Breakthrough Language Series

ARABIC
NadiraAuty
Rachael Harris
Clive Holes
Faculty of Oriental Studies, Cambridge University

General editor Brian Hill

Professor of Modern Languages, The University of Brighton

Series advisers
JanetJenkins Director of Programmes, The Open Learning Foundation
Duncan Sidwell Principal Modern Languages Adviser, Leicestershire LEA

--
MACMillAN
© Nadira Auty, Rachael Harris, Clive Holes 1992

All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of

this publication may be made without written permission.
No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or
transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with
the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988,
or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying
issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court
Road, London WlP 9HE.
Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this
publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil
claims for damages.

First published 1992 by

THE MACMILLAN PRESS LTD
Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2XS
and London
Companies and representatives
throughout the world

Audio producer: Gerald Ramshaw, MAX II

ISBN 978-0-333-51611-9 ISBN 978-1-349-11306-4 (eBook)

DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-11306-4

A catalogue record for this book is available

from the British Library.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
01 00 99 98 97 96 95
 Contents

How to use this course 1

1 Talking about yourself 7
2 Yourself and others 21
3 Ordering drinks and snacks 35
4 Getting information (part 1) 49
5 Directions 63
6 Time 77
7 Shopping (part 1) 91
8 Shopping (part 2) 105
9 Making travel arrangements 11 9
10 Ordering a meal 133
11 Likes and dislikes 147
12 Arranging a meeting 161
13 Getting information (part 2) 175
14 Invitations and intentions 189
15 Talking about the past 203
Grammar summary 217
Vocabulary 222
English-Arabic Glossary 235
Acknowledgements
The authors owe a debt of gratitude to a number of people who gave their
time freely at various stages in the production of this course. In Amman,
we would like to thank Munir Awwad and his family, relatives and
friends for their kind hospitality, their help in making arrangements for
some of the location recordings and for their participation in the
dialogues. Equally, we are indebted to the British Council staff in
Amman, especially the Director Miles Roddis and his secretary Hind
Samman, for allowing us to use the Council's facilities and to record
some of its staff and students. The Jordanian staff at the Marriott Hotel,
Amman, were also extremely co-operative and feature in some of the
recordings - our thanks to them. In Britain, thanks are due to our editors
at Macmillan, Kathryn Walker and Jane Wightwick, for their patience in
coping with a complex manuscript and for the many useful comments
they made on both its content and organisation. We also appreciated the
patience and professionalism of Gerald Ramshaw who organised all
aspects of the production of the recordings.

The authors and publishers wish to thank the following for permission to
use copyright material: Konica Corporation for advertisement for print
film; Marriott Hotels, Resorts for material from a menu and advertising
publications; Picturepoint Ltd for illustrations on pages 27, 151 and 195.
AI Fanoos Video for front and back video covers.

Illustrations drawn by Mahmoud Gaafar.

Every effort has been made to trace all the copyright holders, but if any
have been inadvertently overlooked the publishers will be pleased to
make the necessary arrangement at the first opportunity.
 HOW TO USE THIS COURSE
This course has been designed to be used in self-directed study, although it
can also be used as the basis for work in the conventional classroom. Take
your time to read through the next few pages before you start this course. If
you understand how the course works and what is expected of you, you will
get that much more benefit from it.

Breakthrough Arabic has been written for anyone who wishes to understand
the Arabic which is spoken in the street, the restaurant, the hotel, at work in
government or company offices and on social occasions of various kinds.
But the course is not merely a 'passive', listening type of course. You will
learn how to respond to what you hear appropriately, and to initiate Arabic
conversation yourself. The Arabic dialogues which form the core of this
course were recorded on location in Amman, Jordan with native speakers
talking completely naturally without any kind of script or direction in work-
places, stores, restaurants, taxis and in their homes. The variety of spoken
Arabic these speakers use in the dialogues, and which is practised in
the accompanying exercises, is that of Jordan. Of course, even in a relatively
small country like Jordan there is a variety of accents to contend with; but
since the course reflects the usage of educated people, it avoids extreme
localisms and will be fully comprehensible in other parts of the Arab world.
Some of the voices which you will hear in the studio-recorded exercises
originate from places outside the immediate area- Jerusalem and Beirut for
example - as well as Jordan. This was deliberate on our part, since you are
bound to hear different Arabic accents wherever you go in the Arab world,
and it is as well to get used to this early on. However, the Arabic spoken by
Lebanese, Syrians and Palestinians is very similar to that ofJordanians.
Since this course teaches spoken not written Arabic (although there is a
short writing section in each unit for those who wish to become acquainted
with the Arabic script), we have chosen to use a transliteration system which
is a modified form of the Roman alphabet. This will take a little getting used
to, since there are a number of sounds in Arabic which have no equivalent
in European languages and cannot be represented conventionally. However,
using a transliteration system has the advantage of allowing us to distinguish
the sounds of the spoken language more consistently than using the Arabic
script would, and also massively speeds up learning.

General hints to help you use the course

• Have confidence in us! Real language is complex and you will find
certain things in every unit which are not explained in detail. Don't
worry about this. We will build up your knowledge slowly, selecting
only what is most important to know at each stage.
e Try to study regularly, but in short periods. 20-30 minutes each day is
usually better than 31/z hours once a week.
• To help you learn to speak, say the words and phrases out loud
whenever possible.
• If you don't understand something, leave it for a while. Learning a
language is a bit like doing a jigsaw or a crossword: there are many
ways to tackle it and it falls into place eventually.
• Don't be afraid to write in the book and add your own notes.
• Do revise frequently. It helps to get somebody to test you - and they
don't need to know Arabic.
• If you can possibly learn with somebody else you will be able to help
each other and practise the language together.
• Learning Arabic may take more time than you thought. Just be patient
and above all don't get angry with yourself.
 Suggested study pattern
Each unit of the course consists of approximately fourteen pages in the
book and ten minutes of recording. The first page of each unit will tell you
what you are going to learn and suggests what we think is the best method
for going about it. As you progress with the course you may find that you
evolve a method of srudy which suits you better- that's fine, but we suggest
you keep to our pattern at least for the first two or three units or you may
find you are not taking full advantage of all the possibilities offered by the
material.
The book contains step-by-step instructions for working through the
course: when to use the book on its own, when to use the recording on its
own, when to use them both together, and how to use them. On the
recording our presenter Nadira will guide you through the various sections.
Here is an outline of the srudy pattern proposed.

Study guide At the beginning of each unit you will find a summary of what it contains.
Use this as a check list and mark off the tasks as you complete them.

Dialogues and In this course, the book is an accompaniment to the recordings, rather than
vice versa. The presenter on the recordings, Nadira Auty (one of the
Practise what authors), will guide you through the material and give advice and
you have learned instructions on how to do the exercises, when to move on to the next
dialogue, and so on.
Start with the first dialogue in each unit and then do the (usually three)
exercises which go with it in the Practise what you have learned section. Then
go on to the next dialogue and its exercises, and so on until you have
worked through all the dialogues and Practise what you have learned exercises.
You will need to listen to each dialogue several times over, and look
carefully at the notes and glossary provided before beginning the exercises.
Try this as a method of tackling each dialogue:
• Listen without the book to get some idea of what the dialogue sounds like.
e Then study the written version carefully line by line with the notes, but
without listening to the recording, in order to get a rough idea of the
meaning.
e Next, listen for a second time, this time following the written version in
the book at the same time as you listen.
e Finally, go back and listen again without the book.
Follow this procedure two or three times for each dialogue, until you are
familiar with what it sounds like and understand the gist of what is being
said, if not every single word.
Then try the two listening exercises based on the main language points
of the dialogue, which follow next on the recording. Nadira will explain
what you have to do before each exercise. Again, repeat each listening
exercise two, three, or more times before checking your answer in the
Answer key. The third of the three exercises after each dialogue is a speaking
exercise. Usually, this involves you in taking part in a short Arabic
conversation similar to the ones in the dialogues. Nadira will prompt you in
English when it is your rum to speak. Pause the recording after her prompt,
and try your Arabic. Release the pause button, and you will hear a correct
version. Remember that practice makes perfect, and that speaking is the
most difficult skill of all, so repeat, repeat and repeat again!

Key words and When you have worked through the dialogues and Practise what you have
learned exercises in the way described, try to learn the words and expressions
phrases in the Key words and phrases section by heart. The words in these sections
will gradually build the core of the Arabic vocabulary which you will need
to be able to use.

2
Grammar Even if grammar is not your particular cup of tea, study the grammar
section of each unit carefully, but not until you have worked through the
stages above. Though far from being a phrase book, we emphasize that this
is not a grammar course either. The coverage of grammatical points is clear,
but does not contain unnecessary details. The grammar points dealt with
relate to the dialogue material in each unit, and have been deliberately
selected for their usefulness in helping you understand and communicate
accurately and appropriately in spoken Arabic. The terminology is
deliberately non-technical as far as possible. There are exercises in this
section in which you can test your understanding of the grammatical
explanations given. After completing the grammar section, you may like to
go back over the dialogues once more, this time looking at their grammatical
structure. This will help you develop better understanding of how people
structure their speech, and eventually improve your ability to do likewise
accurately.

Your turn to After completing the grammar section, there is a chance to speak more
naturally by creating your own sentences and, eventually, your own mini-
speak speeches. Here Nadira will put you in the position of having to make small
talk to an imaginary friend at a social gathering, chat on a bus, order a meal,
reserve a room, explain to a receptionist who you are, and so on. This is the
most open-ended, unguided, and so demanding kind of exercise in each
unit. There is no 'correct' answer: try each exercise several times over,
practising the vocabulary, phrases and grammar which you have learned up
to that point. Vary what you say each time you try the exercise, as far as the
demands of the exercise allow. Then listen to a possible version of what you
might have said. The fact that one or all of your versions may be different
does not mean that they are 'wrong'.

Did you know? The Did you know? section provides a little light relief, usually in the form of
practical information about the manners and customs of the Arab World
which anyone visiting or living there should be aware of.

Writing Finally, work through the writing section- or skip it entirely if you are not
interested in learning to read signs on shops, traffic signs, names on
business cards, etc. Each unit introduces two or three letters of the
alphabet, shows how they are written, and gives examples of them in words
which you are likely to encounter in their written form in everyday life. The
objective is to get you to recognize what you see, not necessarily to be able
to write yourself. Because the grammar and vocabulary of written Arabic is
different from that of the spoken kanguage, sometimes there is not an exact
correspondence between how a word is spelt in Arabic and how it is usually
pronounced, or how something would be expressed in written Arabic and
how it would normally be said. These discrepancies are pointed out where
necessary.

At the back of the book

Glossary A complete alphabetical list of all the Arabic words which occur in the
course is provided together with an English translation. There is also a
shorter English-Arabic glossary consisting of just those words and phrases
which occur in the Key words and phrases section of each unit.

Grammar At the end of the book you will also find a very brief summary of all the
major grammatical points.
summary

3
 Symbols and abbreviations

n If your cassette recorder or CD player has a counter, set it to zero at the

start of each unit and then write the number in the recording symbol
showing the beginning of each group of dialogues. This will help you find
the right place on the tape quickly when you want to wind back.

m. masculine pl. plural • This arrow indicates the

f. feminine lit. literally most important words and
sing. singular phrases.

Hints on pronunciation
There is no denying that speakers of English and other European languages
experience some initial difficulty in pronouncing Arabic words correctly,
and in recognising what they hear. There are a number of sounds in Arabic
which we do not have in European languages, and it takes practice to
master them. So do not expect that you will get a perfect pronunciation
immediately. The secret is to listen carefully and imitate what you hear-
and practise, practise, practise! Arabs are extremely tolerant of foreigners'
mispronunciations, and are usually flattered that a foreigner has tried to
learn their language at all. In any case, the context in which you use Arabic
means that an Arab will usually understand what you say even if you do not
pronounce it perfectly every time.
Below, you will find a simple guide on how to pronounce the
difficult sounds. The other sounds are more or less similar to English. In a
short time you will be able to dispense with this guide, and in any case the
best advice is to listen carefully to the native speakers on the tapes, and
imitate the way they speak.

Consonants j as in dajaaj chicken. The j is usually pronounced like the 's' in English
'leisure' and 'pleasure' or the 'j' in the French 'je'. Some speakers, however,
pronounce it like the 'j' in English 'judge'. Either pronunciation is acceptable.
'as in sa'al he asked. This sound exists in English, but usually as a
replacement for another letter in some accents. It is like the catch in the
throat when words are pronounced with a cockney accent: 'butter' ('bu'er')
or 'put it' ('pu'i"). In Arabic it can occur in any position in a word, for
example 'aal he said, y'uul he says, wara' paper.
r as in rajul man. This is a 'rolled r', made with the tip of the tongue
vibrating against the back of the upper front teeth. It is heard in some
European languages such as Italian ('ragazza'). In Arabic it occurs in all
positions in a word, for example, raas head, barra outside, 'amr command.
x as in xuruuj exit, duxuul entrance. This sound is similar to the Scottish
pronunciation of'ch' in 'Loch Ness', or the 'ch' in German 'Achtung' or in
the composer's name 'Bach'.
gh as in gharb west, lugha language. This sound is similar to that made in
the throat when gargling, or to the gutteral 'r' in the Parisian French
pronunciation of 'grand'.

There are a number of so-called 'emphatic' consonants in Arabic: S, T, D

and Z (or DH). In each case, the tip of the tongue is in the same place as
for the corresponding unemphatic consonants s, t, d and z - touching the
back of the upper front teeth - but the rest of the tongue is flattened and
pressed against the roof of the mouth. This produces a much duller, heavier
sound than in the case of the unemphatic consonants. It is difficult to
illustrate the difference from English, but the somewhat heavier sounding

4
 'ss' at the end of 'toss' compared to the lighter sounding 'ss' at the end of
'kiss' gives some idea of the difference between S and s, and that between
the 't' in 'hot' and the 't' in 'bit' between T and t respectively. But this is only
an approximation of the difference. Listen carefully to the speakers on the
tape when words come up involving these consonants. It is important to get
used to recognising and producing the so-called 'emphatics', as some words
are distinguished in meaning only by the fact that they have emphatic
versus unemphatic consonants.
9 as in 9arabi Arab, Arabic. This is one of the most difficult consonants,
represented by a figure 'nine' as there is nothing remotely like it in English.
It is produced by constricting the top of the windpipe, and if you are
pronouncing it correctly you should sound slightly as if you are being
strangled! It is a common consonant in Arabic, and can occur anywhere in
a word, for example, 9aalam world,,si9ir price, baa9 he sold.
H is another difficult one, and is a kind of strong, hoarse-sounding version
of h which is similar to the hoarse expulsion of breath which is sometimes
made by people breathing on glass or spectacle lenses before cleaning them.
Again, there is a feeling of constriction at the top of the throat when
pronouncing H, just as there is with 9, except that H is a voiceless sound in
which your vocal chords do not vibrate. Examples: Hammaam bathroom,
baHr sea, milH salt.

Variations The above are the main consonant sounds in Arabic. However, there are
one or two more which you will also hear, especially in the speech of
educated people because of the influence on their speech of literary Arabic.
Less educated people tend to use these sounds less:
q, as in qur'aan Koran, is a sound which is usually found in 'literary' words
which have been borrowed into spoken Arabic. None the less it is quite
common even in the speech of uneducated people. It is a little like the 'k' in
English 'bulk' or the 'ck' in 'hock', but further back in the throat. In many
very common everyday words, q or ' occur as variants, for example,
funduq or fundu' hotel, suuq or suu' market, waqt or wa't time. In these
same words, you will hear some Jordanians, especially if they come from
outside the main towns, use a g like English 'g' in 'go': fundug, suug, wagt.
th like the English 'th' in 'thin' or 'bath', as in thalaatha three. This is a
more 'educated' (and, paradoxically, a more 'Bedouin') pronunciation which
replaces t in some words, and s in others.
dh, as in haadha (this), is like the English 'th' in 'that' or 'bathe'. dh, which
again is a 'literary' pronunciation is normally pronounced as a d in less
educated or more relaxed speech in some words (haada this) and as a z in
others (haaza).

Single and Consonants in Arabic can occur singly or doubled, and it is very important
to lengthen the pronunciation of a consonant which is doubled, as its
doubled meaning will be different from just a single consonant. So, for example,
consonants mara means 'woman' but marra (pronounced mar-ra) means 'time' in the
sense of'two times, three times'. So hal-mara means 'this woman', but
hal-marra means 'this time'; sabab means 'reason, cause', but sabbab
means 'he caused'.

5
Long vowels The long vowels, like doubled consonants, are written double in the
transliteration and should be pronounced approximately twice as long as
single ones:
aa is something like the vowel sound in southern British pronunciation of
'wear', 'tear', 'care', for example baab door, talaata three. If emphatic
consonants come before or after it, aa has a much heavier sound. So Saab
(he hit[the target]) sounds like the British English pronunciation of the
Swedish automobile manufacturers 'Saab'.
ii is like the vowel in English 'tea', except it is held longer.
uu is a vowel something like that in 'cool' or a longer version of the vowel in
the English 'sue'.
ee is similar to the vowel in English 'bate' or 'nail'.
oo is something like the British English pronunciation of the vowel in 'bore',
'law', for example, yoom day.
aw is a diphthong like the vowel in 'cow', for example, Hawl about, around.
ay is a diphthong like the vowel in 'pay', for example, rayyaH he relieved,
put at ease.

6
 I TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF

You will team

• to greet people
• to talk about names, addresses and phone numbers
e to talk about where you're from
• the numbers 1-1 0
To keep track, mark the tasks below as you complete them.
Before you start, make sure you have read the Introduction, pages 1-6. It
explains how Breakthrough Arabic works and gives some helpful tips on
how to study.

Study guide
Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 5 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases
GraiDIDar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

Remember to listen to your recording before you look at each unit. Nadira
will guide you through the unit.

UNIT I 7
 Dialogues
n 1 Munir meets Clive for the fi"rst time
Munir marHaba yaa ax.
Clive marHaba.
Munir tismaH Iii?
Clive tfaDDal...

• marHaba hello. lbis is one of many greeting phrases we will meet. It is informal.

• yaa ax (lit. 0 brother) is an informal but polite way of addressing a man

who is approximately the same age as yourself. To a woman you would
say yaa uxt (0 sister).

• tismaH Iii? (lit. do you permit me ... ?) lbis phrase is used to a man if you're
asking him if he minds what you're about to do (e.g. sit at his table in a cafe,
smoke a cigarette, come into a room). To a woman you would say tismaHii Iii?

• tfaDDal (lit. be so kind) This is the reply meaning ' please do!' when
someone asks your permission to do something. Or it can simply be used
as an encouraging phrase when offering food, drink, a lift, a chair, etc. To

n
a woman you would say tfaDDali.

2 Has Clive been in Amman long?

Munir mbayyin HaDirtak mish min sukkaan 9ammaan ... ajnabi ...
Clive ee ... ajnabi ... ingliizi.
Munir ahlan wa sahlan fiik.
Clive ahlan biik.
Munir zamaan jiit 9ala 9ammaan?
Clive ana jiit min yoomeen bas.
mbayyin it seems zamaan a (long) time
mish not ana I
min of, from; min ... . .. ago yoom day
sukkaan inhabitants, population bas only
ingliizi English(man)

• mbayyin HaDirtak mish min sukkaan 9ammaan it seems you're not

from Amman (lit. it seems your presence not from the inhabitants of
Amman). HaDirtak (your presence) is a polite way of saying 'you' to a man .

•• ee yes. More common expressions for 'yes' are ah, na9am and aywa. 'No' is Iaa.
ajnabi foreign(er). This form of the word is used for a male. A woman
foreigner is ajnabiyya. Similarly, an English woman is ingliiziyya; an
American woman amriikiyya.

• ahlan wa sahlan. This is a common informal greeting or welcome, to which

may be added fiik or biik (to you) for a man, fiiki or biiki for a woman. The
usual reply is ahlan biik or ahlan fiik.

• zamaan jiit 9ala 9ammaan? have you been in Amman long? (lit. [long]
time you came to Amman?). The verb jiit itself means 'you (or I) came'
without it being necessary to specify ana (I) or inta (you).

• min yoomeen bas only two days ago (lit. from two days only). The -een ending
added to yoom (day) means 'two', so we have shahar (month) and shahreen
(two months). jiit min shahreen would thus mean 'I came two months ago'.

8 UNIT 1
 Practise what you have learned
J Listen to the recording. Which of the speakers is talking to a man and
which to a woman? (Answers p.l8)

2 You will hear three short dialogues. Indicate which of the pictures matches
each of them? (Answers p.l8)
(a) (b) (c) (d)

3 Your tum to speak. Here are two short dialogues for you to take part in. In
the first dialogue, listen to the first speaker, then press the pause button and
give the appropriate answer. You will then hear the correct version. Then
move on to the next part of the dialogue and do the same. In the second
dialogue, Nadira will guide you. After she speaks, press the pause button
and respond. Release the pause button and you will hear the correct
version.

4 Sentences (a) to (e) below are things which might be said to you.
Which of the replies numbered 1 to 6 is the appropriate reply to each?
Write the numbers in the boxes, and when you have finished check
your answers by listening to the recording.
(a) Man ana min 9ammaan D
(b) Woman marHaba D
(c) Woman ahlan wa sahlan D
(d) Woman tismaHii Iii D
(e) Man ahlan wa sahlan D
1 marHaba 2 ahlan wa sahlan 3 ahlan wa sahlan fiik
4 ahlan wa sahlan fiiki 5 tfaDDal 6 tfaDDali

5 Listen and mark off the box to indicate which country the speakers are from
(Answers p.l8)

UK USA Saudi Arabia Gennany France Lebanon

6 Your tum to speak. Nadira will guide you through your part in the
conversation and give you a correct version.

UNIT 1 9
 Dialogues
3 Names
Munir ana ismi muniir 9awwaad ... Hadirtak shu !-ism il-kariim?
Clive ismi Clive ... Clive Holes.
Munir il-baraka, ahlan wa sahlan fiik.
Clive ahlan wa sahlan.
shu what
il- the
kariim noble
baraka blessing

• ana ismi ... my name is ... (lit. I, my name ... ). isim (name) becomes 'my
name' by adding -i at the end. However, whenever -i is added to a word
which ends with consonant-i-consonant (such as isim) the i is dropped.
isim + i therefore become ismi. The same happens before a word
beginning with a vowel, as in il-ism il-kariim (see next note).
• HaDirtak shu 1-ism il-kariim? what is your name? (lit. your presence,
what the name the noble?) . A more informal way of saying the same thing
would be simply shu ismak? (lit. what your name?) in which the -ak
signifies 'your' when addressing a man. Add -ik instead of -ak if
addressing a woman.
• il-baraka (lit. the [God's] blessing) a polite response to the fact that the
other speaker had answered his question about his name.

10 UNIT 1
 Practise what you have learned
7 Complete the conversation between Nadya and Mahmoud using the words
below. Words may be used more than once. (Answers p .IS)

ismi fiiki ismik ahlan wa sahlan

Mahmoud marHaba. ana ____ maHmuud. shu _ _ _ _ _ _ ?

Nadya naadya.

Mahmoud ahlan wa sahlan

Nadya

.ji.:.All~l~ . .).i
;_,;,, -'11w\1cl
(..>WJI ;,)/' /.-"

~·rr·l : .:,_,y; J.iJb: .Ji-:1.

v\ · · ~v : ..!_r-11 rWI _~--.11

, \\l•O\ ._!_;.!! : ~ t..,

· '('· ("- ~ ~l~,,-.,_:..,n;_w~li......S~

,.. d 1 ....u• t \ ""' t J,.._

.:l~W..~C...I
.:.I.._,L.ll~J'il ~WI ,._l<. r-i

<,-u--il "'_,.II <SWI , r\ Y\\ ,;,.l,,t.I;JI

....l.. A• I • \ • ..,..S..0
( ;___._w1 1 L,-1.,

8 Names are hard enough to catch when you're introduced to someone from
your own country. Try to write down the names of the people you will hear
on the recording. It will help if you read the section on names in Did you
know? Don't be discouraged if you find this hard. Check the answers on
p.IS and then listen several times until you feel clear about the relation
between what's on the paper and what you hear.

9 Your tum to speak. Take part in the conversation, playing the role of Peter
or (if you are female) Rita Smith. There is no guidance in English, but after
each of your turns you will hear a correct version.

UNITI 11
 Dialogues
n 4 And what about children?
Munir mitzawwij batSawwar?
Clive ee, mitzawwij u ...
Munir u 9indak iwlaad?
Clive ee, waladeen.
Munir kam walad maashaallah waladeen?
Clive waladeen.
Munir kbaar willa Sghaar?
Clive Sghaar.
Munir allah yixallii lak iyyaahum inshaallah.
Clive allah yixalliik.

u and
9ind with, at
walad boy (pl) iwlaad boys; children
kbiir big, old (pl) kbaar
Sghiir small, young (pl) Sghaar
willa or

mitzawwij batSawwar (you're) married, I imagine? The word for 'you'

(inta) is omitted as it's obvious from the context who is being addressed.
• 9indak iwlaad do you have any children? 9ind literally means 'with, at' so
this phrase says 'with you children?' This is the normal way of forming
equivalent phrases to English sentences involving 'have' signifying
possession or ownership: 9indi iwlaad I have children (lit. with me
children).
waladeen two boys, see yoomeen 'two days' in Dialogue 2. The word for
girl is bint.
• kam walad? how many children? (lit. how many boy?). kam (how many)
is followed by a singular noun.
• maashaallah what God has willed. This is said when mentioning
children or important possessions to protect them from 'the evil eye'.
• kbaar willa Sghaar? grown-up ones or small ones?
allah yixallii lak iyyaahum inshaallah may God preserve them for you,
if God wills. This phrase is another example of the polite conversational
pleasantries so typical of Arabic conversation, and is a way of wishing a
parent long life to support and enjoy his children. The answer allah
yixalliik (God preserve you) is the standard polite response.

12 UNIT 1
 Practise what you have learned
10 Listen to the conversation between Salim and Suzanne and indicate if the
following are true or false. (Answers p.l8)
(a) Salim is from Lebanon
(b) Salim thinks Suzanne is from Amman
(c) Suzanne is a foreigner
(d) Suzanne is from America
(e) Salim is a Jordanian

11 Your turn to speak. On'the recording you will hear the same conversation
again with Suzanne's part left out. Take her place, putting in the
appropriate information about yourself. After each turn, you will hear
Nadira give a possible answer.

UNIT 1 13
 Dialogues
n 5 /man is applying for a job
Official shu 1-ism il-kariim hallah?
/man ismi iimaan maHmuud.
Official ahlan wa sahlan ... shu l-9unwaan hallah, ween saakna?
!man saakna fi jabal 9ammaan id-duwwaar is-saadis jaanib funduq
9amra.
Official Tayyib, 'addeesh il-9umur hallah?
/man waaHad u talaatiin sana.

jabal 9ammaan a district in Amman

Tayyib OK

• hallah by God. This expression has little actual meaning, and is used as a
way of making direct questions sound more polite.
• shu l-9unwaan? what's your address? (lit. what the address?). It is quite
common in such questions to use 'the' instead of 'your' in Arabic, e.g. shu
1-isim? what's your name? (lit. what the name?).
• ween saakna? where do you live? (lit. where living?). There is no need for
the official to use the word 'you' (inti for a woman) as it is obvious from
the context whom he's talking to. He would say ween saakin? to a man.
id-duwwaar is-saadis the Sixth Circle (lit. the circle the sixth). Most
Amman residents use the seven traffic circles which form a semi-circular
chain around downtown Amman as navigational points.
• jaanib funduq 9amra next to the Amra Hotel (lit. side [of] hotel [of]
Amra). jaanib (by the side ot) can also be pronounced jamb.
• 'addeesh il-9umur? how old are you? (lit. how much the age?). Again, it
is not necessary to say 'your' age in Arabic.
• waaHad u talaatiin sana thirty one (lit. one and thirty year)

14 UNIT 1
 Practise what you have teamed
12 Listen to the recording. Can you fill in the blanks below, one for Farid and
one for Hala? Look at the numbers in the list of key words. (Answers p.18)
Note: shaari9 fu'aad Fuad St Tarii' is-salaam Peace Rd

(a) Full name Farid - - - - - (b) Full name Hala - - - - - -

No. & street - - - - - - - No. & street

City City

Tel. no. Tel. no. - - - - - - - - -

13 listen to Salwa talking about herself. Fill in the gaps in the shoner version
below. (Answers p.18)
Note: il-burSa the stock market.

Salwa ana min _ _ _ _ _ __ _ ____ saakna fi _ _ __

il-9unwaan _____ il-burSa. u ana - - - - - -

14 Your turn to speak. You're staying in the Palace Hotel (funduq balaas) in
Prince Muhammad (il-amiir mHanunad) Street. Explain to the taxi
driver where you're staying, in response to his questions. Nadira will give a
correct version.

UNIT 1 15
 Key words and phrases
To learn marHaba hello
tfaDDal(i) please do
tismaH(ii) Iii do you mind if I...?
ingliizi (yya) English
amriiki (yya) American
ana I
isim name
ahlan wa sahlan welcome, hello
ahlan fiik(i) or biik(i) hello (reply)
na9am/aywa (or ee) yes
laa no
inshaallah God willing
u and
willa or
mniiH nice, good
fi in
boon here
waaHad one
itneen two
talaata three
arba9a four
xamsa five
sitta six
sab9a seven
tamaanya eight
tis9a nine
9ashra ten

To understand HaDirtak (HaDirtik) you, polite (to a woman)

shu 1-ism U-kariim? what's your name? (polite)
ween saakin? (sakna) where do you live? (to a woman)
shu l-9unwaan? what's your address?

16 UNIT 1
 Grammar
'Is '/'are' sentences In Arabic the verb 'to be' is not generally used when talking about a
situation in the present. So we have ana ingliizi I am English, ana min
9ammaan I am from Amman, ana boon I am here and inta ingliizi you
are English etc.
rnish before a word makes it negative, e.g. ana rnish ingliizi I'm not
English. To ask a question, change the intonation of the sentence by raising
your voice at the end, e.g. inta ingliizi? Are you English?, inta min
9ammaan? Are you from Amman?

15 Listen to the recording. Is Nadira asking a question or making a statement?

Underline the one you think. (Answers p.l8)
(a) statement/question (b) statement/question
(c) statement/question (d) statement/question
(e) statement/question (f) statement/question

'The' and 'a' il- means 'the'. It is used both with nouns, e.g. il-isim the name,
il-9unwaan the address, and with adjectives, e.g. il-kariim the noble
(one), il-ajnabi the foreign (one). If a noun has il- (i.e. if it is definite) any
adjective that goes with it must have il- too, e.g. il-ism il-kariim the noble
name, il-9unwaan il-9arabi the Arabic address.

The i ofil- drops if it is after a vowel (a, i, u), as in shu 1-isim?

What's (your) name? The I of il- also changes if the word that follows it
begins w1th one of the following letters:
t, T, d, D, s, S, z, Z, sh, I, n, r, th, dh, DH

When il- comes before one of these letters, the I of il- becomes the same as
that letter, as in id-duwwaar the roundabout, is-saadis the sixth. Don't
try to learn this list of letters now, but you may like to refer back to it as you
learn new words. It may help you to remember which letters affect il- in
this way if you know that they are pronounced with the tongue on or just
behind the teeth.

There is no word for 'a' or 'an' in Arabic so we have, for example, isim a
name, and walad a boy. Adjectives follow the noun, e.g. isim 9arabi an
Arab name, walad Sghiir a little boy.

16 Fill in the gaps below with the right form ofil- (or nothing!) to give the
Arabic phrase the same meaning as the English. (Answers p.l8)

(a) isim amriiki the American name

(b) isim ajnabi a foreign name

(c) sana saadisa the sixth year

(d) walad Sghiir the small boy

(e) iwlaad Sghaar small children

(f) iwlaad kbaar the big children

UNITI 17
 Your turn to speak
In this section it's your tum to speak again but the exercises here are
open-ended, i.e. you can adapt them to suit your own situation. On the
recording there is a model version of what you could say, but this is just a
suggestion.

17 Give a short speech about yourself including all the information you can in
Arabic: your name, nationality, where you live, etc. Compare it with the
one Nadira gives. If you are unsure, listen to Nadira first.

18 Take part in the conversation which starts with you saying hello and then
asking a man if you can sit at his table in a cafe. How you reply to the rest is
up to you. This time a model version will come after you have finished your
conversation. Start with marHaba hello.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 (a) to a woman (b) to a man (c) to a woman (d) to a man
have learned
Exercise 2 Conversation 1: (d) 2: (a) 3: (c)
Exercise 4 (a): 2 (b):l (c): 4 (d): 6 (e): 3
Exercise 5 1. USA 2. Lebanon 3. Saudi Arabia 4. France 5. UK
Exercise 7 - marHaba ana ismi maHmuud. shu ismik?
- ismi naadya.
- ahlan wa sahlan fiiki!
- ahlan wa sahlan!
Exercise 8 (a) sahar 9ali il-Halabi (b) suheer (c) 9awaD muHammad
9aaTif (d) umm saalim and ra'fat
Exercise 10 (a) true (b) false (c) true (d) false (e) false
Exercise 12 Farid Salama Mursi Hala Mustafa Nijim
4 Fuad St 5 Peace Rd
Irbid Amman
Tel: 789312 Tel: 653824
Exercise 13 Salwa: ana min il-urdun y saakna fi 9amman. il-9unwaan
shaari9 il-burSa, u ana sikirteera.

Grammar Exercise 15 (a) statement (b) question (c) question (d) statement
(e) question (t) question
Exercise 16 (a) il-ism il-amriiki (b) isim ajnabi (c) is-sana s-saadisa
(d) il-walad iS-Sghiir (e) iwlaad Sghaar (t) il-iwlaad
il-kbaar

18 UNIT 1
 Did you know?
Arabic names Full formal personal names, male and female, consist of three parts:
given name, father's name and grandfather's name. e.g. aHmad 9ali
SaaliH Ahmed Ali Saleh, maryam 9iisa xaalid Maryam Isa Khaled. In
addition, tribal names are still used in the conservative countries of the
Arabian peninsula, and in the desert and rural areas of Syria, Jordan and
Iraq, but not usually elsewhere in the Arab World.

Egyptians commonly use just their first two names (given name and
father's name) and the third (grandfather's) is used only when thay are
asked for their full name (on government forms, etc.). In Syria, Jordan,
Palestine, and Lebanon, on the other hand, most people use a family
name (usually designating place of origin or occupation) after the first
given name, in exactly the same way as we do, e.g. naadira xuuri Nadira
Khoury, where naadira is the given name and xuuri (meaning 'priest') the
family name, 9umar najjaar Omar Najjar (najjaar means 'carpenter'),
aHmad Tarabulsi Ahmed Tarabulsi (Tarabulsi means 'from Tripoli').

It is common practice in Jordan, Syria and Palestine to call a parent

'Father/Mother of X' where X is the eldest son in the family, e.g. abu
Hasan Hasan's father, to a man whose eldest son is called Hasan,
whatever his own given name. His wife would be called umm Hasan
Hasan's mother. This practice is a sign of respect, rather than of
familiarity.

UNIT 1 19
Writing
It is not necessary to be able to read Arabic in order to speak it. In fact,
learning to read Arabic involves a lot more than just learning a new
alphabet and writing system, because the grammar and vocabulary of the
written language differ considerably from the spoken. Therefore, because
this is essentially a spoken course, the basics of the writing system are
introduced simply to enable you to read such written Arabic as you are
likely to encounter and need to be able to read in everyday life in any
Arab city: store, traffic and street signs, names and numbers on business
cards, entries in telephone directories, restaurant menus, etc.

Let's start with some basic fa<;:ts about the Arabic alphabet and script:

the Arabic script goes from right to left;

written Arabic words consist of consonants and long vowels (if they
occur) only. Short vowels are not written (although of course they are
pronounced!);
Arabic words are written cursively (i.e. the consonants which form
them are joined up) even in printing;
the shape of each consonant changes slightly, depending on whether it
(a) stands on its own, (b) comes at the beginning of a word, (c) comes
in the middle of a word, (d) comes at the end of a word.

We will start our introduction to individual letters of the alphabet in

Unit 2.

Transcription Letter Transcription Letter

I (1) D vP (15)
b '-' (2) T J. (16)
t ..;.. (3) DHorZ = .1; (17)
th ..!, (4) 9 t. (18)
j [. (5) gh t. (19)
H c. (6) f ..J
...;
(20)
X c. (7) q
.!l
(21)
d ~ (8) k (22)
dh ~ (9) 1 J (23)
r .) (10) m r
:;
(24)
z ; (11) n (25)
s
sh
..r
.;.
(12)
(13)
h
w , (26)
(27)
s ...r> (14) y <.? (28)

20 UNIT 1
 IYOURSELF AND OTHERS
You will learn
e to introduce yourself
e to ask and reply to simple introductions
e to ask and reply to simple questions about places
e the numbers 10 - 20

Study guide
Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases
Gramntar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

A street in downtown A mman

UNIT2 21
 Dialogues
1 John meets Yousif in a cafe in the
middle of Amman
Yousif marHaba.
John marHabteen.
Yousif il-ax ajnabi?
John wallaahi ingliizi.
Yousif ingliizi ... min briiTaanya?
John min briiTaanya.
Yousif kam Saar lak hoon bi 1-urdun ... ? kam yoom?
John wallaahi ana Saar Iii bas thalaatht iyyaam.
Yousif thalaatht iyyaam.
briiTaanya Britain
Saar to become, happen
lak to you
Iii to me
bi in (alternative to fi)
il-urdun Jordan
thalaatht iyyaam three days
bas only, just

• marHabteen two welcomes! This is a common reply to marHaba.

