Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Introduction
Becky: Welcome to 3-Minute Egyptian Arabic Season 1, Lesson 12 - Asking What Someone is Doing. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask what someone is doing in Egyptian Arabic.
Body
Becky: Here's the informal way to ask 'What are you doing? (speaking to a man)' in Egyptian Arabic.
Nora: [Normal] بتعمل إيه؟(beteʿmel ʾeīh?)
Becky: First is a word meaning 'You are doing'
Nora: [Normal] بتعمل [Slow] بتعمل (beteʿmel)
Becky: Last is the word meaning 'what'
Nora: [Normal] إيه [Slow] إيه(ʾeīh)
Becky: Listen again to the informal question meaning 'What are you doing? when speaking to a man
Nora: [Slow] بتعمل إيه؟ [Normal] بتعمل إيه؟
Becky: Now, imagine you're speaking to a woman. Here's the formal way to ask, 'What are you doing? (when speaking to a woman)
Nora: [Normal] بتعملي إيه؟(beteʿmelī ʾeīh?)
Becky: First is a word meaning 'You are doing'
Nora: [Normal] بتعملي [Slow] بتعملي (beteʿmelī)
Becky: Last is the word meaning 'what'
Nora: [Normal] إيه [Slow] إيه(ʾeīh)
Becky: Note again the rising intonation. Listen again to the formal question meaning 'What are you doing? (when speaking to a woman)”
Nora: [Slow] بتعملي إيه؟ [Normal] بتعملي إيه؟
Becky: Here's a response meaning 'I'm eating.'
Nora: [Normal] باكل(bākul)
Becky: This expression has only one word meaning 'I'm eating'
Nora: [Normal] باكل [Slow] باكل(bākul)
Becky: Listen again to the response meaning 'I'm eating.'
Nora: [Slow] باكل [Normal] باكل
Becky: Here's a response meaning, 'Nothing.'
Nora: [Normal] ولا حاجة(walā ḥāǧah)
Becky: First is a word meaning 'and'
Nora: [Normal] و [Slow] و(w)
Becky: Next is the word meaning 'no'
Nora: [Normal] لا [Slow] لا(lā)
Becky: Last is the word meaning 'thing'
Nora: [Normal] حاجة [Slow] حاجة(ḥāǧah)
Becky: Listen again to the response meaning 'Nothing.'
Nora: [Slow] ولا حاجة [Normal] ولا حاجة
Cultural Insight
Becky: Now it's time for a quick cultural insight.
Nora: Egyptians don't understand the concept of personal space. Expect people to be interfering in your business ALL the time and asking you what you're doing, where you're going, why you're here, and so on. It might have its cons, but it also has its pros. For example, if you look lost or in trouble, you will find many people asking you if you're okay or if you need help. Don't worry, you'll get used to it!

Outro

Becky: And that’s all for this lesson. Don’t forget to check out the lesson notes, and we’ll see you in the next lesson!

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