laHma, laHm Mrs. il-ustaaza, is-sayyida
lost: I’m lost! ena tuht! mechanic mikaneekee much: not much mish kiteer;
lost property mafqoodaat medicine dawa; (subject much better aHsan kiteer
lot: a lot kiteer, kimeeya kibeera of study) iT-Tibb mug fingaan kibeer
loud (noise) A aalee; meet (verb) yi'aabil mule baghl
(color) S arikh meeting igtimaaA mum mama
lounge S aala melon shammaam museum metHaf
love (noun) Hubb; men’s restroom towaalett mushroom fuTr
(verb) yiHibb lir-rigaal music mooseeqa
lover (man) A sheeq; menu menu, qaa'ima musical instrument aalaa
(woman) A sheeqa message risaala mooseeqeyya
low waaTi, munkhafiD middle: in the middle fil-wusT musician mooseeqaar
luck Hazz; good luck! midnight nuSS il-layl Muslim muslim
H azz sa A eed! milk Haleeb, laban mussels umm il-khulool
luggage shonat, Haqaa’eb mine: it’s mine dah bitaaA ee mustache shanab
luggage rack raff il-Haqaa'eb mineral water mayya mustard mostarda, khardal
lunch ghada maA daneyya my …-ee; my book kitaabee;
mint naA naaA my bag shanTitee; my
M minute da'ee'a; five minutes keys mafaateeH ee
magazine magalla khamas da'aayi' mythology asaaTeer
mail (noun) bareed; mirror miraaya
(verb) yursil bil-bareed Miss aanisa N
mail box sundoo' bareed mistake ghalTa; to make nail (metal) mosmaar
mailman S aaA ee l-bareed a mistake yighlaT nails (finger) dawaafir
main street shaare A rayeesee modem modem nailfile mabrad dawaafir
make (manufacture) yaSnaA monastery dayr name ism
make-up makyaaj Monday (yohm) il-itnayn napkin foo-Ta
man raagil money fuloos narrow D ayya'
manager mudeer monitor (computer) shaasha near urrayyib min, ganb
map khareeTa; a map of Riyadh month shahr necessary D arooree
khareeTit ir-riyaaD monument nusob tizkaaree neck ra'aba
marble rukhaam moon amar necklace Au'd
March maaris more aktar need (verb) yiHtaag; I need …
margarine marjareen morning S abaaH ; in the ena miHtaag …; there’s no
market soo' morning iS-SubH , fiS-S abaah need mafeesh daaA ee
marmalade murabbit burtu'aan Morocco il-maghrib needle ibra
married mitgawwiz mosaic fosayfesaa' negative salbee
mascara maskaara mosque masgid, gaamiA nephew (brother’s son) ibn
Mass (church) quddaas mosquito naamoosa, baA ooD a il-akh; (sister’s son) ibn
mast S aaree mother omm, waalida il-ukht
match (light) kebreet; (sports) mother-of-pearl sadaf never abadan
matsh, mubaara motorbike motosikl never mind maA lesh
14 6 DICTIONARY
new gideed often kiteer, ghaaliban Pakistan baakistaan

New Zealand niyoo zilanda oil (for food, engine) zayt; Pakistani (man) baakistaanee;
New Zealander (man) niyoo (crude) betrool (woman) baakistaaneyya;
zilandee; (woman) oil industry SinaaAit il-betrool (adj) baakistaanee
niyoo zilandeyya oil wells aabaar betrool Palestine filasTeen
news akhbaar ointment marham Palestinian (man) filasTeenee
newspaper gornaal, gareeda OK maashi, Tayyib, kwayyis (woman) filasTeeneyya
newsstandmaHal iS-SuHuf old (thing) adeem; (person) Palestinian (adj) filasTeenee
next ig-gaay; next week A agooz palm nakhla
il-usbooA ig-gaay; next olives zaytoon pants banTalon
month ish-shahr ig-gaay Oman A omaan paper (material) waraq
next to ganb omelet omlayt papyrus waraq bardee
nice kwayyis, gameel on A ala; on the ground pardon? naA m? afandim?
niece (brother’s daughter) A alal-arD parents waalidayn
bint il-akh; (sister’s one waaHid park (noun) gunayna,
daughter) onion baS al H adeeqa; where can
bint il-ukht only bass, faqaT I park? arkin fayn?
night layla; three nights open (verb) yiftaH ; party (celebration) Hafla;
talat leyaalee (adj) maftooH (group) magmooA a;
night porter mudeer laylee opening hours mawaA eed (political) Hizb
nightclub naadee laylee il-A amal passenger raakib
nightgown ameeS nawm opera obra passport gawaaz is-safar
Nile in-neel opera house daar il-obra password kilmit il-muroor
nine tisA a opposite: opposite the hotel pasta makarona
no (response) laa; I have no ... udaam il-fundu' pastry shop Halawaanee
maa A ndeesh ...; there are optician naD aaraatee path mamarr, mamsha
no … ma feesh … or aw pay yidfaA
noisy dawsha orange (color) burtu'aanee; payment dafA
noon iD -Duhr (fruit) burtu'aan peach khohkh
north shamaal orange juice A aS eer burtu'aan peanuts fool soodaanee
Northern Ireland irlanda orchestra orkestra pear kometra
ish-shamaaleyya ordinary (normal) A adee pearl lu'lu'
nose anf organ AuD w; (music) orghon peas bisilla
not mish our -na; it’s ours dah pedestrian mushaa
notepad nota bitaaA na peg (clothes) mashbak ghaseel
nothing walla Haaga out: he’s out huwa mish pen alam
novel riwaaya mawgood pencil alam ruS aas
November nofembir out of order A aTlaan pencil sharpener barraaya
now dilwa'ti, alaan outside barra, khaarig penpal S adeeq bil-muraasla
number raqm, nimra oven furn peninsula shibh gazeera
nurse (m/f) mumarriD/a over foh'; over there hinaak people naas
nut (for bolt) S aamoola overtake yit-khaTTa pepper filfil
nuts (dried fruit) mukassaraat peppermints niA naaA
P per: per night fil layla
O package Tard perfect kaamil
o’clock: 3 o’clock is-saA a packet Aulba; a packet of … perfume aiTr
talaata A ulbit … perhaps yimkin, rubbama
obelisk masalla padlock ifl perm tamweeg ish-shaA r
occasionally aH yaanan page S afHa person shakhs;
October oktobir pain alam per person in-nafar
octopus akhTaboot paint (noun) booya Pharaoh farA oon
of course TabA an pair gohz pharmacy (shop) saydaleyya
office mektab pajamas bijaama photocopier makanit taSweer
photograph (noun) S oora; pound (money) gunayh; razor blades emwaas