One can also say, with the same meaning, ahleen.
il-ax ajnabi? are you a foreigner? (lit. The brother [is] foreign?). The use
of il-ax is polite, but a bit less formal than HaDirtak, which we met in
Unit 1.
wallaabi by God. This is used to emphasize the truth of what one says.
It is not a very strong oath.
• kam Saar lak boon ... how long have you been here? (lit. how much has
become to you here?) to which the answer is ana Saar Iii bas thalaatht
iyyaam I've been here just three days (lit. I has become to me only three
days). So 'I've been .. .' is Saar Iii ... and 'you've been .. .' is Saar lak...
when talking about time spent in a place.
thalaatht iyyaam three days. An alternative, slightly Bedouin-sounding,
to the city-dweller's talaat tiyyaam, with the same meaning (see
Grammar, Unit 3).

22 UNIT2
 Practise what you have learned
1 Listen to the recording and mark off the correct answer. (Answers p.32)
1 Where is the man from?
(a) Jordan
(b) Britain
(c) France
2 How long has he been in Jordan?
(a) five days
(b) ten days
(c) two days
3 He is
(a) married
(b) single
(c) don't know
4 He has
(a) three children
(b) two children
(c) no children

2 You will have to learn the numbers I - 20 (They are in the 'Key words'
section, p.30). Listen to the recording and cross out the numbers on your
bingo card as the caller calls them out. What numbers are left? (Answer p.32)

6 10
20 5 2
4 13 19
9 16 12 15
3 Your tum to speak. In this exercise you will take part in a short
conversation, consisting of a greeting, saying where you come from, and
saying how long you have been in Jordan. You will be prompted. Listen
and respond after the prompt. You will then hear the model.

UNIT2 23
 Dialogues
n 2 Names?
John ismak il-kariim?
Youszf ismi yuusif.
John yuusif... il-ism il-kaamil?
Yousif yuusif al-majaali.
John yuusif al-majaali.
Yousif na9am u ismak iza mumkin?
John ismiJohn.
Yousif John... wi !-ism il kaamil?
John John Brown.
Yousif John Brown ... ah, haadha isim jamiil.
iza mumkin please (lit. if possible)

• ismak il-kariim? your dear name? (lit. your name the dear?). A polite
way of asking; an alternative to il-ism il-kariim which we met in Unit 1.
il-ism il kaamil? your full name?
haadha isim jamill that's a nice name (lit. this [is a] name nice).

24 UNIT2
 Practise what you have learned
4 Listen to the recording and mark off the correct answers. An official is
asking a woman some questions. What does he want to know?
(a) the woman's name
(b) the woman's nationality
(c) the woman's address
(d) the woman's job
(Answers p .32)

5 Listen to the conversation. A Jordanian woman is speaking with another

woman. Mark off the answers that the other woman gives.
marHaba ahlan
aywa min il-urdun laa, min suurya
min 9ashar tiyyaam aywa zamaan
(Answers p .3 2)

6 Your tum to speak. You are going to take part in a conversation. Respond
to the questions. Nadira will prompt you. Give your answers aloud in
Arabic, then check by listening to the model version. Note ziyaara trip,
visit; ziyaarit 9amal business trip.

UNIT 2 25
 Dialogues

n 3 And what do you think ofJordan?

Yousif keef ra'ayt ii-urdun? inshaallah kwaysa.
John kwaysa, kwaysa, jamiiia jiddan.
Yousif ah, tamaam ... wa n-naas huna? in-naas?
John kwaysiin.
Yousif kwaysiin ... tikram!
John inta min ... aSian min 9ammaan?
Yousif Iaa, ana aSian min ir-riif, min xaarij 9ammaan ... ya9ni badawi.
John badawi?
Yousif na9am.
keef (or kiif) how
kwayyis nice (f. kwaysa)
jiddan very
tamaam excellent! great!
wa and (alternative to u, same meaning)
naas people
huna here (alternative to boon, same meaning)
tikram thank you, you are too kind
iota you (m. sing.), inti you (f. sing.)
aSian originally
riif countryside, country area
xaarij outside
badawi Bedouin (i.e. originally from the desert)

t keefra'ayt il-urdun? what do you think of Jordan? (lit. how have you
seen Jordan?). Note that, as he is talking to a foreigner here, Yousif tries
to speak more 'correctly' than he normally would, and uses the very
formal-sounding word ra'ayt for 'you think, see' rather than the more
colloquial shuft. 'What do you think of...?' is normally keefshuft ••• ?
which is the verb you should use when asking someone's opinion about
something. For example, meeting a man who has just returned from
Britain you would say keef shuft briiTaanya? what did you think of
Britain? To a woman you would say keef shufti briiTaanya? (the -i is
for the feminine).
t inshaallah kwaysa nice, I hope (lit. if God wills, nice). Yousif answers
his own question before John gets the chance to speak. inshaallah is used
when you're talking about anything that's going to happen in the future (in
this case, John giving his opinion of Jordan). kwaysa is the feminine of
kwayyis (note the -a on the end which signifies the feminine) and is used
here because Jordan, like most countries, is grammatically feminine in
Arabic.
kwaysiin nice. This is the plural ofkwayyis, used because naas (people)
is a plural.
t ya9ni literally this means 'it means'. It is used like the English 'I mean' or
'that is' in explaining something.

26 UNIT2
 Practise what you have learned
7 Choose the correct question from the box to complete the dialogue. Then
check with the recording for the model version.

keef shufti 1-urdun?

inti min landan?
u in-naas?

Samira ----------?
Helen jamiila jiddan.

Samira ----------?
Helen kwaysiin

Samira ?
Helen laa, ana mish min landan, min liidz.

8 Your tum to speak. You are going to take part in a conversation. Respond
to the questions. Nadira will guide you. Give your answers in Arabic, then
listen to the correct version.

The Gilead Mounrains, Norrhem Jordan

UNIT2 27
 Dialogues
n 4 Where exactly is Yousif from?
John min ween hi DH-DHabT ya9ni?
Yousif min sharq il-urdun.
John min sharq il-urdun.
Yousif na9am min sharq il-urdun.
John u ism il-balad, law samaHt?
Yousif ism il-balad al-muwaqqar.
John al-muwaqqar.
Yousif na9am, hiyya balad Saghiira.
John balad Saghiira.
Yousif laysat kabiira, na9am ... haadha ... wa inta, awwal marra fi 1-urdun?
awwal ziyaara ilak?
John awwal ziyaara.
hi DH-DHahT exactly
halad town/village
law samaHt if you'd be so kind
al-muwaqqar al-Muwaqqar (name of a small town 10 miles east of
Amman)
hiyya it, she
laysat it is not
awwal first
marra time

min ween hi DH-DHahT? from where, exactly?

• sharq il-urdun east Jordan (lit. east [of] Jordan). Similarly, shmaal il-
urdun north Jordan, jnuuh il-urdun south Jordan. The West Bank is
usually referred to as iD-Diffa the Bank or iD-Diffa 1-gharhiyya the
West Bank.
• ism il-halad the name of the town.
• law SamaHt (to a woman law samaHti) is used to show politeness
when you ask someone to do something or answer a question.
• hiyya halad Saghiira it's a small town. halad 'town' is feminine, hence
the use of hiyya 'she' and the -a feminine ending of Saghiir 'small'.
Yousif pronounces the word Saghiira rather than the normal Sghiira
because he is speaking carefully.
laysat it is not. Again, this is a very 'correct' form of Arabic. In more
relaxed circumstances, Yousif would simply have said rnish khiira for
'not big'.

28 UNIT 2
 Practise what you have teamed
9 listen to the recording first and then fill in the blanks using the words from
the box.

Sghiira, inta, marHabteen, kbiira, tfaDDal, briiTaanya

Ahmad marHaba.

John

Ahmad tismaH Iii?

John . HaDirtak min il-urdun?

Ahmad aywa, u - - - - - - - -

John ana min briiTaanya.

Ahmad min ween bi DH-DHabt fi ?

John min biirminghaam.

Ahmad biirminghaam balad ?

John laa mish Sghiira,

10 In this exercise you are going to practise numbers. Say the following
numbers and then check with the recording.
(a) 2 (b) 5 (c) 10 (d) 15 (e) 17
(t) 20 (g) 11 (h) 3 (i) 19

11 In this exercise you are meeting a foreigner. Find out:

(a) his name
(b) where exactly he is from
(c) if this is his first visit to Jordan
This time you will not be prompted. listen for the responses to your
questions. Then you will hear the whole dialogue. Start with the phrase
shu isbn HaDirtak? (Answers p.32)

UNIT2 29
 Key words and phrases
To learn min briiTaanya from Britain
minamriika from America
min il-urdun from Jordan
yoom, (pl) iyyaam day
yoomeen bas only two days
kam how much, how many
kwayyis, (f.) kwaysa, (pl) kwaysiin nice, fine
jamiil beautiful, pretty
jiddan very
iHda9sh eleven
itna9sh twelve
talaatta9sh thirteen
arba9ta9sh fourteen
xamasta9sh fifteen
sitta9sh sixteen
saba9ta9sh seventeen
tamaanta9sh eighteen
tisa9ta9sh nineteen
9ishriin twenty
kbiir, (pl) kbaar big, old
Sghiir, (pl) Sghaar small, young
walad, (pl) iwlaad boy, child
izamumkin if possible, please
awwal first
taani second; other

To understand balad town, village (sometimes country)

kam yoom Saar lak (lik) boon? how long have you been here?
min ween bi DH-DHabT? where exactly (are you) from?
awwal ziyaara first visit
kiif shuft il-urdun? what do you think of Jordan?

30 UNIT2
 Grammar
Adjectives Adjectives in Arabic have three forms - masculine, feminine and plural.
The feminine is formed from the masculine in most cases by adding -a.
The plural of some adjectives is formed from the feminine (without the -a)
by adding -iin. For example:
masculine feminine plural
kwayyis kwaysa kwaysiin nice, fine
saakin saakna saakniin living
kaamil kaamla kaamliin full, complete

Notice that in words like kaamil and saakin, in which the stressed pan of
the word is the -aa- vowel, the i drops out when the feminine or plural
ending is added.

Noun-adjective The adjective in Arabic agrees with the noun in gender. If the noun is
masculine, the adjective is masculine. If the noun is feminine, the
phrases adjective is feminine. Feminine nouns usually end in -a, or are feminine by
meaning (e.g. hint girl). For example:
masculine isitn (m.) jamill (m.) a beautiful name
feminine ziyaara (f.) Tawilla (f.) a long visit

With nouns denoting plural human beings the adjective is plural.

For example:
naas (pi) kwaysiin (pi) nice people
in-naas il-kwaysiin the nice people

12 Give the feminine and the plural of the following adjectives. (Answers p.32)
masculine feminine plural
Hllw nice, sweet
ta9baan tired
9aTshaan thirsty
za91aan sad
ju9aan hungry
mabsuuT happy

The dual Nouns in Arabic have three numbers - singular, dual and plural. The dual
is formed by adding -een to the end of the noun. Nouns ending in -a
(feminine) have the -a replaced by -t before adding the -een ending.
For example:
walad waladeen two boys
yoom yoomeen two days
marHaba marHabteen two hellos
ziyaara ziyaarteen two visits
13 Form the dual of the following nouns. (Answers p.32)
singular dual
mudarris (male) teacher
mudarrisa (female) teacher
sayyaara car
usbuu9 week
shahar month

UNIT2 31
 Your turn to speak
14 You are on a bus in Jordan, sitting next to an Arab man. Greet him and
introduce yourself. Say something about your family, your country and
your city. Say something about Jordan and its people. You can hear on the
recording a version of what you could have said.

15 This time you want him to introduce himself. Start by asking him some
questions and listen to his response. Then you can listen to the whole
model dialogue. Start with the phrase shu il-isim min faDiak? Then ask
him if he's from Jordan; from where exactly; whether he has any children.
He may then ask you a question!

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (a) 4. (b)
have learned
Exercise 2 numbers left: 4
Exercise 4 (a), (d)
Exercise 5 marHaba; laa, min suurya; min 9ashar tiyyaam
Exercise 11 (a) Jabir Ahmad (b) Damascus, Syria (c) no, it is his
second visit

Grammar Exercise 12 Hilwa, Hilwiin; ta9baana, ta9baaniin; 9aTshaana,

9aTshaaniin; za9laana, za9laaniin; ju9aana, ju9aaniin;
mabsuuTa, mabsuuTiin
Exercise 13 mudarriseen; mudarristeen; sayyaarteen; usbuu9een;
shahreen

Writing The word for 'door' is underlined: ,. .-'J..c-? ~ L,.J I .:.9 ~I ,. ~_,.J I

32 UNIT2
 Did you know?
Greetings Greetings and leave takings are indispensable ingredients in any Arabic
conversation, wherever you are in the Arab World. They tend to be more
elaborate than we are used to in the West. Even when addressing a person
you have never met before (say at a reception desk when requesting
information, or when getting into a taxi), it is customary to greet him/her
and take your leave using standard polite expressions.

As in the West, greetings can be relatively formal or informal, depending on

the occasion and the relationship between the speakers. Perhaps the most
formal greeting, used throughout the Arabic-speaking (and indeed Islamic)
world, is the traditional one of the desert Arab: is-salaam 9aleekum peace
be upon you! The invariable response to this is wa 9aleekum is-salaam
and on you be peace! While this is definitely formal-sounding, it is perfectly
acceptable and 'safe' to use this on all occasions. It is always the person
arriving, the 'newcomer' in the situation, who initiates the greeting.

In most circumstances in which you will find yourself, however, it is just as

acceptable, and somewhat less 'stiff', to greet the other person with a more
informal expression, such as marHaba Welcome! This can be said both by
the person initiating the greeting and by the person replying. In reply to
marHaba, it is also common to say marHabteen Two welcomes! Another
common opening, especially when ushering someone into your house or
office, letting them into your car, etc. is ahlan wa sahlan which roughly
means 'Welcome among friends!' There are a number of possible replies to
this: simply ahlan Welcome! or ahlan biik Welcome to you! or ableen
Two welcomes! or yaa hala Oh, welcome!

It is normal when meeting someone socially for the first time, and when
meeting anyone you already know (even if you just bump into them in the
street), to follow the initial expression of greeting by asking after their
health. There are many expressions for this which vary from one Arab
country to another, but the commonest and most widely used is keefil-
Haal or keefHaalak (Haalik for a woman) How are you? (lit. how is the
state/your state?). The commonest, most all-purpose reply is il-
Hamdulillaah Praise be to God!, but many others are possible e.g. (in
Jordan, Syria and Egypt) kwayyis Fine!

When taking their leave, the commonest expression people use is ma9a
s-salaama (Go) in safety. This can also be used as a reply by the person
staying. It is also possible for the person leaving to use the same phrase as is
used in greeting i.e. is-salaam 9aleekum.

UNIT2 33
 Writing
The first letter of the Arabic alphabet we are going to learn is '-'
(called in Arabic baa) which is pronounced similarly to the English 'b'.
Remember that Arabic words, even when printed, have joined up letters.
In most cases, each letter has a slightly different shape depending on
whether it comes at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a word.

~ has the following shapes according to is position:

-
beginning a word ~

in the middle .
at the end .
........_
If we wrote an imaginary word consisting of three 'b's together, we would

. ..
therefore have:
~ (Remember to read right to left)

The letter I (called in Arabic alif), when written by itself, is a single

down stroke. Usually, it marks a long 'aa' vowel. When it follows baa, it
joins onto it:
L.
and is pronounced 'baa' (roughly the sound we make when imitating
sheep!). If we repeat these two letters again:
LL
we have written the word baabaa, which is the Arabic equivalent of
'Daddy'. Notice that 1 never joins on to the letter which follows it.

If we now just put a ._, after 4 we get

(pronounced 'baab') and meaning 'door'. Look at the photograph of a door

sign below. The Arabic says 'Please close the door quietly'. Can you pick
out from the jumble of letter shapes the word for 'door'? (Answer p.32)

....- ..-or~·~

'~1- ~~~ vJ;J. ; .- : ...

-.:::....>lll..
I ;.I ~.

34 UNIT2
 IORDERING DRINKS AND SNACKS I
You will learn
e to ask what people would like to drink
e to say what you'd like to drink
e to order drinks and snacks
e to ask about and understand what's available
e to ask for the bill

Study guide
Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 5 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases
Grammar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

UNIT3 35
 Dialogues
n 1 A tea party
Ayda eesh bitHibb tishrab?
Clive shaay iza mumkin.
Ayda shaay... eesh bitHibbi tishrabi?
Haifa ay shii ... ma9leesh, shaay OK.
Ayda shaay Habbaab?
Habbab il-kull batSawwar.
Zahra shaay mniiH.
Ayda shaay mniiH?.
Habbab It's tea time!
shaay tea
ay shii anything
ma9leesh that's OK, no objection
il-kull everybody
batSawwar I imagine

• eesh bitHibb tishrab? What would you like to drink? (lit. what you like
you drink?) This is how you would invite a man; to a woman you would
say eesh bitHibbi tishrabi? (See Grammar, p.43)
• ma9leesh is often used when agreeing to a proposal, as here. It has other
uses (see Dialogue 3).
il-kull batSawwar [Tea for] everybody, I imagine?
shaay mniiH Tea is nice (lit. tea [is] nice). In this kind of sentence, no
word for 'is' is required in Arabic. Compare what we saw in Unit I, ana
mish min 9ammaan I'm not from Amman (lit. I not from Amman).

36 UNIT3
 Practise what you have learned
1 On the recording you will hear three questions and a statement.
Indicate which of the answers below fits which question by writing the
letters of the questions in the appropriate boxes. Note shukran thanks.
(Answers p.45)
Nadya tikram. D
Ahmed laa shukran. D
Nadya shaay law samaHt. D
Ahmed ay shii. D
2 Listen to Nadira making four offers of a drink. The first two are rather
more casual than the second two. Repeat' each line after Nadira until it
comes quite fluently, then stop the recording and repeat all four again as if
you were addressing a woman. Then listen to Nadira's correct version.

3 Your tum to speak. Nadira will guide you through two short conversations.
In (a) you meet Samya in a cafe. In (b) you are sitting in a cafe when
Mahmoud walks in.

UNIT3 37
 Dialogues
n 2 Clive orders breakfast
Clive shu 9indkum ya9ni?
Garsoon fii 9indna il-yoom ... fii 9indna 'continental breakfast' ... fii
9indna ITuur amriiki, fii 9indna 'open buffet' ... bitHibb taaxud ...
bitHibb tishrab 'ahwa willa shaay?
Clive wallaahi ana baaxud il- 'Continental' u bashrab gahwa.
Garsoon ahla wa sahla ... min ween inta?
Clive wallaahi min briiTaanya.
Garsoon ahla wa sahla fiik ... btiHki 9arabi kwayyis!
Clive shukran.
Garsoon shukran ilak.
fii there is, are baaxud I take (e.g. a drink)
il-yoom today bashrab I drink
taaxud you (masc. sing.) take btiHki you (masc. sing.) speak
'ahwa or gahwa coffee 9arabi Arabic (language), Arab

• shu 9indkum? What do you have? (lit. what with you?)

• fii 9indna ••• We have ... (lit. there is with us ... )
ffuur amriiki American breakfast, i.e. sausages and eggs, coffee, etc.
• bitHibb taaxud Would you like to have ... ?
• btiHki 9arabi kwayyis You speak Arabic well.

n 3 Clive queries the bill

Clive yaa Habiibi.. fii xaTa' fi 1-iHsaab. ana maa axadtsh il-buufee.
Garsoon haada 'Continental'.
Clive haada 'Continental'?
Garsoon 'Ya', haada 'Continental'.
Clive si9ruh 'addeesh ya9ni?
Garsoon haada !-'Continental'.
Clive kam ya9ni?
Garsoon thalaat danaaniir urduni u byiiji 9aleeh, baDiif 9aleeh is-'service
charge' u il-'government tax'.
Clive ma9leesh.
Garsoon OK?
Habiib dear, 'mate', 'buddy' dinaar, (pi) danaaniir Dinar
xaTa' mistake urduni Jordanian
iHsaab or Hisaab bill, check byiiji 9aleeh on top of that
maa axadtsh I didn't take baDiif I add
haada this, that (alt. to haadha) 9aleeh to it

• yaa Habiibi Hey, mate! (lit. oh, my dear). The yaa is used when calling
someone by name e.g. yaa 9ali Hey, Ali! or by Habiib, ax (brother), uxt
(sister), 9amm (uncle), etc. when the person's name isn't known.
• si9ruh 'addeesh How much is it? (lit. its price how much?)

38 UNIT 3
 Practise what you have learned
4 For this exercise you will hear a list of drinks in Arabic. Can you guess
which of the meanings below fits which of them? Write its number in the
appropriate box. Note: ma9a with, biduun without. (Answers p.45)
tea with sugar 0 mango juice 0
tea without sugar 0 apple juice 0
Arab coffee (i.e. Turkish) 0 Coca Cola 0
instant coffee 0 Pepsi 0
orange juice 0 Seven Up 0
5 Listen to the waiter talking. Can you fill in the menu below in English, and
say what kind of coffee the customer asks for? Turkish coffee comes saada
without sugar or Hilwa sweet. Note: SabaaH il-xeer good morning.

MENU
Breakfasts Dn"nks

The customer has -==============-- coffee.

(Answers p.45)

6 Your tum to speak. You will hear the dialogue again, with Clive's part
missing. Can you fill it in for yourself? Try not to look at it in the book. You
want the American breakfast and coffee, and you are from Canada (kanada).
Pay parricular attention to pronunciation here, especially that of SabaaH
il-xeer. After each time you reply, you will hear a correct version.

7 Listen to the conversation, where Abdallah has just finished a meal in a

cafe. Underline the correct statements below. (Answers p.45)
1 Abdallah is talking to 2 Abdallah wants
(a) his friend (a) the bill
(b) the waiter (b) some coffee
(c) a stranger (c) some fruit juice
3 Abdallah queries an item on the 4 At the end Abdallah
bill and the waiter tells him it's (a) pays the bill
(a) the service charge (b) leaves without paying
(b) the price of the coffee (c) sends it back
(c) a mistake

8 Your tum to speak. Nadira will guide you as you go up to a woman in the
street and ask her if she speaks English.

UNIT3 39
 Dialogues
4 Yousif orders a morning snack in a
cheap restaurant in Amman.
W7zat do they have?
Yousif law samaHt shu fii 9indak?
Garsoon 9indna bi n-nisba la 1-ITaar.. ;. fii fuul u HummuS u beeD u
msabbaHa u fatta u maxluuTa.
bi n-nisba Ia ••• as far as ... is concerned
ITaar (alternative to ITuur) breakfast
fuul beans
HummuS chick pea dip
heeD eggs
msabbaHa chick pea dip with spices and whole chick peas added
fatta dip with bread
maxluuTa a variety of dishes (lit. mixed)

5 Yousif doesn't like spicy garnishes

Yousif Tayyib, iza samaHt haat waaHad mtabbal biduun tatbiila, ya9ni
biduun filfil.
Garsoon maashi.
Yousif u haat waaHad ... waaHad ... ithneen shaay.
Garsoon waaHad fuul?
Yousif laa wallah! waaHad mtabbal 9aadi biduun ay shii ... biddak tiffar
yaa Clive?
Clive laa.
Yousif maa bidduh ...
mtabbal puree of roasted eggplant pulp (popular dish)
biduun without
tatbiila spicy dressing
filfil hot pepper
9aadi ordinary, normal
bidd (+ pronoun ending) want, like, wish
tiiTar you (masc. sing.) have breakfast

t haat (f. haati) bring! This is used only for commands.

waaHad mtabbal one mtabbel, ithneen shaay two teas. Note that this
is the usual way of ordering dishes in a restaurant i.e. the number
followed by the thing you are ordering in the singular. Yousif, who is of
Bedouin origin, often uses th instead oft in certain common words: here
he says ithneen instead of itneen.
maashi or maashi 1-Haal is used like the English 'all right', 'OK', 'fine'
when answering questions about how you are, or, as here, in agreeing to
do something.
t biddak tiiTar? Would you like to have breakfast? bidd means literally
'desire', so biddak means 'your (m.) desire' (you want) and bidduh 'his
desire' (he wants). maa biddak, etc. means 'you don't want'.

40 UNIT 3
 Practise what you have learned
9 Here is a menu in English. Listen and mark off the items that the waiter
mentions. (Answers p.45)

MENU
Snacks Drinks
Beans D Tea D
Cheese D Coffee D
Egg D Orange juice D
'Fatta' D Apple juice D
Houmous D Mango juice D
Pepsi Cola D

10 In this exercise you will hear three short conversations about the price of
various things. For each one, fill in the table with the item or items talked
about and their price. (Answers p.45)

Item(s) Price

(a)

(b)

(c)

11 Your turn to speak - and understand. When faced with a waiter reeling off
an incomprehensible list, it's useful to know how you can get him to slow
down and explain. Here are some useful phrases:
(ana) mish faahim I don't understand
(faahma if you're a woman)
shu ya9nix? What does x mean?
na9am? Pardon?
mutnkin shwayy shwayy? Can you say it slowly? (lit. possible
little little?)
You will hear N adira pronounce these for you. Practise saying them
yourself. Now listen to the waiter. When he has finished his list, Nadira will
guide you in getting him to slow down and in asking him what one of the
items he mentions is. But begin by asking him what he has.

12 Your friends have sent you to order some snacks and drinks for all of you.
Here's the list you have. Note: Hallib milk.

2. t"€Lt.6 ~~~-ft.()~
I -r~~~
3 -t-~:stv~
However you decide to let your friend Salwa order instead. Listen carefully
to her giving the order on the tape and check it against your list. Where has
she gone wrong? (Answers p.45)

13 Your turn to speak. You come into a cafe for a snack and sit down. N adira
will guide you as usual, as you order.

UNIT 3 41
 Key words and phrases
To learn SabaaH il-xeer good morning
shu 9indkum? what do you have?
eesh bitHibb tishrab? what would you like to drink?
fii shaay? is there tea?
'ahwa? coffee?
ma9asukkar with sugar
biduun sukkar without sugar
Haliib milk
baHibb Hummus I'd like houmous
fuul eggs
sandawitsh heeD an egg sandwich
9aSiir burtu'aan orange juice
9aSiir tutTaaH apple juice
ay shii (or ay ishii) anything
eesh (alternative to shu) what?
byaaxud il-ffuur he has breakfast
biddi 1-Hisaab I'd like the bill
law samaHtlsamaHti please, excuse me
(to a man/woman)
shukran thank you
shukran ktiir thank you very much
9afwan you're welcome (after shukran)
'addeesh haada? how much is this?
haada ktiir that's a lot, too much
mish faahim/faahma I don't understand
shu ya9ni x? what does x mean?
na9am? pardon?
mumkin shwayy shwayy? can you say it slowly?
mit'assif (f. mit'asfa) sorry
ma9leesh never mind, OK

To understand btiHki 9arabi? do you speak Arabic?

biddaklbiddik 'ahwa? would you like coffee?
(to a man/woman)

42 UNIT3
 Grammar
Pronoun endings You already know many of these, in words like ismi, ismilk, ismi!s,
9indwl (or 9idwl), bidd.uh. Make sure you know what they all mean. The
pronoun endings are underlined. Here's the complete set, added to isim
(name):
ismi my name isi.mrul our name
islllilk your name (to a man) isimls.Ym your name (to more
islllik your name (to a woman) than one person)
isml!h his/its name isimhun their name
isitnbil her/its name (or isim!mm)
If the word to which the pronouns are added ends in a vowel, that vowel
becomes long. There are also some small differences in the endings, but
only in the singular. Here's fi (in) with the endings:
fiiy in me fiina in us
fiik in you (m.) fiikum in you (pi)
fiiki in you (f.)
fiih in him/it fiihun in them
fiiha in her/it (or fiihum)

14 Translate into Arabic (Answers p.45)

(a) We want fruit juice. (b) We have sandwiches.
(c) Is there sugar in it (the tea)? (d) They want Turkish coffee.
(e) His name is John. (f) Do you (f.) want breakfast?

Verbs You also know quite a few of these: tismaH you allow, tHibb you like,
tishrab you drink, aaxud I take, and tiHki you speak. These are all in
what's called the 'non-past' tense, which is used to express present and
future time. The only other tense in Arabic is the past. You've met samaHt
lit. you allowed, shuft you saw, and axadt I took. Here we'll look at the
forms of the non-past, leaving off the b- or bi- at the beginning - this will
be explained in the next unit. Let's take yHibb he likes or loves.
aHibb I like nHibb we like
tHibb you (m.) like tHibbu you (pi) like
tHibbi you (f.) like
yHibb he (or it) likes yHibbu they like
tHibb she (or it) likes
Almost all verbs go like this, so it's worth learning it. yaaxud (he takes) is
slightly irregular. It drops the u if an ending is added: taaxdi, you (f.) take,
yaaxdu, they take. Verbs agree with their subject like adjectives do,
e.g. il-bint btHibb shaay The girl would like tea. Here both the noun
il-bint and the verb btHibb are feminine.

15 Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets :
(Answers p.45)
(a) ana ashrab shaay, min faDlak. (yHibb)
(b) inglizi? (yiHki)
(c) biddna il-ITuur, law samaHt. (yaaxud)
(d) eesh bitHibbi ? (yishrab)

UNIT3 43
 Grammar
16 Complete the following conversation by filling in the right form of the verb to
match the English translation. To check your answers, listen to the recording.
Iman joins her friends Basim and Salwa at a table in a cafe.

!man Iii. Permit me.

Basim ahlan. Please sit down. Hello.

!man ahlan fiik. Hi.
Basim shaay? Shall we drink tea?
!man laa ma9leesh, b No, never mind, I'll have
'ahwa. b shaay coffee. Will YQY (pi) drink tea
intu?
Basim aywa. b shaay. Yes, we'll have (take) tea.
Waiter shub _____ ? What would you (pi) like to
drink?
!man b 'ahwa Hilwa u I'll have sweet coffee and
hummab shaay, they'll drink tea, please.
lawsamaHt.

Basim u il-uxtb Haliib And she'll have milk please.

izamumkin.
!man maashi. OK.

Independent You already know some of these: ana I, inta you (m.), inti you (f.). Here
is the complete list:
pronouns
ana I niHna we
inta you (m.) intu you (pi)
inti you (f.) humma they
huwwa he/it (masc. nouns)
hiyya she/it (fern. nouns)

These are used for the subject of the sentence, e.g. ana min briiTaanya I
am from Britain, hiyya jamiila she is beautiful. There is no separate
pronoun corresponding to the English 'it'.

Numbers Numbers from 3- 10 lose their ending -a when they are used with a noun:
arba9a four arba9 banaat four girls
sab9a seven saba9 iwlaad seven children,
saba9 tiyyaam seven days
(iyaam becomes tiyyaam after the numbers 3- 10)

When used with a noun, numbers from 11 - 19 add -ar, and the noun from
11 onwards takes the singular form. For example:
iHda9sh eleven iHda9shar yoom eleven days
itna9sh twelve itna9shar hint twelve girls
9ishriin twenty 9ishriin usbuu9 twenty weeks
waaHad u xamsiin fifty-one waaHad u xamsiin dinaar fifty-one dinars

44 UNIT2
 Your turn to speak
17 Here's part of a menu from the Marriott Hotel in Amman. Imagine you're
talking to the waiter. Ask him what a couple of the unfamiliar dishes are,
then order what you like. Compare this with Nadira's questions and orders
on the recording.

APPETIZERS & SOUPS

HOMMOS 0.500
MUTABEL 0.500
TABBOULEH 0.500
SAMBOUSEK (6) 1.400
',O•' 4!Ji •,0••~

KUBBEH (5) 1.200 I, Y • • (O) ~ I ,t• • (i)..!l.....r.-

18 Imagine you're visiting the same restaurant with a Jordanian couple. Ask
them what they'd like to eat and drink, making some particular suggestions.
Again, compare your questions with what Nadira says.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 tikram (d); laa shukran (c); shaay law samaHt (a);
have learned ay shii (b)
Exercise 4 tea with sugar 5 mango juice 3
tea without sugar 7 apple juice 10
Arab coffee 4 Coca Cola 9
instant coffee 8 Pepsi 1
orange juice 6 Seven-Up 2
Exercise 5 Breakfasts: American, Jordanian, French, sandwiches
Drinks: tea, coffee (Arab and instant), juice
He has Arab coffee with a little sugar
Exercise 7 1: (b) 2: (a) 3: (b) 4: (a)
Exercise 9 The snacks and drinks on the menu which the waiter
mentions are: egg (sandwich), hummus, beans, tea, coffee,
orange juice, mango juice, Pepsi Cola
Exercise 10 (a) American breakfast 2 Dinars
(b) Hummus sandwich 1 Dinar
(c) 3 Beans, 1 Fetta, 2 Eggs 4 Dinars
Exercise 12 Mistakes:
- 2 teas with milk, one without sugar (instead of 2 teas with
milk and no sugar)
- 4 Turkish coffees (instead of 3)
- 2 eggs (instead of 2 beans)
- she forgot the tea without milk

Grammar Exercise 14 (a) biddna 9aSiir (b) 9indna sandwitshaat (c) fii sukkaar
fiih? (d) biddhum 'ahwa 9arabiyya (e) ismuhJohn
(t) biddik ITuur?
Exercise 15 (a) baHibb (b) btiHki (c) naaxud (d) tishrabi

Writing Exercise 19 Bata (name of manufacturer); Bilal (man's name)

UNIT 3 45
 Did you know?
Food The Arabs are justly famed for their generous hospitality. An invitation to
dine at an Arab friend's house is likely to be a lavish affair, however humble
his or her status. Honouring a guest by offering the very best that can be
afforded is accepted by every Arab as an absolute duty.

In Arab homes, and in all but the most westemised Arab restaurants, food
is traditionally served somewhat differently from the way it is served in
Europe. In Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine, the meal may begin with
an (often large) variety of hot and cold hors d'ouvres (called mazza) all
served at the same time, from which the diners will take a little of each.
After this, all the savoury or spicy main dishes, of which again there may be
several, are put on the table at the same time, rather than in the form of
separate courses. Often, the Arab host or hostess will insist on piling high
the guest's plate with the best pieces of meat or fish or whatever else has
been served, as a sign of hospitality. The serving of food in this way is often
accompanied by repeated exhortations to have more (tfaDDal, xud
kamaan!) even after the guest has said shukran, ana shab9aan Thank
you, but I'm full. After the main courses, a sweet dessert is normally served,
and then small cups of coffee. Traditionally it is quite normal, and not at all
rude to leave immediately after the coffee, although usage varies with the
degree ofwestemisation. At the end of a meal it is customary for the guest
to say daa'iman (always) which indicates that he or she hopes that the host
or hostess will always be in a position to entertain so well. In the
westemised cities of the Arab World food is now universally eaten with
knife, fork and spoon, although in villages and among less educated people
(who are often the most insistent that you share with them what little they
have) people still use their fingers or a piece of flat unleavened bread to
scoop up the food. The right hand, not the left, is used for this purpose.

The sale and consumption of alcohol is strictly controlled, if not completely

prohibited, in all Arab countries as it is specifically designated Haraam
(prohibited) to all Muslims by the Koran. Pork is similarly prohibited.

Here are some typical main dishes in the Arab World:

shurba soup, e.g. shurbit 9adas lentil soup, shurbit samak fish
soup
kufta spicy meatballs (or cubed meat loaf)
maHshi stuffed vegetable, e.g. wara' 9inab maHshi stuffed vine
leaves, malfuuf maHshi stuffed cabbage
kabaab meatballs (usually cooked on a skewer)
marag stew
mashwi roasted meats in general, or individual, e.g. dajaaj mashwi
roast chicken

And here are some typical sweet desserts:

maHlabiyya sweet rice pudding
'aTaayif pancakes
kunaafa sticky pastry made of baked noodles and stuffed with nuts
umm 9ali filo pastry filled with raisins and baked in milk

46 UNIT 3
 Writing
The next letter we will learn is called lam, and sounds like an English 'I'.
Written on its own it looks like this:

At the beginning of a word it joins on to a following letter. So lam followed

by a baa looks like this:

In the middle of a word it looks like this (baa -lam -baa):

~ ..
And at the end like this (baa -lam):

J.
How would we pronounce this last combination of letters? Let's write in
some short vowels. These are written above or below the letter which
precedes them. So if we wish our b*l shape to say hal, we write in the a
(written as a short diagonal line) above the baa:

J.
If we wish b*l to say bil we write the i (written as a short diagonal) below
the baa:

If we wish b*l to be pronounced bul, we write the u above the baa in the
shape of a comma:

~
Now let's put the two bul's together:
,..
v-:-.
,~

This says bulbul nightingale. We hope that if you follow this course, Arabs
will say to you tiHki 9arabi bulbul You speak Arabic like a nightingale!

UNIT 3 47
 Writing
Remember that in any kind of Arabic writing you encounter on street signs,
hoardings or billboards, business cards, etc. the short vowels are never
normally marked. So the word nightingale (perhaps as the name of a
restaurant) would appear as:

When lam is followed by alif, the resulting shape looks like this:
'J

By itself, this is a complete word, pronounced laa and meaning 'no'.

