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 this lesson, we'll introduce you to some useful phrases for when you've had enough, or want to turn something down. One of these phrases may just save the day.
In Arabic, "No thank you." is: laā, šukranً’ (لا، شكرا)
laā, šukranً’
Let’s break it down: laā, šukranً’
laā, šukranً’
The first word, laā (لا), means "no"
Let's break it down and hear it one more time: laā
laā
This is followed by šukranً’ (شكرا), which in Arabic is "thank you."
šukranً’
šukranً’
So to recap here, we have: laā, šukranً’
And literally, this means “No thank you."
This can be used when declining street vendors, food at the table and in any other situation when you want to politely decline something.
When sitting down for a meal or when eating and drinking in excess, "Thank you, but I've had enough" may just be the most useful bit of Arabic you ever use.
In Arabic, "Thank you, but I've had enough" is: šukran šbʿit (شكرا شبعت)
šukran šbʿit
Let’s break it down: šukran šbʿit
šukran šbʿit
The first word, šukran (شكرا), means "thank you"
Let's break it down and hear it one more time: šukran
And, šukran
This is followed by šbʿit, which in Arabic is “I’m full.”
šbʿit
And, šbʿit
So to recap here, we have: šukran šbʿit
And literally, this means "thank you but I'm full."
Cultural Insights
Moroccans are very hospitable and you will notice this a lot when you're eating at someone’s house. They will usually serve you a ridiculous amounts of food and you're going to be full after the first or second dish; but the dishes will keep coming. In this case, you don't want to just say “no thank you,” you want to say something more polite, and this is, al-ḥamdu lillah (الحمد الله), it literally means “Thanks to God.”
al-ḥamdu lillah
So if you want to say “no thank you,” just say: šukran, al-ḥamdu lillah
šukran, al-ḥamdu lillah, which literally means “thank you, thanks be to God.”

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!
"No thank you." - laā, šukran'
laā, šukran'
laā, šukran'
"Thank you but I've had enough." - šukran šbʿit
šukran šbʿit
šukran šbʿit
"Thanks to God" - al-ḥamdu lillah
al-ḥamdu lillah
al-ḥamdu lillah
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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