(verb) yiS awwar (weight) raTl read yi'ra
photographer muS awwir powder bodra ready gaahiz, mustaAidd
phrase book kitaab prayer mat siggaadit S alaa rear lights fanoos warraanee
Ta A beeraat prefer yifaDD al receipt wasl
piano biyaano prepared food wagbaat gahza reception istiqbaal
pickpocket nash-shaal prescription roshetta record (music) usTuwaana;
picnic nuz-ha lil-akl pretty (beautiful) gameel (sporting etc) raqm
piece Hitta, qiTA a price siA r qiyaasee
pillow makhadda, priest qassees red (m/f) aHmar/Hamra
wisaada printer makaniT tibaaA a Red Sea il-baHr il-aHmar
pilot (of aircraft) Tayyaar private khaaSS refreshments muraTTibaat
pin daaboos problem mushkila; what’s the registered mail khiTaab
pine (tree) shagarit sonoobar problem? eh il-mushkila? musaggal
pineapple ananaas profits arbaaH relatives arayeb
pink wardee, bamba proposal (business) A arD relax yistarayyaH
pipe (smoking) beeba public A aam religion deen, deeyaana
(construction, etc) public holiday remember yiftikir; I don’t
maasoora, anbooba agaaza rasmeyya remember mish faakir
pistons basaatim pull yisHab rent (verb) yi'aggar;
pizza beetza puncture (tire) agala nayma (noun) eegaar
place makaan purple banafsigee repair (verb) yisallaH ;
plant zarA , nabaat purse shanTit yad; (change (noun) tasleeH
plastic blaastik purse) maH faza, kees report (noun) taqreer
plastic bag kees blaastik push yizoh', yidfaA research abHaath
plate Taba' pyramids il-ahraam(aat) reservation Hagz
platform raS eef reserve yiHgiz
play (theater) masraH eyya rest (remainder) il-baa'ee;
please (m/f/pl) min
Q (relax) istiraaHa
Qatar qaTar
faDlak/-ik/-ukum restaurant maTA am
quality gooda
plug (electrical) qobs; restaurant car A rabeyyit
quay raseef il-meena
(sink) saddaada il-maTA am
question soo'aal
plumber sabbaak restrooms Hammaamaat,
queue (noun) S aff;
pocket gayb twaalett
(verb) yo'af fiS S aff
police shurTa, bolees return (come back) yirgaA ;
quick saree A
police officer zaabiT (give back) yiraggaA
quiet haadi
police report maHD ar rice ruzz
Quran il-qur'aan
police station markaz rich (wealthy person); ghanee
ish-shurTa (heavy food) te'eel
politics siyyaasa R right (correct) S aH eeH ;
pond birka rabbit arnab (direction) yimeen
poor fa'eer radiator radyateer right away Halaan
pop music mooseeqa gharbee radio radyo ring (to call) yitaSSil
Popsicle massaasit ays kreem radish figl bit-tilifohn; (wedding, etc)
pork laHm khanzeer railcar A araba khaatim, dibla
port (harbor) meena railroad issikkal-Hadeed ripe mistewi, naaDig
porter (for luggage) shayyaal rain maTar river nahr
possible mumkin raincoat balTo maTar robbery sir'a
post office mektab il-bareed raisins zibeeb road Tareeq, shaare A
postcard kart bostaal range butagaaz roasted fil-furn
potato baTaaTis rare (uncommon) naadir; rock (stone) S akhar
potato chips baTaaTis shibs (steak) sewaa aleel roll (bread) A aysh, khubz
poultry id-dawaagin rat faar roof satH
14 8 DICTIONARY
room ghurfa; (space) makaan scissors ma'aSS shutter (camera) Haagib

