Greetings & Goodbyes
- Hello – Salam – سلام
- Welcome – Marhaban – مرحبا
- Hello, friend (female) – Ahlan sadiqati – أهلا صديقتي
- Hello, friend (male) – Ahlan sadiqi – أهلا صديقي
- Good morning – Sabah el kheer – صباح الخير
- Good evening – Masaa el kheer – مساء الخير
- Long time, no see – Lam naraka mundhu muddah – لم نرك منذ مدة
- I missed you so much (female) – Eshtaqto elaiki katheera – إشتقت إليك كثيرا
- I missed you so much (male) – Eshtaqto elaika katheera – إشتقت إليك كثيرا
- How are you? (female) – Kaifa haloki? – كيف حالك؟
- How are you? (male) – Kaifa haloka? – كيف حالك؟
- (I’m) good – Jayed – جيد
- (I’m) okay – aadee – عادي
- I am fine, thank you – Ana bekhair, shokran – أنا بخير شكرا
- And what about you? (female) – Wa anti? – و أنت؟
- And what about you? (male) – Wa ant? – و أنت؟
- What is new? – Maljadeed? – مالجديد؟
- Nothing new – Lashai jadeed – لا شيء جديد
- I have to go – Yajebu an athhaba al aan – يجب أن اذهب الآن
- I will be right back – Sa arje’o halan – سأرجع حالا
- Good bye – Ma’a salama – مع السلامة
- Good night – Tosbeho (male) / Tosbeheena (female) ‘ala khair – تصبحين على خير
- See you later – Araka (male) / Araki (female) fi ma ba’d – أراك في مابعد
Nashida: Hello! How are you? Karima: I am fine, thank you. What about you? Nashida: I am okay. Karima: I will be right back. Nashida: See you later! Karima: Good bye!
In Arabic, this conversation would sound like this:
Nashida: Salam! Kaifa haloki? Karima: Ana bekhair, shokran! Wa anti? Nashida: ‘Aadee. Karima: Sa arje’o halan. Nashida: Araki fi ma ba’d! Karima: Ma’a salama!
Introductions & Small Talk
- What’s your name? (female) – Ma esmouki? – ما إسمك؟
- What’s your name? (male) – Ma esmouk? – ما إسمك؟
- My name is… – Esmee – إسمي…
- Where are you from? (female) – Men ayna anti – من أين أنت؟
- Where are you from? (male) – Men ayna anta – من أين أنت؟
- I’m from… – Ana men… – أنا من…
- Where do you live? (female) – Ayna taskuneen? – أين تسكن؟
- Where do you live? (male) – Ayna taskun? – أين تسكنين؟
- I live in the United States/France – A’eesho fel welayat almotaheda / faransa – أعيش في الولايات المتحدة / فرنسا
- What do you do for a living? (female) – Ma mehnatuki? – ما مهنتك؟
- What do you do for a living? (male) – Ma mehnatuk? – ما مهنتك؟
- I work as a… – A’mal ka – أعمل …
- How old are you? (female) – Kam howa umroki? – كم هو عمرك؟
- How old are you? (male) – Kam howa umruk? – كم هو عمرك؟
- I’m (twenty) years old – Umri eshreen sanah – عمري (عشرين) سنة
- It’s nice to meet you (female) – Motasharefatun bema’refatek – متشرفة بمعرفتك
- It’s nice to meet you (male) – Motasharefon bema’refatek – متشرف بمعرفتك
- Do you speak Arabic? – Hal tatakallam al-lughah al-‘arabīyah? – هل تتكلم اللغة العربية؟
- Slightly/Some – Qaleelan – قليلا
Good Wishes
- Happy birthday – Eid meelad sa’eed – عيد ميلاد سعيد
- Happy New Year – Sana sa’eedah – سنة سعيدة
- Merry Christmas – A’yaad meelad Saeedah – أعياد ميلاد سعيد
- Happy Ramadan – Ramadan mobarak – رمضان مبارك
- Happy Eid – Eid mobarak – عيد مبارك
- Good luck – Bettawfeeq – بالتوفيق
- Bless you – Rahimaka Allah – رحمك الله
- Good night, sweet dreams – Laila sa’eda wa ahlaam ladhidha – ليلة سعيدة و أحلام لذيذة
Travel Phrases
- I’m lost! – Ada’tu tareeqi! – أضعت طريقي!
- Can you help me? – Hal beemkanek mosa’adati? – هل بإمكانك مساعدتي؟
- Excuse me (passing by) – Alma’derah – المعذرة
- Where is the bathroom? – Ayna ajedu al merhaad? – أين أجد المرحاض؟
- Where is the pharmacy? – Ayna ajedu assaidaliah? – أين أجد الصيدلية؟
- What is this? – Ma hatha? – ما هذا؟
- How much is this? – Kam howa thamanoh? – كم هو ثمنه؟
- Can you speak slowly? – Takalam bebot’ men fadlek (male) /fadleki (female)? – تكلم ببطء من فضلك
- Can you say it again? – A’ed men fadlek! (male) A’eedi men fadleki (female) – تكلم ببطء من فضلك
- I don’t understand – La afham – لا أفهم
- I don’t know – La a’ref – لآ أعرف
- I’m sorry (didn’t hear something) – ‘Afwan – عفوا
- My Arabic is bad – Lughati al arabic laisat kama yajib –