The second letter in this Unit is ..:,.,, called taa and pronounced similarly to
an English 't'. ..:,., is exactly the same basic shape as ._, baa which we have
already met, the only difference being that ..:,., has its.two dots above, while
'":""' has its one dot below. It is written in exactly the same way as '":""' at the
beginning, middle and end of a word except for the position of its dots:

beginning a word:

in the middle:
--
attheend: ~

19
.
Read the following words:
J~

(Answers p.45)

48 UNIT3
 IGETTING INFORMATION (part 1) I
You will learn
e how to book a room in an hotel
e how to ask to see people
e how to ask and understand where something is situated
e the numbers 30 - 100

Study guide
I Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
I Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 5 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases
Grammar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

UNIT4 49
 Dialogues
n 1 Munir makes a hotel reservation
Munir law samaHti, biddna niHjiz ghurfa Ia shaxS waaHad ... mumkin
willa mish mumkin?
Nadya ah Tab9an ... fii Hajiz min 'abil?
Munir laa Iissa, ya9ni halla' biddi aHjiz.
Nadya OK bas law samaHt biddak ti9abbi Iii 1-kart.
Munir Tayyib.
Nadya ma9luumaat kaamla u t-tawqii9 u laazim ykuun ma9ak jawaaz
safar.
HajazlyiHjiz to reserve, to book bas but
ghurfa room ti9abbi you fill in
shaxS person kart card
ah yes ma91uumaat (pi) information
Tab9an of course kaamil complete, full
Hajiz reservation tawqii9 signature
min 'abil before laazim necessary
Iissa not yet laazim ykuun there must be
halla' now jawaaz safar passport

• ghurfa Ia shaxS waaHad a single room (lit. room for one person). A
double room, on the same principle is ghurfa Ia shaxSeen.
• mumkin willa mish mumkin [Is that] possible or not?
• fii Hajiz min 'abil? do you already have a reservation? (lit. is there
reservation from before?)
• biddak ti9abbi Iii I-kart you need to fill out this card for me (lit. you
want you fill out for me the card). bidd- is often the equivalent of
English 'need to', 'ought to' as well as 'want'.
• ma91uumaat kaamla full information. kaamla is the feminine of
kaamil (compare saakin, fern. saakna in Unit 1). Plural nouns (like
ma9luumaat [lit. informations] which are non-human) usually take
feminine singular adjectives, as in this case.
• laazim ykuun ma9ak you have to have with you .. (lit. necessary is with
you ... )

50 UNIT4
 Practise what you have learned
J Listen to the recording. What sort of room does the man book? Mark
off the correct answer. (Answers p.59)
(a) Ia shaxS waaHad
(b) Ia shaxSeen

2 Samir is booking a room in a hotel. Listen and mark off the correct picture
that illustrates his response to the receptionist. Remember kam how much,
how many. (Answers p.59)

(a) (b)
2

(a) (b)

(a) (b)

3 Your turn to speak. You are going to practise booking a room in a hotel.
Nadira will prompt you. Then listen to the whole model dialogue.

UNIT4 51
 Dialogues
n 2 For how long?
Munir Tayyib OK mawjuud, kull shay mawjuud ... Tab9an il-mudda
biddha tkuun sitt tiyyaam.
Nadya aywa.
Munir sitt tiyyaam min sab9a arba9a 1a itna9sh arba9a ... mumkin willa
mish mumkin?
Nadya ah Tab9an.
Munir ah.
mawjuud here (lit. found)
kull shay everything (alternative to kul shii, with the same meaning)
mudda period (of time)
itna9sh twelve

• mawjuud, kull shay mawjuud it's here, everything's here. mawjuud is

the normal way of saying 'here' in the sense of 'present' e.g. (on the phone)
muniir mawjuud? is Munir there? laa, mish mawjuud no, he isn't.
• n-mudda biddba tlmun ••• the period of stay will be ... (lit ... .it wants to be ... )
• min sab9a arba9a Ia itna9sh arba9a from 7.4 to 12.4 (i.e. from 7-12

n
April). This use of numbers for months is common.

3 And room rates?

Munir ah, bafaDDi1 il-ghurfa t-taanya haadi illi fiiha maktab.
Nadya aywa, haay xamsa u arba9iin diinaar gheer...
Munir i1-as9aar? i1-as9aar, i1-as9aar ... i9ma1i ma9ruuf, keef i1-as9aar?
Nadya i1-as9aar min sitta u ta1aatiin diinaar is-'sing1e' i1-9aadi bas haadi
1- ... 'semi suite' bitkuun xamsa u arba9iin diinaar.
Munir haadi biduun Daraa'ib willa ...?
Nadya ah, biduun Daraa'ib ... fii 9ashra bi 1-miyya Dariiba.
bafaDDU I prefer diinaar Gordanian) dinar
taani second, other gheer apart from
illi which, that as9aar (pl) prices, [room] rents
maktab desk sitta u talaatiin thirty-six
haay this (short for haada) Dariiba, (pl) Daraa'ib taxes
xamsa u arba9iin forty-five 9ashra bi 1-miyya ten per cent

• bafaDDU U-ghurfa t-taanya, haadi illi fiiha ••• I prefer the other
room, the one in which there's ... (lit. I prefer the room other, that which
in it ... ). taani 'other' is feminine because ghurfa is feminine.
• i9mali ma9ruuf do me a favour (and tell me). i9mali is a feminine
command form, which we will meet in Unit 13. The masculine is i9mal.
is-'single' U-9aadi the ordinary single [room] haadi biduun Daraa'ib
willa ••• ? is that without taxes or... ?
• sitta u talaatiin thirty-six, xamsa u arba9iin forty-five. The numbers
between the units often are formed on the 'one-and-twenty, two-and-
twenty, seven-and-sixty' principle, using the unit numbers you
encountered in Unit 1, combined with the tens listed in the Key words and
phrases section of this Unit.

52 UNIT4
 Practise what you have learned
4 A man is booking a room in a hotel. How long does he want it for? From
when until when? Mark off the correct answers. (Answers p.59)
Remember: 'addeesh? how long? how much/many?
sin tiyyaam min sab9a xamsa Ia sitta9sh xamsa
9ashar tiyyaam min arba9a waaHad Ia 9ashra waaHad
saba9 tiyyaam min 9ashra arba9a Ia xamasta9sh arba9a

5 Suzanne is booking a room. Her part of the conversation has been omitted.
Choose the correct replies from the box to complete her part. Then check
with the recording for the whole conversation:

yoomeen; Tayyib; biddi ghurfa Ia shaxS waaHad; tfaDDali; marHaba

Suzanne
Recep. ahlan.
Suzanne
Recep. aywa. Ia kam yoom?
Suzanne
Recep. biddi ma9luumaat kaamla. mumkin ti9abbi Iii !-kart?
Suzanne
Recep. jawaazik is-safar, iza mumkin?
Suzanne

6 Your turn to speak. You are going to book a room for one person for five
days. Nadira will prompt you. Note muftaaH key, raqam number.

7 Listen to the recording. How much does an ordinary room cost? Mark off
the correct picture. (Answers p.59)

(a)

jiO ·~ "~ '' 10 10

jiO 212

-
10

)~
f--
"'?"ii"'Y'V'
=-==-

8 Listen to the recording. The receptionist is on the phone giving the prices of
the different kinds of rooms they have at the Jordan Hotel.
(a) What kind of rooms do they have? (b) What are the prices?
(Answers p.59)
Note: mufrada single, ghurfa ma9a 'a9da Sghiira small suite (lit. a room
with a small sitting area)

9 Your tum to speak. Your friend has asked you to find out about the prices
of single rooms in some hotels in Jordan, and to book him a room for three
days in the cheapest hotel. He is checking with you now. Nadira will
prompt you. Then you can listen to the model dialogue.

UNIT4 53
 Dialogues
n 4 Samir at the British Council
Samir marHaba.
Ma'n ahleen.
Samir ballahi mumkin ashuuf il-mudiir is-sayyid Miles Roddis?
Ma'n Miles Roddis, ah ... 9indak maw9id ma9ah?
Samir laa wallaahi maa 9indi maw9id bas li'annuh ana misaafir bukra
Habbeet ashuufuh bi sha'n bi9tha 'abilla asaafir.
ahleen hi, hello, welcome misaafir travelling, leaving
ashuuf I see bukra tomorrow
mudiir boss, manager bi sha'n about
is-sayyid Mr bi9tha scholarship, grant
maw9id appointment
Ii'annuh because

• 9indak maw9id ma9ah do you have an appointment with him?

bas Ii'annuh ana misaafir bukra Habbeet ashuufuh ••. but because
I'm leaving tomorrow I wanted to see him ... (lit. I wanted I see him)
'abilla is used to mean 'before' with non-past verbs.

n 5 The receptionist directs him

Ma'n wallah huwwa is sa mashghuul bas ida biddak tshuufuh ... ah,
mumkin tfaDDal foog 9ala had-daraj btiTla9 foog 9ala iidak ish-
shmaal. .. nihaayit il-mamarr tshuuf sikirtiirtuh muqaabilak bi
DH-DHabT.
Samir eesh isim is-sikritiira?
Ma'n is-sikritiira isimha hind is-sammaan.
Samir hind is-sammaan ... shukran jaziilan ... bye bye.
Ma'n ahlan wa sahlan, yaa hala, tfaDDal.
issa at the moment shmaal left
mashghuul busy nihaaya end
ida if (alternative to iza) mamarr corridor
foog (or foo') upstairs, above sikirtiira secretary (fern.)
9ala on muqaabil opposite
daraj stairs, steps shukran jaziilan thanks a lot
btiTla9 you go up yaa hala welcome

• tfaDDal foog 9ala had-daraj please go upstairs by those stairs (lit. be

so kind upstairs on these stairs). tfaDDal can be used to invite another
person to do virrually anything.
• btiTla9 foog you go up, 9ala iidak ish-shmaal on the left hand side
(lit. on your left hand). nihaayit il-mamarr at the end of the corridor,
tshuufsikirtiirtuh muqaabilak bi DH-DHabT you'll see his secretary
exactly opposite you (lit. opposite you exactly).
• is-sikirtiira isirnha hind is-sammaan the secretary's name is Hind
Samman. Grammatically, the structure is as we saw in Dialogue 3 of Unit 1.

54 UNIT4
 Practise what you have learned
10 True or False. Listen and determine which sentence is true and which is
false. Note: ba9d after, usbuu9 week. (Answers p.59)
TIP
(a) The man has an appointment with the boss today.
(b) The secretary tells the man he can see the boss tomorrow.
(c) The man is leaving today.
(d) The man is going to see the boss tomorrow.

11 Complete the dialogue with the words and expressions from the box. Then
check with the recording. Note: mumaththil sharika company salesman
or representative. (Answers p.59)

il-ism il-kariim; SabaaH il-xeer; mumkin ashuuf il mudiir; aywa; ana

Samir
Sec. SabaaH in-nuur..
Samir ?
Sec. 9indak maw9id ma9ah?
Samir
Sec. ?
Samir samiir Hasan, mumaththil sharika.

12 Your tum to speak. You are a company representative, visiting a client. You
are going to ask his secretary if you can see the manager. You have no
appointment but you would like to see him today. If that's not possible,
tomorrow will do. Nadira will prompt you. Note: miin? who? New word:
iS-SubuH in the morning.

13 Listen to the recording. Nahida is asking for some information. Mark off
the correct answers. Note: door floor, baab door. (Answers p.59)
1 Nahida wants to see 2 The secretary's room is
(a) the boss 0 (a) the second door on the first floor 0
(b) the boss' secretary 0 (b) the second door on the second floor 0
3 The secretary's room is
(a) on the right 0
(b) on the left 0
14 Bilaal wants to see Mr Nabiil Bader. Put the following conversation in the
right order. Then listen to check your answer.
il-ism il-kariim? bilaal mahdi.
marHaba. ahlan.
il-9afu. ahlan wa sahlan. aywa, mawjuud.
hallah is-sayyid nabiil bader mawjuud? shukran.
mumkin ashfuuh?
aywa, sayyid bilaal. tfaDDal foog, id-door
it-taani, awwal baab 9ala iidak il-yamiin.

15 Your tum to speak. You have arrived at the reception desk of the Salah
Company. Ask to see the assistant manager (musaa9id il-mudiir). Nadira
will prompt you.

UNIT4 55
 Key words and phrases
To learn HajazlyiHjiz to reserve or book
Hajiz reservation
'abil before
ghurfa, (pi) ghuraf room
shaxS, (pi) ashxaaS person
mawjuud present, here, in
mumkin ashuuf... ? can I see ... ?
il-mudiir the boss, manager, director
si9ir, (pi) as9aar price
il yoom today
bukra tomorrow
min ... Ia ... from ... to ...
talaatiin thirty
arba9iin forty
xamsiin fifty
sittiin sixty
sab9iin seventy
tamaaniin eighty
tis9iin ninety
miyya (miit before a noun) hundred

To understand 9aadi normal, ordinary

9indak maw9id ma9a do you have an appointment with ... ?
jawaaz safar passport
ma9luumaat information
shmaal left
yamiin right
mashghuul busy
laazim necessary, obligatory

Note: from this Unit on, verbs listed in the Key words and phrases sections
are given with the past tense form first, followed by an oblique, followed by
the non-past (see above Hajaz/yiHjiz to reserve). In both cases the form of
the verb given is the third person masculine singular (the 'he' form) as there
is no infinitive form in Arabic such as the English 'to go', 'to make', etc.

56 UNIT4
 Grammar
Verbs You were introduced to the non-past tense of the verb in Unit 3. As we
saw, the subject of the non-past verb is indicated by prefixes and suffixes-
a- for 'I' (aHibb I like), t- or ti- for 'you' (tHibb you (m.) like, tHibbi you
(f.) like, tHibbu you (pi) like) and so on. But in the dialogue you hear
Munir say bafaDDil rather than afaDDil for 'I prefer'. In most areas of
Jordan, Syria, Palestine (and Egypt) a b- or bi- prefix is added at the
beginning of non-past forms to indicate present and future time. We will
call this the 'B-prefix'. Here is the verb 'to like, love' with the B-prefix.
baHibb I like binHibb we like
bitHibb you (m.) like bitHibbu you (pl) like
bitHibbi you (f.) like biyHibbu or they like
biyHibb or biHibb he (or it) likes biHibbu
bitHibb she (or it) likes

Let's look at the verb 'to reserve'

baHjiz I reserve bniHjiz we reserve
btiHjiz you (m.) reserve btiHjizu you (pi) reserve
btiHjizi you (f.) reserve byiHjizu or they reserve
byiHjiz or biHjiz he (or it) reserves biHjizu
btiHjiz she (or it) reserves

To make any verb negative, simply put maa before it e.g. maa baHibb
shaay I don't like tea.

The B-prefix is not used on any verb which follows another non-past verb,
or when following certain words like bidd want, mumkin possible/can,
laazim must/have to. For example,
after another verb:
bitHibb tishrab shaay? would you like to drink tea?
baHibb aaxud il-ffuur il-amriiki. I would like to have the
American breakfast.
bafaDDil aHjiz ghurfa Ia shaxS waaHad. I prefer to reserve a single
room.
after certain words of wanting, possibility, obligation:
biddna naaxud ••• we would like to have ...
mumkin aHjiz ••• can I reserve ...
laazim asaafir bukra. I have to leave tomorrow.

16 Fill in the correct form of the verbs in the parentheses to complete the
conversation. Then check your answers on page 59.
John is booking a room in a hotel in Amman.
John marHaba.
Recep. ahlan.
John biddi _ _ _ _ _ (yiHjiz) ghurfa la shaxS, law samaHti.
Recep. (yHibb) ghurfa ma9a 'a9da Sghiira?
John laa, (yfaDDil) ghurfa mufrada, law samaHti.
Recep. maashi. mumkin (y9abbi) il-kart, law samaHt?
John Tab9an. _ _ _ _ _ (yHibb) _ _ _ _ _ (yshuut) il-ghurfa, iza mumkin?
Recep. tfaDDal. ghurfa raqam miyya u talaatiin. - - - - - (yiHki) 9arabi mniiH.
John shukran!

UNIT4 57
 Grammar
The word bidd- bidd- (want), as you will have noticed, combines with the pronoun endings
you have met in Unit 3 e.g. biddi I want, biddak you want, etc. This
word, in spite of its verbal meaning, is not grammatically a verb in Arabic.
It can be followed by a noun, e.g.
biddiismak (to a man) I want your name
biddi ismik (to a woman) I want your name
biddha sayyaara she wants a car
biddi 1-muftaaH I want the key

It is also followed by the non-past tense without the B-prefix as we saw

earlier, e.g.
biddi ashrab I want to drink
biddna niHjiz we want to reserve

The negative is formed with maa. For example, maa biddi I don't want,
maa biddha she doesn't want.

17 The following sentences are said about a man. How would you say them
about a woman? How would you say them about a group? (Answers p.59)

(a) bidduh yishrab shaay.

(b) bidduh yiTla9 foo'.
(c) maa bidduh yiHjiz ghurfa.
(d) bidduh yshuuf il-mudiir.
(e) bidduh yaaxud Haliib ma9a il-'ahwa.

58 UNIT4
 Your turn to speak
18 You are in Amman and you want to book into a hotel. Decide how long
you want to stay, give all the details you want and obtain all the information
you need. Then listen to how Nadira books her room and to the questions
she asks. Your questions could be different.

19 Imagine that you're in Jordan and that you would like to see the director of
the Zaayid Company before you go back home. Try to arrange with his
secretary to see him. Then listen to Nadira for comparison. You might want
to mention that you have no appointment, but are travelling back
tomorrow.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 (a) (a single room)
have learned
Exercise 2 1: (a) 2: (a) 3: (b)
Exercise 4 saba9 tiyyaam (7 days); min arba9a waaHad Ia 9ashra
waaHad (4 Jan.- 10 Jan)
Exercise 7 (a)
Exercise 8 (a) single, double, small suite (b) £35, £45, £55
Exercise 10 (a) F (b) T (c) F (d) F
Exercise 13 1: (a) 2: (a) 3: (b)

Grammar Exercise 16 aHjiz; bitHibb; bafaDDil; ti9abbi; baHibb ashuuf; bitiHki

Exercise 17 about a woman: about a group:
(a) biddha tishrab shaay biddhum yishrabu shaay
(b) biddha tiT!a9 foo' biddhum yiT!a9u foo'
(c) maa biddha tiHjiz ghurfa maa biddhum yiHjizu ghurfa
(d) biddha tshuuf il-mudiir biddhum yshuufu 1-mudiir
(e) biddha taaxud Haliib ma9a biddhum yaaxdu Haliib ma9a
il-'ahwa il-'ahwa

Writing Exercise 20 (a) House 49 (b) House 73 (c) House 106 (d) House 972
(e) House 55 (f) House 823

UNIT4 59
 Did you know?
The Arab world There are some twenty-one independent Arab nations, occupying a vast
expanse of land from Morocco in the west to Oman in the east, and from
and the Arabic the borders of Turkey in the north to Sudan and the Sahara in the south.
language The total population of these Arabic-speaking countries is about 183
million. The vast majority of Arabs are Muslims (meaning literally 'one who
surrenders himself') and profess Islam ('self surrender'). The Muslim holy
book is the Qur'an (sometimes spelt Koran in the west), written in Arabic,
which was revealed to Muhammad, Islam's prophet, in the early 7th century
AD. In some Arab countries of the Near East- Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and
Egypt in particular - there are sizeable Christian minorities.

D Arabic-speaking areas

Arabic is a member of the Semitic group of languages, closely related to

Hebrew and Aramaic, the language Christ spoke. There is a considerable
difference between written Arabic - variously known as Literary Arabic,
Modern Standard Arabic, or (in its historical form) Classical Arabic - and
all varieties of spoken Arabic. Spoken Arabic differs from country to
country, and even from town to town, although it is possible to group the
dialects into a few major areas within each of which there is virtually total
mutual comprehension. Thus the spoken Arabic dialects of north-west
Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) form a single group, as do those of the
Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan). Egyptian, Sudanese and western Saudi
Arabian Arabic form another group, as do the dialects of Iraq and the
eastern part of the Arabian peninsular. However, even the differences
between these groups of dialects are not that great: they all share a great
many structural features and there is a high proportion of shared
vocl!bulary. None of the spoken dialects, however, is used more than very
marginally in writing: for all formal written communication (and obviously
therefore all literature), Modern Standard Arabic is universally used. It is
also usually used in formal oral contexts, such as radio and TV news

60 UNIT4
 Did you know?
reading, political speeches, lectures, etc. This form of Arabic (which is
learned at school and not as a native language by any Arab) is virtually
uniform in its grammar and vocabulary throughout the Arab world. It is a
potent symbol of Arab cultural and (in the sense that it is the language of
the Qur'an) religious unity.

To many Arabs, Modem Standard Arabic, known as al-fuSHa 'the pure'

is the only form of the language which has any worth. The dialects,
although they are the universal means of everyday conversation, are
regarded by many as degraded forms of the language. This feeling is often
reflected in attitudes to foreigners' attempts to learn Arabic: many Arabs
(especially if they are educated) feel that only the Standard form of the
language should be taught, regardless 'of the fact that Arabs would never
themselves use this kind of Arabic for some of the purposes (e.g. chatting,
shopping) for which they insist foreigners should use it. It can sometimes
seem an uphill battle for foreigners to get Arabs to talk to them in colloquial
Arabic. But don't be put off; the less well educated seem to suffer less from
this prejudice, and you may well find that they will be more than willing to
help you practise.

UNIT 4 61
 Writing
In Units 2 and 3 we met the letters '-' (baa) and ..;.J (taa) which consist
of the same shape '-' but with different numbers and positions of dot
placed above or beneath. The shape r.S with two dots below it, ~ , forms
the letter yaa, and is pronounced similarly to an English 'y'. At the
beginning, or in the middle of a word, it is written eaxctly like baa and taa,
except for the position and number of the dots:

--
beginning a word

in the midde

at the end

and on its own ~

If we now combine baa, yaa and taa, we get the Arabic word bayt house:
o,
~...
Note that this word just consists of the letters baa-yaa-taa joined up; the
vowel a ofbayt, being short, is not written as part of the word, but placed
above the letter baa. The small circle written above the yaa (called
sukuun in Arabic) signifies that there is no short vowel following it. In
normal written Arabic, such as you are likely to encounter on shop signs,
road signs, advertisements, etc., the short vowels are not written, so you
have to recognize a word simply by the shape of the consonants (and long
vowels, if any) which make it up.

The letter ~ is also used to lengthen a short i, in just the same way as
is used to lengthen a short a, as we saw in Unit 1. So if we wanted to write
baytii (my house) with full vowelling, it would look like this:

Or, more usually, without vowelling, like this:

Arabic numerals 2 T 3 'I"' 4 t 5 0

6 '\ 7 v 8 A 9 .. 0 •
Higher numbers are written as they would be in English; strangely although
Arabic writing goes from right to left, numbers go from left to right! So 24
is Yt ; 798 is VI\ A ; 65301 is, or • \
20 Read the following house numbers
(Answers p.59)

(a) t4. 4. (d) WT 4.

(b) V'l"' 4. (e) oo 4.

(c) '• '\ 4. (f) AT,..~

62 UNIT4
 IDIRECTIONS
You will learn
• to ask for directions, on foot and by bus and taxi
• to ask where things are situated
• to understand fairly simple directions
• to check that you've understood correctly

Study guide
Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases
Grammar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

UNIT 5 63
 Dialogues
n 1 Hind wants some help
Hind marHaba yaa 9amm.
Man marHabteen.
Hind mumkin tdillni kiif ba'dar awSalla 9ind il-mudarraj ir-ruumaani?
Man btinzili sirviis jabal 9amman ..
Hind mineen biddi aaxud is-sirviis?
Man min haada ... shaari9 il-muTraan.
Hind aywa.
Man btinzili 9ind jaami9 il-Huseen.
Hind aha.
Man btinzili amaant il-9aaSima il-qadiima ... ish-shaari9 duuz 9a sh-shmaal.

tdillni (9ala) you guide me [to]

ba'dar I can
awSal (Ia 9ind) I arrive [at]
mudarraj amphitheatre
ruumaani Roman
btinzili you (f.) go down
mineen (or min ween) from where
shaari9 U-muTraan Mutran Street
jaami9 [main] mosque
amaant U-9aaSima municipality building, town hall
qadiim old, former
9a sh-shmaal on the left

t yaa 9amm oh uncle. Hind uses this polite form of address to the man,
who, from his appearance, is old enough to be her uncle.
t mumkin tdillni kiifba'dar awsalla 9ind ... can you show me how I
can get to ... (lit. possible you show me how I can I get to ... ).The -ni
'me' is the object of the non-past verb tdill 'you show'. After ba'dar
'I can ... ', simply add another non-past verb of the same person without
the B-prefix: ba'dar awSal I can reach ... , byi'dar yuuSal ... he can
reach, bti'dar tuuSal you can reach ... etc.
• btinzili sirviis jabal 9amman you go down [by] the Jabal Amman
service taxi. Jabal Amman is one of seven jibaal (hills) surrounding
central Amman, several hundred feet above it. The sirviis is a cheap
public taxi plying from one fixed point to another. It is a very popular
mode of transportation in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
• mineen biddi ••• from where do I need to ...
btinzili 9ind jaami9 U-Huseen you get off at the Hussein Mosque. The
jaami9 is the main mosque in a city. The jaami9 U-Huseen is the main
mosque in Amman city centre.
• duuz straight ahead. An alternative, and commoner word with the same
meaning is dughri.

64 UNITS
 Practise what you have learned
1 In this exercise you will hear four questions. Show which answers they
fit by putting the letters of the appropriate questions in the boxes.
(Answers p.74) Note: ujra fare [taxi, bus, etc.].
1 laa mish mumkin, laazim tinzili min boon dughri u taaxdi
sirviis min nihaayit ish-shaari9. D
2 xud shmaalak min hoon u bitDall dughri. D
3 min shaari9 il-haashimi. D
4 xamsiin 'irsh. D
2 Here are some questions about directions. Underline the word in the
parentheses that will fit the blank in the question. (Answers p.74)
Remember: funduq hotel
(a) kiif __ awSalla funduq 9amra? [biti'dar, ba'dar, bi'dar]
(b) ween biddi __ Ia bank il-urdun? [anzil, tinzili, yinzil]
(c) ba'dar__ sirviis min hoon Ia 9ind jaami9 il-Huseen?
[taaxud, yaaxud, aaxud]

3 Your tum to speak. You want to get to the Husein mosque by service taxi,
so you have to ask where you can find a taxi and where to get off. The
first person you ask can't help because she doesn't know: she says mish
9aarfa (lit. not know, mish 9aarififit's a man speaking). Nadira will guide
you as usual; first as you go up to this woman, and then as you ask a man.

UNIT 5 65
 Dialogues
n 2 But where exactly is the Roman
amphitheatre?
Hind ya9ni s-sirviis lamma ywa' 'if ween biywa' 'it?
Man biywa' 'if 9ind jaami9 il-Huseen.
Hind biywa' 'if 9ind il-jaami9 u ba9deen aaxud shmaali ...
Man ooxdi shmaalik u bitDalli duuz, Taal9a la amaanat il-9aaSima.
Hind aDallni maashya dughri, bawSal 9ind amaanat il-9aaSima u il-
mudarraj 9ind il-amaana ...
Man u il-mudarraj 9ind il-amaana.
Hind shukran.
lamma (conj.) when
ywa' 'if [it] stops
ba9deen then
btDalli duuz you (f.) keep straight on
Taali9, (f.) Taal9a (la) coming out (at)
maashi, (f.) maashya going, walking
dughri straight ahead

ya9ni s-sirviis lamma ywa' 'if ween biywa' 'if? when the service taxi
stops, where does it stop?
• u ba9deen aaxud shmaali... and then I go left ... ? (lit. and then I take my
left ...?) The man confirms: ooxdi shmaalik tum left (lit. take your left). ooxdi
(or more commonly xudi) is the feminine command form 'take!' To a man you
would say xud.
• aDallni... I continue, carry on. Hind is confirming what the man has
told her.

The Roman Amphitheatre, Amman

66 UNITS
 Practice what you have learned
4 You'll hear three short conversations about service taxi routes. Fill in on the
table below what you can tell about the routes. Here's a list of names of
some areas, streets and buildings in Amman to help you.
(Answers p.74)
jabal il-joofa shaari9 zahraan bank il-urdun
jabal il-Huseen shaari9 il-haashimi funduq il-balaas
jabal it-taaj jaami9 il-Huseen
jabal 9ammaan il-mudarraj
Hayy zahraan
il-9abdali
marka 1-januubiyya

Service to: From? Stops at? Changes at?

(a) Marka 1-Janubiyya

(b) Jabal Hussein
(c) Amphitheatre

5 eishaara

D
• • D

x-Nadira
is here
H
• •ishaara
traffic lights

Listen to the two conversations. Nadira is asking directions. Which of the

letters on the map is the post office (maktab il-bariid)? And which marks
the Bank of Jordan (bank il-urdun)? Remember you don't need to
understand every word, only the gist. (Answers p. 7 4)
New word: ba9d after (and remember jamb next to).

6 Here's a chance to practise getting someone to clarify the directions he or

she gives you. Check that you remember how to ask people to speak more
slowly, and to say you don't understand. Notice also how Hind in Dialogue
2 checks that she has understood correctly using ya9ni 'that means, so ... ?
So now you're in downtown Amman and you want to find the way to the
tourist information office maktab il-isti91aamaat (lit. the office of
enquiries). You approach an elderly man and ask him if he speaks English.
Nadira will tell you what to say, then give you a model version. Remember
there's often more than one way to say the same thing, so if you have said
something different, it's not necessarily wrong.

UNITS 67
 Dialogues
n 3 Clive wants directions to the
University
Clive law samaHt il-ax, mumkin tdillni 9ala T-Tariiq la l-jaam9a
il-urduniyya?
Man biddak truuH min ... fii Tariiqeen boon bitwaddiik ... fii Tariiq
bitwaddi la l-jaam9a min id-duwwaar il-awwalla th-thaalith u
btiTla9 min 9ind jisir ... il-jisir taba9 il-muxaabaraat il-9aamma u
bitruuH ...
Tariiq (or Tarii') (m. or f.) road
jaam9a university
truuH (min) you go (via)
bitwaddi [it] takes [you] to, leads [you] to
awwal first
thaalith (more usually taalit) third
btiTia9 (min 9ind) [it] comes out (at)
jisir bridge, flyover
taba9 belonging to
U-muxaabaraat U-9aamma the General Intelligence [building]
9aamm general, public

• fii Tariiqeen boon bitwaddiik there are two roads here, which will take
you [there].
• U-Jisir taba9 U-muxaabaraat U-9aamma the General Intelligence
[building] flyover (i.e. the one right next to it). taba9 is basically used to
indicate ownership or close association with someone or something, e.g.
U-maT9am taba9 U-funduq the hotel restaurant [the restaurant
belonging to the hotel].

68 UNITS
 Practise what you have learned
7 A Jordanian friend is showing you round a town. Listen to his description
of what the buildings around you are, then mark the following statements
true or false. (Answers p.74) Note: 'uddaam in front of.
TIP
(a) You are in the centre of town.
(b) The Husein mosque is on your friend's left.
(c) The cinema is on his left.
(d) The Pasha Hotel is straight ahead.

8 Here are some words to do with finding your way inside a building. You
may remember some from the last Unit: Hammaam bathroom, toilet;
door floor.
Now listen to the three short conversations with the receptionist in a hotel.
What is being asked about in each case, and where is it? Select your answers
from the three lists below and fill in the blanks in the sentences with them.
(Answers p.74)
toilet first floor (i.e. ground floor in Jordan) on the right
secretary's office second floor on the left
manager's office third floor straight ahead
(a) The is on the floor

(b) The is on the floor

(c) The is on the floor

9 Your turn to speak. You've just arrived at a hotel, where you've booked a
room. Now you're talking to the receptionist. Greet her, tell her you want a
room, then answer her questions. When she tells you the room number, ask
her where it is and, finally, thank her. This time Nadira will not give you a
prompt in English, but after you've paused the recording to make your
contribution, you will be given a model version.

UNITS 69
 Dialogues

n 4 There's an alternative
Man min il-balad btiTla9 9ala l-9abdali u min hunaak ... btintiqil ...
mumkin truuH fi 1-baaS aw bi t-taksi Ia l-jaam9a aw -
Clive is-sirviis ya9ni.
Man ah, is-sirviis mumkin ... aw min wasT il-balad mumkin truuH fi
1-baaS taba9 il- ... mu'assasit in-naql il-9aamm.
il-balad city centre, downtown [here]
hunaak (or hnaak) there
btintiqil you (m.) change [buses, trains, etc.]
baaS bus
taksi taxi [private]
wasT middle, centre
mu'assasit in-naql il-9aamm Public Transportation Company

t min il-balad btiTla9 9ala l-9abdali... from the city centre you go up
to Abdali ... 9abdali is a suburb situated above central Amman, about two
miles from it. There is a large bus and service taxi station there.
t btintiqil you change. The B-prefix is followed by the ti-prefix, signifying
the masculine 'you' form. So 'I change' is bantiqil, 'he changes' is
byintiqil, 'they change' is byintiqlu, etc.
t il-baaS taba9 mu'assasit in-naql il-9aamm the Public
Transportation Company bus (lit. the bus belonging company the
transportation the public). Note again the construction with taba9 the
bus belonging to ... The word mu'assasa 'establishment, institute or (here)
company' has the feminine ending -a. When it forms the first element in
phrases like 'the company of the transportation', as here, this -a changes
to -it. See Grammar, this Unit.

70 UNITS
 Practise what you have learned
10 Here are some questions you might want to ask if you want to go
somewhere by bus. Can you work out how to ask them in Arabic? 'The bus-
stop' is maHaTfit it-baaS and 'the number of the bus' is raqam it-baaS.
To ask a question beginning with a word like shu 'what', ween 'where',
eemta 'when', leesh 'why', you put the verb after the question word. For
example, shu byishrab maHmuud? what will Mahmoud drink? Check
your answers on page 7 4.

(a) Can I get there by bus?

(b) Where's the bus stop for the Husein Mosque?
(c) Where do I get off for the Bank of Jordan?
(d) What's the number of the bus to al-Abdali? (Note: baaS x the bus to x)
(e) How much is the fare from here to lrbid?
(t) Does the bus go from here?
(g) Where does the bus go to?
(h) When is the first bus downtown?

11 You ask a woman at a bus-stop how to get downtown. Nadira will prompt
you as usual.

UNIT 5 71
 Key words and phrases
To learn mineen baaxud sirviis ••• ? Where can I get the service taxi to .. ?
kiifba'dar awSalla 9ind ... ? How can I get to ... ?
mumkin tdillni 9ala ... ? Can you direct me to ... ?
(wasT) il-balad the city centre, downtown
maHaTTit il-baaS the bus station/stop
il-Hammaam the bathroom/toilet
wa' 'af7ywa' 'if to stop
nizil/yinzil to get off [a bus, etc.]; go down
Tili91yi11a9 (9ala) to go up, go out, set out [for]
raaWyruuH (9ala) to go [to]
ajalyiiji (9ala) to come [to]
ba9deen afterwards
'uddaam in front of
eemta when?
hunaak there
ba9d after
9a sh-shmaal on the left
9al-yamiin on the right
dughri straight ahead
taalit third
bil-baaS by bus
ujra fare
funduq (pl) fanaadiq hotel

To understand xud(i) shmaalak/yamiinak take your left/right

bitDall dughri go straight ahead
nafs ish-shaari9 the same street
raaWyruuH mashi to go on foot, walk
maktab il-bariid post office
mish 9aarif(a) I don't know

72 UNITS
 Grammar
The 'construct' In Arabic maktab il-mudiir is 'the manager's office', literally 'office the
manager', and mat9am il-funduq is 'the hotel restaurant'. This kind of
phrase is called a 'construct' and it has several peculiarities you need to be
aware of.
(a) When the first word is feminine and ends in -a, this -a is replaced by
-(i)t, e.g. nihaayit il mamarr 'the end of the corridor'.
(b) Nothing may be put between the two parts of a construct, except
haada 'this' and other words meaning 'that', 'these', 'those', e.g
nihaayit haada 1-mamarr the end of this corridor. If you want to
say something more about the first word in the construct, the
adjective is placed after the whole construct and agrees in gender with
the first word. For example, sayyaart il-mudiir il-kbiira, is 'the
manager's big car', literally 'car [of] the manager the big' where kbiira
'big' is feminine to agree with the feminine noun sayyaara 'car'.
(c) The first word in a construct phrase can never take -il, but is always
translatable with 'the' in English. maktab il-mudiir is 'the office of
the manager', while maktab mudiir is 'the office of a manager', or 'a
manager's office'.

12 You may like to go back over this Unit and the previous ones and find
examples of constructs in them. To check them see p.74

13 Translate into Arabic. (Answers p.74)

(a) the hotel's name (b) the address of a hotel
(c) the manager's secretary (d) on the left of the bank
(e) Ahmed's room (f) Hind's daughter

Ordinal numbers Except for awwal 'first' which we have already met, ordinal numbers 2- 10
are formed with the vowel pattern -aa-i-, like taalit third, saadis sixth:
taani second saabi9 seventh
taalit third taamin eighth
raabi9 fourth taasi9 ninth
xaam.is fifth 9aashir tenth
saadis sixth

These ordinal numbers are used exactly like other adjectives: ish-shaari9
it-taalit the third street, is-sayyaara r-raab9a the fourth car. The
ordinals over 10 are the same as cardinal (i.e. ordinary) numbers: id-door
il-iHda9sh the eleventh floor, il-yoom il-arba9iin the fortieth day.

Note that, if you wish, the ordinal numbers from 1 to 10 may be placed
before the noun they qualify, e.g. taalit sayyaara the third car, awwal
marra the first time. This is especially common in giving directions e.g.
xud taani shaari9 9a sh-shmaal take the second street on the left.