room service khidmit il-ghuraf scorpion A qrab il-A dasa; (window) sheesh
rope Habl Scotland iskotlanda siblings ikhwaat
roses ward Scottish iskotlandee sick (ill) mareeD
round (circular) daa'iree screen (computer) shaasha side (edge) Haaffa
round-trip dhahaab w-A awda screw mismaar alawooz sidelights anwaar gaanebeyya
rowing boat markib ta'deef screwdriver mufakk sidewalk raseef
rubber (material) kawetsh sea baHr sights maA aalim, manaaZir
ruby (gemstone) seafood fawaakih il-baHr sightseeing ziyaarit
yaaqoot aHmar seat kursee, maqA ad il-maA aalim
rug (mat) siggaada; seat belt Hizaam il-maqaA d sign (verb) yimD ee, yiwaqqaA ;
(blanket) baTaneyya second (of time) sanya; (noun) yaf Ta
ruins aTlaal, anqaaD (in series) it-taanee silk Hareer
ruler (for drawing) masTara secretary sekertayr/a silver (color) faDD ee;
run (verb) yigree see yishoof; I can’t see (metal) faDD a
running garee ena mish shayyif; I see simple baseeT
(understand) fahimt sing yighannee
S sell yibee A single (one) waaHid;
sad Hazeen send yibA at (unmarried) A azib
safe ma'moon separate (noun) munfaSil; single room ghurfa li-shakhS
safety pin dabboos amaan (verb) yif SSil sink (noun) HohD
sailing boat markib shiraaA ee separated (man) munfaSil; sister ukht
salad salaTa (woman) munfaSila sitting room ghurfit guloos
sale (at reduced prices) September sebtembir six sitta
okazyon serious khaTeer size ma'aas
sales (company) mubee A aat service khidma skin cleanser munaZZif
salmon salamohn serviette fooTa lil-maa'ida lil-bashra
salt malH seven sabaA a skirt jeeba, tannoora
same: the same dress nafs sew yikhayyaT sky samaa
il-fustaan; the same people shampoo shamboo sleep (noun) nohm; (verb)
nafs il-ashkhaas; same again shave (noun) Hilaa'a; yinaam; to go to
kamaan waaHid (verb) yiHla' sleep yinaam
sand raml shaving foam raghwit Hilaa'a sleeping pill Huboob
sand dunes kuthbaan shawl shaal munawwima
sandals S andal she heyya sleeve komm
sandwich sandawitsh sheep kharoof slippers shibshib
sanitary napkins fowaT sheet milaaya slow baTee'
S eHH eyya shells (sea) S adaf small Sughayyar
Saturday (yohm) is-sabt ship safeena smell (noun) reeyHa; (verb:
sauce S alS a shirt ameeS transitive) yishimm
saucepan Halla shoe polish warneesh il-gazma smile (noun) ibtisaama;
Saudi Arabia is-saA oodeeya shoe store maHall gizam (verb) yibtisim
sauna sohna shoelaces robaaT il-gazma smoke (noun) dukhaan;
sausage sugu' shoes gazma, gizam (verb) yidakh-khan
say yi'ool; what did you say? shopping tasawwuq; smoking tadkheen; non-
ult eh?; how do you say …? to go shopping yitsawwaq smoking doon tadkheen
izzay ti'ool …? short uS ayyar snack wagba khafeefa
scarf kofeyya, wishaaH ; shorts short snow galeed
(Islamic headscarf) Higaab shoulder kitf so: so good! kwayyis giddan!
schedule gadwal shower (bath) dush; (rain) soaking solution (for contact
school madrasa maTar lenses); maHlool lil-A dasaat
science (subject of study) shower gel saayil liddush il-laaSiqa
il-Auloom shrimp gambaree soap S aboon
soccer koorat il-qadam; steal yisra'; it’s been swimming pool

