Arabic/Basic Phrases

Organization of list:

• By usefulness (most useful first)
• By length (shortest first)

Basic phrases

sħukrân

Syllable breakdown: sħuk-ran

Thank You

min fadžli-ka

Syllable breakdown: min-fadž-lik

If you please

arjuu-ka

Syllable breakdown: ar-juuk

Please /I'm begging you

Syllable breakdown: ah-lân

Welcome/hello

Syllable breakdown: na'am

Yes

Syllable breakdown: laa

No

Syllable breakdown: na-rħam

Yes also used as a question, when someone calls another person's name.

Syllable breakdown: ya-saar

left i.e. The direction: left.

Syllable breakdown: ya-miin

right i.e. The direction right (opposite of left).

How are you, Meeting and greeting people.

as salaamu alaikum

Syllable breakdown:as-sa-laa-mu a-lai-kum

May Peace be with you Islamic Religious origins and a very common greeting.

wa alaikumu èl salaamu

Syllable breakdown: wa-a-lai-ku-mus-sa-laam

And may peace be with you. It is the response to the above phrase.

kam am-ri-ka

Syllable breakdown: kam-am-rik

How old are you?

tasħarrafnaa

Syllable breakdown:ta-sħar-raf-naa

We are honoured used to mean "it was an honour to meet you"

ma asalama

Syllable breakdown:ma-as-sa-laa-mah

Take care.

wadaaân

Syllable breakdown:wa-daa-`an

Bye

min ayyi daulatiń anta?

Syllable breakdown: min-ay-yi-dau-la-tin-ant

What country are you from?

min aina anta?

Syllable breakdown: min-ai-na-ant

Where are you from?

ilaà el liqaa'i

Syllable breakdown: i-lal-li-qaa'

See you.

raa'irħ

Syllable breakdown: raa-irħ

Awesome! OR Splendid!

hayyaa

Syllable breakdown: hay-ya

Come on."

hayyaa bi-naa

Syllable breakdown: hay-ya-bi-naa

Let's do this

li nadħhab

Syllable breakdown: li-nadħ-hab

Let's go

hžasanân

Syllable breakdown: ha-sa-nan

ok

marhžabân

Syllable breakdown: mar-ha-baa

Welcome

ajal

Syllable breakdown: a-jal

Yes// Certainly

Never used to answer someone calling another's name. Often used when agreeing with someone.

a laisa ka-dħaalika?

Syllable breakdown: a-lai-sa-ka-dhaa-lik

right? This right is not the opposite of "left". This is an example of a negative question.

balaà

Syllable breakdown: ba-laa

Yes, sometimes interpereted as a stronger yes. It is used in answering a negative question, because any other Arabic "yes" word would translate as "no" in English.

example:

kallaa

Sylable breakdown: kal-laa

Ney/No way

ma el amr

Syllable breakdown: mal-amr

What is it? When "it" is not a tangible object.

"amr" is sometimes translated as "affair"

maa esmu-ka

Syllable breakdown: mas-muk

What is your name?

esmiî

Syllable breakdown: as-mii

My name is ...

jayyid

Syllable breakdown: jay-yid

Good

kaifa hžaalu-ka

Syllable breakdown: kay-fa-haa-luk

How are you? (informal)

bi kħairiń

Syllable breakdown: bi-khair

Good

(For the how are you questions only)

Other useful phrases.

aina al-hamaam

Syllable breakdown: ai-nal-ham-maam

Where is the washroom?

aina al-mataar

Syllable breakdown: ai-nal-ma-taar

Where is the airport?

aina al-funduq

Syllable breakdown: ai-nal-fun-duq

Where is the hotel?

ana uhibbu haadhihi al-madeenäh

a-na-u-hib-bu-haa-dhi-hil-ma-dee-nah

I love this city.

hal tatahaddethiina al enjiliiziyyäh

Syllable breakdown: hal-ta-ta-Had-di-thee-na-al-in-ji-lee-zee

Do you speak english? When talking to a female.

hal tashraba al-shaay?

Syllable breakdown: hal-tash-ra-bash shaay

Do you drink tea? When talking to a male.

min ayyi daulatiń anta?

Syllable breakdown: min-ay-yi-dau-la-tin-ant

What country are you from?

Words alone: hal tashrabiina al-shaay?

Syllable breakdown: hal-tash-ra-bee-nash-shaay?

Do you drink tea? When talking to a female.

Words alone: hal ta'kul al-laham

Syllable breakdown:hal-ta'-ku-lal-la-ham? '=glottal stop does not equal 3 ع

Do you (guy) eat meat? When talking to a male.

Words alone: hal ta'kuluun al-laham?

Spoken fluently: hal-ta'-ku-lunal-la-ham?

Do you (guys) eat meat? When talking to a group that has some males.

hal-ta'-ku-lee-nal-la-ham?

Do you (girl) eat meat? When talking to a female.

Talking about yourself.

laa aakulu al-laham

Sylable breakdown: laa-aa-ku-lul-la-Ham

I don't eat meat

laa aakulu laham al-khunzeer

Sylable breakdown: laa-aa-ku-lu-la-Ham-al-khun-zeer

I don't eat pork

laa ashrabu al-shaay

Sylable breakdown: laa-ash-ra-bul-shay

I don't drink tea

ureedu an aakul

Sylable breakdown: u-ree-du-an-aa-kul

I want to eat.

ureedu an aakul al-khubz

Sylable breakdown: u-ree-du-an-aa-ku-lal-khubz

I want to eat bread.

ana astatii`u an atakallama al-lughatu al-injileeziyah

Sylable breakdown: a-na-as-ta-tii-`u-an-a-ta-kal-la-mal-lu-gha-tul-in-gi-lee-zee

I can speak English.

• Arabic (al-ara'beeya)
• Hello (mar'Haba)
• Good-bye (ila-lli'qa')
• Please (min 'fad/lak)
• Thank you ('Shukran)
• That one ('Dalika)
• How much? (kam)
• English (colloquial)
• Yes ('na-am)
• No (la:)
• Where's the bathroom? (aina-ham'ma:m)
• What is your name? ('ma 'ismuk)
• Goodbye (ma-a ssa'lama)
• I don't know (laa a`rif)
• I don't understand (laa afham)
• I don't remember (laa atadhakkar)
• Welcome (ahlan wa sahlan bikum)
• I am sick (ana marid)
• Hello (assalaamu `alaikum)
• Hello (response), how are you? (wa-`alaikum al-salaam. kaifa al-haal)
• Fine (Thank to god), and you? (bikhair, alhamdu lillaahi. wa inta)