Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
ArabicPod101.com presents Arabic Survival Phrases. This course is designed to equip you with the language skills and knowledge to enable you to get the most out of your visit to Arabic speaking countries, with particular focus on Morocco. So join us for Arabic Survival phrases. You will be surprised at how far a little Arabic will go.
Now before we jump in, remember to stop by ArabicPod101.com, there you’ll find an accompanying PDF, additional learning tools in the premium learning center, and other great Arabic language learning materials. In addition, you’ll find more information in the post. And if you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment.

Lesson focus

In today's lesson, we'll introduce you to a phrase that will provide you with the tools to learn from the people around you. Now, a dictionary is a great idea, but don't forget that you can use Arabic to learn in a more fun and interactive way.
Today, we're going to cover a way for you to hold on to the information you get.
In Arabic, "Can you write it down please?" is ktbhā ʿafāk (كتبها عفاك).
Let’s break it down by syllable: ktbhā ʿafāk
ktbhā ʿafāk
The first word, ktbhā (كتبها), is a conjugated form of "to write" that means "you write it."
Let's break down this word and hear it one more time: ktbhā
ktbhā
This is followed by ʿafāk (عفاك), which in Arabic is "please."
ʿafāk
ʿafāk
ʿafāk
So to recap here, we have: ktbhā ʿafāk, literally, it means “you write it please” or "Write it please."
This phrase is used when addressing a man. When addressing a woman, you need to substitute ktbhā with ktbīhā.
Let's hear it one more time: ktbīhā
ktbīhā
So when asking a woman, you say, ktbīhā ʿafāk (كتبيها عفاك), which means “write it down please?"
Once you have it, you want to know how to pronounce it.
In Arabic, "Can you pronounce this, please?" is kifāš ktqūl hadī ʿafāk? (كفاش كتقول هدي عفاك؟)
kifāš ktqūl hadī ʿafāk?
Let’s break it down by syllable: kifāš ktqūl hadī ʿafāk?
Now let's hear it once again: kifāš ktqūl hadī ʿafāk?
The first word, kifāš (كفاش), means "how."
kifāš
kifāš
This is followed by ktqūl (كتقول), which is a conjugated form of "say" used to address a man. It literally means "you say."
ktqūl
ktqūl
So to recap here, we have: kifāš ktqūl, literally, this means “How you say?”
Let’s take a look at the next, hadī (هدي), which means "this."
hadī
Hadī
This is followed by ʿafāk (عفاك), which is Arabic for "please."
Slowly: ʿafāk
ʿafāk
So altogether, we have: kifāš ktqūl hadī ʿafāk?
And literally, it means “How do you say this please?” or “How do you say this?”
Now, let’s see how to change the phrase you’ve just learned when addressing a woman.
“How do you say this please?” when asking a woman, is: kifāš katqūlī hadī ʿafāk?
We simply need to substitute ktqūl with katqūlī.
One more time, it’s: kifāš katqūlī hadī ʿafāk?
kifāš katqūlī hadī ʿafāk?
Cultural Insights
And one last advice on this, make sure you always carry your own pen and paper.

Outro

Okay, to close out today's lesson, we'd like for you to practice what you've just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for saying it aloud. You'll have a few seconds before I give you the answer, so حظ سعيد, that means "good luck" in Arabic.
Ok, here we go!
"Can you write it down please?" (masculine form) - ktbhā ʿafāk
ktbhā ʿafāk
ktbhā ʿafāk
"Can you write it down please?" (feminine form) - ktbīhā ʿafāk
ktbīhā ʿafāk
ktbīhā ʿafāk
"How do you say this please? ?" (masculine form) - kifāš ktqūl hadī ʿafāk?
kifāš ktqūl hadī ʿafāk?
kifāš ktqūl hadī ʿafāk?
"How do you say this please? ?" (feminine form) - kifāš katqūlī hadī ʿafāk?
kifāš katqūlī hadī ʿafāk?
kifāš katqūlī hadī ʿafāk?
All right. This is going to do it for this lesson of Arabic Survival Phrases. Remember to stop by ArabicPod101.com. There you’ll find an accompanying PDF, additional learning tools in the premium learning center, and other great Arabic language learning materials. See you soon, which in Arabic is - ilā al-liqāʾ.

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