(ball) koora stolen etsara' H ammaam sibaaH a
socks shawaarib, gawaarib steering wheel A galit switch (light, etc) moftaaH
soda water S oda il-qiyaada Switzerland sweesra
sofa kanaba stewardess muD eefa synagogue maA bad
Somalia is-S omaal sting (noun) ladgha; il-yahood
somebody Hadd (verb) yildogh Syria suriya
something Haaga stockings gawaarib Hareemee syrup (medicinal) dawa saayil
sometimes aH yaanan, saaA aat stomach baTn, maAida
son ibn stomachache maghaS T
song ughniya stop (verb) (transitive) yu'uf; table maa'ida, tarabayza
sorry! aasif!; I’m sorry ena aasif (intransitive) yitwa'af; (bus tablets Huboob
soup shorba stop) maHaTTit otobeeS ; take yakhud
south ganoob stop! qif! taking (m/f/pl) aakhid/
South Africa ganoob ifriqya store maHall, dukkaan aakhda/aakhdeen
South African (man) ganoob storm A aaSifa talcum powder boodrit talk
ifriqee; (woman) ganoob straight ahead A ala Tool talk (verb) yitkallim
ifriqeyya; (adj) ganoob strawberry faraawla tall Taweel
ifriqee street shaare A taxi taaksi
souvenir tizkaar string (cord) doobaara; taxi stand mawqaf taaksi
spade (shovel) garoof; (guitar etc) watar tea shaay
(cards) il-bastohnee stroller A rabeyyiT aT faal teacher mudarris
spares qiTaA ghiyaar student Taalib telephone (noun) tilifohn;
spark plugs boojeehaat stupid ghabee (verb) yitaSSil bit-tilifohn
speak (oneself) yitkallim; suburbs D awaaH ee telephone call
speak to (someone else) Sudan is-soodaan mukalma tilifohneyya
yikallim; do you speak …? sugar sukkar telephone number
bititkallim(ee) …?; I don’t suit (noun) badla; (verb) nimrit it-tilifohn
speak … maa batkallimsh … yinaasib; that suits me television tileefizyon
speed surA a dah yinaasibnee teller S arraaf
speed limit Hadd is-surA a suitcase shanTa temperature Haraara
speedometer A addaad is-surA a sun shams ten A ashra
Sphinx abul-hohl sunbathe Hammaam shams tent khayma
spider A nkaboot sunburn Har'it shams tent peg wattad il-khayma
spinach sabaanikh Sunday (yohm) il-Had tent pole A amood naSb
spoon ma'A la'a sunglasses naD aarit shams il-khayma
sports riyaaD a sunny moshmis terminal (airport, etc) S aala
sports ground naadee riyaaD ee sunstroke D arbit shams tests (medical) taHaaleel
spring (mechanical) sosta; suntan samaar thank (verb) yushkur; thank
(season) ir-rabee A suntan lotion kereem you/thanks shukran; thank
sprinkler rash-shaash ish-shams you very much shukran
square (town) meedaan supermarket subermarkit gazeelan
stadium istaad supplement guz' iD aafee that: that cup il-fingaan dah;
stairs sillim sure akeed that man il-raagil dah; that
stamp TaabiA bareed; surname ism il A ayla woman is-sitt dee; what’s
stamps TawaabiA bareed sweat (noun) A raq; that? eh dah?; I think that …
stapler dabbaasa (verb) yiA ra' aAtaqid an …
star nigma sweet (not sour) Hilw theater masraH ; operating
start (verb: intransitive) swelling waram theater ghurfit il-A amaliyyat
yibtidee swim yisbaH their …-hum; their room
station maHaTTa swimmer sabbaaH ghurfithum; their books
statue timsaal swimming is-sibaaHa kutubhum; it’s theirs
steak bofteek swimsuit mayoh dah bitaaA hum
15 0 DICTIONARY
them: it’s for them dah today innahaarda, al-yohm turn signal ishaara
A alashaan-hum together maA an tweezers mil'aaT
there hinaak; there is/are … toilet paper wara' twaalett two itnayn
feeh …; there isn’t/aren’t … tomato TamaaTim two weeks usbooAyn
ma feesh … tomato juice A aseer TamaaTim
these: these things il-Haagaat tomorrow bukra, ghadan U
dool; these men ir-riggaala tongue lisaan
umbrella shamseyya
dool; these are mine tonight il-layla (dee)
uncle (paternal) A mm;
dool bitooA ee too (also) kamaan, ayD an;
(maternal) khaal
they humma (excessive) giddan, awee
under taHt
thick sameek tooth sinn
underground taHt il-arD
thief Haraamee toothache alam asnaan
underpants kalsoon
thin rufayyaA toothbrush furshit asnaan
understand yifham; I don’t
think: I think so aAtaqid; toothpaste maA goon asnaan
understand mish faahim
I’ll think about it tour gawla
underwear malaabis
Hafakker fil-mawD ooA tourist saayeH
daakhileyya
third it-taalit tourist office mektab
university gamA a
thirsty: I’m thirsty ena ATshaan is-siyaaHa
unmarried A aazib
this dah/dee; this cup il-fingaan towel fooTa
until leHadd, leghaayit
dah; this man il-raagil dah; tower borg
unusual ghayr A adee
this woman is-sitt dee; town madeena, balad
up foh'
what’s this? eh dah? toy liA ba
urgent mistaA gil
those: those things il-Haagaat toy shop maHall liA ab
us: it’s for us dah A alashaan-na
dool; those men ir-riggaala tractor garraar
use (noun) fayda; (verb)
dool; those are mine trade fair maA rad tugaaree
yistakhdim, yistaA mil
dool bitooA ee traditions taqaaleed
useful mufeed
thousand elf traffic muroor
useless ghayr mufeed
three talaata traffic jam azmit muroor
usual A adee
throat zawr traffic lights ishaara,
usually A adatan
throat pastilles baasteeliya ishaarit il-muroor
liz-zawr trailer maqToora
through khilaal train qiTaar V
thumbtack dabboos rasm train station vacant (rooms) (ghuraf) faDya
thunderstorm A asifa raA deeya maHaTTit qiTaar vacation agaaza, AuTla
Thursday (yohm) il-khamees trainee taHt it-tamreen vacuum cleaner maknasa
ticket tazkara translate yitargim kahrabaa'eyya
ticket office shibbaak tazaakir trash zibaala vacuum flask tormos
tie (noun) kravatta; trash can safeeHit zibaala valley waadee
(verb) yurbuT travel agency wikaalit valve Simaam
tights gawrab Hareemee safareeyaat vanilla fanelia
time wa't, saaA a; what time tray S eneyya vase vaaza
is it? is-saaA a kaam? tree shagara; trees shagar veal bitello
timetable gadwal mawaA eed trip riHla vegetables khuD aar
tip (money) ba'sheesh; truck looree vegetarian nabaatee
(end) Tarf trunk (car) shanTa vehicle sayyaara
tire kawitsh, iTaar try (test) yigarrab; (make very giddan, awee
tired taA baan; I feel tired an effort) yiHaawil view manZar
ashAur bi-taA b Tuesday (yohm) it-talaat viewfinder muHaddid
tissues manadeel wara' Tunisia toonis il-manZar
to li; quarter to two tunnel nafa' villa filla
itnayn illa rubA Turkey turkeya village qarya
toast tost turn: turn left/right vinegar khall
tobacco dukh-khaan khud shimaal/yimeen violin kammaan
visa veeza welcome marHaban; you’re X, Y, Z