UNITS 73
 Your turn to speak
Open-ended speaking exercise
14 You want to go to the cinema and have just been told you must go by bus.
Think up five questions you might want to ask for clarification, e.g. where
to get the bus from, what number it is, etc. Compare your questions with
Nadira's.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 1: (d) 2: (a) 3: (c) 4: (b)
have learned
Exercise 2 (a) ba'dar (b) anzil (c) aaxud
Exercise 4 (a) stops at the Palace Hotel (b) from Zahran St., stops at
il-Abdali (c) from Jabal Taj, change at Jabal Amman
Exercise 5 The Post Office is 'F', the bank of Jordan is 'B'
Exercise 7 (a) T (b) F (c) T (d) F
Exercise 8 (a) The manager's office is on the 2nd floor on the right.
(b) The secretary's office is on the 1st floor straight ahead.
(c) The toilet is on the ground floor on the left.
Exercise 10 (a) mumkin awSalla hunaak bil-baaS?
(b) ween maHaTTit il-baaS Ia jaami9 il-Huseen?
(c) ween banzilla bank il-urdan?
(d) shu raqm baaS il-9abdalii?
(e) 'addeesh il-ujra min hoon Ia irbid?
(f) il-baaS biyiTla9 min hoon?
(g) ween biyruuH il-baaS?
(h) eemta awwal baaS lil-balad?

Grammar Exercise 12 Some examples from Unit 5 dialogues:

sirviis jabal9ammaan (Jabal Amman Service Taxi)
shaari9 il-muTraan (Mutran St.)
jaami9 il-Huseen (The Hussein Mosque)
amaant il-9aaSima 1-qadiima (The old City Hall)
wasT il-balad (city centre)
mu'assasit in-naql il-9aamm (Public Transport
Establishment)
Exercise 13 (a) ism il-funduq (b) 9unwaan il-funduq (c) sikriteerit
il-mudiir (d) 9a shmaal il-bank (e) ghurfit aHmad (f) bint
hind

Writing Exercise 15 (a) yaa (b) abu (c) binti (d) tiin (e) banaat (f) ana wa
anta (g) lubnaan

74 UNITS
 Did you know?
Finding your The layout of many Arab cities follows a pattern significantly different from
that which is normal in the west. In the oldest Arab cities like Cairo,
way about Damascus and Jerusalem, and to some extent more modem cities like
Amman, the central market areas tend to be divided according to the trades
carried on there. There are separate, clearly defined streets and areas of
markets for the selling of meat, vegetables, spices, clothes, etc. Although
western-style supermarket shopping is becoming more common, especially
in the newly developed outer suburbs, the medieval pattern still persists in
the heart of the oldest cities.

Finding your way around an Arab city can be problematic at first. In

Amman, for example, although all the streets bear names which appear on
plaques, and are used on official correspondence, in the telephone book, on
maps, etc., these names themselves are recent innovations. Many residents
still refer to streets by their old names, which often derive from some well-
known landmark found there. Thus, what on the map appears as shaari9
abu bakr as-siddiiq 'Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Street' is universally known by its
old name of shaari9 reenbo 'Rainbow Street', after the Rainbow Theatre,
now closed, which is found there. So, if you want to go to the British
Council, ask the taxi driver to take you to shaari9 reenbo. shaari9 il-
muTraan, a street in Jabal Amman referred to by one of the speakers in
Dialogue 1 of this Unit, appears on the map as shaari9 9umar ibn al-
xaTTaab. (See the map on page 71.)

Many local people, as can be heard in the dialogues in this Unit, typically
describe locations by reference to well-known landmarks rather than street
names, official or otherwise. Mosques, palaces and public utilities are
typical points of orientation. Here are some common ones:
jaami9 X the mosque of X. jaami9 ia a large mosque (as opposed to
masjid, a small one). An example is jaami9 il-Huseen in central Amman.
kaniisa church. For example, il-kaniisa il-urthuduksiyya the [Greek]
Orthodox church, il-kaniisa il-qubTiyya the Coptic church.
duwwaar circle/roundabout, e.g. duwwaar id-daaxiliyya Ministry of the
Interior roundabout. In Amman, traffic roundabouts are among the
commonest points of orientation. You might, for example, hear ween
saakin? where do you live? and the answer 'ariib min id-duwwaar is-
saabi9 near the Seventh Circle.
jisir bridge, flyover. For example, jisir il-muxaabaraat il-9aamma the
flyover next to the General Intelligence building.
bariid post office, e.g. bariid jabal il-luweebda Jabal Lweibdah Post
Office.
suuq or suu' market, e.g. suu' il-xuDra the vegetable market. A
supermarket is suubarmarkit, e.g. suubarmarkit reenbo Rainbow
Supermarket.
mustashfa hospital. For example, mustashfa malHas the Malhas
Hospital.
amaana or baladiyya municipality, e.g. amaant il-9aaSima
Municipality of the Capital.
qaSr or 'aSr palace, e.g. qaSr zahraan Zahran Palace.

UNIT 5 75
 Writing
The letter J , called waaw, sounds like an English 'w'. It never joins up to
any letter which follows it, but if it is preceded by a letter which joins to a
,.
following letter, like ~, it joins onto that letter. Thus:

L-: I
~J
uutiil hotel
Here waaw is preceded by an alifwhich, of course, never joins onto a
following letter, so waaw stands on its own. But here:

tawaaliit toilet
waaw is preceded by ~ which joins onto the following waaw.

As well as serving as the consonant equivalent to the English 'w', waaw is

also written to lengthen a short 'u'. Thus bu, with the short vowel, looks
like this: ,.
ft...)

and with the vowel lengthened to buu, like this:

Our second letter in this unit is ~ , called in Arabic nuun. It is identical

in sound with English 'n'. It joins on to both preceding and following letters,
where these allow. At the beginning and in the middle of a word, it has the
same shape as '":'"' , o.:;.J , and ~ , except that nuun has a single dot
written above it.:

..::,.,W• nabaat plant

.
0

~ bint girl

At the end of a word it is more rounded than baa and taa:

0
• bayn between
~
It has a similar shape when written on its own:

~ C
... bayaan announcement

15 Read aloud the following words, which have been vowelled. Check your
answers (p. 7 4). Then practise writing the same words, but this time leave
out the vowels.

(a) 4 (b) .,
.J'! (c) ._r.
(d)~ (e) ~li.; <t) ~1,; u1
(g)~~

76 UNITS
 IHME
You will learn
• how to ask about the time
• how to tell the time
• how to ask about and understand working hours
• how to ask and understand when shops, stores and banks open
and close
• how to ask about the weekend
• some time expressions
• the days of the week

Study guide
Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases
Grammar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

UNIT6 77
 Dialogues
n 1 U7hat time is it?
Clive law samaHt, 'addeesh is saa9a?
Man is-saa9a tis9a u xamsa.

Woman is-saa9a xamsa u nuSS.

Clive shukran
Woman ahleen.

Man tinteen ilia rubu9.

Clive tinteen ilia rubu9?
Man na9am.
Clive shukran.
Man 9afwan.

saa9a hour, the time, clock, watch

tis9a u xamsa five past nine (lit. nine and five)
xamsa u nuSS half past five (lit. five and a halt)
tinteen ilia rubu9 quarter to two (lit. two except a quarter)

• When telling the time in Arabic, you use u (lit. and) for 'past' and ilia
(lit. except) for 'to'. tult 'one third' is used for 20 minutes. Thus tis9a ilia
tult is 8.40 (lit. nine except twenty). 9.25 is tis9a u nuSS ilia xamsa
(lit. nine and half except five), while 9.35 is tis9a u nuSS u xamsa (lit.
nine and half and five).

78 UNIT6
 Practise what you have learned
1 Here are four people asking about the times of different things. Listen
to the tape and mark the times they mention. (Answers p.87)

. 1'· . 6)'.
(a) 'addeesh is-saa9a? what time is it?

@G) - -
'

.
' '
..
.
'

~
~ '
,

..

(b) eemta maw9id il-baaS? when is the bus due?

(c) eemta 1-ffuur? when is breakfast?

' . w·
(d) eemta maw9id iT-Tayyaara? when is the plane due?

(!JQ) 'j ' ~ P. ~

0 '
- -
...

, I
-
Q

2 Nadira wants to know Lana's timetable for the day. listen and mark off the
times that Lana mentions. (Answers p.87)

3 Your tum to speak. Look at the clocks below and give the times. listen to
the recording to check your answers.

G G 8
'addeesh is-saa9a 'addeesh iJ..saa9a 'addeesh is-saa9a 'addeesh is-saa9a 'addeesh is-saa9a

Q) 6)
(a)
'
(b)
'
.

(c)
'

(d)
'

(e)
'
'

'addeesh is-saa9a 'addeesh is-saa9a 'addeesh is-saa9a 'addeesh is-saa9a 'addeesh is-saa9a

(f) (g) (h) (i) (j)

UNIT6 79
 Dialogues
n 2 Clive wants to know the working
hours of a company he's visiting
Man wallah waqt id-dawaam fi sh-sharika 9indna min is-saa9a tamaanya
iS-SubuH la s-saa9a tinteen.
Clive ah.
Man u fii iyyaam biykuun fiiha d-dawaam min is-saa9a tamaanya la
s-saa9a arba9a ... haadha waqt id-dawaam.
Clive fi ayy yoom ya9ni?
Man yoom il-arba9a
wallah by God (mild oath, same meaning as wallaahi)
waqt id-dawaam working day, working hours
iS-SubuH [in] the morning
ayy which
yoom il-arba9a Wednesday

• is-saa9a tinteen two o'clock (lit. the hour two). tinteen is the feminine
form of itneen. It is feminine because saa9a is feminine.
fii iyyaam biykuun fiiha d-dawaam min ... there are days when the
working day is from ... (lit. there [are] days [which there] is in them working
hours from ... ). biykuun is the non-past tense of the verb kaanlykuun 'to be'
with the B-prefix.
• fi ayy yoom ya9ni? on which day do you mean? ayy is used when asking
about a particular one of a group or class. For example, ayy sayyaara? which

n
car? fi ayy ghurfa? in which room?

3 And what about the weekend?

Man yoom il-jum9a biykuun 9indna 9uTul.
Clive 9uTul.
Man maa fii dawaam ... dawaamna biykuun min is-sabt Ia 1-xamiis .. . il-
xamiis biykuun 9indna nuSS in-nhaar.
Clive nuSS in-nhaar.
Man nuSS in-nhaar ya9ni la s-saa9a waRda ... binD Hall fi sh-shughul,
na9am.
Clive zeen, mashkuur.
Man il-9afu, ahlan wa sahlan.
yoom il jum9a Friday
9uTul day off, time off, holiday
is-sabt (or yoom is-sabt) Saturday
y~..r.JI~I
il-xarniis (or yoom il-xarniis) Thursday ~.,YIJ~
nuSS in-nhaar half-day ~~
binDHall we stay, remain
shughul work, occupation, business
\f. T· A · I'· • ,-'l.lt~!ijt
-
zeen good, OK (=kwayyis)
mashkuur thank you (= shukran)
il-9afu don't mention it (= 9afwan)

80 UNIT6
 Practise what you have learned
4 Widaad is asking a storekeeper about opening and closing hours. Listen and
mark off the correct answers. (Answers p.87)
New words: fataWyiftaH to open, sakkar/ysakkir to close, Duhur noon,
ba9d iD-Duhur afternoon, masa evening.
1 What time does the store 2 What time does the store
open in the morning? close for lunch?
(a) sab9a (a) is-saa9a itna9sh u nuSS
(b) tis9a (b) is-saa9a tinteen
(c) tamaanya (c) is-saa9a waHda
3 What time does the store 4 What time does the store
re-open in the afternoon? close in the evening?
(a) is-saa9a talaata (a) is-saa9a sitta
(b) is-saa9a arba9a (b) is-saa9a xamsa
(c) is-saa9a talaata u nuSS (c) is-saa9a sab9a

5 Listen to Jane trying to learn the days of the week. Repeat them after her.
For help, refer to Key words and phrases in this Unit.

6 Your turn to speak. Someone is asking about your working hours at the
bank. Nadira will prompt you.

7 Nahid has applied for a job as a secretary. Her boss is telling her about the
company's working hours. Listen and decide which sentences are true and
which are false. (Answers p.87)
T/F
Nahid has to work from Monday to Saturday from 8.00 a.m to
(a)
2.00 p.m. only.
(b) Nahid has to work on Thursday from 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
(c) Nahid has to work from Monday to Saturday from 8.00 a.m to
2.00 p.m. and from 3.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
(d) Nahid has to work from Saturday to Wednesday from 8.00 a.m
to 2.00 p.m. and from 3.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
_ _ (e) Nahid has the whole day off on Friday.

8 Your turn to speak. In this exercise you are going to practise the days of the
week. Nadira will ask you the question in English and you will give the
answer in Arabic. Then listen to the correct answer.

UNIT6 81
 Dialogues
4 Clive asks Abdullah how long he has
been doing his present job
Clive mumkin il-ax as'alak Saar lak kam ya9ni hoon fi 1-British Council?
Abdallah Saar Iii ana xams sanawaat ilia xams iyyaam.
Clive ilia xams iyyaam.
Abdallah na9am ... ana min sab9a arb9a 1-arba9a u thamaaniin la ithneen
arba9a tis9a u thamaaniin- xams sanawaat ilia xams iyyaam.
as'al I ask (a question)
sana, (pl. sanawaat) year

t mumkin il-ax as'alak •.. may I ask you, my friend ... (lit. possible the
brother I ask you ... )
t Saar lak kam .•. how long have you been ... ? (lit. became to you how
much ... ?)
xams sanawaat ilia xams iyyaam five years all but five days (lit. five
years except five days). xams iyyaam is quite formal. It is more
colloquial to say xams tiyyaam.
min sab9a arba9a l-arba9a u thamaaniin Ia ithneen arba9a tis9a u
thamaaniin from 7.4. in '84 to 2.4.89. Note that this speaker says
thamaaniin and ithneen rather than tamaaniin and itneen, because he
is being more 'correct' (i.e. more like written Arabic).

82 UNIT6
 Practise what you have learned
9 Basima and Najwa haven't seen each other for quite a while, and they are
catching up on each other's news. Listen and, in English, arrange the
information into two columns -in column one the information about
Basima, and in column two the information about Najwa.
(Answers p.87)
New words: it-bank il-9arabi the Arab Bank, bashtaghil I work.

Basima Najwa

lives in:

works in:

name of employer:

period of employment:

10 Listen to three people talking about their jobs. Try to note down, in
English, the answers to the following questions. (Answers p.87)
(a) 'addeesh iluh samiir fi shughluh?
(b) shu awqaat dawaam hind?
(c) eemta 9uTlit samiir?
(d) eemta 9uTlit hind?

11 Your tum to speak. You meet an old acquaintance. He wants to know

where you are these days and what you're doing. Respond to his questions.
Nadira will prompt you.

UNIT6 83
 Key words and phrases
To learn 'addeesh is-saa9a? what time is it?
is-saa9a ... it's o o'clock
00

is-saa9a ..• u ••• it's past

000 000

is-saa9a ••. ilia ••• it's

000 to000

nuSS half
rubu9 quarter
tult third (20 minutes)
il-aHad Sunday
it-tneen Monday
it-talaata Tuesday
il-arba9a Wednesday
il-xamiis Thursday
il-jum9a Friday
is-sabt Saturday
9uTlit il-usbuu9 weekend
usbuu9 (pi) asaabii9 week
shahar (pi) ashhur month
iS-SubuH (in) the morning
il-masa (in) the evening
ba9d iD-Duhur in the afternoon
shughul job, work
sana (pi) sanawaat year
ayy which ooo?
waqt (or wa't) time (as in maa 9indi wa't I don't
have time)

To understand (awqaat) id-dawaam working hours

nuSS in-nhaar half-day

84 UNIT6
 Grammar
The plural In Unit 2 we met the 'dual', which involved adding -een to the end of a
word to make two of it e.g. walad (one) boy, waladeen two boys. Arabic
plurals - that is, three or more of something - are of two kinds, called
'sound' and 'broken'. Nouns which take the sound plural simply add an
ending to the singular, either -iin or -aat.

Plurals in -iin (or -yyiin after nouns ending in -i)

These are typically used for male human beings, professions and mixed
male/female groups.
singular plural
m.udarris m.udarrisiin teachers
m.uhandis -----1~ m.uhandisiin engineers
urduni urduniyyiin Jordanians (people)
lubnaani lubnaaniyyiin Lebanese (people)

Plurals in -aat
These are used for female human beings, for feminine nouns (those ending
in -a) and for foreign words imported into Arabic. In the case of feminine
nouns, the -aat is added after removing the feminine ending -a from the
singular.
singular plural
m.udarrisa ------~ m.udarrisaat female teachers
saa9a ------~ saa9aat hours
ziyaara _______,. ziyaaraat visits
utiil ------~ utiilaat hotels
baaS -----1~ baaSaat buses

UNIT6 85
Grammar
'Broken' plurals
The 'broken' plural is by far the most frequently used method of forming
the plural in Arabic. It is formed by taking the consonants of the singular
noun and changing the vowel pattern, sometimes doubling one of the
consonants or adding another consonant. There are a number of common
broken plural patterns in spoken Arabic. It is a good idea to learn the plural
of a word along with its singular. Here are some examples of common
patterns. 'C' stands for consonant.
(a) singular pattern CaCaC, CiCC or CaCC; plural pattern iCCaaC or
aCCaaC
singular plural
walad iwlaad boys
'alam i'laam pens
si9r as9aar prices
shaxS ashxaaS persons

(b) singular pattern CaCiiC or CuCiiC; plural pattern CuCaCa

singular plural
ra'iis ru'asa president
mudiir mudara boss
waziir wuzara [government] minister

(c) singular pattern CaaCiC; plural pattern CuCCaaC

singular plural
saakin ----------~ sukkaan inhabitant
9aamil 9ummaal worker, labourer
zaayir zuwwaar visitor
Note the change from y tow in the last example here.

Some more common broken plural patterns are dealt with in Unit 7.

86 UNIT6
 Your tum to speak
12 You are visiting a company in Jordan. Introduce yourself to the receptionist
and ask to arrange a day and a time to see the director of the company.
Then listen to a possible version of what you might say.
Remember: sharika company.

13 You have a visitor who would like to know about your working hours. Ask
him some questions - his name, where he comes from, if he would like to
drink anything. Listen to his responses and answer his questions. Then
listen to a possible version on the recording.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 (a) 7.30 (b) 11.45 (c) 7.00 (d) 10.35
have learned
Exercise 2 7.10; 8.00; 9.00; 2.00; 6.20
Exercise 4 1: (c) 2: (c) 3: (a) 4: (c)
Exercise 7 (a) F (b) T (c) F (d) T (e) T
Exercise 9 Basima Najwa
lives in: Amman Zar'a
works in: Amman Amman
employer: The Arab Bank Phillips
period of employment: 3 years 2 years
Exercise 10 (a) 6 years (b) 7.30-3.00 (c) Friday (d) Friday and

Did you know? It's May 1989 in the Christian calendar

It's Ramadan and Shawwal, 1409 in the Muslim one.

Writing Exercise 14 (a) bayruut (Beirut) (b) al-yaabaan Gapan)

(c) liibyaa (Libya) (d) almaanya (Germany)
(e) waziir (minister) (f) al-yaman (Yemen)
(g) taimz ([The] Times) (h) yuulyuu Guly)
(i) zaytuun (olives, as in jabal az-zaytuun, Mount of Olives)
(j) abriil (April) (k) zamaan (time)
(I) yuunyuu Gune)

UNIT6 87
 Did you know?
The calendar Although the western solar calendar is now used throughout the Arab world
in business and most areas of daily life, the Muslim lunar calendar is still
used in some countries alongside the western one (most widely in Saudi
Arabia and the Gulf States). In all Arab (indeed all Islamic) countries,
however, the Muslim calendar is used for religious purposes.

Nowadays, the most commonly used Arabic names for the months in
western calendar are simply transliterations of their English equivalents:
yanaayir January yuulyuu July
fabraayir February aghustus August
maars March sabtambar September
abrill April uktuubar October
maayuu May nuufambar November
yuunyuu June diisambar December

However, there is an older set of names which is still much used in the
former territories of the Ottoman Empire:
kaanuun ith-thaani January tammuuz July
shubaaT February aab August
aadhaar March ayluul September
niisaan April tishriin il-awwal October
ayaar May tishriin ith-thaani November
Haziiraan June kaanuun il-awwal December

The months of the Muslim calendar are 29 or 30 days long (depending on

the sighting of the moon) and are named as follows:
muHarram rajah
Safar sha9baan
rabii9 il-awwal ramaDaan (the fasting month)
rabii9 ith-thaani shawwaal
jumaada 1-awwal dhu 1-qa9da
jumaada th-thaani dhu 1-Hijja (the month of the pilgrimage to Mecca)

Since the lunar year is about ten days shorter than the solar year, fixed
Muslim religious festivals occur about ten days earlier each year, as
measured by the solar calendar. So, for example, if in a particular year the
'Eid al-Fitr' (fast-breaking at the end of Ramadan) coincides with
Christmas Day (as it more or less did in 1968) it will occur 10 days earlier
the following year and so on until it once more coincides with Christmas
about 35 years later.

The Muslim era began with the flight of the Prophet Muhammad from
Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D. This 'flight' is known in Arabic as the hijra,
and Muslim dates normally appear followed by ...A i.e. hijri (after the
flight). Christian dates are followed by r standing for miilaadi (after the
birth). Study the Muslim/Christian calendar on p.89 and see whether you
can discover which month of which solar year it is for. Which Muslim year
is it? (Answer p.87)

Ramadan
Major Muslim During Ramadan Muslims may not eat, drink or have sexual relations
between first light and sundown. Ramadan is a particularly 'holy' period
religious festivals when much time is devoted to prayer and the reading of the Qur'an.
Ministries and most businesses work short hours and restaurants close
during daylight hours.

88 UNIT6
 Did you know?
At the end of Ramadan comes the feast of'Eid al-Fitr' (Arabic 9iid al-fiTr)
when the all-day fast is broken. The spotting of the new moon signals the
beginning of the month of Shawwal and the start of a three- or four-day
holiday when no expense is spared on lavish food and presents for the
children. The standard greeting between Muslims and non-Muslims alike is
9iid mubaarak 'blessed Eid' often with the additional phrase kul 9aam wa
antum bi xeer 'may you continue to be well with every passing year'.

The Hajj
The Hajj (Arabic il-Hajj), or pilgrimage to Mecca, is a duty which every
Muslim who can afford it is obliged to perform at least once in his or her
lifetime. The Hajj involves a number of rituals over a period of about ten
days, the most notable of which is the circumambulation of the ka9ba
(a cube-shaped building) in the Grand Mosque at Mecca. At the end of the
rituals, the pilgrims (and indeed all Muslims whether they have made the
pilgrimage or not) slaughter a sheep or goat for their family's consumption.
This is called the 'Eid al-Adha' (9iid il-'aDHa) or 'Feast of the Sacrifice'.
As at the end of Ramadan, there is a three- or four-day holiday of feasting
and family visiting.

'0 .,.. ,,.

,, ·n)
'I' 'I' A '(' ) ....::::._.;.,;, w
'I'T 1 'I' A-> ill Til. .,., It v
Tt w '. or
,.,TO ~~/ T1
,.. "'.,.,." '0 A I
,.
'1'0
'11"' IT" t
,., '1

'. ,.
1
.;/:-JJ...:;...II

T1
,,. ,
0 w .s~A!t n
,.0
w
"'.,. ·' ,,.. v
Til.
.,.1
~I
~I .,., '11"' ",.,. t
0

UNIT6 89
 Writing
In this unit we will learn three more letters. The first is called miiin and

r
sounds like an English 'm'. Written on its own, it looks like this:

as in the word r.J! (in spoken Arabic yoom)

meaning 'day' At the beginning or in the middle of the word, miiin loses
its tail and always joins on to the letter which follows:

Jl~
.J!
maayuu [the month of] May

miimiiMimi
We can deal with the next two letters together, as they differ only in the
presence or absence of a dot. They are raa which is like a rolled 'r' and
looks like this:
.)

and zaa which sounds like a 'z' and has the same shape as raa except that
it has a dot above it:
.)

These two letters never join onto a following letter but are joined to a
preceding one if it allows. Thus, at the beginning of a word:
0,

~J~ ~j
ruumaaRome zayt oil
and joined to a preceding letter:

.;l
.-
~~.)
tamr [edible] date ramziRamzy

14 Read the following. (Answers p.87)

..
,o,
(a) tt:.Jj
~
(b) ~LlJI
w
o, 0

(c) .....- (d) ~U.I

(e) .r..jJ (f) ~I
,o ,
~--
(g) {(~t;,, (h) _,;J~
(i) ~~j
'o'
(j) J-;.1
.11: .II
·~~
iJ .)
(k) (I) .J:'Jt!

90 UNIT6
 ISHOPPING (part 1)
You will learn
e to ask for what you want at various shops and stores
e to talk about quantities of things you want
e to understand a storekeeper's questions
e to ask about the price of articles

Study guide
I Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases
Grammar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

UNIT7 91
 Dialogues
n 1 At the hotel giftshop, Clive is looking
for a guide to Jordan and one or two
other things
Clive SabaaH il-xeer.
Assistant ahleen, SabaaH il-xeer.
Clive law samaHt, 9indkum daliil il-urdun?
Assistant ah, na9am, mawjuud.
Clive ah ... 'addeesh si9ruh?
Assistant sab9a danaaniir.
Clive zeen ... u xarTit 9ammaan kamaan?
Assistant mawjuud.
Clive ha ... kam haada?
Assistant dinaareen.
Clive u bitbii9u Tawaabi9?
Assistant na9am.
Clive 9aTni itneen bi xamsiin fils min faDlak.
Assistant Haadir, tfaDDal.
SabaaH il-xeer good morning
daliil guide, directory
dinaar, (pi) danaaniir Dinar (unit of currency)
xarTa map
zeen OK, fine (alternative to kwayyis or mniiH)
kamaan as well, also, more
bitbii9u you (pl.) sell
Taabi9, (pi) Tawaabi9 postage stamp
9aTni (or a9Tiini) give (m.) me
fils Fils (unit of currency)
min faDlak please (to a man)
min faDlik please (to a woman)
HaaDir certainly (reply to a request or command)

92 UNIT7
 Practise what you have teamed
1 John wants to try reading an Arabic newspaper- jariida (pi jaraayid)
9arabiyya - and asks for one in a store. Later the storekeeper asks him if
he wants anything else - shii taani? (lit. another thing?). Here's the
conversation between John and the storekeeper. Selectphrases from the
box below the conversation to fill the blanks. Check your answers by
listening to the recording. Note: ir-ra'y is the name of a newspaper.
John SabaaH il-xeer.
Storekeeper
John ______ jariida 9arabiyya kwaysa - - - - - -
Storekeeper biddak urduniyya ______ suuriyya?
John urduniyya, ______
Storekeeper ______ ir-ra'y, kwaysa jiddan.
John ______ ?
Storekeeper ______ talaatiin - - - - - -
John kwayyis, ______
Storekeeper shii taani?
John shukran ilak.

iza mumkin, baaxudha, shu fii 9indak?, SabaaH il-xeer,

'irsh, fii, willa, 'addeesh si9rha?, biddi, xamsa u

2 In this exercise you will hear Fadya doing some shopping. Here is a list of
some things she buys and some things she doesn't. Mark (,/) the items she
buys and put a cross (K) against those unavailable or which she doesn't ask
for. Write the quantities in. (Answers p.l02)

,/or )C quantity
cigarettes
Coca Cola
newspapers
packets of tea
packets of biscuits
chocolate

Fadya begins with the greeting masa 1-xeer 'good afternoon, evening', used
after about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Note also how she uses 'addeesh il-
Hisaab 'what's the bill' to ask how much the items she's buying come to
altogether.

3 Your turn to speak. You go into a shop in the late afternoon and ask the
assistant if they have English newspapers. You want The Times and a packet
of biscuits (biskoot). Nadira won't prompt you this time, but all you need
to do is reply appropriately to the store assistant and ask at the end how
much the items come to. After you've spoken each time, you'll hear a
version of the same thing - if it's a bit different from yours, that doesn't
necessarily mean that yours is wrong.

UNIT7 93
 Dialogues
n 2 Munir needs some colour film
Munir wallaahi law samaHt biddi as'al - fii 9indkum aflaam? filim sitta u
talaatiin Suura?
Assistant na9am.
Munir u mulawwan?
Assistant mulawwan, na9am.
Munir iza mumkin biddi filim.
Assistant HaaDir.
filim, (pi) aflaam film
Suura, (pi) Suwar picture, photograph
mulawwan colour (film)

fi1im sitta u talaatiin Suura a film with thirty-six exposures

94 UNIT7
 Practise what you have learned
4 Here are some things you might find yourself wanting to say in connection
with shopping. Fill in the missing non-past verbs, with or without bi-, to
give the meaning of the English translation. (Answers p.102)
(a) ween Tawaabi9? where do they sell stamps?
(b) ayy jaraayid ? which newspapers do you sell?
(c) mit 'asfiin, maa sorry, we don't speak Arabic
9arabi kwayyis. very well.
(d) biddna il-jaraayid. we'd like to see the papers.
(e) jariidit it-taimz, we'll have The Times, please.
izamumkin.

5 On the tape you will hear Mohamed talking to a man in the street. Mark off
the version of the sentences below that correctly describes their
conversation. (Answers p.l 02)

1 Mohamed wants to know where he can ask about

(a) cinema hours.
(b) bus times.
(c) taxis to Irbid.

2 The man directs him to

(a) the bus station.
(b) the hotel reception.
(c) the tourist office.

3 Malik Abdallah Street is

(a) the second street on the right.
(b) at the end of the third street on the right.
(c) at the end of the second street on the right.

4 Mohamed asks if
(a) they sell guides and maps to Jordan.
(b) he can look at a map of Jordan there.
(c) they sell bus tickets there.

6 Your tum to speak. Here's some practice at saying amounts of Jordanian

money. You need to read the Did you know? section first. You will also need
to look at the numbers from 100 to 1000 in the Key words and phrases
section. Here's an example: talaat talaafu arba9miyya u xamsa u
sittiin dulaar $3,465. Now look again how Clive asks for two 50 fils
stamps. (In fact it is more common to hear xamas 'uruush for this
amount.) Here are some amounts for you to practise, as if you're asking for
stamps. First work out how to say them, then say them, and check with the
recording, line by line.
(1) 1 x 0.10JD + 2 x 0.20JD
(2) 1 x 0.500JD + 3 x 0.250JD
(3) 1 X 1JD + 1 X 0.15JD
(4) 4 X 0.38JD

UNIT7 95
 Dialogues
3 Munir needs some black and white film
Munir ba9deen ... u ba9deen biddi kamaan filim arba9a u 9ishriin Suura
abyaD u aswad.
Assistant HaaDir.
Munir mawjuud kamaan, law ... ? iza mumkin shu as9aarhum matalan?
Assistant as9aarhum dinaareen u xamsa u talaatiin il-9aadi-
Munir il-abyaD u il-aswad?
Assistant il-abyaD u il-aswad dinaareen u nuSS u il-9aadi dinaareen u xamsa
u tamaaniin.
Munir Tayyib shukran.
ba9deen and then
kamaan as well
abyaD white
aswad black
matalan for example

• mawjuud kamaan law ... do you have that as well, or ... ? (lit. existing
as well, or ... )
• dinaareen u xamsa u talaatiin 2 Dinars 35. The official units of
currency in Jordan are the Dinar and the Fils (1,000 to the Dinar). The
'35' is 35 'irsh, a denomination of the old Ottoman currency still very
much in colloquial use in Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Egypt. An 'irsh (pi
'uruush) in Jordan is equal to 10 Fils, so the price in the official units of
currency would be JD 2.350. In fact the assistant gets confused and
quotes 2 Dinars 85 (= JD 2.850) in his next sentence for the same item.
See Did you know? this Unit.
il-9aadi the ordinary one. A reference to colour film, as this is what most
people use nowadays.

96 UNIT7
 Practise what you have learned
7 listen to Sahar buying bus tickets tazkara, (pi) tazaakir, then fill in what
she wants on the table. (Answers p.l02)
New word: sarii9 express (lit. fast).

Price Number of tickets

ordinary

express

8 Fill in the blanks in this telephone conversation to give the same meaning
as the English. Then check your answers on page 102.
Samir aloo? Hello?
Ashraf samiir? ana ashraf. Samir? This is Ashraf,
Samir ahlan yaa ashraf, kiifak? Hi, how are you?
Ashraf allah yisalmak. shu ra'yak tiiji
OK. What do you think of
ma9ai 9ala s-siinama _ _ _ ? coming with me to the cinema
- - - fifun Annie Hall. this afternoon? We can see the
film 'Annie Hall'.
Samir ma9leesh, mish mumkin Sorry, I can't, because Salih's
9ashaan SaaliH laazim supposed to be coming (lit.
_ _ _ boon - - - - - - - must come) here at two o'clock.
Ashraf kamaan. He can come too. As soon as
--:----::--::--- btaaxdu taksi he comes, you take a taxi and
u btuuSalu _ _ _ _ _ _ ana you'll arrive before I get there
min U-maktab. from the office.

9 Your turn to speak. You want to buy some postcards kart, (pi) kuruut.

UNIT7 97
 Dialogues
n 4 Hind buys a few things from the
corner grocery store
Hind marHaba nabiil
Nabil ahleen marHaba.
Hind ijakum il-laHma 1-yoom?
Nabil laHma Iissa ... Iissa Ia s-saa9a waHda ta'riiban.
Hind ah, allah yxalliik, fii imkaaniyya txalliihum lamma tiiji 1-laHma
yi9malu Iii meen laHma kabaab u iza byib9atu Iii ma9aha itneen
kiilo banduura ... ruzz u sukkar kamaan itneen kiilo.
Nabil da'ii'a waHda bas asajjilhum ma91eesh? ... itneen kiilo laHma u
imeen kiilo banduura, imeen kiilo ruzz u itneen kiilo sukkar ...
ijat (it) came
laHma meat
il-yoom today
Iissa not yet
ta'riiban about, approximately
imkaaniyya possibility
txalli you allow, make
(someone do something)
lamma when, at the time when
tiiji (it) comes
yi9tnalu they make
laHma kabaab kebab meat
bib9atu they send
banduura tomato(es)
ruzz rice
sukkar sugar
da'ii'a (pi) da'aayi' minute
bas just
asajjil I note down
kiilo kilogramme

• allah yxalliik •.. God preserve you .. This phrase is used here as a way of
'softening' a r equest to someone to do something, and functions in a similar
way to law samaHt 'if you wouldn't mind' or iza mumkin 'if possible'.
We met the same phrase in Unit 1, but used in a different context.
• fii imkaaniyya txalliihum lamma tiiji 1-laHma yi9malu Iii ... when
the meat arrives, is there any possibility you could have them make for me
... (lit. is there possibility you let them, when comes the meat, they make
for me ...) The 'them' and 'they' here refers to the storekeeper's assistants.
fii imkaaniyya .. • is another way of making a request sound polite.
• itneen kiilo two kilos. With kilos, litres and kilometres the noun stays in
the singular, and the numbers are used in their counting forms with -a on
the end. The same applies to ordering food and drinks, e.g.talaata litir 3
litres, xamsa 'ahwa 5 coffees, etc.
• u iza byib9atu Iii .. . and could they send me ... (lit. and if they send to
me ... )
• da'ii'a waHda bas asajjilhum ma9leesh? just one minute while I note
that down, all right? The -hum refers to the things Hind has ordered.

98 UNIT7
 Practise what you have teamed
10 On the recording you will hear Nadira checking over what she has bought.
Check it against her shopping list below and see what she still needs to get.
(Answers p.l02)

~l'~tf~

/kzKif ~
~ ~st·

3~~
3~Sht~S

Lf /t:Uit:.Lit ~
,;2 b~ ~ ~ 4)~ J1.MC£

11 Your turn to speak. Buying tickets for a film. Note that 'the film x' is a
'construct' phrase: you say ti1im x, as in ti1im Annie Hall, the film Annie
Hall. Nadira will guide you, as usual.

UNIT7 99
 Key words and phrases
To learn SabaH il-xeer Good morning
masal-xeer Good afternoon, good evening
ma9a s-salaama Goodbye
itneen kiilo ruzz two kilos of rice
litir Haliib a litre of milk
9ilbit shukalaaTa a box of chocolates
sagaayir a packet of cigarettes
banduura a can of tomatoes
bakeet biskoot a packet of biscuits
'azaazit 9aSiir a bottle of fruit juice
tazkara, (pl) tazaakir ticket
Suura, (pl) Suwar picture, photograph
jariida, (pl) jaraayid newspaper
kamaan also, as well
9imiVyi9mal to make; do
ba9atlyib9at to send
a9Talya9Ti to give
lamma yiiji when he comes, gets here
'abil maa aaji before I come
awwal maa yuuSal as soon as he/it arrives
miiteen 200
talaatmiyya 300
arba9miyya 400
xamasmiyya 500
sittmiyya 600
saba9miyya 700
tamaanmiyya 800
tisa9miyya 900
alf, (pl) alaaf a thousand (the plural becomes talaaf
after a number)
shii taani? anything else?
min faDlak/faDlik please

100 UNIT 7
 Grammar
More on verbs In Unit 3 we gave the non-past tense of verbs like yHibb 'he likes' and
yiHjiz 'he reserves'. Now we'll look at two other kinds. First there are some
verbs which have a long vowel (uu, ii or aa) in the middle of their non-past
form. In all other respects, they go like yHibb:
aruuH I go nruuH we go
truuH you (m.) go truuHu you (pl) go
truuHi you (f.) go yruuHu they go
yruuH he (or it) goes
truuH she (or it) goes

Other examples of uu non-pasts we've met are yshuufhe sees and ykuun he
is. An example of an ii non-past in this Unit is ybii9 'he sells' which occurs
in Dialogue 1 with the B-prefix in the you (pl) form: bitbii9u you (pl) sell.
Another common type of non-past verb ends in a vowel, -i or -a, e.g.
yiHki he speaks, yibda he begins. The -i or -a is kept throughout the non-
past, except where another vowel is added as part of the ending:
aHki I speak niHki we speak
tiHki you (m.) speak tiHku you (pl) speak
tiHki you (f.) speak yiHku they speak
yiHki he (or it) speaks
tiHki she (or it) speaks
abda I begin nibda we begin
tibda you (m.) begin tibdu you (pl) begin
tibdi you (f.) begin yibdu they begin
yibda he (or it) begins
tibda she (orit) begins

12 Fill in the blanks with the right form of yiHki or yibda. (Answers p.1 02)
A law samaHtu b ingliizi?
B laa ma9leesh, b 9arabi bas.
A mumkin as'alkum eemta b il-filim?
B b ba9d xamas da'aayi'. b 9arabi kwayyis ktiir.
A shukran

Negatives As we have already seen, negatives of all kinds of words except verbs are
made with mish. For example, huwwa mish mawjuud he isn't there, ana
mish amriiki I'm not American. There are three ways you can say 'not'
with a verb. Use whichever you like, but you will have to understand all
three. So, to negate baHibb I like, you can put maa before and -sh after:
maa baHibbish; or just maa before: maa baHibb; or just -sh after:
baHabbish. They all mean exactly the same thing: 'I don't like'. 9ind and
fii are negated by maa. For example, maa 9indi waqt I haven't time, maa
fii maay there's no water.

