Learn basic Arabic phrases every beginner should know
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| لَا |
| (lā) |
| مرة أخرى |
| (marraẗan ʾuḫrā) |
| ببطء |
| (bibuṭʾ) |
| What do these words mean? Stick around to find out. |
| In this quick lesson, you’ll learn basic Arabic phrases all beginners must know. |
| Before we start, did you know there is a gesture you can make to ask Egyptians to slow down or wait? |
| Keep watching for the answer at the end. |
| نَعَم |
| (naʿam) |
| "yes" |
| [SLOW] نَعَم (naʿam) |
| نَعَم |
| (naʿam) |
| Uh-huh uh-huh nods |
| Tom helps Oscar at an electronics store. |
| هل تحب هذه الماركة؟ |
| (hal tuḥibbu haḏihi al-mārkah?) |
| نعم، أظن أنها ماركة جيدة. |
| (naʿam, ʾaẓunnu ʾannahā mārkah ǧayyidah.) |
| لَا |
| (lā) |
| "no" |
| [SLOW] لَا (lā) |
| لَا |
| (lā) |
| U-uh disagrees |
| Jack mistakes Steve for a student. |
| هل أنت طالب هنا؟ |
| (hal ʾanta ṭālibun hunā?) |
| لا، لست كذلك. أنا فقط في زيارة. |
| (lā, lastu kaḏalik. ʾanā faqaṭ fī ziyārah.) |
| مرة أخرى |
| (marraẗan ʾuḫrā) |
| "one more time" |
| [SLOW] مرة أخرى (marraẗan ʾuḫrā) |
| مرة أخرى |
| (marraẗan ʾuḫrā) |
| In some cultures the gesture for one is this, but in Egypt this is the gesture for one |
| Lina asks Mirna for clarification. |
| عفوًا، لم أفهم ذلك. مرة أخرى من فضلك. |
| (ʿafwan, lam ʾafham ḏalik. marraẗan ʾuḫrā min faḍlik.) |
| بالتأكيد. |
| (bit-taʾkīd.) |
| ببطء |
| (bibuṭʾ) |
| "slowly" |
| [SLOW] ببطء (bibuṭʾ) |
| ببطء |
| (bibuṭʾ) |
| A crucial expression when people are speaking way too fast. |
| Susan needs clarification when asking Mohamed for directions. |
| عفوًا، ببطء من فضلك. |
| (ʿafwan, bibuṭʾin min faḍlik.) |
| خذِ المنعطف الأول على اليسار، ثم اتجه يمينًا. |
| (ḫuḏ al-munʿaṭafa al-ʾawwala ʿalā al-yasāri, ṯumma ittaǧih yamīnan.) |
| لَوْ سَمَحت. |
| (law samaḥt.) |
| "Excuse me." |
| [SLOW] لَوْ سَمَحت. (law samaḥt.) |
| لَوْ سَمَحت. |
| (law samaḥt.) |
| law samaht! Law samaht! (signals to waiter) |
| Jack expresses interest in an item at a store. |
| لو سمحت، بكم هذا؟ |
| (law samaḥt, bikam haḏā?) |
| بعشرين جنيه. هل تود شراءه؟ |
| (biʿišrīna ǧunayh. hal tawaddu širāʾah?) |
| أنا آسِف |
| (ʾanā ʾāsif) |
| "I'm sorry." |
| [SLOW] أنا آسِف (ʾanā ʾāsif) |
| أنا آسِف |
| (ʾanā ʾāsif) |
| That’s the masculine form. Women would say “ana asifah”. |
| Steve apologizes to Oscar for a misunderstanding. |
| أنا آسف. كانت غلطة من جانبي. |
| (ʾanā ʾāsifun. kānat ġalṭaẗun min ǧānibī.) |
| حسنا، لا بأس. |
| (ḥasanan, lā baʾs.) |
| شكراً |
| (šukran) |
| "Thank you." |
| [SLOW] شكراً (šukran) |
| شكراً |
| (šukran) |
| Merci is also very common to hear in North Africa and the levant. |
| Susan thanks Lina for a party invite. |
| شكراً جزيلاً على الدعوة. |
| (šukran ǧazīlan ʿalā ad-daʿwah.) |
| على الرحب والسعة! أنا سعيدة لأنك استطعتِ الحضور. |
| (ʿalā ar-raḥbi wa as-saʿah! ʾanā saʿīdaẗun liʾannaki istaṭaʿti al-ḥuḍūr.) |
| عفواً. |
| (ʿafwan.) |
| "You are welcome." |
| [SLOW] عفواً. (ʿafwan.) |
| عفواً. |
| (ʿafwan.) |
| Afwan actually literally means “forgiveness” |
| Salma provides legal advice to Steve. |
| شكراً جزيلاً لمساعدتك! |
| (šukran ǧazīlan limusāʿadatik!) |
| عفواً، أنا سعيدة لأني استطعت المساعدة. |
| (ʿafwan, ʾanā saʿīdaẗun liʾannī istaṭaʿtu al-musāʿadah.) |
| لو سمحت |
| (law samaḥt) |
| "Please." |
| [SLOW] لو سمحت (law samaḥt) |
| لو سمحت |
| (law samaḥt) |
| If you are talking to a woman, you need to say “law samahty” “law samahty” |
| Jack asks Mirna for a drink. |
| ماء، لو سمحت. |
| (māʾun, law samaḥt.) |
| بالتأكيد، تفضل بعض الماء! |
| (bit-taʾkīd, tafaḍḍal baʿḍa al-māʾ!) |
| Let's review. |
| You'll see the words in English and your job is to say the words in Arabic. |
| Ready? |
| Do you remember how to say "yes"? |
| نَعَم |
| (naʿam) |
| نَعَم |
| (naʿam) |
| And how to say "no"? |
| لَا |
| (lā) |
| لَا |
| (lā) |
| How about "one more time"? |
| مرة أخرى |
| (marraẗan ʾuḫrā) |
| مرة أخرى |
| (marraẗan ʾuḫrā) |
| Do you remember how to say "slowly"? |
| ببطء |
| (bibuṭʾ) |
| ببطء |
| (bibuṭʾ) |
| And how to say "Excuse me."? |
| لَوْ سَمَحت. |
| (law samaḥt.) |
| لَوْ سَمَحت. |
| (law samaḥt.) |
| What about "I'm sorry."? |
| أنا آسِف |
| (ʾanā ʾāsif) |
| أنا آسِف |
| (ʾanā ʾāsif) |
| Another one! What about "Thank you."? |
| شكراً |
| (šukran) |
| شكراً |
| (šukran) |
| Let's try "You are welcome."! |
| عفواً. |
| (ʿafwan.) |
| عفواً. |
| (ʿafwan.) |
| And finally do you remember how to say "Please."? |
| لو سمحت |
| (law samaḥt) |
| لو سمحت |
| (law samaḥt) |
| Did you know there is a gesture you can make to ask Egyptians to slow down or wait? |
| Put out your right hand with your palm facing up and bring your fingers together so they touch. Without saying a word, Egyptians will know that you want them to wait or to slow down. |
| Thanks for watching! Don't forget to practice these new words and phrases, and see you next time! |
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