visit (noun) ziyaara; welcome; (don’t mention it) x-ray S oorit il-ashiA a
(verb) yizoor il-Afw yacht yakht
visiting hours mawaaA eed Welsh min waylz year sana
iz-ziyaara were: we were kunna; you yellow (m/f) aSfar/S afra
visitor zaayir; were (m/f/pl) kunt/kuntee/ Yemen: South Yemen il-yaman
(tourist) saayiH kuntoo; they were kaanoo il-ganoobee; North Yemen
voice soht west gharb il-yaman ish-shamaalee
voicemail risaala sohteyya wet mablool yes aywah, naA m
what? eh? yesterday imbaariH , ams
W wheel A agala yet lighaayit dilwa'tee;
wait yistana, yantaZir; wheelchair kursee lil- not yet lissa
wait! istanna! muqA adeen yogurt zibaadee
waiter garson; when? imta? you (m/f/pl) enta/enti/entum;
waiter! ya garson! where? fayn? this is for you dah
waiting room ghurfit il-intizaar which? ayy(a)? A lashaanak (m), dah
Wales waylz white (m/f) abyaD/bayD a A lashaanik (f), dah
walk (noun) mashyuh; who? meen? A lashaankum (pl); with you
(verb) yimshee; to go why? leh? maA aak (m), maA aaki (f),
for a walk yitmashsha wide A reeD maA aakum (pl)
wall heyTa Wi-Fi muftaaH lil-wifi young Sughayyar (fi sinn)
wallet maH faZa wife zohga your (m/f/pl) …-ak/-ik/-kum;
want (m/f/pl) A awiz/ wind reeH your book (m/f/pl) kitaabak/
A awza/A awzeen window shibbaak kitaabik/kitaabkum
war Harb windshield barabreez yours: is this yours? (m/f/pl)
ward A anbar wine nibeet dah bitaaA ak/bitaaAik/
wardrobe doolaab wine list qaa'emit bitaaA kum?
warm daafi in-nibeet youth hostel bayt ish-shabaab
was: I was ena kunt; he was zip sosta
wing ginaaH
huwa kaan; she was heyya zoo Hadeeqit il-Hayawanaat
with maA a, bi-
kaanit; it was kaan
without bidoon
washing powder mas-Hooq
witness shaahid
ghaseel
woman sitt, sayyida
washing-up liquid saa'il
women’s restroom twaalett
ghaseel is-suHoon
lis-sayyidaat
watch (noun) saaA a;
wood khashab
(verb) yoraa'ib
wool S oof
water (noun) mayya;
(verb) yis'ee word kilma
water buffalo gaamoos work (noun) shughl;
waterfall shallaal (verb) yishtaghil
waterpipe (for smoking) working (operative)
sheesha shagh-ghaal
wave (noun) mohga; world A alam
(verb) yishaawir worry beads sibHa
we iHna worse (than) aw-Hash (min)
weather ig-gaw wrapping paper wara' taghleef
web site mawqiA Ennit wrench muftaaH S awaameel
wedding faraH , zafaaf; wrist miAS am
wedding anniversary write yiktib
A eed zawaag writing paper wara' lil-kitaaba
Wednesday (yohm) il-arbaA wrong khaTa', ghalaT; wrong
week usbooA number in-nimra ghalaT
152 THE AR ABIC SCRIPT
THE ARABIC SCRIPT