Broken plurals We saw in Unit 6 that nouns of the pattern CaaCiC often have the broken
plural CuCCaaC. This is usually with words where a profession or regular
activity is designated, like 'inhabitant' or 'worker'. Other nouns with the
CaaCiC singular pattern, but with a non-human meaning, have a different
plural pattern:
singular plural
Taabi9 ~ Tawaabi9 postage stamps
shaari9 ---•~~ shawaari9 streets
jaami9 ~ jawaami9 mosques
The plural pattern here is CawaaCiC.

UNIT 7 101
 Your turn to speak
13

You have just walked into this store. Ask for at least five things you want,
remembering to give quantities. Then compare with Nadira doing the same
on the recording.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 2 She buys 1 packet of tea (large).
have learned She buys 1 packet of biscuits.
She does not buy cigarettes (only American are available),
and does not ask for CoCa-Cola, newspapers or chocolate.
Exercise 4 (a) biybii9u
(b) bitbii9u
(c) bniHki
(d) nshuuf
(e) biddna
Exercise 5 1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (a)
Exercise 7 2 'ordinary' at 500 fils each
1 'express' at 750 fils each
Exercise 8 ba9d iD-Duhr; binshuuf; yiiji; is-saa9a tinteen; mumkin
yiiji; awwal maa yiiji; abil maa awSal
Exercise 10 She still needs to get 3 tins of beans and 2 big bottles of
orange juice.

Grammar Exercise 12 A: btiHku

B: baHki
C: byibda
B: byibda ... btiHki

Writing Exercise 14 (a) saalim (b) saliim (c) maryam (d) samiira
(e) sabtambar (f) shaay (g) liira (h) liira suuri
(i) salaam G) shiiratuun (k) maaryuut (I) wizaara

102 UNIT7
 Did you know?
Money In the modem Arab world, the currencies of all countries are decimal. The
designations of the units, however, differ from one country to another.
Below are some you are likely to encounter.

Jordan 1,000 fils = 1 dinar aD) dinaar urduni

Iraq 1,000 fils =1 dinar (ID) dinaar 9iraaqi
Kuwait 1,000 fils = 1 dinar (KD) dinaar kweeti
Bahrain 1,000 fils = 1 dinar (BD) dinaar baHreeni
Egypt 100 piastres = 1 pound (£E) gineeh maSri
Syria 100 piastres = 1 pound (£S) liira suuri
Lebanon 100 piastres = 1 pound (£L) liira lubnaani
Saudi Arabia 100 halala = 1 riyal (SR) riyaal sa9uudi
Qatar 100 dirhams = 1 riyal (QR) riyaal qaTari
Oman 1,000 baisa = 1 riyal (OR) riyaal 9umaani
UAE 100 fils = 1 dirham dirham

The pound is called gineeh, (pl) gineehaat (from English 'guinea') in

Egypt, and liira, (pl) liiraat (from Italian 'lira' via Turkey) in Lebanon and
Syria. The smaller denomination 'irsh (or qirsh), (pl) 'uruush (or
quruush) 'piastre' is used in all these countries, and also colloquially in
Jordan. Prices in colloquial Arabic in Egypt are generally expressed in
terms of the gineeh and 'irsh. In Lebanon and Syria, the 'irsh is in
normal use as one hundredth of the liira, though galloping inflation in
Lebanon has so devalued the currency that the 'irsh is no longer in use.

In Jordan the 'irsh, while no longer part of the official currency, is

commonly used as equivalent of 10 fils, so xamsa u 9ishriin 'irsh '25
qirsh' is equal in Jordan to miiteen u xamsiin fils '250 fils' or alternatively
rubu9 dinaar, 'a quarter of a dinar'. All of these variants are encountered
in normal conversation. Obviously, the other currency names noted above
- the riyaal, (pl) riyaalaat, the dinaar, (pl) danaaniir, the dirham, (pl)
daraahim- have different values in different countries. For example, a
Qatari riyal is worth about ten times a Saudi riyal, and a UAE dirham is
worth about a hundred times a Qatari one.

When speaking about dinars, riyals, etc., it is not usually necessary to use
the adjective 'Jordanian', 'Saudi', etc. However, if you have cause to in
order to make your meaning clear, the adjective always stays the same and
doesn't agree with its noun in either gender or number. For example,
dinaareen urduni two Jordanian dinars, tamaanya liiraat suuri eight
Syrian pounds.

A number of other words are used in conversation to refer to money in a

general sense. In Lebanon. Syria and Jordan the word maSaari is commonly
used, e.g. ma9ak maSaari? got any money on you? An even commoner
alternative, used in all the above countries and the rest of the Arab world as
well, is fluus, e.g. il-fluus mish ma9aha? doesn't she have the money?

UNIT 7 103
 Writing
The letter siin is pronounced like the English's' in 'see'. On its own it is
written like this: I.Y"

It joins on to a following letter and also to a preceding one where this is

possible. At the beginning or in the middle of a word it loses its tail, but
retains it when it is at the end:

~I
saami Sami (man's name) as-sabt Saturday naas people
(Note that as-sabt in written Arabic is pronounced as-Sabt in spoken.)

The same basic shape is used for our next letter, shiin, which sounds like
the English 'sh' in 'sheep'. The difference is that shiin is written with three
dots above the first part of it:

...
For example:
.- .;-:...
.
..r- ~
shamssun bashiir Bashir (man's name) mishmish apricot

The feminine ending -a which we have already met is written like this:
. 0

as in

ziyaara visit

When it is preceded by a letter which joins onto a following one, like nuun,
it looks like this:
..
,
~
,

sana year

14 Practise reading the following. (Answers p.102)

(a) man's name

(L... (b) man's name
~
(c) woman's name (d) woman's name
..0~
~.r
(e) September
~ (f) tea ""l..!.
.
0~ ..
Syrian pound'-') .J"'M o..;J
,
(g) pound (h)
~

(i) peace (j_. (j) Sheraton

~
,JJ~
.. .
(k) Marriott ~~;lA (1) ministry i;ljJ

104 UNIT 7
 ISHOPPING (part 2)
You will learn
• how to buy presents
• how to understand a storekeeper's questions
• how to make a comparative statement
e how to buy clothes
• more about shopping
• the colours

Study guide
- I Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
I Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
I Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
I Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases
Grallllllar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

UNIT 8 105
 Dialogues
n 1 Clive is looking for presents for his
family at a gift shop.
W'hat about an ornament?
Clive SabaaH il-xeer.
Assistant SabaaH in-nuur, ahleen.
Clive ahleen ... ah, mumkin tfarjiini eesh illi 9indkum ya9ni ... ana biddi
ashtiri hadaaya Ia zoojti u la iwlaadi.
Assistant fii 9indna ashya ktiira ... hoon fii mathalan jmaal, il-jmaal haadool
minxashab.
Clive minxashab.
Assistant aywa.
Clive ya9ni shu bni9mal fiih?
Assistant haadoolla z-ziina.
Clive la z-ziina.
Assistant Hilwiin.
SabaaH il-nuur good morning
(reply to SabaaH il-xeer)
tfarjiini you (f.) show me
illi (that) which
ashtiri I buy
hadaaya presents
zooja wife
shii or ishii, (pi) ashya thing
jmaal (here) toy, camels
haadool (or haadoola) these
xashab wood
ziina decoration
Hilw nice, pretty

• hadaaya Ia zootji presents for my wife. Ia means 'for' in the sense of 'for
the benefit of.
• mathalan for example (alternative pronunciation of matalan).
il-jmaal haadool these camels (lit. the camels these) .
• shu bni9mal fiih? what is it for? Oit. what do we do with it?)
Ia z-ziina for decoration.
Hilwiin (they're) nice. The plural -iin on the adjective Hilw is because
the noun it refers to, jmaal camels, is plural. See Grammar, this Unit.

106 UNIT 8
 Practise what you have learned
1 Samir is at a grocer's. He is planning to visit his friend and wants to
take something with him. Listen and mark off the right answer.
(Answers p.ll6) New word: sharaab drink
1 What does he buy? 2 How much does he pay?
(a) biskoot (a) talaat danaaniir
(b) sharaab (b) dinaareen u nuSS
(c) shukalaaTa (c) xamas danaaniir
(d) talaat danaaniir u nuSS

2 Jamila is a storekeeper. Her supplier is delivering her order. Listen to the

tape and then match the items with their prices. (Answers p.ll6)
(a) 9ilbit xashab kbiira 1 dinaar u nuSS
(b) 9ilbit xashab Sghiira 2 dinaareen
(c) jamal kbiir 3 dinaar
(d) jamal Sghiir 4 talaat danaaniir

3 Your turn to speak. You want to buy a present. Find out what the store has
-they may not have what you want. Nadira will prompt you.

UNIT 8 107
 Dialogues
n 2 Or perhaps a cushion or two?
Clive u haadi eesh?
Assistant haadool fii kamaan maxaddaat.
Clive maxaddaat.
Assistant maxaddaat filasTiiniyya.
Clive filasTiiniyya, ah ... haada shughul iid?
Assistant shughul iid haadoola, Hilwiin ktiir.
Clive 'addeesh', ya9ni, si9ruh?
Assistant xamsa u 9ishriin dinaar.
Clive laa, haada ktiir.
Assistant mahuwwa shughul iid u bti9raf shughul iid byaaxud wa't ktiir!
Clive bas ya9ni mish miHtaajiin ila maxaddaat.
maxadda (pi) aat cushion
filasTiini Palestinian
shughul work
iid hand
bti9raf you know
byaaxud [it) (m.) takes
miHtaaj (ila) in need of

• haadool fii kamaan maxaddaat these - there are cushions as well.

• maxaddaat filasTiiniyya Palestinian cushions. See Grammar, this Unit,
for notes on noun - adjective agreement.
shughul iid hand-made. This is a 'construct' phrase (see again Grammar,
Unit 5) literally 'work (of) hand'.
• laa haada ktiir no that's too much (lit.... a lot). This is a common first
response in trying to beat down the price.
mahuwwa shughul iid •.. but it's hand-made ... When ma- is put in
front of a pronoun like huwwa (or hu), it's a way of emphasizing a
statement of contradiction. Here, Clive says the cushions cost too much;
the assistant protests on the contrary that they are hand-made and
therefore don't come cheap.
bas ya9ni mish miHtaajiin ila maxaddaat but we don't need any
cushions. The 'we' is understood, hence the -iin plural ending on the
adjective miHtaaj (needful).

108 UNIT 8
 Practise what you have learned
4 Samiira is buying a present. Listen and mark off the correct answers.
(Answers p.116) New word: taTriiz embroidery
1 What does she want to buy? 2 What is the price of one camel?
(a) maxaddaat (a) dinaar
(b) ashya Ia z-ziina (b) arba9 danaaniir
(c) taTriiz (c) nuSS dinaar
(d) jmaal (d) dinaareen

5 Samya is buying clothes. Listen and mark off the correct answer. Refer to
the Key words and phrases section for colours and clothes.
New word: ma'aas size. (Answers p.ll6)

tannuura

banTaloon

1 What did Samya buy? 2 What size did she ask for?
(a) a blouse (a) thirty-five
(b) a dress (b) forty
(c) a pair of trousers (c) thirty-eight
3 What colour(s) doesn't she like? 4 How much does she pay?
(a) yellow (a) forty
(b) blue (b) thirty
(c) black (c) thirty-five

6 Your turn to speak. You are at a souvenir shop and you want to buy a
present. Nadira will prompt you.

UNIT 8 109
 Dialogues
3 The silver necklaces look nice, but...
Assistant fii kamaan shii taani ... shuuf matalan haadool il-9u'uuda ... il-
9u'uuda ktiir Hilwiin haadool.
Clive Hilwa ... mniiHa, bas aftakir, ghaali?
Assistant shwayya ghaalya ... haada matalan haada l-9u'ud haada min
fiDDa.
Clive min fiDDa xaaliS?
Assistant fiDDa, fiDDa xaaliS ... ah, bi xamsa u talaatiin dinaar.
Clive laa ghaalya, ghaalya.
Assistant mahu barDuh kamaan shughul iid.
Clive mm.
Assistant bitHibb ishii arxaS?
Clive arxaS shwayy.
shuuf look!
9u'ud, (pi) 9u'uuda necklace
aftakir I think
ghaali expensive
shwayya a little
fiDDa silver
xaaliS pure (ofmetals)
barDuh also, as well
arxaS cheaper

• haadool il-9u'uuda these necklaces (lit. these the necklaces).

il-9u'uuda ktiir Hilwiin haadool these necklaces are really pretty (lit.
the necklaces very pretty, these). haadool 'these', like haada, can either
precede or follow the definite noun it goes with. So both haadool il-
9u'uuda and il-9u'uuda haadool mean 'these necklaces'.
Hilwa ••• mniiHa, bas aftakir, ghaali Here Clive makes a mistake. He
should have said ghaalya with the feminine ending (as the assistant does
in the next line) because he is referring to 9u'uuda (necklaces)
• 9u'ud min fiDDa a silver necklace (lit. necklace from silver). min 'from'
is used to describe the material something is made of. In Diakgue 1 we
saw jmaal min xashab wooden camels.
mahu barDuh kamaan shughul lid but that's hand-made as well!
Again, as in Dialogue 2, the assistant protests, using mahu but it's ... !

110 UNITS
 Practise what you have teamed
7 Put the following in the right order to form a dialogue. Then listen to the
recording to check your version.
fii 9indkum fasatiin filasTiiniyya?
ahlan.
Hilw. shu si9ruh?
marHaba.
ma9a s-salaama
laa. ghaali ktiir
fii taTriiz ktiir u kulluh shughul iid.
aywa fii. fii fasatiin Hilwa ktiir. tfaDDali.
arba9iin dinaar.
ghaali ktiir. ma9leesh, shukran.

8 Samira is buying her friend a birthday present. Fill in Samira's part from
the box below. You need to know these words: 9uTur perfume, dabab
gold. (Answers p.ll6)

law samaHti; biddi hidiyya; saba9 danaaniir; shu si9ir;

shu fii 9indkum; fii ishii arxaS; a9Tiini; marHaba

Hoda ahlan.
Samira hadaaya?
Hoda fii 9uTur, u fii 9u'uuda min fiDDa u min dahab.
Samira il-9u'ud il-fiDDa?
Hoda il-9u'ud bi xamasta9shar dinaar.
Samira shu, ghaali - - - - - - ?
Hoda fii il-9uTur. saba9 danaaniir.
Samira - - - - - - . kwayyis. - - - - - - il-9uTur_ _ _ __
Hoda tfaDDali.

9 Your turn to speak. You want to an embroidered blouse (bluuza

mTarraza). Nadira will prompt you.

UNIT 8 111
 Dialogues
n 4 Finally Clive finds something nice but
not too expenszve
Assistant shuuf, fii haadi 9ilba, haadi arxaS min il-9u'ud.
Clive haadi eesh ya9ni.
Assistant 9ilba min Sadaf haadi.
Clive min Sadaf? ... u eesh bni9mal fiiha ya9ni?
Assistant haadi matalan binHuTf fiiha 1-mujawharaat ... iza matalan zootjak
biddha tHuTf fiiha 1-mujawharaat ... Hilwa ktiir, kamaan shughul
iid.
Clive biykuun arxaS.
Assistant Tab9an arxaS min il-9u'ud.
Clive 'addeesh ya9ni?
Assistant haadi 9ashar danaaniir.
Clive 9ashar danaaniir?
Assistant aywa.
Clive ya9ni ma9quul.
Assistant bitHibb aliflha?
Clive liffii Iii yyaaha.
Assistant HaaDir ... tfaDDal!
Clive shukran.
Assistant mabruuk!
Sadaf sea-shell
nHuTI weput
mujawharaat jewels
Tab9an of course
ma9quul (or ma9'uul) reasonable
aliftha I wrap it up
liffii Iii yyaaha wrap (f.) it up for me!
mabruuk congratulations!

• shuuf, fii haadi 9ilba ••• look, there's this, a box ...
• haadi arxaS m.in ••• this is cheaper than ... See Grammar, this Unit.
iza matalan zoojtak biddha tHuTI fiiha 1-mujawharaat ••• your
wife might want to put her jewels in it (lit. if, for example, your wife, she
wants she put in it the jewels). yHuTI 'he puts' goes like yHibb, which
we saw in Unit 3.
bykuun arxaS it'll be cheaper
• bitHibb aliftha? do you want me to wrap it up? (lit. you want I wrap
it?). The verb yliff'he wraps up' goes like yHibb. The -ha 'it' (f.) on the
end of aliff is feminine because it refers to the feminine noun 9ilba.
• liffii Iii yyaaha wrap it up for me! liftii Iii is the feminine command for
'wrap for me!' The masculine form is lifflii is 'for me'. The use ofyyaa-
in yyaaha 'it' is explained in Grammar this Unit.
• mabruuk congratulations. This is said to anyone who has just bought
some new item like a car, a computer, or, as here, even a small jewel box.
It is also used in the way we use 'congratulations' - on passing exams,
getting a new job, the birth of a baby, etc.

112 UNITS
 Practise what you have teamed
10 Samar has bought some presents on holiday. She's going over the list with
her husband. Mark off the five items that she bought. (Answers p.116)
(a) 9u'ud min fiDDa (t) taTriiz
(b) tannuura (g) 'amiiS
(c) bluuza (h) 9uTur
(d) 9u'ud min dahab (i) fustaan
(e) banTaloon (j) 9ilba min Sadaf

11 True or false. Listen to the conversation between two women about prices
in the market and decide which sentences are true and which are false.
(Answers p.116)
T/F
__ (a) kiilo 1-bandoora bi sab9iin 'irsh
_ _ (b) 9ilbit il-Haliib bi dinaareen
_ _ (c) killo s-sukkar bi talaatiin 'irsh
_ _ (d) 9ilbit ish-shukalaaTa bi talaat danaaniir
_ _ (e) bakeet ish-shaay bi dinaar

12 Your turn to speak. Once more you are in a gift shop. You aren't sure what
to buy, but you would like something hand-made. Nadira will prompt you.

UNITS 113
 Key words and phrases
To learn SabaaH in-nuur good morning
(reply to SabaaH il-xeer)
hidiyya, (pl) hadaaya present
ghaali expensive
raxiiS cheap
fii ishii arxaS? is there anything cheaper?
si9ir, (pl) as9aar price
'addeesh si9ir •••? what's the price ... ?
laft7yliff (here) to wrap up
mabruuk congratulations

Clothes bluuza, (pl) -aat blouse

'arniiS, (pl) 'umSaan shirt
banTaloon, (pl) -aat trousers
tannuura, (pl) -aat skirt
fustaan, (pl) fasatiin dress
jakeet, (pl) -aat jacket
kundara, (pl) -aat a pair of shoes

Colours masculine feminine plural

abyaD beeDa biiD white
aswad sooda suud black
aHmar Hamra Humur red
azra' zar'a zuru' blue
aSfar Safra Sufur yellow
axDar xaDra xuDur green
binni binniyya binni brown

To understand maxadda, (pl) maxaddaat cushion/pillow

shughuliid hand-made
9u'ud, (pl) 9u'uuda necklace
xashab wood
fi.DDa silver
jamal, (pl) jmaal camel
Sadaf sea-shell

114 UNITS
 Grammar

Noun-adjective You learned in Unit 4 that adjectives have three forms- masculine,
feminine and plural- and that adjectives agree with nouns in gender. You
agreement also learned that with plural nouns denoting human beings the adjective is
plural. With plural nouns that do not denote human beings the adjective is
usually feminine singular, but may also be plural. For example:
jmaal Hilwa or jmaal Hilwiin nice toy camels
maxaddaat Hilwa or maxaddaat Hilwiin nice cushions

With dual nouns, the adjective is plural. For example:

waladeen kwaysiin nice boys (2)
iwlaad kwaysiin nice boys (more than 2)

Dual nouns generally also require plural verbs: il-binteen byillku 9arabi
the two girls speak Arabic.

The comparative The comparative in Arabic usually has the same root as its underlying
adjective and has a predictable pattern. With regular roots the comparative
form is: aCCaC. For example:
raxiiS arxaS cheaper
kbiir akbar bigger, older

With 'weak' roots (having a vowel, y or w at the end) the comparative form
is: aCCa. For example:
ghaali aghla more expensive
Hilw aH!a sweeter, nicer
The Arab equivalent to 'than' is min. For example: 9amman aSghar min
landan Amman is smaller than London.

The particle The function ofyyaa- is to carry a pronoun ending. It is otherwise empty
of meaning. It is needed because Arabic does not permit two pronoun
yyaa- endings to be attached to one word. If two are needed, one is added to the
verb or verb-like word, and the other is attached to yyaa-. For example:
liffii Iii yyaaha wrap it for me
This is literally 'wrap for me (particle) it'.

13 Give the correct form of the adjectives in parentheses in the following

sentences. (Answers p.ll6)
(a) biddi arba9 9ilab (kbiir).
(b) fii 9indna hadaaya shughul iid u _ _ _ _ _ (raxiiS).
(c) il-fasatiin _ _ _ __ (ghaall).

14 Give the comparative form of the adjectives in parentheses in the

following sentences. (Answers p.l16)
(a) haada 1-banTaloon Sghiir, biddi ma'aas _ _ _ _ _ (kbiir) iza mumkin.
(b) haadi l-9ilba kbiira, fii 9ilba (Sghiir) ?
(c) haada il-9u'ud Hilw, bas biddi ishii (Hilw).

UNIT 8 115
 Your tum to speak
15 You have done your grocery shopping. Go over the list with a member of
your family. You could start by saying: ishtareet ... I have bought ... Tell
her/him what you've bought, the quantities and how much you have paid
for each item. Then listen to a model version. (you might need to revise
Unit 3.)

16 You have bought some presents, and you are showing them to a friend.
Again, you could start by saying: ishtareet ... Tell her/him what they are,
what they cost and whether you found something expensive but had to
settle for something cheaper. Then listen to the recording.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 1. (b); 2. (c)
have learned
Exercise 2 (a) 4 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 3
Exercise 4 1. (d); 2. (a)
Exercise 5 1. (b); 2. (c); 3. (a); 4. (c)
Exercise 8 marHaba; biddi hidiyya; shu fii 9indkum; shu si9ir; fii ishii
arxaS; saba9 danaaniir; a9Tiini; law samaHti
Exercise 10 (c) (e) (a) (i) (h)
Exercise 11 (a) T (b) F (c) T (d) T (e) F

Grammar Exercise 13 (a) kbiira (b) raxiiSa (c) ghaalya

Exercise 14 (a) akbar (b) aSghar (c) aHla

Writing Exercise 17 (a) Kodak (b) Pepsi (c) Canada Dry (d) Coca-Cola
(e) Mitsubishi

116 UNITS
 Did you know?
Bargaining In the older, less westernized parts of Arab markets, it is still normal to
negotiate the price of whatever you want to buy by bargaining. Foodstuffs
(rnufaaSala) are normally sold at fixed prices, but articles like carpets and rugs, cushions,
ornaments, pots and crafted items are often bargained for. The price of
articles sold at the roadside is almost always negotiable. Bargaining is a
game, and it is one which is fun and good for your Arabic. The 'moves' in
this game usually go something like this:
1 Buyer asks the price: 'addeesh haada?
2 Seller names his initial price: haada yaa axi bi talaatiin dinaar it's
thirty dinars, my friend. He may add some kind of follow-up comment
to justify the price: shuuf, haay shughul iid, Hilw ktiir look it's hand-
made, very nice.
3 Buyer offers no more than a half of the asking price, but if it seems
much too high, a third: laa, haada ktiir, ba9Tiik xamasta9sh bas,
maa byiswa talaatiin no that's too much, I'll only give you fifteen, it's
not worth thirty.
4 Seller feigns lack of interest: laa, yiftaH allah no, God will open
(another source of income); or perhaps aUaah yirzi'ni God sustain me!
(implying what has been offered is insufficient).
5 Buyer makes his first move: ba9Tiik 9ishriin u haadi aaxir kilma
I'll give you twenty, and that's my last word.
6 Seller responds: laa, maa biykaffiini no it's not enough for me.
7 Buyer feigns lack of interest and makes for the door or walks away
saying: mniiH, bashtiri min gheerak OK I'll buy from someone else.
8 Seller calls him back and makes his first move: istanna shwayy maa
bitlaa'i arxaS fi s-suu', 1aakin babii9 bi si9r xaaSS min shaan
xaaTrak wait a bit, you won't find cheaper in the market, but I'll sell at
a special price just for you.
9 Buyer responds: Tayyib, 'addeesh?
10 Seller names new price: xamsa u 9ishriin, maa bykaffi aqall min
heek twenty-five, less than that is not enough!
11 Buyer counters: laa, yaa axi, xamsa u 9ishriin mish ma9'uul no my
friend, twenty-five isn't reasonable.
12 Seller protests: mahu shughul iid, 9amaluh byaaxud wa't ktiir but
it's hand-made, making it takes a long time.
13 Buyer names his real last price: itneen u 9ishriin u waafa't, haay
aaxir kilma. shu bit'uul? twenty-two and I agree. That's my last
word. What do you say?
14 Seller accepts: Tayyib, xalaaS, tfaDDal OK, that's it, take it.
15 Buyer pays: tfaDDal, xud! here, take (the money)!

Obviously, this is no more than the bare bones of an example. In practice,

bargaining can be a very long, drawn-out process with feigned protestations,
lengthy descriptions of where and how the article was manufactured,
compliments on the buyer's Arabic and his beautiful children (if present),
often accompanied by a glass of tea or coffee. The seller knows exactly how
far he is prepared to go down from the word go, so it as well to get an idea
of a reasonable price range beforehand and to decide exactly what your real
'last word' price is. Provided this is within reason, you will probably, with
persistence, get what you want at the price you're prepared to pay!

UNITS 117
 Writing
In this unit we meet two more letters for which we have close equivalents
in English. The first is kaaf, which sounds like the English 'c' in 'cup', or
the 'c' and 'k' in cake. On its own it looks like this:

At the beginning and in the middle of a word it has a diagonal 'hat':

.
~...A..S kabaab kebab

~ sukkar sugar

At the end of a word, it looks like it does when written alone:

il .. ....
~ shiik cheque

The next letter, daal, sounds similar to an English 'd' in words like 'do' and
'did'. It is written alone like this:

It joins onto preceding letters which allow joining, but never joins onto a
following letter (just like raa and zaa). It looks like this joined:

..lL.
balad town, village bariid post office
and like this not joined:

muraad Murad (man's name) daliil guide, guidebook

When a letter is doubled in Arabic and no vowel comes between each

occurrence of the doubled letter, it is not written twice. Instead, a small
sign resembling a 'w' is written above it:
~ ;

~~ JI.Jj
sukkaan inhabitants zuwwaar visitors

17 The following are all Arabic versions of western product names which can
be seen on advertisement boards in any Arab city. See if you can puzzle out
what they are? (Answers p.l16)

(a) .!ll.)_,5' (b)

~

l..cS
.
(c) ~1.;.) (d) 'J_,5' \S_,5'
(e) ~~
-
118 UNITS
 IMAKING TRAVEL ARRANGEMENts I
You will learn
• to arrange journeys with taxi drivers
• to rent a car
e to ask for information about buses
• to accept an offer of a lift
• to ask about distances

Study guide
Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 5 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases
Grammar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

UNIT 9 119
 Dialogues
n 1 Clive wants to get a taxi
Clive SabaaH i1-xeer.
Man SabaaH in-nuur.
Clive biddi aruuH 9a1a d-duwwaar il-awwal.
Man na9am.
Clive kam i1-ujra ya9ni?
Man iHna 9indna 9addaad ... murtabTiin fi 9addaad.
Clive murtabTiin fi 9addaad.
Man na9am ... binshaghghi1 il-9addaad ... fatHa xamst ... miyya u
xamsiin fils u biy9idd il-9addaad ... 9a1a 1-masaafa, kam il-masaafa
min hoon 1a hunaak.
Clive u kam i1-masaafa min hoon 1a d-duwwaar il-awwa1?
Man i1-masaafa min hoon 1a d-duwwaar i1-awwa1 xamsa ki1omitir.
Clive xamsa ki1omitir.
Man na9am.
ujra fare fatHa opening (here,
iHna (alternative to niHna) we a 'click' on a meter)
murtabTiin (pl), fi connected to biy9idd (the meter) counts
binshaghghil we tum on, operate masaafa distance

• binshaghghil il-9addaad •.. fatHa xamst •.. miyya u xamsiin fils

we operate the meter ... a click is fif-[teen] ... is 150 fils. The hesitation is
between 15 piastres and 150 fils. (See Did you know? in Unit 7).
9ala 1-masaafa according to distance .

• kam il-masaafa? how far is it? kam is an alternative to 'addeesh.

n 2 Where exactly is the British Council?

Clive u ti9raf ween shismah, i1-maj1is ith-thaqaafi 1-briiTaani?
Man na9am ..
Clive aftikir haada fi shaari9 -
Man shaari9 ir-reenbo.
Clive shaari9 ir-reenbo.
Man shaari9 ir-reenbo.
Clive haada 'ariib min id-duwwaar i1-awwa1?
Man min id-duwwaar il-awwa1 ... ba9d id-duwwaar i1-awwa1 hi Hawaa1i
tha1aath miit mitir.
Clive ah shukran.
Man ahleen il-9afu
ti9raf (do) you know? aftikir I think
il-majlis ith-thaqaafi Hawaali approximately
1-briiTaani the British Council mitir metre

• ti9rafween shismah ••• do you know where the ... what-do-you-call-it

... British Council is? shismah or shismuh (lit. what its name) is an
extremely useful phrase when you can't remember the name of something.
• ba9d id-duwwaar il-awwal bi Hawaali ••• about 300 metres past the
1st Circle ... (lit. after the 1st circle by about ... ).

120 UNIT 9
 Practise what you have teamed
J In this exercise you will hear four questions. Write the number of the
question next to whichever of the answers below makes sense.
(Answers p.l30)
(a) 9ishriin dinaar bi l-9addaad. ~
(b) xamsa ilia rubu9.
(c) talaata kiilo.
(d) saa9teen u nuSS.

2 Listen to the conversation and mark the following statements true or false,
as appropriate. (Answers p.130)
New word: raayiH, (f.) raayHa going
(a) The taxi is going to Abdali.
(b) The taxi does not have a meter.
(c) The driver explains that each kilometre costs 9 qirsh.
(d) The man takes the taxi.

3 Your turn to speak. You want to go to the centre of town, so you stop a taxi
by shouting 'taksi'. Negotiate with the driver. Nadira will guide you.

4 Mahmoud's car is getting very low on petrol. Listen to him talking to a

passer-by. What is the Arabic for 'petrol station'? Where is the nearest one?
How far is it? (Answers p.130)
New words: a'rab the nearest, ba9iid (9an) far (from).

5 A conversation at a petrol station. Fill in the blanks in the conversation

below with words and phrases from the box, then check your answers on
page 130.

iza mumkin mumkin tdillni 'abilmaa 'addeesh biddi

il-litir SabaaH in-nuur a'rab

A SabaaH il-xeer.
B
A - - - - - - 9ashra litir banziin - - - - - -
B HaaDir, shii taani?
A shukran, - - - - - - haada?
B dinaareen u nuSS.
A ya9ni - - - - - - bi miiteen u xamsiin fils?
B aywa.
A Tayyib, u 9ala bank?
B ba9iid shwayy, laazim truuH bi s-sayyaara, xud taani shaari9 9a sh-
shmaal u btimshi Hawaali kiilo tiiji Ia !-bank 9ala iidak
il-yamiin.
A u shu ism il-bank?
B bank 9ammaan.
A shukran.
B il-9afu yaa siidi.

6 Your turn to speak. You want to go to Hayy Zahran in Amman, so you

stop a bus at a bus stop and talk to the driver. Nadira will guide you as
usual.

UNIT 9 121
 Dialogues
n 3 Yousif, a student_, wants a taxi to take
him to the Jordanian University from
outside Amman
Yousif marHaba yaa ax.
Driver yaa hala, Hayyaak allah.
Yousif keef Haalak?
Driver yaa marHaba biik.
Yousif hallah biddi aruuH 9a l-jaam9a 1-urduniyya, mumkin?
Driver mumkin ... il-jaam9a 1-urduniyya?
Yousif na9am.
Driver ah, bas sayyaarti haadhi bitwaSlak min haan Ia awwal 9ammaan,
ya9ni manTigit ish-sharg il-awsaT, duwwaar ish-sharg il-awsaT ...
ba9deen inta btooxidh sayyaara thaanya ... btinzilla 1-balad taHat?
sayyaara car
bitwaSlak will take you
haan here (alternative to hoon)
manTiga area
ish-sharg il-awsaT the Middle East (here, name of a roundabout
designating an area of Amman)

• Hayyaak allah God give you life. This is a common formula which can
be used to thank, to greet, to take one's leave, and in many other
circumstances.
• keefHaalak? (or keefil-Haal?) how are you? (lit. how is your state?)
awwal9ammaan the outskirts of Amman (lit. [the] first of Amman)
ba9deen btoo:xidh sayyaara thaanya then you take another car. This
speaker, from the east of Jordan, says btoo:xidh 'you take' instead of
btaaxud. He also uses th instead oft in certain words like thaani
'second, other' instead of the usual city-dweller's pronunciation, taani.

• btinzilla 1-balad taHat? are you going right down into the city centre?
(lit. are you going down to the city below?)

122 UNIT 9
 Practise what you have learned
7 Najwa wants to get from a small village in northern Jordan to Jabal Amman,
a suburb of Amman. listen to her making enquiries at the bus station, then
answer the following questions. (Answers p.l30)
New words: il-baaS il-jaay the next bus (lit. the coming bus); aaxir baaS
the last bus; ghayyar/yghayyir to change (e.g. buses); m.akaan place
(a) Give as much information as you can about how she should get to
Jabal Amman- what transportation she can take, whether she needs to
change and, if so, where.
(b) What time does the next bus leave?
(c) Where can she buy a ticket?

8 John, who's on holiday in Jordan, and Fuad come out of a cafe late in the
evening, and Fuad offers John a lift. For each line of the conversation select
the appropriate sentence or combination of sentences. Then check your
version by listening to the recording.
New phrases: balaash at9ibak I don't want to trouble you; naazil (fi)
staying (at).
1 Fuad (a) mumkin twaSSilni bi-sayyaara? (b) ma9i sayyaara
(c) mumkin awaSlak?
2 John (a) shukran (b) bafaDDil aaxud il-baaS
(c) mumkin aruuH bi !-baaS (d) balaash at9ibak
3 Fuad (a) ween bitruuH? (b) ween naazil?
4 John (a) saakin fi funduq 9amra (b) naazil fi funduq 9amra
(c) inshaallaah.
5 Fuad (a) ba9iid shwayy
(b) laazim truuH maashi
(c) bas maa fii baaS halla' 9ala hunaak.
6 John (a) eemta awwal baaS?
(b) fii baaS biyruuH kul rubu9 saa9a, mish heek?
(c) iza biddi baaS, baruuh bi !-baaS?
(d) leesh?
7 Fuad (a) bas aaxir baaS raaH is-saa9a 9ashra
(b) laazim tghayyir il-funduq
(c) xalliini awaSlak u xalaaS
8 John (a) Tayyib (b) alf shukr
(c) ta9aala ma9i iza biddak

9 Your turn to speak. You want to get from Amman to Yarmuk (University)
and are making enquiries at the bus station. Here is a list of the information
you need:
(a) whether there's a direct bus
(b) if not, how you can get there
(c) the times of the next bus and the last bus
(d) the cost of a ticket
(e) whether you can book a place
You start by greeting the man in the information office and then work your
way through the list. Stop the recording after each answer to work out your
next line. You will hear Nadira give a version of it after the pause. At the
end check you have the right information, by looking on p.130.

UNIT 9 123
 Dialogues

n 4 How much will it cost?

