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

Exchanging money in Morocco is quite convenient in big cities but can be difficult in small towns. One can exchange money at airports, banks, hotels, or withdraw money from an ATM. Rates applied when withdrawing money from an ATM are likely to be the best; however, when using an ATM it is advisable to make one large withdrawal as you may be charged by both the local bank and your home one. So first things first, let's find a location that will exchange money.
First, let's review some previous phrases and patterns we've already covered.
In Arabic, "Is there an ATM near here?" is kaāyin shi ATM qrib? (قريب ATM كاين شي)
kaāyin šiī ATM qarīb?
Let’s break it down by syllable: kaāyin šiī ATM qarīb?
Now let's hear it once again: kaāyin šiī ATM qarīb?
The first word, kaāyin (كاين), means "there is",
Let's break down this word and hear it one more time: kaāyin
kaāyin
This is followed by šiī (شي), which in Arabic is "a” or “an"
šiī
šiī
So to recap here, we have: kaāyin šiī , literally, it means “Is there a…?”
This is followed by ATM, which is pronounced pretty much the same as in English.
Let’s take a look at the next: qarīb (قريب), which is "close by."
qarīb
qarīb
So altogether, we have: kaāyin šiī ATM qarīb?
And literally, this means "is there an ATM close by?"
Now to ask for a bank, we can just replace the word for ATM with bank and the phrase works just fine.
"Is there a bank near here?" is kaāyin šiī bānkah qarībah? (كاين شي بانكة قريبة؟)
kaāyin šiī bānkah qarībah?
The only thing that changes here is the thing you are looking for. In this case, it's bānkah (بانكة)
bānkah
bānkah
Notice that because bānkah is feminine, we had to change qarīb, which is “close by,” to the feminine form, which is qarībah (قريبة).
"Is there a bank near here?" becomes kaāyin šiī bānkah qarībah? (كاين شي بانكة قريبة؟)
For times when there is neither a bank nor an ATM, you can ask, "Where can I exchange currency?" and this is fiīn yimkin nsarrif? (فين يمكن نسرف؟)
fiīn yimkin nsarrif?
Let’s break it down: fiīn yimkin nsarrif?
Once again: fiīn yimkin nsarrif?
The first word, fiīn (فين), is "where",
fiīn
fiīn
This is followed by yimkin (يمكن), which in Arabic is "possible"
yimkin
yimkin
So to recap here, we have: fiīn yimkin and literally, this means “where possible”
Let’s take a look at the next: nsarrif (نسرف), which is a conjugated form of "to exchange."
nsarrif
nsarrif
So altogether, we have: fiīn yimkin nsarrif? and literally, this means “where possible I exchange?” meaning "Where can I exchange currency?"
Exchanging currency is pretty straightforward. You need to fill out some forms, and then present the amount you want exchanged. One extremely useful phrase is, "Break this please." as it is usually beneficial to have smaller amounts of currency on you for paying for the bus fare, taxi fare, etc.
Let's see how you say this in Arabic.
In Arabic, "Break this please" is sarrif liī hadī min faḍlik (سرف لي هدي من فضلك).
sarrif liī hadī min faḍlik
Now let's hear it once again: sarrif liī hadī min faḍlik
The first word, sarrif (سرف), means both "break a bill" as well as "exchange currency"
Let’s break it down by syllable and hear it one more time: sarrif
sarrif
This is followed by liī (لي), which in Arabic is "for me",
liī
liī
So to recap here, we have: sarrif liī, which means “break for me.”
Now let’s take a look at the next: hadī (هدي), which means "this"
hadī
And, hadī
This is followed by min faḍlik (من فضلك), which is the polite form to say "please."
min faḍlik
min faḍlik
So altogether, we have: sarrif liī hadī min faḍlik
And literally it means “Break for me this please” or "Break this please."
Cultural Insights
You can exchange currency at banks or special facilities that we call maktab sarrif in Arabic. maktab is the word for “office” and sarrif means “change.” These change offices, as we call them, usually close at 4 p.m. and are attached to various banks.
It is advisable to exchange money at banks or in large hotels and authorized maktab sarrif where an official receipts will be issued which you may have to present on departure when changing any remain in your hands back into the original currency.
As for travellers checks, it can be very difficult to change them outside major cities of Rabat, Casablanca, Fez, and Marrakesh.

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!
"Is there an ATM near here?" - kaāyin šiī ATM qarīb?
kaāyin šiī ATM qarīb?
kaāyin šiī ATM qarīb?
"Is there a bank near here?" - kaāyin šiī bānkah qarībah?
kaāyin šiī bānkah qarībah?
kaāyin šiī bānkah qarībah?
"Where can I exchange currency?" - fiīn yimkin nsarrif?
fiīn yimkin nsarrif?
fiīn yimkin nsarrif?
"Break this please." - sarrif liī hadī min faḍlik
sarrif liī hadī min faḍlik
sarrif liī hadī min faḍlik
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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