Introduction
To those accustomed to the Latin alphabet, the Arabic script has an exotic
appearance. Right-to-left writing and ornate calligraphic strokes add to the
impression of mystery and impenetrability.
However, in spite of first appearances, Arabic script is fundamentally simple

and logical. As with any new script, it takes time and practice to be able to
read it fluently, but it is not difficult to understand the basic principles nor
to learn how to decipher simple words.
The main features of the Arabic script are:
• The direction of writing is from right to left—the opposite direction to most

other scripts, including languages such as English that use the Latin alphabet.
• The 28 letters of the alphabet are in most cases joined to each other within
a word.
• There are no capital letters.
• Short vowel sounds are not represented in the main Arabic script. These can
be written as marks above and below the script but they are usually omitted
in modern Arabic.
Letter shapes
Eighteen of the 28 Arabic letters (see pp.155–56) are the same shape as one
or more other letters and are only distinguished by dots above or below them.
You can see the similarity between the following groups or pairs of letters:
‫( ب‬b) ‫( ت‬t) ‫( ث‬th/t)

‫( ج‬j/g) ‫)( ح‬ h ‫( خ‬kh)
‫د‬ (d) ‫ذ‬ (z/d)
THE AR ABIC SCRIPT 153
‫( ر‬r) ‫( ز‬z)
‫( س‬s) ‫( ش‬sh)
‫( ص‬s) ‫)( ض‬ d
‫)( ط‬ t ‫( ظ‬z/ ) d
‫)( ع‬ a ‫( غ‬gh)
The dots that distinguish one letter from another that is the same shape are
part of the basic script and are not optional like the vowel markings (see
Additional marks, p.157).
The remaining ten letters of the Arabic alphabet each have a unique shape, but
some look like other letters when they are joined to other letters within a word
(see pp.154–56).
‫( ا‬alif) ‫( ف‬f)
‫( ق‬q/') ‫( ك‬k)
‫( ل‬l) ‫( م‬m)
‫( ن‬n) ‫( ه‬h)
‫( و‬w/oo) ‫( ي‬y/ee)
Note: The letter alif is the first letter of the Arabic alphabet and the only
one that can be pronounced in a range of different ways. It can represent
any short vowel or the longer aa sound.
15 4 THE AR ABIC WRITING SYSTEM
Joining letters
Arabic writing is cursive, or “joined up,” and is only rarely written as separate
letters – for example, in a crossword.
All 28 letters can be joined to the letter before them in a word, and all but six can
be joined to the letter after them. The shape of a letter changes when it is joined
to others, but it still retains enough features to make it recognizable.
In general, when an Arabic letter is joined to the letter after it (to the left), it loses
any left-hand tail or flourish it has when on its own. It still, however, keeps any dots
above or below it, to distinguish it from other letters of the same shape. Look at the
examples below, read from right to left, starting at top right:
‫ ر = فجر‬+ ‫ ج‬+ ‫ف‬ ‫ ر = مصر‬+ ‫ ص‬+ ‫م‬

‫ د = عند‬+ ‫ ن‬+ ‫ع‬ ‫ ق = طبق‬+ ‫ ب‬+ ‫ط‬
‫ ه = فيه‬+ ‫ ي‬+ ‫ف‬ ‫ ت = سبت‬+ ‫ ب‬+ ‫س‬
Note how the shapes of the letters ‫( ع‬a), ‫( غ‬gh), ‫( ك‬k), and ‫( ه‬h) change when they
are joined to another letter.
‫ ر = سكر‬+ ‫ ك‬+ ‫ ع = مع س‬+ ‫م‬

‫ ر = مغر‬+ ‫ غ‬+ ‫م‬ ‫ ل = كل‬+ ‫ك‬
‫ ر = نهر‬+ ‫ ه‬+ ‫ن‬ ‫ ي = هي‬+ ‫ه‬
The six letters – ‫( ا‬alif ), ‫( د‬d), ‫( ذ‬dh/z), ‫( ر‬r), ‫( ز‬z), and ‫( و‬w/oo) – that are never joined
to any letter after them, always have a space between them and the next letter:
‫ ج = زوج‬+ ‫ و‬+ ‫ز‬ ‫ ب = اب‬+ ‫ا‬

‫ ت = انت‬+ ‫ ن‬+ ‫ا‬ ‫ ر = دار‬+ ‫ ا‬+ ‫د‬
‫‪THE AR ABIC WRITING SYSTEM‬‬ ‫‪155‬‬
‫‪The Arabic alphabet‬‬