Yousif ah, kam widdak?
Driver min haan la l-jaam9a 1-urduniyya bnaaxud minnak thalaath
danaaniir.
Yousif thalaath danaaniir.
Driver na9am
Yousif Tayyib ... mu ghaali?
Driver wallah haadha 9aadi, haadha ajaar is-sayyaara li'annuh s-sayyaara
btimshi 9ala 9addaad.
Yousif ya9ni raxiiS.
Driver ee na9am haadha l-9aada.
Yousif Tayyib, twakkalna 9ala llah, inshaallaah.
Driver inshaallaah.
Yousif yallah.
Driver Hayyaak allah, tfaDDal.
Yousif shukran.
Driver iTla9, yaa marHaba.
9aadi normal
ajaar is-sayyaara the rental of the car
li'annuh because
btimshi goes, runs
9aada custom, norm
iTla9 get in!

t kam widdak how much do you want? widd is used in the same way as
bidd. This is a more 'Bedouin'-sounding way of asking the question than
would be normal in Amman, where one typically hears 'addeesh biddak
how much do you want?
mu ghaali? isn't that a bit expensive? mu is the rural Arabic equivalent
of Amman mish. City-dwellers would say mish ghaali?
is-sayyaara btimshi 9ala 9addaad the car is metered (lit. the car goes
on a meter)
twakkalna 9ala llah we put our trust in God. This is a phrase uttered at
the beginning of a journey (often seen on dashboard stickers in taxis).
Here, it is a signal from Yousif that he is starting the journey with the
driver, and has therefore accepted the demanded fare of 3 dinars.
t yallah let's go! This is a very common phrase of general encouragement.
t iTla9, yaa marHaba jump in! hi! iTla9, (f.) iTla9i is the command
form of this verb which is used for getting on buses, cars, taxis, trains and
planes. marHaba is used here to welcome the passenger into the driver's
company now that he has agreed to go with him.

124 UNIT9
 Practise what you have teamed
10 Renting a car. Listen to the conversation, and then indicate what
information the woman wants by marking off the appropriate phrases
below. (Answers p.130) New words: ruxSit swaa'a driving licence;
ista'jarlyista'jir to hire, rent.
(a) how to get to the centre of town
(b) how to drive a Fiat
(c) how old the hire cars are
(d) how much it costs to hire a car
(e) where the nearest petrol station is
(f) where she can get the car key from
(g) whether she has to pay in advance
(b) whether the car rental company needs proof of her identity

I /
.._,, 'Q ....
-~~-~-
/
,-

11 Your turn to speak. You want to rent a car for two days. Nadira will guide
you through the negotiations in the usual way.

UNIT 9 125
 Dialogues
n 5 Yousif is trying to get from Al-Azraq
in eastern Jordan, to Irbid in the north
Yousif as-salaam 9aleekum
Driver wa 9aleekum as-salaam wa raHmat allah, ahlan wa marHaba biik.
Yousif keef Haalak?
Driver hal a.
Yousif hallah biddi 'irbid ... idha samaHt ... mine en arkab, aw idha
twaSSilni int, ya9ni .. .
Driver iHna 1-aan fi 1-azrag ... widdak 'irbid tiTla9 ma9i min haan Ia
9ammaan.
Yousif Ia 9ammaan ... kwayyis.
Driver ee, awaSlak safariyyaat 'irbid.
Yousif kwayyis.
Driver safariyyaat 'irbid fi l-9abdali ... bawaSlak iyyaaha u min hunaak
btiTla9 ... idha tabgha baaS, tiTla9 bi baaS.
Yousif na9am.
Driver u idha tabgha tiTla9 bi t-taksi, taksi.
Yousif na9am.
mineen from where safariyyaat travel agency,
arkab I catch (a bus, taxi, etc.) ticket office
il-aan now (alternative to halla') tabgha you want(= biddak)

• as-salaam 9aleekwn peace be upon you (and its invariable response wa

9aleekwn as-salaam and on you be peace) is the traditional greeting of
the desert Arab, nowadays considered a rather 'correct', somewhat formal,
opening (see Did you know?, Unit 2). Here the driver gives an even more
elaborate response, involving the additional phrase wa raHmat allah
'and the mercy of God (also be upon you)'.
• biddi 'irbid I want to go to Irbid. (lit. I want Irbid). Irbid is a town in
northern Jordan, about an hour's drive from Amman.
idha samaHt would you mind (telling me). This is an alternative to the
phrase we have already met, law samaHt. idha 'if is an alternative
pronunciation to iza, which we have already met.
aw idha twaSSilni int or if you will take me (lit. or if you will take me,
you). The use ofint (short for inta) at the end of the sentence is a way of
emphasizing you (as opposed to some other taxi-driver).
il-azrag a town in eastern Jordan containing a large medieval fort whose
stones are a blackish-blue, hence the name ('The Blue').
• widdak 'irbid ti11a9 ma9i min haan Ia 9ammaan if you are heading
for Irbid, I'll take you as far as Amman (lit. you want Irbid, you get in
with me from here to Amman).
safariyyaat 'irbid fi l-9abdali the Irbid ticket agency in al-Abdali.
Abdali is the main bus and taxi-station to Amman.
bawaSiak iyaaha I'll take you to it
u idha tabgha ti11a9 bi t-taksi, taksi and if you want to go by taxi,
(you can go by) taxi. A taksi is a private (often metred) taxi plying for
individual hire, rather than the serviis a 'service' taxi which is a form of
public transportation plying over a fixed route for modest fixed fares.

126 UNIT 9
 Practise what you have learned
12 You want to get from your hotel to the Mosque of AI Husein as cheaply as
possible. Listen to the information Nadira gives you on the tape, then note
the details of how much each method costs. You may need to listen more
than once. (Answers p.130)

method how? cost?

13 A short practice exercise in replying to greetings. You will hear N adira

giving a number of common greetings. After each one, pause and give the
appropriate response. You will then hear the response too, so you can
check.

UNIT9 127
 Key words and phrases
To learn keef (or kiit) Haalak? how are you?
kiilomitir (or kiilo) kilometre
'ariib min near (to)
a'rab maHaTTa the nearest station/bus stop
ba9iid 9an a long way from
kam U-masaafa min ... Ia? how far is it from o o to?
o
Hawaali about
sayyaara, (pi) sayyaaraat car
sayyaara taanya another car
yallah let's go! come on!
iza if
aaxirbaaS the last bus
U-baaS U-jaay the next bus
ween raayiH (raayHa) where are you going?
makaan place, room (for something)
9irif7yi9raf to know
ghayyar/yghayyir to change (buses, money)
waSSallywaSSU to give someone a lift, take someone
somewhere by car
naazil fi. staying at/in
iftakar/yiftikir to think
balaash at9ibak I don't want to put you to any trouble
inshaallaah God willing
taHat down, downstairs, below, under

128 UNIT 9
 Grammar

The structure of Most Arabic words are built from two elements: a 'root', usually three
consonants, and a 'pattern' of vowels with or without further consonants.
Arabic words For example ktb is a root with the meaning of 'writing'. When ktb is
combined with the verb pattern yiCCiC (C stands for the place of a root
consonant) it forms the non-past verb yiktib 'he writes'. With the noun
pattern CiCaaC it forms the noun kitaab 'book'. With the pattern for
places maCCaC it forms the noun maktab 'office' - a place of writing, and
so on. It is worth trying to note the roots of words as you come across them,
because it can be a great help both in learning vocabulary and in
understanding words you have never met before.

For non-past verbs the commonest patterns are yiCCiC, yiCCaC and
yiCCuC (yiktib, yi9mal, etc.), which is the 'simple form', but there are also
'derived' forms, of which yishtiri, ysaafir and yista'jir are examples you
have already met. The most useful one to know about is the one where the
middle consonant of the root is doubled, as in yTalli9 (root TI9), and
which usually has the meaning of causing something to happen. So yTalli9
means to make someone or something go out (or up) and is derived from
yiTia9, the 'simple' form, meaning to go out or up.

Active Words like raayiH (f. raayHa, pi raayHiin) - going or gone - and
faahim (f. faahma, pi faabmHn)- understanding- are examples of the
participles active participle pattern of the simple verb, often equivalent to English
forms ending in -ing like: going, living, coming. Note that 'hollow verbs'-
with a long vowel in the non-past, like yshuuf- have a y in the place of the
second root letter, (shaayif'seeing'). Verbs ending in vowels have participles
ending in -i like maashi walking, going. jaay (coming) is the participle
from yiiji he comes. The active participle may refer to a state - knowing,
living, staying, needing, seeing - or an act of motion that is in process or
about to happen - going, coming, going out, etc. Participles are a kind of
adjective and are negated with mish.

14 Fill in the blanks with the appropriate non-past form or participle of the
verb in parentheses. Translate the sentences. (Answers p.130)
(a) il-bint (yruuH) is-suu' kul yoom.
(b) ana (yiijJ) min wasT il-balad.
(c) A: ween (yruuH) yaa salwa?
B: ana (yinzil) ashuuf il-mudir.
(d) A: shu (yi9mal) yaa aHmad?
B: ana (yiktib) (= 'write') Ia zoojti.
(e) A: ana (maa yshuuf) sayyaarti, ween hiyya?

relative If you take a place name (or many other kinds of noun) and add-ito the
end (after removing the -a ending of feminine nouns) you turn the word
adjectives

......
into a 'relative' adjective or noun. For example:
and nouns briiTaanya Britain briiTaani British (as an adj. or noun)
9arab Arabs 9arabi Arab, Arabic (as an adj. or noun)

...
9aada custom 9aadi customary, normal
thaqaafa culture thaqaafi cultural

The feminine of these adjectives ends in iyya, and plurals normally in

-iyyiin: briiTaaniyyiin British (people), amriikiyyiin Americans, il-
majlis ith-thaqaafi 1-briiTaani The British Council.

UNIT9 129
 Your turn to speak
15 You want to get from Amman Airport to a hotel in town. Think of a few
questions you might ask at the information desk about transportation to
the hotel. Then compare them with Nadira's. (Hints: fare? by taxi? by bus?
bus number?)

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 (a) 4 (b) 3 (c) 2 (d) I
have learned
Exercise 2 (a) F (b) F (c) T (d) T
Exercise 4 maHaTTit banziin; just past the large mosque; half a
kilometer away
Exercise 5 SabaaH in-nuur; biddi; iza mumkin; 'addeesh; il-litir;
mumkin tdillni; a'rab; 'abilmaa
Exercise 7 (a) Bus to lrbid, second bus to Abdali bus station, then
change there to another bus or take a taxi (b) 2.45 (c) on
the bus or at the information office
Exercise 9 (a) No direct bus (b) bus to Jerash, and then change
(c) next bus 2.20, last bus 8.30 (d) quarter Dinar to Jerash
(e) it is possible to book in advance
Exercise 10 (d), (g), (h)
Exercise 12 Method 1 private taxi- 1.500 J. Dinars
Method 2 bus (No 110) & 2nd bus- 40 fils (= 4 qirsh)
Method 3 service taxi- 70 or 80 fils (= 7 or 8 qirsh)

Grammar Exercise 14 (a) bitruuH (b) jaay (c) raayHa; naazila

(d) bti9mal; baktib (e) mish shaayif

Writing Exercise 16 (a) Amman and lrbid (b) 1. bank (bank) 2. shaari9 (street)
3. duwwaar (circle, roundabout) 4. taksii (taxi)
5. suubarmarkit (supermarket) 6. mamnuu9 (prohibited,
'No .. .') 7. banziin suubar (super grade[4-star] petrol)
8. banziin 9aadi (ordinary grade [2-star] petrol)

130 UNIT9
 Did you know?
Travel in the In most parts of the Arab world there is a well-developed public
transportation system, whose practicalities differ from one country to
Arab world another. Public transportation is generally very cheap and good value in
comparison with what is available in western countries. In Syria, Egypt,
Jordan, Iraq and the West Bank, there are good national and international
bus services between major towns with express air-conditioned services now
becoming more common. Even these luxury buses are still remarkably
cheap. Within major towns, and between some of them, the standard
method of public transportation is the service taxis (sarviis) which follow
fixed itineraries and have fixed fares between picking up and dropping off
points. Service taxis are faster and more comfortable to use in large towns
than buses, and they are not much more expensive. The disadvantage is
that you usually have to wait, if you get on the starting point, until the
driver has filled up his taxi. In the case of long distance buses, and some of
the larger service taxi companies, you buy your ticket from a ticket office
near the taxi stop rather than give the driver your fare.

The private taxi (taksi xuSuuSi) is relatively expensive and although some
cities, like Amman, have metered taxis, the norm is to negotiate with the
driver how much the journey will cost before you start, so you need to get
some idea roughly what is reasonable before you set out. Obviously taxi
pick-up points near international hotels tend to try to charge more, but you
can always take a walk to the nearest major intersection and wave one
down. The first thing to do is to greet the driver and tell him where you
want to go, for example: marHaba ..• biddi aruuH 9ala wasT il-balad
hi, I want to go downtown. He may ask you 9ala ween? to where? After
you tell him, ask him how much it will cost: 'addeesh biddak? By this
stage it will be apparent that you speak Arabic, which usually has two
consequences: the driver will not attempt to overcharge you by a vast
amount since you will already have shown yourself not to be just another
gullible foreigner; and in many cases he will be interested to chat more, find
out where you're from, find out what you think of his country, complain
about the traffic, solicit your views on the world scene, England's chances in
the World Cup (if you're English), and so on. For this reason also you will
look less like a walking pound or dollar sign to him and more like an
interesting fellow human being. Arabic-speaking foreigners using public
transportation have great curiosity value, and you will get excellent
opportunities for chatting and general small talk which will improve your
Arabic. Squashed in buses and service taxis you also get the opportunity to
listen at close quarters to everybody else's conversations!

IIJ' ...

•
UNIT 9 131
 Writing
In this unit, we shall learn one new letter only, generally reckoned to be the
most difficult for English speakers to pronounce correctly (to remind
yourself of the pronunciation, see Hints on Pronunciation, p.S). This letter
is called 9ayn, and is symbolized in this book by the letter 9, as in the
name of the letter itself, and in words we have encountered so far like
si9ir price, 9ammaan Amman, saa9a hour, (wrist) watch, clock. By itself
- that is, when not joined to the letter before - it looks like this:

In initial position it joins onto a following letter and loses its 'tail':

jl:...
\ ~ 9aalam world

When joined to a previous and a following consonant, it looks different

again:

~ si9ir price

When in final position and joined to the letter before, it looks like this:

t:j.) rubu9 quarter

16 (a) Look at the bus ticket on p.131. Can you find the names of two
Jordanian cities on it?
(b) Here are a few names you might see on signs and billboards in the
street. Try to read and translate them. (Answers p.130)

(1) ~ (2) t_;W.

(3) ;IJJ (4)

~
(5) ~~f.~ (6) t.f-l
(7)
.r.~ ~~ (8) ~Jl$ ~~

132 UNIT 9
 1ORDERING A MEAL

You will learn

•• to order hors d'oeuvres (starters) in a restaurant
to order a meal in a restaurant

••
to order drinks
the names of various dishes

---
Study guide
I Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
I Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned

--- I Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned

Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned

---
Key words and phrases
Grammar

Your turn to speak

Did you know?
Writing

UNIT 10 133
 Dialogues
n 1 Shahir and Muhammad go out for
lunch at the Al-Andalus restaurant in
I rbid. -what about the
recommendations of the patron?...
Shahir shu biddak tghaddiina 1-yoom?
Patron shu illi btu'muru iHna HaaDriin fiih!!
Shahir shu, ya9ni, 'uul ilna.
Patron fii il-muqabbilaat u il-mashaawi, il-'mixed grill' Tab9an ...
tghaddiina you give us for lunch (lit. you lunch us)
illi which, that which
btu'muru you (pi) order
HaaDriin fiih ready (pl) for it
'uul ilna tell us (lit. say to us)
muqabbilaat hors d'oeuvres, starters, appetizers
mashaawi roast/grilled meats

• shu biddak tghaddiina 1-yoom what are you going to give us for lunch
today? (lit. what do you want to lunch us today?). bidd is often used in
the sense of'intending' or 'going to' as well as 'wanting'. If it had been in
the evening, Shahir might well have said shu biddak t9ashshiina? what
are you going to give us for dinner? (lit. what do you want to dinner us?)
• shu illi btu'muru iHna HaaDriin fiih whatever you order, we're ready
to prepare it (lit. what that you order, we are ready for it). By itself,
tu'mur (lit. you order) is often used, like HaaDir as an
acknowledgement of an instruction from a boss, customer or other
'superior'.

134 UNIT 10
 Practise what you have learned
1 What does the customer in the dialogue order? Listen and mark off the
correct answer. (Answers p.l43)
New word: ghada lunch
(a) mashaawi
(b) muqabbilaat
(c) ITuur

2 Listen to the next dialogue in which a man is asking for directions to a

restaurant. Mark off the correct answers. (Answers p.143)
New word: maT9am restaurant, and remember: Taawla table
(a) What is the man asking about?
e a foreign restaurant
e an English restaurant
e an Arabic restaurant
(b) Which road was the man told to take?

e the first street on the left

e the first street on the right
e the second street on the right
(c) How far was he directed to walk?
e thirty metres
e fifty metres
e a hundred metres

3 Your tum to speak. Imagine you are in a

restaurant. You want to ask about hors
d'oeuvres. Nadira will prompt you in
English.

UNIT 10 135
 Dialogues
n 2 Muhammad asks for more details of
the hors d'oeuvres.
Muhammad haadha jayyid bas ya9ni eesh il-muqabbilaat, law ta9Tiina asmaa'ha.
Patron muqabbilaat ... fii 9indak it-HummuS, il-mtabbal, it-tabbuula, is-
salaTa 1-gharbiyya u ish-sharqiyya, fii 9indak salaTa ruusi, fii
9indak salaTa iiTaali, fii 9indak salaTa turki ... salaTit il-xass hi 1-
malfuufbi 1-mayuneez, 9indak 1-kubba il-HamiiS, il-kubba
n-nayya.
Muhammad il-kubba 1-eesh?
Patron kubba nayya.
jayyid good, OK
law ta9Tiina asmaa'ha if you would give us their names
mtabbal spiced puree of roasted eggplant pulp
tabbuula salad made of cracked wheat, mint, parsley, oil and lemon juice
salaTa salad gharbi western sharqi eastern
ruusi Russian iiTaali Italian turki Turkish
xass lettuce malfuuf cabbage mayuneez mayonnaise
kubba HamiiS deep-fried meatballs containing pine kernels
kubba nayya raw meatballs (like steak tartare)

• bi with (as in malfuufbi 1-mayuneez but not in the sense of'in the
company of)

n
• il-kubba 1-eesh? kubba what? Muhammad is asking for clarification.

3 The Patron explains what one of the

hors d'oeuvres is, and then says what
is available for main courses.
Patron kubba HamiiS ... hiyya 9ibaara 9an kubba maqliyya hi z-zeet.
Muhammad ah na9am, muHammaSa haay.
Patron hiyya maqliyya bas-
Muhammad maqliyya kathiir SaHiiH.
Patron kalima shaamiyya ... isimha kubba HamiiS.
Muhammad wallah il-HamiiS haadha kwayyis akiid.
Patron fa haadi tashkiilit il-muqabbilaat ... 9indak il-mashaawi 9indna illi
hiyya binsammiiha 'mixed grill', ya9ni mashaawi mushakkala btiHwi
9ala shugaf laHmit xaruuf wa kabaab wa shiish tawuk illi huwwa
laHmit dajaaj hi 1-bhaaraat wa sharHaat steek ...
9ibaara 9an in other words mHammaS toasted

•
maqliyya bi z-zeet fried (f.) in oil kalima word (same as kilma)
SaHiiH true, correct akiid certainly
shaami Syrian wallah by God binsammiiha we call it
tashkiila variety, selection btiHwi 9ala it contains
mashaawi mushakkala mixed grill
shughaf chunks laHmit xaruuf lamb (lit meat [of] sheep)
shiish tawuk chicken cooked on a spit
laHmit dajaaj chicken meat (lit meat [of] chicken)
bhaaraat spices sharHa slice steek (western style) steak

136 UNIT 10
 Practise what you have learned
4 Here is the menu for the hors d'oeuvres. listen and mark off what the
waiter names. Then circle what the man orders. (Answers p.143)

HummuS D mtabbal D
kubba nayya D kubba HamiiS D
salaTa sharqiyya D salaTa gharbiyya D
tabbuula D salaTa ruusi D

5 Next, complete the part of the customer in the dialogue below by choosing
from the jumbled sentences in the box. Then check your answer on page 143.
p ahlan.
1 9aSiir burt'aan;
c
p tfaDDal. shu btu'mur? 2 il-Hisaab law samaHt;
c ? 3 shu fii muqabbilaat
p tfaDDal. haay il-minyu. 9indkum;
c 4 Taawla Ia shaxS
p HaaDir. bitHibb tishrab shii? waaHad min FaDlak;
c S waaHad HummuS,
p tikram. waaHad mtabbal,
c waaHad salaTa
sharqiyya.
p tfaDDal.

6 Your tum to speak. You have invited a friend to a restaurant. You know
this restaurant. '.: ou have been here before. Ask your friend what he would
like to start with and tell your friend what hors d'oeuvres they have got.
When you have had a try, listen to a model version of it.

7 A couple are ordering a meal. listen and then answer the questions.
(Answers p.l43) You need to know these words: dajaaja
mHammara roast chicken; xuDra vegetables.
(a) What does the woman order? (b) What does the man order?
••xuDra
shugaf laHmit xaruuf
•••
nuSS dajaaja mHammara
shugaf laHmit xaruuf
••nuSS dajaaja mHammara
kabaab
•
kabaab
xuDra
(c) What do they order for drinks? (d) How do they like their coffee?
•• 9aSiir manga
•• Hilwa
sukkar 'alii!
•
9aSiir tuffaaH

••
bibsi saada (no sugar)
9aSiir burtu'aan

8 Put the following jumbled parts of a dialogue in a restaurant in the right

order. Then listen to check your answer. New words: il-qaa'ima menu.
bitHibb tishrab shii? ahlan.
aywa, 9aSiir tuffaaH, law samaHt. laa, bas.
il-Hisaab, law samaHt. tfaDDal. shu btu'mur?
Taawla Ia shaxS waaHad, min faDlak. tfaDDal. haadi T-Taawla.
mumkin il-qaa'ima? shii taani?
waaHad mashaawi mshakkala HaaDir, tikram.
u waaHad HummuS. tfaDDal.

UNIT 10 137
 Dialogues

n 4 And after more details, they finally

give their order...
Muhammad u il-xubiz haadha l-xubiz ya9ni min intaaj 'irbid willa ...
Patron intaaj 'irbid na9am ... maxaabiz 'irbid il-aaliyya ... iHna binqadmuh,
binqadmuh noo9een - xubiz mHammaS u xubiz 9aadi.
Muhammad wallah il-mHammaS kwayyis haada.
Shahir il-mHammaS aHsan shii ... bas il-muqabbilaat biddna l-
muqabbilaat il-9arabiyya min faDlak illi hiyya illi 9addeethum ...
kamaan marra.
Patron mtabbal, tabbuula, salaTa xishna u salaTa naa9ma illi hiyya baba
ghannuuj, il-kishka ... it-tashkiila illi xalliina nguul il-muqabbilaat
ish-sharqiyya ...
xubiz bread
min intaaj 'irbid baked in lrbid (lit. the production of lrbid)
maxbaz bakery
maxaabiz 'irbid il-aaliyya Irbid Automated Bakeries
binqadmuh noo9een we serve it in two (different) ways
xubiz mHammaS toasted bread

•
xubiz 9aadi ordinary bread
aHsan shii preferable (lit. best thing)
9addeet you listed
kamaan marra once again
xishna rough (f.) (i.e. containing whole or roughly chopped ingredients,
like a European salad)
naa9ma smooth, soft (i.e. finely chopped or processed)
baba ghannuuj puree of roasted eggplant pulp, sesame seed oil and
lemon juice
il-kishka dish made from cracked wheat and yoghourt

• illi hiyya illi 9addeethum ... which are those which you listed .
it-tashkiila illi xalliina nguul il-muqabbilaat ish-sharqiyya the
selection which let's say is the 'eastern hors d'oeuvres' (lit. the selection
which let us we say ... ) 'Let' in expressions like 'let me say', 'let's say' is
xalli. The -i at the end is lengthened when a pronoun is added: so
xalliini 'let me .. .' xalliiha 'let her .. .' xa11iih 'let him .. .'. An appropriate
form of the non-past verb is then added: xalliiha truuH 'let her go! (lit.
let her she goes), xalliini ashuuf'let me have a look! (lit. let me I see).
• Notice that the restaurant patron says nguul for 'we say', rather than
n 'uul. the g pronunciation instead of ' in this verb is typical of rural areas
of Jordan, and has a somewhat Bedouin ring; the' has a more urban ring.
There are many other words in which it occurs such as, 'alam pen
(galam) 'abil before (gabil), 'uddaam in front of (guddaam). In your
own pronunciation you can use either, though be sure that a word which
you hear with ' can also be pronounced with a g, since this is not always
the case.

138 UNIT 10
 Practise what you have learned
9 A woman is ordering her breakfast. Listen and mark what she orders on the
menu below. (Answers p.143)
New words: masluu' boiled. You might need to review Unit 3.

MENU

beeD masluu' ~ 9aSiir tuffaaH

beeDmaqli ~ 9aSiir burtu'aan

fuul 9aSiit manga

xubiz mHammaS 'ahwa

xubiz 9aadi shaay

ITuur amriiki Haliib

HummuS

10 Samira has invited some foreign friends to her house to taste Arab food.
She is familiarizing them with the dishes. Listen and mark off the correct
answers to the questions. (Answers p.l43)
(a) Which dish was a type of salad?
e malfuuf
e HummuS
e tabbuula
e mtabbal
(b) Which dish was with (c) Which word gives you the impression
rice and meat? that the guest liked the food?

••• ••
mtabbal min luTfik
HummuS shukran

•
malfuuf
tabbuula •• zaaki
tfaDDalu

11 Your tum to speak. You are in an Arab restaurant with a friend. You've
decided what you want to eat. You are doing the ordering. Stan by saying
you want some hors d'oeuvres first. Nadira will prompt you as usual.
maay ma9daniyya is mineral water.

UNIT 10 139
 Key words and phrases
To learn 'aaVy'uul to say, tell (Ia =to)
aHsan better, best
aHsan shii the best thing
muqabbilaat hors d'oeuvres (starters, appetizers)
xubiz bread
mHammaS toasted
mashwi grilled/roasted
maqli fried
masluu' boiled
mHammar roast(ed)
dajaaj chicken
HummuS chick peas puree
mtabbal spiced puree of roasted eggplant pulp
kubba HamiiS cracked wheat balls stuffed with meat,
onions and fried pine nuts
salaTa salad
mashaawi mshakkala mixed grill
haat, (f.) haati bring!
gharbi western
sharqi eastern

To understand shu btu'mur? (-i [f.], -u [pi]) what would you like? (lit. what do
you order?)
shu bitHibb taakul what would you like to eat?
ghada lunch
9asha dinner
tashkiila variety, selection
laHmit xaruuf lamb
laHmitbaqar beef

140 UNIT 10
 Grammar
Passive The active participle of the simple verb was discussed in Unit 9. Active
participles work like verbs and follow a pattern, as you have noticed. Passive
Participle participles are usually adjectives, but they sometimes function as nouns
(often with a special meaning). You have come across many in previous
units. Often, they function like English past participles in, for example, the
door was locked; toasted sandwich; or broken glass.

The passive participle of the simple verb has the pattern:

maCCuC
mawjuud (from wajad to find): present, in existence
mashghuul (from shaghal to occupy): busy
maftuuH (from fataH to open): opened
masluu' (from sala' to boil): boiled

Verbs that end in vowels have the pattern:

maCCi
mashwi (from shawa to grill): grilled
maqli (from qala to fry): fried

The passive participles of derived verbs have a stem pattern similar to that
of the past tense with a prefix m- or mu- (occasionally mi-) added:
mHammaS (from HammaS/yHammiS to toast): toasted
mtabbal (from tabballytabbil to season): seasoned (eggplant puree dish)
mlawwan (from lawwanlylawwin to colour): coloured

Active participle The active participle of derived verbs has the same basic pattern as the non-
past tense, except that instead of a y- prefix, it has a mi- or mu- prefix:
of derived verbs
mudiir director, boss (from ydiir he directs)
misaafir traveller, travelling (from ysaafir he travels)
mumkin possible (from yumkin it is possible)
m.itzawwij married (from yitzawwaj he gets married)

illi In sentences like:

9indak il-mashaawi illi hiyya binsammiiha 'mixed grill'
There are the grills which we call 'mixed grill'. (lit. you have the grills which
it we call it 'mixed grill')
The word illi works in Arabic like the words 'which, who, that' in
English phrases such as: the dish which you ordered; the man who came to
dinner; the letter that arrived. Here are some further examples from the
dialogues.
shiish tawuk Wi huwwa •.. shiish tawuk, which is ...
salaTa naa9ma Wi hiyya •.. smooth salad, which is ...
it-tashkiila Wi xalliina nguul ••. the variety which let us call ...

If the noun is indefinite (that is, it has no il- and is not a name) the illi is
left out, for example: noo9 binsammiih kufta a kind which we call 'kufta'
(lit. [a] kind we call it 'kufta').

UNIT 10 141
 Grammar
The other point to note is that sentences with iW usually contain a
pronoun which refers back to the noun being described and agrees with it
grammatically: il-him il1i shuftlm the girl I saw (lit. the girl who I saw ~
t I t I
il-masfaawi il1i binsa~ the grills which we call ...

(lit. the~ which we calli!).

t I
Note in this last example that as mashaawi is a non-human plural, it
requires feminine singular agreement, as we saw earlier.

12 Use the passive participles of the verbs in parentheses to translate these

sentences: (Answers p.l43)
The restaurant is closed. (sakkarlysakkir to close)
That's prohibited. (mana9/yimna9 to prohibit)
This seat (maq9ad) is reserved. (Hajaz/yiHjiz to reserve)
The hotel isn't open. (fataWyiftaH to open)
The toilet is engaged. (shaghal/yishghil to occupy)

13 Use the active participle of the verbs in parentheses to translate the

following sentences: (Answers p.l43)

We are very sorry. (ta'assat7yit'assafto be sorry)

I'm very grateful. (tashakkar/yitshakkar to be grateful)
I'm not married. (tazawwaj/yitzawwaj to get married)
Are you (m.) ready to go? (ista9add/yista9idd to be ready)
Where do you (m.) live? (sakanlyiskun to live)

142 UNIT 10
 Your tum to speak
14 You have invited an Arab couple for lunch in a restaurant. How will you ask
them what they want for hors d'oeuvres and main course, what they would
like to drink and what they want for dessert. Practise asking them, and
ordering the meal. You can listen for a possible version of how the
conversation might go.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 (b)
have learned
Exercise 2 (a) an Arab restaurant (b) the first street on the left
(c) fifty metres
Exercise 4 Mark off: kubba HarniiS, tabbuula, HummuS, salaTa
sharqiyy Circle: HummuS, tabbuula, salaTa sharqiyya
ExerciseS 4; 3; 5; I; 2
Exercise 7 (a) nuSS dajaaja mHammara u xuDra (half roast chicken
and vegetables) (b) shugaflaHmit xaruufu kabaab u
xuDra ([grilled] lamb chunks with kabab and vegetables)
(c) 9aSiir tuffaaH u 9aSiir burtu'aan (apple juice and orange
juice) (d) sukkar 'aliil (a little sugar)
Exercise 9 beeD maqli (fried egg), xubiz mHammaS (toasted bread),
9aSiir burtu'aan, 'ahwa
Exercise 10 (a) tabbuula (b) malfuuf (stuffed cabbage)
(c) zaaki (delicious)

Grammar Exercise 12 il-maT9am msakkar; haada mamnuu9; hal-maq9ad

maHjuuz; il-funduq mish maftuuH; it-tawaaliit mashghuula;
Exercise 13 iHna mit'asfiin ktiir; ana mitshakkir ktiir; ana mish
mitzawwij; inta mista9idd truuH?; ween saakin?

Writing Exercise 15 (a) maT9am il-andalus The Andalus Restaurant

(b) il-maT9am il-9arabi The Arab Restaurant
(c) maT9am is-sulTaan The Sultan's Restaurant
(d) funduq 9amrah The Amra Hotel
(e) funduq ambasadoor The Ambassador Hotel
(f) funduq ish-sharq il-awsaT The Middle East Hotel
(g) funduq il-quds The Jerusalem Hotel

UNIT 10 143
 Did you know?
Restaurants As in the rest of the world there is an enormous range of eating
establishments in Arab cities from the most 'popular' hole-in-the-wall shops
selling a single type of dish (usually delicious!) to western-style, 5-star
restaurants with European chefs and prices to match. A single word
maT9am (pi maTaa9im) loosely 'restaurant', but covering any kind of
'eating place' (the word's literal meaning) is used to describe all of these.

At the cheapest end of the range, there is the kushk (derived from a Turkish
word from which we get the English word 'kiosk'), which is a small hut or
tiny shop selling take-away dishes. These usually sell a very limited range of
simple things like doner kebab, falaafil- in Egypt called Ta9amiyya- or
sandwiches (sandwiitshaat). Fresh pressed fruit juices (9aSiir) are also
often sold, for example, 9aSiir burtu'aan orange juice, 9aSiir farawla
strawberry juice or 9aSiir manga mango juice.

Somewhat more varied fare, though invariably local, is served in the large
number of cheap restaurants, sometimes open to the street, where you can
sit down. Usually there is no menu, and the waiter, in reply to the question
shu fii 9indkum? what do you have? will reel off a long list of possibilities.
Some of the commonest of these featured in Dialogues 4 and 5 of Unit 3,
and also in this unit. The normal way of ordering is simply to say a9Tiini
hallah ••• Please give me ... or a9Tiina ballah ... Please give us ... Bread
(xubiz) comes as a matter of course and is not normally charged for. In
such restaurants, unlike the more expensive one in this unit, there is no talk
of'hors d'oeuvres' (muqabbilaat). All orders (Talabaat) are served at the
same time (ma9a ba9D), or as they emerge from the kitchen. The only
drinks available are mineral water (maay ma9daniyya), cold soft drinks
(generically called baarid 'cold', as in bitHibb tishrab baarid? Would you
like a soft drink?), tea (shaay), Arab coffee ('ahwa), and perhaps milk
(Haliib). Usually in such restaurants there are no written bills, and you
simply settle the bill (il-Hisaab the account) at a cash register as you leave.
It is not expected that you leave a tip (baxshiish).

Further up the price range, air-conditioned, European-style restaurants

serve both Arab and western fare from written menus (minyu). Depending
on the local law and the intended clientele, it is often possible in this kind of
establishment to have your hamburger (hamburgar) and chips (baTaaTis
maqli) with a variety of western-style drinks. Tipping here is more usual,
though a service charge (xidma) may already have been added in addition
to the government taxes (Daraa'ib Hukuumiyya) which are automatically
added in many countries to bills in more expensive restaurants and hotels.

144 UNIT 10
Did you know?
Contrary to popular misconception, you can eat very well in the Middle
East if you are a vegetarian (nabaati). Since meat was once expensive and a
relative luxury, many of the dishes which make up the traditional mazza
are based on spiced pulses, cereals or vegetables: HummuS (chick peas),
tabbuula (wheat), falaafil (broad beans), baba ghannuuj and mtabbal
(eggplant) and mjaddara (lentils and rice), to name but a few.

BEVERAGES
COFFEE 0.500
TEA 0.500
DECAFFEINATED COFFEE 0.500
HOT CHOCOLATE 0.800
MILK SHAKES 1.100
MILK0.500

~L
.J~
:. t \
• '0 •• ~

• ' 0 • • '-?L.!;
• , o • • ~lS 0_,~ o_,..t
• '" •• ~L. ':J_,s.,..:.
,,, .. ~J?

• ,o• • ~
.~

UNIT 10 145
 Writing
In this unit we have encountered the word maT9am restaurant.
This word is written like this: ~

You already know the letters miim and 9ayn which occur in this word -
can you spot the shape which must correspond toT (called Taa)? It's:

b
which is formed by making the rounded part of the letter first, then adding
a downward stroke. It looks the same wherever it is written in a word, and
joins both sides if appropriate. Refer back to Hints on Pronunciation to
remind yourself what this difficult letter sounds like.

The next letter, faa, sounds like the English 'f in 'fish', and looks like this
on its own:
J
At the beginning and in the middle of a word, it loses its 'tail':
.;p ~4.;....
ffuur breakfast safariyyaat travel agency
At the end of a word, it is written with its tail:
~
kayf (spoken ~abic kiif) how?