‫‪The table below shows all the letters in Arabic alphabetical order. You can see how‬‬
‫‪their shapes change depending on whether they are separate from any other letter,‬‬
‫‪or the first, middle letter, or last letter in a word.‬‬
‫‪Separated‬‬ ‫‪First‬‬ ‫‪Middle‬‬ ‫‪Last‬‬
‫)‪ (see p. 153‬ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ـ ـ ــا‬ ‫ـ ـ ــا‬

‫)‪ (b‬ب‬ ‫بـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـبـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــب‬
‫)‪ (t‬ت‬ ‫تـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـتـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــت‬
‫)‪ (th/t‬ث‬ ‫ثـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـثـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــث‬
‫)‪ (j/g‬ج‬ ‫جـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـجـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــج‬
‫)( ح‬ ‫‪h‬‬ ‫حـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـحـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــح‬
‫)‪ (kh‬خ‬ ‫خـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـخـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــخ‬
‫)‪ (d‬د‬ ‫د‬ ‫ـ ـ ــد‬ ‫ـ ـ ــد‬
‫)‪ (dh/z‬ذ‬ ‫ذ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــذ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــذ‬
‫)‪ (r‬ر‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ـ ـ ــر‬ ‫ـ ـ ــر‬
‫)‪ (z‬ز‬ ‫ز‬ ‫ـ ـ ــز‬ ‫ـ ـ ــز‬
‫)‪ (s‬س‬ ‫سـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـسـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــس‬
‫)‪ (sh‬ش‬ ‫شـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـشـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــش‬
‫)‪ (s‬ص‬ ‫صـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـصـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــص‬
‫)( ض‬ ‫‪d‬‬ ‫ضـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـضـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــض‬
‫)( ط‬ ‫‪t‬‬ ‫طـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـطـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــط‬
‫) ‪ (z/‬ظ‬ ‫‪d‬‬ ‫ظـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـظـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــظ‬
15 6 THE AR ABIC WRITING SYSTEM
Separated First Middle Last
‫)( ع‬ a ‫عـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـعـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــع‬

‫( غ‬gh) ‫غـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـغـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــغ‬
‫( ف‬f) ‫فـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـفـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــف‬
‫( ق‬q/') ‫قـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـقـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــق‬
‫( ك‬k) ‫كـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـكـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــك‬
‫( ل‬l) ‫لـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـلـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــل‬
‫( م‬m) ‫مـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـمـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــم‬
‫( ن‬n) ‫نـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـنـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــن‬
‫( ه‬h) ‫هـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـهـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــه‬
‫( و‬w/oo) ‫و‬ ‫ـ ـ ــو‬ ‫ـ ـ ــو‬
‫( ي‬y/ee) ‫يـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـ ـيـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ـ ـ ــي‬
Hamza
The hamza is a small sign that can appear above or below other letters (`∂ ∫ ¬æ ¿æ),
or by itself (µ). The hamza represents a glottal stop (as in butter said as “bu'er”),
but is not strongly pronounced in spoken Arabic. It can sometimes be heard as a small
pause in the middle of a word, similar to the spoken pronunciation of ì (q/').
‫( أب‬ab/father)
‫( مائدة‬maa'ida/table)
THE AR ABIC WRITING SYSTEM 157
Feminine ending
There is a special character that indicates a feminine ending: ±. This is called taa
maboota (“tied-up T”) and looks like a cross between the letters ™ (h) and H (t).
It is only ever used at the end of a word and is generally pronounced a, but the
pronunciation Changes to t (or sometimes it) when an ending is added, or when
the word is used in a compound phrase:
‫تذكرة‬ (tazkara/ticket)
‫تذكرتين‬ (tazkartayn/two tickets)
‫( زوجة‬zohga/wife)
‫( زوجتي‬zohgtee/my wife)
‫زوجة أمير‬ (zohgit ameer/Amir’s wife)
Additional marks
Short vowels and double letters are indicated by marks above and (in one case)
below the script:
‫ = ـ ـ َـ ـ ـ‬a/e ‫ = ـ ـُـ ـ‬u/o ‫ = ـ ـ ـِـ ـ‬i ‫ = ـ ـ ـّـ ـ‬double letter

‫( َم َح ّطة‬ma a a/station)
h tt
‫ُبرج‬ (borg/tower)
‫سجد‬
ِ ‫َم‬ (masgid/mosque)
Most modern written Arabic does not show these marks (it is assumed that
the reader is familiar with the pronunciation), and this can make reading the
script challenging for learners. But most beginners find that reading Arabic script
without vowel marks becomes easier with practice, as the patterns of the Arabic
language become more familiar. Look back at some of the words and phrases in
this book and see if you can work out the Arabic script using the alphabet table
on pp.155–56 and the pronunciation guide given in the lessons.
15 8 USEFUL SIGNS
USEFUL SIGNS
Here are some useful signs you may see around you in the Arabic-speaking world.
dukhool
Entrance
khuroog
Exit
dawraat miyaah
Restrooms
rigaal
Men
sayyidaat
Women
khatar
Danger
mamnooa it-tadkheen
No smoking
mamnooa id-dukhool
Do not enter
USEFUL SIGNS 159
mustashfa
Hospital
bank
Bank
markaz ish-shur ta
Police station
mektab il-bareed
Post office
mahat tit il-qitaar