The next letter, qaaf, is a similar shape to faa, except that it has two dots
written above it, not one. Again, this is a difficult sound for most non-
Arabs, so refer back to Hints on Pronunciation. In the colloquial Arabic of
Amman, Cairo, Beirut and Jerusalem, qaafis replaced in many common
words by' (see Hints on Pronunciation) which is like the sound in Cockney
or Glaswegian English which replaces the 't' in words like 'bu'er' (butter),
'wa'er' (water). People from country areas, on the other hand often

-
pronounce qaaflike the English 'g' in 'go'. On its own it looks like this:

l.J
When it begins a word, or is preceded by a letter which does not join with
the following one, it looks like this:
~} ~.)
qarya village raqam number
In the middle of a word, after a letter which joins:
rWI j£11
in-naql il-9aanun public transport
In final position it has a somewhat deeper tail, compared with faa:
Jl~l
il-9iraaq Iraq

15 Here are some restaurant and hotel signs. See if you can work out what they
say and mean. (Answers p.l43)

(a) ~~~~~ (b) ~:J....-11~1

(c) l)lla.LJI~ (d) •rs- J..c.i
(e) JJJ l....:-o IJ..c.i (f)
..la...J~I J_r.ll J..c.i
(g) l.)"'..u.ll J..c.i
146 UNIT 10
 LIKES AND DISLIKES
You will learn
• to say how much you like something
e to state preferences
e to talk about sports
e to give your opinion of things you have done or seen

Study guide
Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 5 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases
Grammar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

UNIT 11 147
 Dialogues
n 1 !man and Ahmad are having a chat
I man maa baHibbish 9aadaat iS-SubuH illi bas bitkuun la shurb il-'ahwa
u il-kalaam ... baHibb innuh astafiid min wa'ti akthar min heek ...
Ahmad maa bitdaxxini?
!man laa, maa baHibb it-tadxiin.
Ahmad kwayyis, ana barDu heek ... ana maa badaxxin wala baHibb ashrab
'ahwa willa ... bas baHibb ashrab shaay!
!man btishrab shaay ... kwayyis!
9aadaat habits, customs shurb drinking
kalaam talking, chatting astafiid I benefit, use profitably
wa't time heek like this
bitdaxxini you (f.) smoke tadxiin smoking

• maa baHibbish 9aadaat iS-SubuH iiii bas bitkuun Ia shurb

il-'ahwa u il-kalaam ••• I don't like morning habits which just consist
of drinking coffee and chatting. (lit. I don't like habits of the morning
which only are for drinking the coffee and the talking.)
• baHibb innuh astafiid ... I like to profit ... (lit. I like that I profit ... )
innuh is the equivalent of the English 'that' in phrases involving verbs of
thinking, feeling and saying, such as: 'I think that .. .', 'I believe that .. .', 'he
told me that .. .'
akthar min heek more than that (lit. more than like this)
ana barDu heek I'm like that as well

n
ana maa badaxxin wala baHibb ashrab 'abwa I neither smoke nor
like to drink cl'ffee (lit. I don't smoke or like ... )

2 Transportation can be a problem ...

!man u ba9deen lamma batna' 'al baHibb tkuun ma9ai sayyaarti li'ann it-
taksiyyaat ... it-taksi ghalaba.
Ahmad ghalaba.
!man Sa9b innak tlaa'i taksi fi 1-wa't il-Haali.
Ahmad Sa9b haada 9alashaan il-jaw baarid aw shii ...
ba9deen then, after, also tlaa'i you find
Iamma when, at the time when il-wa't ii-Haali the present
batna' 'al I move around time
taksi (pl. taksiyyaat or takaasi) taxi 9alashaan (here) because
ghalaba problem, nuisance il-jaw the weather
Sa9b difficult baarid cold

lamma batna' 'al, baHibb tkuun ma9ai sayyaarti... when I move

around, I like to have my car (lit ....1 like it be with me my car).
• it-taksi ghalaba taxis are a pain. Almost anything that causes you
problems can be called ghalaba.
• Sa9b innak tlaa'i ... it's difficult to find ... (lit. difficult that you find).

148 UNIT 11
 Practise what you have teamed
1 Listen to the conversation between Zeinab and Munir, who are trying to
decide what to do this evening, and answer the questions below.
(Answers p.l58) New words: ra'S shar'i belly dancing (lit. Eastern
dancing); tafarrajlyitfarraj 9ala to watch; gharbi Western
Which things does Zeinab like doing and which does she dislike - Tick or
cross the pastimes below.
(a) watching belly dancing (d) watching old films
(b) watching television (e) listening to Western music
(c) watching Westerns (f) listening to Arab music?

2 Your tum to speak. Here you can practise talking about what food you like.
You will need to understand the new word a9jablyi9jib to please (for
example: byi9jibni ktiir I like it a lot) and the word akil food. You need
also to remember shu ra'yak 6. •••?what do you think of ... ?, and that
when talking about something in general you need to put il- in front of the
word (for example: is-sbaaHa swimming). Nadira will guide you through
the conversation in the usual way.

3 Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with words from the box.
(Answers p.l58) New expression: bi sur9a quickly

Sa9b sahil (easy) tiftikir biy'uul mit'assif 9aarif

(a) - - - - - - - - innak tlaa'i s-sinama 9alashaan hiyya janb il-jaami9

il-kbiir.
(b) innuh maa byitham 9arabi, bas ana _ _ _ _ __
innuh byifham kwayyis.
(c) - - - - - - - - inni afham kalaam il-urduniyyiin lamma byiHku bi
sur9a.
( d ) - - - - - - - - innuh haada 1-jamal ghaali shwaay?
(e) innuh maa fii 9indna HummuS il-yoom.

4 Your tum to speak. Mu'nis is asking you about Jordan, so you can practise
giving your views. Nadira will guide you as usual.

UNIT 11 149
 Dialogues
n 3 !man likes sport, and so does Ahmad.
Ahmad Tab shu 9indik hiwaayaat, shu fii hiwaayaat, zayy eesh mata1an?
I man ah ... baHibb al9ab riyaaDa iS-SubuH bakkiir aktar shii us-
sbaaHa.
Ahmad is-sbaaHa, kwayyis.
!man u inta shu bitHibb?
Ahmad wallaahi ana baHibb is-sbaaHa ktiir ... 9indi Hatta 1-madaa1ya 1-
broonziyya bi s-sbaaHa!
!man kwayyis.
Tab short for Tayyib (OK)
hiwaayaat hobbies
zayy eesh like what
matalan for example
al9ab I play
riyaaDa sport
iS-SubuH bakkiir in the early morning
aktar shii mostly
sbaaHa swimming
Hatta (here) even
madaalya medallion, medal
broonzi bronze

• shu 9indik hiwaayaat? what hobbies have you got?

• baHibb al9ab riyaaDa I like to play sport. riyaaDa signifies sports and
exercise in general.
9indi Hatta . . • I've even got a ...

150 UNIT 11
 Practise what you have learned
5 In this exercise you will hear Salah and Salim talking about sport. Below
there is a list of statements about Salah's likes and dislikes in sport, arranged
in his order of preference, but with the actual sport omitted. Can you fill in
the blanks with the appropriate sports, according to the conversation?
(Answers p.158)
New words: rikiblyirkab xeel to ride a horse; rukuub il-xeel horse-
riding.
(a) biyHibb aktar shii.
(b) biyHibb ktiir.
(c) biyHibb - - - - - - - - - - nuSS u nuSS.
(d) maa biyHibbsh bi 1-marra (not ... at all).

6 In this conversation John is talking to Hanan and Ashraf about riding

horses. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of the verbs and
pronouns in parentheses. Don't forget the B-prefix before the verb where
appropriate. (Answers p.158)
New words: SaHra desert; byi9rafyil9ab he knows how to play
Hanan yaa John, - - - - - - (yi9rafyirkab) xeel?
John laa, maa ______ (yi9raf), bas ____________
(yHibb yitfarraj). inti _ _ _ _ _ - - - - - (yi9rafyirkab)?
Hanan aywa, (yHibb yirkab) ktiir, ana u
ashraf.
John ween - - - - - (yirkab)?
Ashraf _ _ _ _ _ (yHibb yirkab) fi S-SaHra aktar
shii, 9ashaan Hilwa u - - - - - - (yi9jibuh) ktiir. u inta, shu
noo9 ir-riyaaDa lli (yHibbuh)?
John wallaahi (yHibb yil9ab) golf.
Ashraf (yi9raf yil9ab) kwayyis?
John ya9ni, nuSS u nuSS.

Riding horses at
Petra in Jordan

UNIT 11 151
 Dialogues
n 4 Ayda went to a reunion yesterday of
some old friends ...
Haifa inbasaTti mbaariH? eesh ra'yik kaan?
Ayda bti9rafi inbasaTit ktiir maZbuuT, il-jam9a kaanat Hilwa ...
Haifa Tab, eesh illi kaan Hilw mawjuud?
Ayda bti9rafi aktar shii inbasaTit - min waHda illi aktar min 9ashar sniin
mish shayfatha, u awwalmaa shaafatni 'yiii inti 9ayda mish ma9'uul!!'.
inbasaTti you had a good time
mbaariH yesterday (alternative to ams, with same meaning)
ra'y opinion, view
inbasaTit I had a good time
maZbuuT true, exact(ly)
jam9a gathering
sniin years (pi of sana, alternative to sanawaat with same meaning)
mish shayfatha I haven't seen her
awwalmaa as soon as
shaafatni she saw me
mish ma9'uul incredible

• inbasaTti mbaariH? did you have a nice time yesterday? The verb
inbasaT/yinbasiT is very commonly used, and is equivalent to English
expressions like 'have a good/nice time', 'enjoy yourself. Here the verb is
in the past tense, and the -ti ending indicates that the person addressed is
a woman (feminine singular). Ayda's reply is of course 1st person (I):
inbasaTit I had a good time.
• eesh ra'yik kaan what did you think of it? (lit. what your (f.) view was?).
eesh ra'yak? or shu ra'yak? are the normal ways of asking someone's
opinion about (fi) something.
bti9rafi inbasaTit ktiir maZbuuT .. . you know, I did have a really
good time, it's true ... Ayda sounds as if she's going to say 'but .. .' when
she is interrupted by Haifa.
• aktar shii inbasaTit- min waHda illi aktar min 9ashar sniin mish
shayfatha the thing I was really happy about was a woman who I hadn't
seen for more than ten years (lit. mostly I was happy from one [woman]
to me more than ten years not having seen her).
shayfatha is made up of shayfa, meaning 'seeing' or 'having seen' (for a
man this would be shayif- see Grammar, Unit 9), with the pronoun -ha
her. The t (part of the feminine ending) has to be added at the end of
shayfa and before a pronoun suffix (such as -ha) is added.

152 UNIT 11
 Practise what you have teamed
7 Listen to George and Salwa talking about George's trip to Petra.You're
thinking of going there yourself, so you're interested in the practical details:
(a) how he got there
(b) what time he set off and arrived back
(c) whether he enjoyed himself.
You can check if you have understood correctly by looking at p.158.
New words: riHla, -aat journey; Haarr hot (weather)
(Note also that Haarr ktiir means 'too hot' as well as 'very hot'.)

8 Fuad is telling someone what he did yesterday, and here is his story
jumbled up. Arrange it in the right order, by writing 1 in the box against
what should be the first sentence, and so on. You can check your answers
on page 158.
Remember: 'aabally'aabil to meet someone; waafa'/ywaafi' to agree.

(a) nizilt il-balad bi 1-baaS. D

(b) ba9deen 'aabalt fariida 'uddaam maT9am il-baasha. D
(c) mbaariH inaSalt bi SaaHibti fariida bi t-tilifoon. D
(d) waafa'at. D
(e) u i shtareet tazkarteen Ia s-sinama. D
(f) sa'altha iza kaan biddha truuH ma9i 9a s-sinama bi 1-leel. D

9 Your turn to speak. You will hear Habiiba asking you about the trip to Syria
you came back from yesterday. After each question she will pause, to give
you time to stop the recording and answer based on the information below.

You went to Damascus and stayed five days, returning yesterday. It was a
long journey, but not hard, and you enjoyed Damascus a lot. You saw the
Ummayad Mosque (il-jamni9 il-umawi) and the famous bazaar or Suq
suu' (f.) il-Haamidiyya. You liked the mosque best.
New word: bi'ilyib'a to stay.

UNIT 11 153
 Dialogues
n 5 Samira is feeling a bit irritated about
the behaviour of some people she saw
in the park ...
Karim shu, maa lik il-yoom, shaayif mish mi9jbiitni!
Sa mira wallaahi inni shway mitDay'a.
Karim min eesh?
Sa mira bti9raf ana mbaariH heek, ah, kunt rayHa 9a 1-Hadiiqa u 'a9adit
heek- kaan jaay 9a baali a'9ud il-9aSir shway heek bi Haali - shuft
manaaZir ktiir maa a9jabatni ... fii 9indna Hadaa'iq 9aama, bas
in-naas maa 9am ti'dar-
Karim shu ya9ni?
Samira ya9ni ti9raf innu hai-Hadiiqa Ia l-jamii9 u biyxarbuuha byi'Ta9u
z-zrii9a u iS-Sghaar biykasruuh bi l-al9aab ... haada ishii mulk Ia
kull in-naas mish laazim iHna nxarbuh heek.
Karim haadha ghalaT Tab9an, ana bawaafig ma9ik.
Samira u haadha 1-ishii illi ana za99alni u bas.
mitDay'a (f.) irritated kunt rayHa I (f.) was going
Hadiiqa pl. Hadaa'iq (9aamma) 'a9adit I sat down
(public) park, gardens a'9ud I sit down
U-9aSir the afternoon bi Haali by myself
manaaZir sights, things seen in-naas people
U-jamii9 everyone, all biyxarbuuha they ruin it
byi'Ta9u they cut, pick zrii9a plants
biykasruuh they break it, smash it al9aab games
mulk property kull in-naas all the people,
ghalaT wrong everyone
Tab9an of course bawaafig I agree
za99alni it annoyed me, upset me =
(with ma9a)

• shu, maa Uk U-yoom what's the matter with you today? (lit. what, what
to you today?).
sbaayifmisb mi9jibiitni I see you're not yourself (lit. [I] seeing [you]
not pleasing me). mi9jib is the active participle of the verb a9jablyi9jib
to please. The feminine form with t is used here because the participle is
describing a woman- it is she who is doing the pleasing (or rather the lack
of it!); the -ni is the object 'me'.
• kaan jaay 9a baali a'9ud U-9aSir sbway beek bi Haali I felt like sitting
down for a bit in the afternoon by myself (lit. [it] was coming to my mind
[that] I sit the afternoon a bit by myself).
• manaaZir maa a9jabatni sights which didn't please me. The verb
a9jablyi9jib is frequently used in the sense of'like, please': bti9jibak U-
urdun willa laa? do you like Jordan or not?
in-naas maa 9am ti'dar •• people are incapable ... 9am is used with a
non-past verb to indicate that the action is happening now.
ti'dar can, are capable. This is feminine singular because naas is often
classed as a non-human plural, and thus takes feminine singular agreement.
• misb laazim. iHna nxarbuh beek we shouldn't ruin it like that.

154 UNIT 11
 Practise what you have learned
10 Read the following conversation and answer the questions below.
(Answers p.158)
New word: rijjaal (pl.rjaal) man (it is imponant to pronoun the jj in
the singular properly as this is the main difference from the plural - see
Hints on Pronunciation.)
Anwar shufti filim sindibaad yaa bushra?
Bushra aywa, shuftuh min santeen heek.
Anwar u shu kaan ra'yik?
Bushra hi SaraaHa maa a9jabni ktiir.
Anwar leesh?
Bushra maa Habbeetsh ir-rijjaal illi kaan byil9ab door sindibaad. mish
9aarfa, kaan mish mi9jibni heek. ba9deen il-filim kaan Tawiil ktiir.
Anwar u maa kaan fii ishii yi9jibik fi 1-filim?
Bushra ya9ni, manaaZir iS-SaHra a9jabatni aktar shii, kaanat kwaysa, u
inta, shu ra'yak? shuft il-filim?
Anwar laa, kaan biddi ashuufuh, bas iza kaan heek, mithil maa bit'uuli,
xalaaS, biddiish.
(a) Which phrases indicate (i) things that Bushra did not like about the
film, and (ii) things she did like?
(b) What do you think kaan byil9ab door sindibaad means?
(c) Underline the phrases that mean a) there wasn't anything and b) I
wanted to see it.
(d) Underline the phrase that says how long ago Bushra saw the film. How
long ago was it?

11 Your tum to speak. You are talking to Yusif about your hotel, which you
are not very happy with. Nadira will guide you in the usual way.

UNIT 11 155
 Key words and phrases
To learn baHibb (x) aktar shii I like (x) the most
a9jabnilbyi9jibni I like it
is-sbaaHa swimming
il-jaw Haarr It's/the weather's hot
baarid ktiir very/too cold
rillla (pl. -att) trip, journey
Sa9b difficult
muxtalif (9an) different (from)
9alashaan because
inbasaT/yinbasiT to enjoy oneself
inbasaTt min ir-rillla I enjoyed the trip
laa'alylaa'i to find
tafarraj/yitfaaraj 9ala to watch
rikib/yirkab to ride, gl:t on/in
kaanlykuun to be
zaarlyzuur to visit
mbaariH yesterday
rijjaal (pl. rjaal) man
sitt (pl. -att) woman
SaaHib (f. SaaHiba, pl. aSHaab) friend
Tariiq or Tarii' (pl.Turuq orTuru') road
kull all, every

To understand nuSSunuSS so so
maa byi9jibni hi 1-marra I don't like it at all
bti9rafti19ab •.. ? do you know how to play... ?
bitdaxxin? do you smoke?

156 UNIT 11
 Grammar
The past tense The past tense in Arabic is equivalent to the English 'did' or 'has done',
depending on the context. Here is an example of a regular verb in the past:
9imillyi9mal to do, make. You are familiar with several of the forms
already, for example, law samallt/samaHti/samalltu. Some verbs have
an i-i vowel pattern (like 9imil) and some an a-a, like samail.
9imilt I did 9imDna we did
9imilt you (m.) did 9imiltu you (pl.) did
9imilti you (f.) did
9imil he did 9imilu they did
9imilat she did

You may also hear, in regular verbs, forms like 9imilit for '1/you (m.) did',
in which the ending is -it, rather than -t. For example, Ayda says
inbasaTit rather than inbasaTt for 'I enjoyed myself. This is a vari!ltion
which you should try to recognise.
As with the non-past tense, the past tense endings are the same for all
verbs. In some types of verbs, the bit the endings are added to (the 'stem')
may change, depending on whether the ending begins with a consonant or
not. Here is the past ofkaaolykuun to be.
kunt I was kunna we were
kunt you (m.) were kuntu you (pl.) were
kunti you([)were
kaan hewas kaanu they were
kaanat she was

kaaolykuun is a so-called 'hollow' verb. All this means is that in some parts
of the past tense ('he', 'she', 'they'), there is a long -aa- vowel in the middle
of the stem, e.g. kaan 'he was', kaanat 'she was', kaanu 'they were'. In the
rest of the past tense of such verbs, the stem has a short vowel which in
some verbs is -u- and in some -i-: so kaan 'he was' but kunt 'I was', raaH
'he went', but ruHt 'I went', naam. 'he slept' but nimit 'I slept'.

In the non-past, 'hollow' verbs always have a stem containing a long vowel,
which maybe -aa-, -ii- or -uu-, e.g.
aruuH I go yruuH he goes yruuHu they go
abii9 !sell ybii9 he sells ybii9u they sell
anaam. I sleep ynaam he sleeps ynaamu they sleep

'Hollow' verbs, like ordinary ones, are listed under the 'he' forms of the past
tense and non-past tense, e.g. raalllyruuH to go, baa9/ybii9 to sell. Other
kinds of verbs in the past will be dealt with in Unit 12.
The negative of the past tense is formed in the same way as that of the
non-past, e.g. maa 9imilt or maa 9imiltsh I didn't do.

12 Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verbs in parentheses.
(Answers p.l58) New word: maHall (m.-aat) place.
min sana (saafar) ana u zoojti 9ala 1-urdun u (nizil) fi
funduq 9amra. zoojti (raaH) ktiir 9ind SaaHbitha illi _ _ __
(kaan) saakna fi 9ammaan, u (zaar) maHallaat ktiira nia9a
ba9D. u ana (raaH) riHla 9ala 1-bitra u (zaar)
maHallaat taanya bi T-Tariiq, u (kaan) riHla mumtaaza. u
niHna (shaaf) filim 9arabi 'adiim. (kaan) fi9lan
filim 9aZiim.

UNIT 11 157
 Your turn to speak
13 Mention three things you like doing and three things you do not like doing,
in Arabic of course. You will hear N adira tell you her likes and dislikes on
the recording.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 Tick: (a), (b), (d); Cross: (e)
have learned
Exercise 3 (a) sahil (b) biy'uul, 9aarif (c) Sa9b (d) tiftikir
(e) mit'assif
Exercise S (a) is-sbaaHa (b) is-sbaaHa (c) it-tinis (d) rukuub il-xeel
Exercise 6 bti9raf tirkab?; ba9raf or ba9rafsh; baHibb atfarraj;
bti9rafi tirkabi?; binHibb nirkab; btirkabu? binHibb nirkab;
bti9jibna; bitHibbha? baHibb al9ab; bti9raf til9ab
Exercise 7 (a) by bus (b) 6.00 a.m., 9.15 p.m. (c) yes, a lot
Exercise 8 (a) 4 (b) 5 (c) 1 (d) 3 (e) 6 (f) 2
Exercise 10 (a) (i) ir-rijjal illi kaan byil9ab door sindibad or il-filim kaan
Tawiil ktiir (ii) manaaZir iS-SaHra (b) He played/was
playing the role of Sinbad (c) (i) maa kaan fii ishii (ii) kaan
biddi ashuufuh (d) min santeen = 2 years ago

Grammar Exercise 12 saafama; nizilna; raaHat; kaanat; zaaru; ruHt; zurt; kaanat;
shufna; kaan

Writing Exercise 14 (a) Ma'iin (b) Jerash (c) Aqaba (d) al-Azraq
(e) al-mudarraj ar-ruumaani =The Roman Amphitheatre

158 UNITll
 Did you know?
Sports and In the modern Arab world, the most popular sports are the same as those in
the West. As we saw in the dialogues of this Unit, riyaaDa is the general
pastimes word for sport, but the most popular individual games (li9b pl. al9aab) or
sports are it-tanis tennis, ir-rakaD jogging, running, kurat il-qadam
soccer, kurat is-salla basketball, il-kura iT-Taa'ira volleyball, as well as
is-sbaaHa swimming, which we saw earlier. Other popular spectator sports
are sibaaq il-xeel horse-racing, and, in Bedouin areas, sibaaq il-jmaal
camel-racing. Betting on the result of a race or match (muqaamara) is
specifically prohibited in Islam.

Musical evenings (saharaat or Hatlaat musiiqiyya) are enormously

popular in all parts of the Arab world, and recordings of concerts account
for a considerable proportion of the output of all Arab TV and radio
stations. Although the music and songs performed at such evenings can be
termed 'popular', it is wrong to equate them with western concepts of'pop'
music. In the Arab world until very recently, there was not really any
distinction between 'classical' and 'popular' music. Egyptian popular singers
such as Umm Kulthum, Farid al-Atrash (both now dead), and Lebanese
such as Fayruz and Sabah have an enormous and universal appeal among
all ages and social groups. Their songs treat the timeless themes of love,
betrayal and loss, and are constructed on a grand scale, with the
performance of a single song sometimes lasting up to an hour. The great
singers occupy a unique place in the national and pan-Arab psyche. The
funeral ofUmm Kulthum, the doyenne of Egyptian singers, was the
occasion for a mass outpouring of grief, attended by several million
Egyptians, and brought Cairo to a complete standstill.

Day trips to sites of natural beauty are as popular in the Arab world as they
are in the West. In Jordan, for example, popular destinations for a family
day out (riHla) are the hot springs at Ma'in south of Amman
(Hammaamaat ma9iin), and the forts (quSuur) on the road east to
a! Azraq (qaSr il-xaraanah, qaSr 9amra). Day return tickets by bus
(tazkira rooHa raj9a) are cheap. In Amman and its immediate vicinity,
there are extensive Roman remains: the Roman amphitheatre (il-mudarraj
il-ruumaani) in Amman itself and the ruins (aathaar) at Jerash, to the
north of Amman, where every September an international festival
(mahrajaan dawli) of the performing arts is held.

The theatre (il-masraH) is perhaps less well established in most Arab

countries than in the West, being a relatively recent cultural importation.
The cinema (is-siinama), on the other hand, is as popular as it is in the
West, and there is a thriving film industry, particularly in Egypt, which
exports its films to the rest of the Arab world. Although their paramount
position in the popular arts is now less than it was twenty years ago,
Egyptian film stars and singers still have the largest general following
throughout the Arab world, rather in the way that American film actors and
popular singers dominated the English-speaking countries in the 1930's to
1950's.

UNIT 11 159
 Writing
In Unit 9 we met the letter 9ayn:

The same shape with a dot above it is a different letter called ghayn and
is symbolised in the spoken part of the course by the two letters gh.
On its own it looks like this: •
t..
This is a difficult letter to pronounce (see Hints on Pronunciation), but
sounds something like a Parisian French 'back r' or the sound you make
in your throat when gargling. It is written in all positions exactly like 9ayn,
the only difference being the dot. Here are some examples:

... .
Initial position Medial position
..
Final position

4Jf' JU ~
ghurfa room shughl work, job tibigh tobacco

Our next letter is called jiim and sounds like the English 'j' in 'John', though
some Lebanese and Syrians pronounce it like the 's' in 'pleasure', and
Egyptians pronounce it like the 'g' in 'go'. On its own, when not joined, it
looks like this: [ .

w .
Initially and medially it loses its 'tail' when joining onto a following letter:

.). ~
najjaar carpenter (also family name) ja9far Ja'far (male name)

In the final position, when preceded by a 'joining letter', it retains its tail:

I•
{t''"'f. barnaamij programme

In final position, when not joined, it has a similar shape:

~.;S karaaj garage

15 The following are names of tourist places and sites in Jordan. See if you can
make them out.
. (b)
0
(a)
4-Y'?. ~
J;j~l (d)
..
~ (c)
•
~LoJ)I [.~..UI (e)

160 UNIT 11
 ARRANGING AMEETING
You will learn
• how to make appointments
• how to arrange to meet someone
• more ways of talking about future plans and events
• some irregular verbs

Study guide
- I Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
I Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
- I Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
- Key words and phrases
Grammar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

UNIT 12 161
 Dialogues
n 1 H ala, a student, would like to arrange
an appointment to see Miles Roddis, a
British Council Representative, about
a scholarship application to a British
university. She goes to his Personal
Assistant...
Hala marHaba.
PA ahlan.
Hala HaDirtik sikritiirit il-mudiir?
PA aywa, tfaDDali.
Hala biddi a'aabil Mr Roddis, law samaHti.
PA bi xSuuS eesh biddik t'aabliih?
Hala Talab 'addamtuh la bi9tha 'abil talaat tashhur...
PA aywa.
Hala u-...
PA maa ijaaki 1-jawaab 9aleeh.
Hala maa ija lii radd la ghaayit halla'.
PA Haawalti tshuufi Mrs Farah, il-mas'uula 9an il-bi9thaat?
Hala Haawalt 'abil fatra u dayman mashghuula mashghuula.
a'aabil I see, meet, have a meeting with
bi xSuuS concerning, about
t'aabliih you (f.) meet him Talab application
'addamtuh I presented it, put it in bi9tha (pl. -aat) scholarship
jawaab answer, reply radd answer, reply
Ia gbaayit balla' up till now Haawalti you (f.) tried
mas'uul (f. mas'uula) (9an) Haawalt I tried
person responsible (for) fatra a period of time
dayman always

• Talab 'addamtuh Ia bi9tha an application I made for a scholarship .

'addamtuh means literally 'I presented it'. You say in Arabic: an
application I presented .i1, a man I saw him in the street, a book I read
about i1 in the newspaper. illi (which), we saw in Unit 10 Grammar, is
only used in Arabic if the noun is definite: iT-Talab illi 'addamtuh the
application which I made it, for example.

• 'abil talaat tasbbur three months ago. 'abil by itself means 'before', but
when followed by a period of time it is equivalent to the English 'ago':
'abil yoomeen two days ago, 'abil fatra some time ago. You have met
min (from) with the same meaning: min yoomeen two days ago.
maa ijaaki 1-jawaab 9aleeb you haven't had a reply (lit. not came (to)
you the reply to it). The PA's completion of Hala's sentence overlaps on
the recording with Hala's sentence which means the same: maa ija Iii
radd Ia ghaayit halla' I haven't had a reply up to now.

• Haawalti tsbuufi... have you tried to see ... (lit. you tried to see ... ) .
After the verb HaawaVyHaawil you simply use a non-past verb as the
equivalent of the English 'to try to .. ./to try and ... ': Haawalt asbuufuh I
tried to see him.

162 UNIT 12
 Practise what you have learned
1 Listen to a conversation between a personal assistant and someone seeking
an appointment with her boss. Answer True/False (TIF).
(Answers p.l70)
(a) She can see the director. D
(b) She can see him tomorrow. D
(c) She is asked to come in after a month. D
(d) She can see him in a week. D
(e) She cannot see him because he is not in. D
(f) She is told he is busy. D
2 Listen to the conversation in which an enquirer is given directions. Then
mark off the correct answers. (Answers p.l70)
(a) Who does the lady want to see?
e the manager
e the manager's assistant
e the manager's secretary
(b) The room is on:
e the first floor, second door on the right
e the second floor, first door on the left
e the second floor, first door on the right

3 Your turn to speak. You are on a business trip to Jordan. You would like to
see the director of Salah Company. Speak to the receptionist. Nadira will
prompt you as usual.

UNIT 12 163
 Dialogues
n 2 Later:~ Raghda:~ a secretary in one of
the ministries:~ comes into the office to
set up a meeting for her boss with
Mr Roddis...
PA tfaDDal.
Raghda marHaba hind.
PA ahleen, killik?
Raghda kiif Haalik?
PA ahlan wa sahlan.
Raghda biddi aaxud maw9id ma9a Mr Roddis.
PA aywa.
Raghda Ia mudiiri bi 1-wizaara.
PA bi 1-wizaara ... er... eemta biyHibb yiiji?
Raghda id-duktuur 9ali Talab minni innuh aaxud luh maw9id ayya yoom -
ya9ni yoom it-tneen, ayya yoom ba9d is-sabt, il-aHad aw it-tneen
is-saa9a Hda9sh ...
PA il-aHad aw it-tneen is-saa9a iHda9sh... bi n-nisba Ia yoom il-aHad,
raghda, Mr Roddis mashghuul bas bi n-nisba ... Ia yoom it-tneen
ahlan wa sahlan, mumkin ...
wizaara ministry
Talab he asked
ayya yoom any day
bi n-nisba Ia...
as far as ... is concerned

• biddi aaxud maw9id ma9a Mr Roddis I want to make (lit. take) an

appointment with Mr Roddis. In Arabic you usually 'take' an appointment
to see someone.
• eemta biyHibb yiiji when would he like to come?
• Talab minni innuh aaxud luh maw9id he asked me to make him an
appointment... (lit. he required from me that I make for him
appointment...). To 'ask someone to do something' (as opposed to 'ask
someone a question'= sa'al) is always with the verb Talab (to require),
which is used with min (from): Talab minha truuH ma9uh he asked
her to go with him (lit. he required from her she goes with him). Note that
the 'he' form of the verb, Talab, is the same as the noun Talab
(application, requirement), which you met in Dialogue 1 of the Unit.
it-tneen Monday: an alternative to U-itneen with the same meaning.

164 UNIT 12
 Practise what you have leamed
4 The manager is asking his secretary about appointments for the week.
Listen to their conversation and fill in his pocket diary for him. Write down
in English the days and the times he is engaged, and with whom.
(Answers p.170)

SUNDAY29

MONDAY30

TUESDAY 1
SATURDAYS

c_____]
00
(J

5 Listen to the dialogue between a visitor and a receptionist. Mark off the
correct answer to the questions. (Answers p.170)
(a) Why can't he see the director?
e The director is busy.
e He does not have an appointment.
e The director is not in.
(b) What was he asked to do? (b) When is the appointment for?
e To come tomorrow. e Thursday at 10.30 am.
e To wait. e Monday at 9.30 am.
e To make an appointment. e Thursday at 11.30 am.

6 Your turn to speak. You are phoning to make an appointment to see the
manager of shaa9ir wa shurakaa' (Sha'ir and Parrners). Nadira will
prompt you as usual.

UNIT 12 165
 Dialogues
n 3 What is the meeting to be about... ?
Raghda mumkin it-neen is-saa9a Hda9sh?
PA aywa Tayyib ... 9aarfa leesh bidduh yshuuf Mr Roddis?
Raghda aZunni innuh biddhun yibHathu tafaaSiil istiqdaam xabiir min
briiTaanya, bidduh yfarjiih il-'proposals' illi ma9uh.
PA ah, OK.. . lakaan il-, er-, it-tneen, talaata ish-shahar is-saa9a
Hda9sh, ahla u sahla.
Raghda OK, shukran.
PA ahlan.
9aarif (f.9aarfa) knowing
aZunni I think
yibHathu they discuss
tafaaSiil details
istiqdaam summoning, inviting out
xabiir expert
lakaan so, then

• 9aarfa leesh bidduh yshuuf Mr Roddis? do you know why he wants

to see Mr Roddis? 9aarfa is the feminine active participle (m. = 9aarif) of
the verb 9irifto know.
• aZunni innuh biddhun yibHathu... I think that they want to discuss ...
The hun in biddhun (they want) is an alternative to biddhum with the
same meaning.
Notice that in the English-speaking atmosphere of the British Council
Office, even two Arabic-speakers may occasionally use English words like
'proposals' in the middle of an Arabic conversation. If you get stuck, it is
worth a try! (Incidentally, in Arabic, 'proposals' is iqtiraaHaat).
talaata ish-shahar the third of the month.
• ahla u sahla instead of ahlan wa sahlan: a more relaxed, informal way
of saying the same thing.

166 UNIT 12
 Practise what you have learned
7 Two secretaries are arranging appointments for their bosses. Complete the
dialogue using the words from the box below. (Answer p.170)

eemta l-usbuu9 maw9id ahlan is-saa9a Hda9sh

kwayyis keefHaalik

Su'ad marHaba baasima.

Basima su9aad, _ _ _ _ _ _ ?
Su'ad il-Hamdu lillaah, biddi aaxud - - - - - - I a mudiiri ma9a
mudiirik.
Basima - - - - - biyHibb yiiji?
Su'ad ayy yoom haada _ _ _ _ _ _ ba9d is-saa9a 9ashra.
Basima yoom il-xamiis is-saa9a Hda9sh kwayyis?
Su'ad aywa, - - - - - - . lakaan il-xamiis - - - - - -

8 Samira wants to invite her friend, Hanadi, to lunch. Hanadi is looking at

her diary. Fill in the three engagements that she mentions. When can she
fit Samira in? Where will they have lunch? (Answers p.170)

FRIDAY
12.00Noon
I.OOp.m.
5.00p.m.

SATURDAY
12.30p.m.
3 .00p.m.
5.00p.m.

SUNDAY
10.00a.m.
I.OOp.m.

9 Your tum to speak. A business acquaintance wants to invite you to dinner.

She is trying to arrange a day and a time. Nadira will prompt you as usual.
New word: biynaasbak it suits you, is convenient to you.

UNIT 167
 Key words and phrases
To learn biddi aaxud maw9id I want to make an appointment
Oit. I want to take ... )
ba9dbukra the day after tomorrow
leesh why?
halla' now
Talab/yiTlub to ask something (min = from)
HaawallyHaawil to try, attempt
'aabally'aabil to meet
'abil fatra some time ago
dayman always

To understand bixuSuuS eesh? concerning what?

bi n-nisba Ia in relation to, concerning
wizaara ministry
xabiir expert
tafaaSiil details
baHathlyibHath to discuss
eemta biynaasbak? when would suit you?

168 UNIT 12
 Grammar

The past of the Remember that some verbs are called 'weak' verbs. These verbs end in a
vowel -a or -i in the past 'he' form. Oook back to the Grammar section of
weak verb Unit 7 for the non-past forms.) For example:
Haka to speak bi'i to stay
The -a in verbs like Haka drops before endings that begin with a vowel.
For example:
Hakat she spoke (from Haka +at)
Haku they spoke (from Haka + u)
The -a is replaced by -ee- before endings that begin with a consonant.
For example:
Hakeet I spoke (from Haka + t)
Hakeeti you (f.) spoke (from Haka + ti)
Here are the full forms for Haka:
Hakeet I spoke Hakeena we spoke
Hakeet you (m.) spoke Hakeetu you (pl) spoke
Hakeeti you (f.) spoke
Haka he spoke Haku they spoke
Hakat she spoke
When the 'he' form of a verb ends in -i, this becomes y before endings that
begin with a vowel. For example:
bi'yat she stayed (from bi'i +at)
bi'yu they stayed (from bi'i + u)
And it becomes -ii- before endings that begin with a consonant.
For example:
bi'iit I stayed (from bi'i +t)
bi'iiti you (f.) stayed (from bi'i +ti)
Here are the full forms for bi'i:
bi'iit I stayed bi'iina we stayed
bi'iit you (m.) stayed bi'iitu you (pl) stayed
bi'iiti you (f.) stayed
bi'i he stayed bi'yu they stayed
bi'yat she stayed

The verb aja The verb aja (to come) is an irregular verb which you have occasionally
met. Here are its forms:
to come
Past Non-past
ijiit I came aaji I come/am coming/will come
ijiit you (m.) came tiiji you (m.) come/are coming/will come
ijiiti you (f.) came tiiji you (f.) come/are coming/will come
ija (or aja) he came yiiji he comes/is coming/will come
ijat (or ajat) she came tiiji she comes/is coming/will come
ijiina we came niiji we come/are coming/will come
ijiitu you (pl.) came tiiju you (pl.) come/are coming/will come
iju (or aju) they came yiiju they come/are coming/will come

Remember that if you want to say 'Come (here)!' as a command, you use
ta9aala (m.), ta9aali (f.), ta9aalu (pl.).

UNIT 12 169
 Your tum to speak
10 You have an acquaintance in Jordan, and you think he might be able to
help you with your business. You would like to invite him for lunch. Phone
him and, when his wife answers, ask if he is in and if you can speak to him.
When he comes to the phone, ask how he and the children are. Invite him,
stating the day, the time, and the place. Then check with the recording for a
model version.
When you want to invite him to lunch you can say: shu ra'yak nitghadda
sawa? (lit. what is your view we have lunch together?).