Train station
mataar
Airport
16 0 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Acknowledgments
The publisher would like to thank the following for their help in the preparation
of this book: Abu Zaad Restaurant, Shepherd’s Bush; Magnet Showroom, Enfield,
London; MyHotel, London; Peppermint Green Hairdressers, London; Capel Manor
College; The Savoy Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh; Richard Simmons; Jane Gibbon and Max.
The publisher would also like to thank the following people who appear as models:
Ahmed Mahmoud Mubarak; Heidi Kirolos; Mahitab El A'war; Mai Kholief; Mahmoud
El Beleidy; Haneen El-Beih; Amina Mansour; Abdelrahman Ayman Helry; Mena Talla
Hassan El Menabawy; Hayat Kamil; Pia Noor; Neelpa Odedra; Adam Brackenbury;
Silke Spingies; Mini Vhra; Adam Walker; Martha Evatt; Mehdi Khandan; Michael
Duffy; Sue Alniab; Jason Carnegie; Abdullah Akhazzan; Mahmoud Gafaar.
Language content for Dorling Kindersley by g-and-w publishing

Managed by Jane Wightwick
Editing and additional input: Cathy Gaulter-Carter, Teresa Cervera, Leila Gaafar
Additional editorial assistance: Lynn Bresler

Picture research: Schermuly Design Co.
Picture credits
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15 -MINUTE

ISBN: 97814 65 4 62930

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For the curious

WEEK 8 MENU GUIDE 128

WEEK 9 Acknowledgments 160

How to use this book

Each day starts with a warm up ‫ شاي بنعناع‬mint tea

Cultural/Conversational tip In conversation (4 minutes)

.‫آخذ شاي بدون حليب‬ ‫حاجة ثانية؟‬ ‫عندكم بسبوسة؟‬

124 W E E K 12 LEISURE AND SOCIALIZING

il-agweba RaagiA wi karrar il-agweba

How to use the flap

you to conceal the Arabic so

that you can test whether you

have remembered correctly.

❹ .‫هو مش غاوي ورد‬ is-saaaa ka

.‫ عندنا‬،‫أيوه‬ ‫ كام الحساب‬.‫شكرا‬ .‫ من فضلك‬،‫تسعة جنيه‬

ver with flap

Conversational tip Some Arabic words c

to Arabic for 2,500 words. Menu Guide (pp.128–37).

A am: I am ena artist fannaan

‫سلطة بلدي‬ salata baladee Oriental mixed salad

‫سلطة بطاطس‬ salatit bataatis potato salad

‫سلطة‬ salata salad ‫جبنة فالحي‬

How to use the audio app

When all the lessons A check mark

Audio for Record yourself

Tap the play button Is-saaaa wil-arqaam

Warm up (1 minute) Ahlan

.‫ مساء الخير‬Good evening/

.‫ مساء النور‬Good evening/

…‫ أنا اسمي‬My name is…

In conversation: formal (4 minutes)

.‫صباح الخير‬ .‫صباح النور‬ .‫تشرفنا‬

Put into practice (2 minutes)

.‫ أنا اسمي أمير زكي‬.‫تشرفنا‬

Conversational tip There are more than

In conversation: informal (4 minutes)

!‫سالم يا سامي‬ .‫مع السالمة‬ .‫ مع السالمة‬.‫أيوه‬

Warm up (1 minute) Il-Aela

Match and repeat (4 minutes)

ibn ❹ father ❺ mother

Conversational tip Words referring to females often end

Words to remember: relatives (4 minutes)

Words to remember: numbers (5 minutes)

Numbers lose the final -a when put four ‫أربعة‬

Warm up (1 minute) Usritee

Words to remember (5 minutes)

.‫دي أختي وده أخويا‬

Conversational tip Dah can mean this (is) or that (is);

Useful phrases (3 minutes)

Do you have any ‫عندك اخوات؟‬

This is my husband. .‫ده زوجي‬

This is my wife. .‫دي زوجتي‬

This is our .‫دي جدتنا‬

Is that your sister? ‫دي أختَ ك؟‬

Is that your sister? ‫دي أختِ ك؟‬

Warm up (1 minute) Yikoon wi Aand

Read it In Arabic script the writing runs right to left

aand: to have (5 minutes)

He has a meeting. .‫هو عنده اجتماع‬

Do you have a cell phone? ‫عندك موبايل؟‬

How many brothers ‫عندك كام أخ وأخت؟‬