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 (a) F (b) F (c) F (d) T (e) F (g) T
have learned
Exercise 2 (a) the manager's secretary (b) 2nd floor, 1st on the right
Exercise 4 Sunday, 10.00 a.m. the Ministry; Tuesday, 3.00 p.m. the
manager of the Zayid Company; Wednesday, 11.00 a.m.
Dr Hamid
Exercise 5 (a) He hasn't got an appopintment (b) to make an
appointment (c) Thursday, 10.30 a.m.
Exercise 7 Su'ad: marHaba baasima!
Basima: ahlan su9aad, kiif Haalik?
Su'ad: il-Hamdulillaah. biddi aaxud maw9id Ia mudiiri
ma9a mudiirik.
Basima: eemta biyHibb yiiji?
Su'ad: ayy yoom haada l-usbuu9 ba9ad is-saa9a 9ashra.
Basima: yoom il-xamiis is-saa9a Hda9sh kwayyis?
Su'ad: aywa, kwayyis, lakaan il-xamiis, is-saa9a iHda9sh
Exercise 8 Friday lunch with Maha.
Saturday 12.30 meeting at the Ministry.
Sunday 10.00 shopping.
Lunch with Samira: Sunday 1.00 at Al-Basha restaurant.

Writing Exercise 11 1. =(f), 2. =(b), 3. =(d), 4. =(a), 5. =(c), 6. =(e)

170 UNIT 12
 Did you know?
Business hours The working week in the Arab world - at least in all government offices and
most businesses - runs from Saturday to Thursday, with Friday being the
Muslim day of rest. Thursday is often a shorter working day than the
others. In many countries the office day begins early at 7.30 a.m. and ends
at one or two in the afternoon. Stores tend to open again at five and stay
open until seven or eight in the evening. 'Working hours' are called id-
dawaam, waqt id-dawaam or awqaat id-dawaam. So shu awqaat id-
dawaam 9indkum? means 'What are your opening/working hours?' As we
have seen in this Unit, in Arabic you 'take' (taaxud) an appointment
(maw9id) to meet someone.

Politeness at When meeting someone for the first time, especially if that person is of high
rank or status, it is normal to use a few polite expressions. You normally
meetings call the other person HaDirtak your presence (HaDirtik for a woman)
rather than just inta you, (which would sound rather rude), or by some
other honorific, depending on his/her rank and on the conventions of the
country you are in, for example, sa9aadtak yoUt excellency (lit. your
happiness) (undersecretaries, ambassadors), jalaaltak your majesty
(royalty in some countries). Expressions like tasharraft I am honoured (to
meet you), sharraftuuna bi ziyaartak you have honoured us with your
visit, are freely bandied about. A relatively formal interchange at the
beginning of a business might go something like this:
A (entering) as-salaam 9aleekum.
(Peace be upon you.)
B wa 9aleekum as-salaam! tfaDDal, udxul! sharraftna!
(And on you peace! Please, come in! You have honoured us!)
A allah ysharrifak.
(May God honour you.)
B kiifHaal HaDirtak?
(How are you?)
A al-Hamdu lillah, Tayyib. u HaDirtak kiifiS-SiHHa?
(Praise be to God, well. And how is your health?)
B al-Hamdu lillah, allah yiHfaZak ••. tfaDDal, istariiH.
(Praise be to God, God preserve you ... please, sit down.)

Exchanges of this kind may continue for some time longer, and are an
important part of the meeting ritual before the participants get down to
business. Although things are slowly changing, particularly among the
younger generation of Arabs, the western 'businesslike' approach which
dispenses with this elaborate politeness is perceived by many as merely
rude, although it is appreciated that western ways are different.

UNIT12 171
 Did you know?
Westerners are often disconcerted, particularly at meetings in Ministries
with lower-ranking officials, when they are interrupted by other visitors
simply popping in and sitting down, or when they are shown in for their
meeting only to find that a previous visitor is still there and shows no sign of
leaving, and indeed, joins in the elaborate ritual exchanges of courtesies.
This is a vestige of the tradition that an important person's majlis reception
area (lit. place of sitting) is always open to any visitor at any time. This,
again, is changing but it is as well to be aware of the conservative way of
doing things.

,., It v n ~' rA ,., It v

,.,. rr
,,
,..,...
,..,...
'0 A (I)
,.
.A.....->111 r1
.,.. ,..,...
'0 (A)
*'r
'1 1 rt
,.
1
~JJI

rt w '. .,. .,., w .,.

,., rt
'1'0 ..s/:-.I).J:.../1

lA
,,."
t j~AII
,., "'11 ,,.
'1'0 II t
'1
"· IT" ,
0 rv
'fA
~I
~I w .,.. IT" ,0

172 UNIT 12
 Writing
In Unit 11 we met the letter jiim. The same shape, but with the dot above
rather than below it, is the letter xaa, which sounds like the Scottish
pronunciation of the 'ch' at the end of'Loch' (see Hints on Pronunciation). It

.
is written in exactly the same way as jiim.
On its own:

c.
At the beginning:

xaliij Gulf
In the middle, joined to a preceding letter:

[.~ maxraj exit

At the end, joined to a preceding letter:

~
. ..
shayx sheikh (lit. old man)

In Unit 8 we met daal, which sounds similar to an English 'd'. Remember

that it looks like this:

and joins only onto preceding letters (where the preceding letter allows) but
never onto following ones. The same shape, but with a dot above it, is
called dhaal and sounds like the English 'th' in words like 'that' or 'father':
.
~

.fIt:_
Examples: ~.. dhaalika that

. ...
~b..i..L baydhinjaan aubergine
Remeber that this sound, in some words, is sometimes replaced by speakers
from Jordan, Palestine and other areas by a 'd' and sometimes by a 'z' (see
Hints on Pronunciation).

UNIT 12 173
 Writing
Our third letter in this Unit is called DHaa and is a difficult one to
pronounce. Like dhaal, it has variant pronunciations (see Hints on
Pronunciation) It is the same shape, and is written in exactly the same way as
Taa, which we met in Unit 10, but it has a dot written above it:
b
It always joins onto a following letter. Here are some examples of it:

~ DHann (or Zann) thought

~··,
~ ....
..r muwaDHDHaf (or muwaZZat) official

.la> HaDHDH (or HaZZ) luck

11 Match the following transcriptions to the Arabic street signs below:

(a) xuruuj faqaT exit only

(b) duxuulfaqaT entry only
(c) mamnuu9 il-wuquuf no parking
(d) mamnuu9 it-tadxiin no smoking
(e) mamnuu9 il-muruur no entry
(f) madxal karaaj garage entrance

'
y
,..
t
0

"\

174 UNIT 12
 IGETTING INFORMATION (part 2)
You will team
e to ask for tourist information
e to give instructions and understand prohibitions
e to ask about opening and closing times and membership of clubs

Study guide
Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases

--
Grammar
Your turn to speak
Did you know?
Writing

UNIT 13 175
 Dialogues
n 1 Rahmafeels like a day-trip to Ma'in ...
Rahma SabaaH il-xeer.
Assistant SabaaH in-nuur, ahleen.
Rahma ma9leesh t'uulii Iii iza biddi aruuH 9a ma9iin it-tazkara hi 'addeesh?
Assistant it-tazkara 9indik hi dinaar u nuSS.
Rahma haay bitkuun rooHa raj9a Tab9an?
Assistant rooHa raj9a.
Rahma ah, Tab mumtaaz ... u ayy saa9a biyruuH il-baaS?
Assistant fii baaS iS-SubuH is-saa9a sab9a u nuSS bituuSalla ma9iin
Hawaali s-saa9a 9ashra u nuSS, u aaxir baaS min ma9iin is-saa9a
arba9a.
Rahma 9a l-arba9a .. u 'abl il-arba9a maa fii gheeruh?
Assistant laa.
Rahma Tab ... kull yo om nafs is-saa9a?
Assistant kull yoom nafs ish-shii maa 9ada yoom il-jum9a.
Rahma maa 9ada yoom il-jum9a ... shukran.
tazkara rooHa raj9a return ticket
mumtaaz excellent
aaxir baaS the last bus
maa 9ada except for

• ma9leesh t'uulii Iii... would you mind telling me ... ? ma9leesh means
'never mind' normally. This is an idiomatic use.
• biddi aruuH 9a••. I want to go to ... The verb raalllyruuH (to go) is
normally followed by 9a or 9ala (to) in Jordan.
• it-tazkara bi 'addeesh how much is the ticket? (lit. the ticket for how
much?).
• 9a l-arba9a at four (o'clock) ...
• maa fii gheeruh? aren't there any others? (lit. not there is other than
it?). gheer means '(something/someone) other than'. Pronouns can be
added to the end of it, as here.
• nafs is-saa9a at the same time. nafs put in front of a definite noun
means 'the same': nafs ish-shii the same thing; nafs il-funduq the same
hotel.

176 UNIT 13
 Practise what you have learned
1 On the recording you will hear some replies to the questions and comments
below, but not in the same order. Indicate which item goes with which by
putting the number of the appropriate reply in the right box below.
(Answers p.184)
New word: taraklyutruk to leave
(a) ayy saa9a byutruk baaS irbid? D
(h) maa fii baaS ba9d is-saa9a tamaanya? D
(c) haada !-baaS byaaxud wa't ktiir fi T-Tariiq. D
(d) biddak tazkara rooHa raj9a? D
(e) il-baaS byutruk bi nafs is-saa9a kull yoom? D
2 You want to make a phone call while in central Amman. Listen to George
finding out how to go about it, by asking a man in the street. Answer the
following questions: (Answers p.184)
(a) Where should George go to make a phone call?
(b) Why can't he make one from a public phone?
New words: ista9tnal/yista9mil to use;
ittaSal/yittaSil (hi) to call or ring (someone) up, get in touch
Remember also: SaaHib maHall storekeeper

3 Your tum to speak. You want to make an international phone call. You
would like some more information, so you take a taxi to the post office and
ask the taxi driver on the way:
(a) Do they speak English at the post office?
(b) Can you pay in Sterling or Dollars or must you pay in Dinars? Which
is cheaper?
(c) Can you send a telegram from there?
Using the words below, work out how to ask one question at a time, then
listen to Nadira's version. See if you can understand the taxidriver's answers
as well.
New words: il-istirliini £sterling
tiligraam telegram
danaaniir urduni Jordanian Dinar(s)
dafa9/yidfa9 to pay

UNIT 13 177
 Dialogues
n 2 N adira wants some infonnation about
. .
an znteresttng museum ...
Nadira SabaaH il-xeer.
Assistant ahleen, SabaaH in-nuur.
Nadira ayy saa9a biysakkir il-matHaf hallah?
Assistant il-matHaf il-yoom biysakkir 9ala xamsa u nuSS.
Nadira ba'dar aaxud Suwar?
Assistant laa, ma9a 1-'asafit-taSwiir mamnuu9.
Nadira shu fii fi 1-matHaf?
Assistant huwwa 1-matHaf... il-matHaf ish-sha9bi Ia 1-Hily wa 1-azyaa',
Tab9an azyaa' urduniyya, badawiyya, filasTiiniyya, heek u heek
shaghlaat.
Nadira 'addeesh tadhkirat id-duxuul?
Assistant tadhkirat id-duxuul bi xams u 9ishriin 'irsh.
Nadira shukran.
Assistant 9afwan.
matHaf museum
ma9a 1-'asaf unfortunately
taSwiir photography
mamnuu9 prohibited
sha9bi popular, belonging to the people
azyaa' fashions, costumes
shaghlaat things
duxuul entrance

• ba'dar aaxud Suwar? may I take photographs?

il-matHafish-sha9bi Ia 1-Hily wa 1-azyaa' the Jordanian Museum of
Popular Traditions (lit. the popular museum for the jewellery and
costumes).
• heek u heek shaghlaat you get things like that Oit. like that and like that
things).
tad.hkirit id-duxuul entrance ticket. tadhkira is the more 'correct' way
of pronouncing tazkira

JORDAN MUSEUM OF ~\ '; ..:11

POPULAR TRADITIONS •L..tJ=:il., ~
THE ROMAN THEATRE ji...J)' ~~'
Amrnan - Jordan

ADMISSION TICKET

250 Fila

~0 PHOTOGRAPHY
PLEASE
DO NOT TOUCH

178 UNIT 13
 Practise what you have learned
4 You will hear Mary going up to an official outside the amphitheatre in
Amman. What time can she visit the amphitheatre, and what other
instructions does the official give her? (Answers p.l84)
New words: juwwa inside
jaab/yjiib to bring
fataWyiftaH to open
byirja9 yiftaH it will re-open

5 Your tum to speak. Now it is your tum to find out about telephoning. This
time you go into a store and want to make a local telephone call. Apart
from asking for the necessary information you will need to check you have
understood the storekeeper correctly.

UNIT 13 179
 Dialogues
n 3 A student is enquiring about joining a
library. First of all, how much does it
cost to join?
Student biddi a9mal ishtiraak fi 1-maktaba ... 'addeesh rusuum il-ishtiraak bi
n-nisba iii?
Librarian er ... OK. bti'dari ti9mali 1-ishtiraak fi 1-maktaba u btidfa9i r-rusuum
illi hunna xams danaaniir- er - bi s-sana ... er - bti'dari min
xilaalha taHSuli 9ala arba9 kutub ... muddit il-i,sti9aara 9indna
talaat asaabii9 ...
Student ana ka Taaliba ba'dar adfa9 talaat danaaniir, ya9ni?
Librarian na9am.
Student u iza kunt gheer Taaliba?
Librarian btidfa9i xams danaaniir bi s-sana.
Student er - btuTlubu minni ithbaat inni Taaliba?
Librarian na9am ... tjiibu huwiyya shaxSiyya ... daftar 9eela aw jawaaz safar aw
ruxSit swaa'a.
ishtiraak subscription, membership (of a club, library, etc.)
maktaba library rusuum fees
btidfa9i you (f. sing.) pay hunna they (f. pl.)
min x:ilaal by means of taHSuli 9ala you (f. sing.) get
kutub books isti9aara borrowing
ka as Taaliba student (f.)
tuTiubu you (pl.) demand, ask for ithbaat proof
tjiibu you (pl.) bring
huwiyya shaxSiyya personal identification
daftar 9eela family card Gordanian document)
ruxSit swaa'a driving licence

• biddi a9mal ishtiraak I'd like to become a member (lit. I want to make
subscription).
bi n-nisba ill in my case (lit. in relation to me). We have already met
this phrase in the form bi n-nisba Ia. This is a variant of it, using il-, a
variant ofla, also meaning 'to'. here il has the -i suffix (me) attached to it.
ir-rusuum illi hunna xams danaanUr the fees, which are five dinars.
hunna is a feminine plural pronoun 'borrowed' incorrectly by the speaker
from written Arabic, who is apparently trying to speak in a more 'correct' way
than she would normally. In more casual speech, we would expect hiyya
(feminine singular) to agree with the non-human plural noun rusuum.
• ana ka Taaliba... I as a student ... ka means 'as' in the sense of 'in the
capacity of, and can be used with any noun: ana ka ingllizi... I as an
Englishman ...
• iza kunt gheer Taaliba... if I were not a student ... (lit. if I was other
than student).
• btuTiubu minni ithbaat inni Taaliba? do you require from me proof
that I'm a student? (lit. you require from me proof that I student?).
tjiibu you (pl.) bring. The librarian seems to be addressing subscribers in
general through the student, and so uses a plural verb.

180 UNIT 13
 Practise what you have teamed
6 George wants to go swimming and he has heard that there is a good pool
at a club (naadi). Listen to him talking to the receptionist, then mark
whether the following statements are true or false. (Answers p.l84)
(a) George has to join the club to use the pool.
(b) He will have to pay a year's membership fees.
(c) He wants to join for a year.
(d) He needs to pay six dinars.

7 George returns later to the club with a Jordanian friend. You will hear him
telling George what to do. Mark off which of the following words and
phrases he uses in his explanation: (Answers p.l84)
1 (a) tfaDDal please come!
(b) ta9aala come!
2 (a) ghayyir change!
(b) bitghayyir you change
3 (a) iTia9 goup!
(b) utruk leave!
(c) ullub ask!
4 (a) ta9Ti you give
(b) a9Tigive!
(c) bta9Ti you give
s (a) taaxud you take
(b) btaaxud you take
(c) xud take!
6 (a) utruk leave!
(b) btiTia9 you go up
(c) iTia9 go up!
7 (a) laa'i find!
(b) bitlaa'i you find
(c) tlaa'i you find
8 (a) maa btinzilsh you don't go down!
(b) maa tinzi1sh don't go down!

8 Your turn to speak. You are going to buy a ticket to use the pool at an
international hotel, and you need to find out from the receptionist how it is
organized. Nadira will guide you through the conversation as usual.

UNIT 13 181
 Key words and phrases
To learn nafs is-saa9a the same time (lit. hour)
ish-shahar il-jaay next month
Ia usbuu9een for two weeks
tazkara rooHa raj9a return ticket, round trip ticket
matHaf (pl. mataaHif) museum
mithil like
mathalan for example
raaWyruuH 9a (or 9ala) to go to
sakkarlysakkir to shut
fataH/yiftaH to open
badalyibda to begin
a9Talya9Ti to give
xalaS/yixlaS to end
simi9/yisma9 to hear, listen
dafa91yidfa9 to pay
flu us money
jaablyjiib to bring
tarak/yutruk to leave
ista9mal/yista9mil to use

To understand akil food

ittaSaVyittaSU (bi) to ring or call (up), contact
it-taSwiir mamnuu9 taking photos is forbidden
xudgheeruh take a different one

182 UNIT 13
 Grammar

The command This is the form of the verb you use to give orders, and you have seen
Arabic examples like xud (take!) and utruk (leave!). It is formed for almost
fonn all verbs by taking the appropriate 'you' form of the non-past tense al).d
chopping off the first t. So:
truuH yougo ruuH go!
tista9mili you (f.) use ista9mili use! (to a woman)
tisma9u you (pl.) listen isma9u listen! (to more than one person)

One of the commonest imperatives is odd: ta9aal or ta9aala (f. ta9aali,

pl. ta9aalu) come! (but ijalyiiji to come). Note also haat (f. haati, pl.
haatu) bring! give me! as an alternative to jiib (f. jiibi, pl. jiibu) from
jaablyjiib to bring. xud take! (from axad/yaaxud) and kul eat! (from
akallyaakul) are also slightly irregular.
The negative command is just the 'you' form without the b(i) prefix and
with the usual negative: maa truuHsh don't go!; maa taakulsh don't eat!;
maa tisma9sh don't listen! etc. It is less impolite to use commands in
Arabic than the English equivalent, so do not be offended when it is used
to you apparently abruptly. But do not over use it yourself. So in general it
is more important to understand than to be able to use it.

9 On the recording you will hear five sentences. Write down the imperative in
each one with its meaning and whether it is being said to a man, a woman
or to more than one person. Then translate the sentences. (Answers p.184)

Verbal nouns These are words like sbaaHa swimming; duxuul entrance, going in;
ishtiraak membership. They are nouns denoting the action of a verb: the
examples given come from sabaWyisbaH to swim, daxaVyudxul to enter,
and ishtaraklyishtirik to participate, respectively. They always have the
same root as the verb from which they come, but the relation between the
form of the verb and the verbal noun is complex and sometimes
unpredictable, so verbal nouns are listed in the glossary for each verb.
Again, it is more important to be able to recognize them than to use them,
so it is worth knowing that some other patterns are: taCCiiC (for example,
taSwiir taking photographs), muCaaCaCa (for example, muHaawala
attempt) and iCCaaC (for example, islaam, from aslam/yislim to be or
become a Muslim).

10 In the following sentences underline the verbal nouns and see if you can
guess what they mean from their roots. Translate the sentences.
(Answers p.184)
(a) maa baHibbsh lu9ub il-gulf.
(b) baHki ma9ak taani ba9d il-mu'aabla ma9a 1-mudiir.
(c) tark is-sinama xilaal il-filim mamnuu9.
(d) Hajiz il-maHallaat bi 1-baaS mish mumkin.
(e) id-dafi9 biykuun 'abil ir-riHla bi yoomeen.

UNIT 13 183
 Your tum to speak
11 Suppose you have just arrived in a town in Jordan and want to find out
what there is to see. Think of five questions you might want to ask
someone in a store or cafe, then listen to Nadira doing the same on the
tape.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 1 (e) 5
have learned
Exercise 2 (a) a shop (b) there are no public call boxes
Exercise 4 She can visit it between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m., but she
mustn't bring a camera
Exercise 6 (a) T (b) F (c) F (d) T
Exercise 7 1. (b) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (a) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (b) 8. (b)

Grammar Exercise 9 (a) inzilu- go down (pl.)! (b) 'uul- say (m.)! (c) isma9i-
listen (f)! (d) maa tjiish- don't come ([m.] or [f.])!, ta9aali-
come (f.)! (e) udxul- come in (m.)!
Exercise 10 (a) lu9ub- playing (b) mu'aabla- meeting (with someone)
(c) tark -leaving (d) Hajiz- reserving (e) dafi9- payment
Translation: (a) I don't like playing golf. (b) I'll speak to
you again after the meeting with the boss. (c) Leaving the
cinema during the film is prohibited. (d) Reserving seats
on the bus is not possible. (e) Payment is made (lit. is) two
days before the journey.

Writing Exercise 12 1. Hafiz al-Asad 2. Saddam Hussein 3. Husni Mubarak

4. Yasir Arafat 5. Mu'ammar al-Gaddafi 6. Jamal
Abdulnasser

184 UNIT 13
 Did you know?
Driving It is worthwhile knowing at least the basic Arabic vocabulary associated
with driving and servicing cars since mechanics, especially in the rural areas
where cars have a nasty habit of breaking down, are unlikely to speak
English very well. The vocabulary does differ a little from country to
country, and the forms presented here are those which are in active use in
the Levant Gordan, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon), but which would
nonetheless be understood in a wider area than this.
First of all some basic vocabulary:
diriksyoon steering wheel
ghaTa bonnet/hood
Sanduu' boot/trunk
mootoor/J:nuHarrik engine
koontaak ignition
radyatoor radiator
fraam brake(s)
dibrayaaj clutch
banziin accelerator
fiitees gears
duulaab (pl. dawaliib)/
kawshuuk (pl. kawaashiik) tyre
risarv/iHtiyaaTi spare tyre

If some piece of equipment is not working, the phrase is maa byishtighil,

for example, il-fraam maa byishtighil the brakes aren't working. If
something needs adjusting, the phrase is bidduh (or biddha) ta9diil, for
example, id-dibrayaaj bidduh ta9diil the clutch needs adjusting. Or you
could say fii shil fi d-dibrayaaj there's something wrong with the clutch.
If the car has simply broken down, and you do not know the cause, the
verb to use is ta9aTTallyit9aTTal, for example, mumkin tsaa9idni
9alashaan sayyaarti ta9aTTalat? can you help me, because my car has
broken down? The word for puncture, like many of the words associated
with driving, is a borrowing from a European language, in this case English:
banshar (pl. bansharaat), for example, Saar ma9na banshar we've got
a puncture (lit. there has become with us'a puncture). Or perhaps you have
run out of petrol: banziinna xilaS (from'the verb xalaSiyixlaS to end,
finish).

UNIT 13 185
Did you know?
Mechanics are called miikaaniki: fii miikaaniki boon mumkin
ysaa9idna hallah? is there a mechanic here who could help us? The verb
'to repair' is SallaWySalliH, as in biddna waaHad yi9rafySalliH
bansharaat we need someone who knows how to repair punctures. The
'servicing' of cars is called x:idma, as in has-sayyaara biddha x:idma this
car needs servicing.

A petrol station is called maHaTTit banziin or (in Jordan) kaaziyya. If

you want the attendant to fill your car up, the verb is 9abbaly9abbi (which
we met in Unit 4 in connection with filling in a hotel arrival card): 9abbi
1-xazzaan, i9mal ma9ruuf do me a favour and fill up the tank (lit. fill the
tank, do a favour). You might also want the tyre pressure checking: 9ayyir
ill d-duulaab kamaan, min faDlak (lit. check for me the tyre as well,
please), and perhaps the oil level: ifHaS ill z-zeet (lit. check for me the
oil).

186 UNIT 13
 Writing
The letter Haa, which we have symbolized in our transcription system as
H, and which sounds like a very breathy, panting 'h' (see Hints on
Pronunciation) is the same shape as jihn and xaa, but without any dots,
and is written in the same way. On its own it looks like this:

And joined with other letters in words it looks like this:

miiH salt baHr sea Hajz reservation

There is another kind of 'soft' h which sounds like its English equivalent
called baa and which we have symbolized in the transcription as h. By
itself, this letter is the same as the feminine ending a but without the dots:

At the beginning of a word it looks like this:

huwa (colloquial huwwa) he

In the middle, when printed, it looks like this:

mahaa Maha (girl's name)

And at the end, when joined to the letter before, it again looks like the
feminine ending without the dots:

...
..._;
nabiih Nabih (man's name)

The next letter, called Saad, which sounds like a dull, heavy 's' (see
Hints on Pronunciation) looks like this by itself:

.
When joined onto a following letter, it loses its 'tail':
.
' p .At
baaS bus niSf (colloquial nuSS) half SaHiiH true

In written Arabic, there are some words ending in a long -aa vowel, in
which this final -aa is written not as an a1if, the normal way, but with a 'y'
(yaa) without the dots underneath it:

m.a9naa (colloquial m.a9na) meaning dhikraa commemoration

UNIT 13 187
 Writing
12 Recognizing personal names. The ability to read Arabic names on the doors
of offices, visiting cards or other printed matter is particularly useful and
does not require a full knowledge of written Arabic grammar or vocabulary.
See if you can read the following personal names of Arab politicians who
are, or were, frequently in the news and in newspaper headlines:

..l..,.., ~ 1 .lai L>

'y
~ r'"""""
.!l;~ ~
.. Y"

~ur .;--'~ t

J1JAJ1 ~ 0

~WI ..1...$
• J~
"\

188 UNIT 13
 IINVITATIONS ~. ~NTIONS
You will learn
e to talk about your future plans
e to talk about things you would like to do
e to invite people
e to ask and reply to questions in the future

---
Study guide
Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned

---
Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 4 + Practise what you have learned

---
Key words and phrases
Grammar
Your turn to speak I
Did you know?
Writing

. UNIT 14 189
 Dialogues
n 1 Ahmad would like to invite !man out
for the evening. What about a film?
Ahmad faaDya 1-1ee1a ishii? 9aam1a shii 1-yoom?
I man mashghuu1a 1-1ee1a, 9indi draasa.
Ahmad Tab ... eemta bitkuuni faaDya inshaallaah?
/man yimkin bukra.
Ahmad Tab bitHibbi ... fii filim Hilw fi s-sinama, bitHibbi truuHi 9a1eeh?
I man ayy fi1im?
Ahmad mish mitzakkir ismuh bas ba9raf innuh Hi1w!
I man 1i'annuh kull il-aflaam HiDirthum!
faaDya (f.) free, not busy
il-leela tonight
9BBID1a (f.) doing
mashghuula (f.) busy
draasa study
filim ( pl. aflaam) film, movie
mitzakkir remembering, bringing to mind
HiDirthum I've been to them

• faaDya 1-leela shii? would you be free at all tonight? The use of shii is
a way of asking hopefully whether there is any possibility at all of the
question being answered positively. Similarly 9indak maay shii? would
you have any water at all?
• mish mitzakkir ismuh I don't remember its name ... mitzakkir is an
active participle from the verb tzakkarlyitzakkar to remember.
• li'annuh kull il-aflaam HiDirthum because I've been to see all the
films (lit. because all the films, I've attended them). It is often the case
that when you wish to emphasize a particular part of the sentence in
Arabic, you shift it to the beginning, as here.
Notice throughout this dialogue that neither Iman nor Ahmad use the
independent pronouns ana (I) and inta/inti (you). These are unnecessary
because the verb forms and the context make it clear who the subject of
each sentence is.

190 UNIT 14
 Practise what you have teamed
J Samira is trying to find out what Maha is doing tonight. Listen to the
tape and answer the following questions by ticking the correct answer.
(Answers p.l98)
(a) What is Maha doing tonight?
e going to the cinema
e staying at home
e going with Samira
(b) Who is going to the cinema?
e Sahar
e Hanadi
e Maha
e Samira
(c) Who is visiting Hanadi?
e Maha
e Samira
e Sahar

2 Listen to the conversation between Ahmad and Samir and decide whether
the following statements are true or false. (Answers p .l98)
New words: mit'axxir late; mista9jil in a hurry
(a) Ahmad was at the cinema? 0
(b) The film was very nice and Ahmad liked it. 0
(c) Ahmad accepts the invitation for coffee. 0
(d) Ahmad says that he is going to see a friend of his. 0
(e) Ahmad says that he is late and in a hurry. 0
3 Your turn to speak. You want to invite your friend out, but you want to
find out whether she is free or not first. Nadira will prompt you as usual.

UNIT 14 191
 Dialogues
n 2 Then what about dinner instead?...
Ahmad ah. Tab ween bitHibbi truuHi?
!man maa fii maHall mu9ayyan.
Ahmad OK, Tab shu ra'yik ann a9izmik 9a l-9asha bukra inshaallaah,
bukra s-saa9a sitta?
!man bukra s-saa9a sitta? Tayyib maashi ... la ghaayit is-saa9a tamaanya.
Ahmad OK.
!man binshuufak bukra.
Ahmad ahleen yaa hala.
maHall place mu9ayyan specific, particular
maashi OK 9asha dinner
binshuufak we'll see you Ia ghaayit up until

t shu ra'yik a9izmik ... what do you say I invite you ... (lit. what your
opinion I invite you ... ) shu ra'y +pronoun is a very common way of
inviting someone to do something.
a9izmik is from the verb 9azam/yi9zim to invite. We would expect the
form a9zimik but in the case of some speakers, with some verbs, the
vowelling at the beginning of the word is 'rearranged'. Similarly a9arfak
(I know you) instead of a9rafak. This is something you need to be able to
recognize, rather than imitate yourself.
t 9asha is 'dinner', and we have the corresponding verb ta9ashsha/
yit9ashsha (to have dinner). 'Lunch' is ghada which corresponds to the
verb taghadda/yitghadda (to have lunch) which we met in Unit 10.
t binshuufak we'll see you ... It is not at all uncommon for a person to
refer to him/herself by using the 'we' rather than the 'I' form. This phrase
is used exactly like the British English 'See you!' when leaving someone.

n 3 Karim has invited Yousif to dinner at

a certain restaurant next Tuesday
evening, but Yousif isn't keen ...
Yousif wallaahi yaa axi ana a9tidhir yoom ith-thalaatha 9ala maT9am
'il'baasha' bi dh-dhaat.
Karim leesh 9aad?
Yousif li'annuh la sababeen ... li'annuh yoom ith-thalaatha 9indi shughul...
ithneen, maT9am il-baasha maa baHibb ajii 9aleeh li'annuh ghaali
jiddan ya9ni ...
a9tadhir I excuse myself (i.e. say no to an invitation)
bi dh-dhaat in particular
leesh 9aad but why?
sabab reason

t a9tadhir means 'I apologise' (for example, for having done something
wrong) as well as being used (as in this case) to say no to an invitation,
idiomatically equivalent to the English 'Sorry but I can't'.
li'annuh Ia sababeen because it's for two reasons

192 UNIT 14
 Practise what you have learned
4 Rearrange the following to form a dialogue. Then listen to check your
answer.
leesh laa. ayy saa9a?
maashi, izan bashuufak bukra s-saa9a tamaanya.
marHaba saamir.
eemta?
il-Hamdu lillaah. shu ra'yak ya saamir nit9ashsha sawa.
inshaallaah.
bukra.
ahlan, ahlan 9abid. kiif il-Haal?
is-saa9a tamaanya.

5 listen to 'Umar telephones Samir to issue an invitation. Tick the correct

answer to the following questions. (Answers p.l98)
(a) What has 'Umar invited (b) What day did 'Umar
Samir for? suggest?
•• breakfast
dinner
•••
Friday
Sunday
• lunch
(c) Which day is more suitable
Saturday
(d) What time is the invitation
for Samir? for?
•• Sunday
Friday
•• seven
seven-thirty
• Thursday
• six-thirty

6 Your tum to speak. You are in Jordan. An acquaintance of yours sees you
and wants to invite you out. Respond to his enquiries. Nadira will prompt
you. Remember the verb bi'ilyib'a to remain, stay.

7 Fill in the blanks from the box below to make a sensible conversation. Then
check your answer on page 198.

waRda nitghadda faaDi 9indi shughul is-sabt fikra kwaysa bukra

Ahmad shu 9aamil D-Duhur?

Marwan bukra D-Duhur
Ahmad Tab ba9d bukra ?
Marwan is-sabt, wala shii,
Ahmad shu ra'yak sawa fi maT9am ish-sharq?
Marwan , leesh laa, ayy saa9a?
Ahmad is-saa9a
Marwan maashi.

8 Your tum to speak. You would like to invite your friend, Nabil, to dinner
tomorrow. Nadira will prompt you.

UNIT14 193
 Dialogues
n 4 'Ayda is talking to Samira about her
holiday plans for the summer...
Samira ba9d talaat tashhur 'ariib ijaazit iS-Seef... eesh nawyiin ti9maluuh?
'Ayda mfakkriin bti9rafi naaxud il-iwlaad u nruuH 9a 'ubruS li'annuh
byinbisTu ktiir ... bti9rafi fii baHar byisbaHu ba9deen bni'dar
nruuH 9a jbaal 'Troodos' ... taghyiir Ta's biykuun Hilw ktiir bi
'Troodos'.
Samira bas biyjuuz ykuun shoob ktiir!
'Ayda shoob bas !amman yu'9udu kull il-wa't bi 1-baHar, bi 1-birka u
heeka, biykayfu, byinbisTu u bi 1-leel binruuH mishwaar,
byit9ashshu heek byirja9u biynaamu ... yam maa byitHarrakuush!
'ariib near (here in a time sense) ijaaza holiday, vacation, leave
Seef summer nawyiin (pl.) intending
mfakkiriin (pl.) thinking 'ubruS Cyprus
byinbisTu they have a good time baHar sea
byisbaHu they swim jbaal 'Troodos' the Troodos
taghyiir Ta's change of air mountains (central Cyprus)
biyjuuz it's possible, maybe shoob hot (ofweather)
lamman when (alternative to lamma) yu'9udu they sit
birka swimming pool biykayfu they enjoy themselves
mishwaar walk, outing byit9ashshu they have dinner
byirja9u they come back biynaamu they sleep
yam at all, completely maa byitHarrakuush they
don't move a muscle

Note that throughout this dialogue 'Ayda uses the B-prefix to indicate
habitual action. She has been to Cyprus before, and describes what her
children usually do and how they usually behave there.
• ba9d talaat tashhur 'ariib ijaazit iS-Seef in three month's time, it'll
soon be the summer vacation (lit after three months ... ).
• eesh nawyiin ti9maluuh? what are you (pl.) planning to do? (lit. what
planning you do it?). nawyiin is the plural form of the active participle
naawi (f. nawya) from the verb nawalyinwi to plan, intend.
• mfakkiriin we're thinking of... This is also a plural active participle, from
the verb fakkarlyfakkir to think.
• bas biyjuuz ykuun shoob ktiir but it might be very hot. shoob is used
for hot weather. Heat in liquids, etc. is suxun: haada sh-shaay suxun
ktiir this tea is very (or too) hot.
• il-birka u heeka ... the swimming pool and that. heek (or heeka) (like
that) is commonly used with the same vague sense as English phrases like
'and that', 'and so on', 'and such like'.
• binruuH mishwaar we go for an outing. mishwaar also commonly
means 'errand'.
yam maa byitHarrakuush they (the children) don't move a muscle.
The verb is taHarrak/yitHarrak to move. This is the negative (with
maa ... sh) of the 'they' form of the non-past tense.

194 UNIT 14
 Practise what you have learned
9 Najla and Hind are talking about their next summer holidays. listen to
their dialogue and then answer the questions by marking off the correct
answer. (Answers p.198)
New word: ll-yunaan Greece
(a) Where are Najla and her family (b) Where are Hind and her family
going for their holidays this going for their holidays this

•• ••
summer? summer?
Cyprus Cyprus

••
Greece Greece
•• They are staying in Amman
Bahrain
They are staying in Amman
Bahrain
(c) Where are Hind's sister and (d) When are Najla and her family

••
children coming from? going to Cyprus or when did

••
Cyprus they go there?

••
Greece They are going this summer.

••
Amman They went two years ago.
Bahrain They went last year.
They have never been to
Cyprus.

10 Ahmad and his wife are planning to give a party on Friday, so Ahmad has
been phoning his friends to find out whether they can make it or not.
listen and match the people with what they are doing at the weekend.
(Answers p.l98)
New words: 9uzuuma invitation; iZ-Zaahir it appears
(i) Samir and family a invited for dinner
(ii) Nabil and family b going to Irbid
(iii) Ramzi and family c going to Akaba

UNIT 14 195
 Key words and phrases
To learn shu 9aamil (f. 9aamla) ••• ? what are you doing ... ?
faaDi (f. faaDya) il-leela? are you free tonight? (lit. free tonight)
eemta bitkuun faaDi?
(f. bitkuuni faaDya)? when are you free?
shu ra'yak (f. ra'yik) how about having dinner/lunch
nit9ashsha/nitghadda sawa? together?
eesh naawi ti9mal ••• ?
(f. nawya ti9mali •••?) what are you planning to do?
ijaaza holiday, vacation
maT9am restaurant
shoob hot
yimkin maybe
Seef summer
shita winter
baHar sea
lamma when (as in lamma shuftuh •••
when I saw him)

To understand 9aamil (f. 9aamla) ishii ••• ? are you doing anything?
biyjuuz maybe
mfakkiriin ••• thinking ...
riji9/yirja9 to return
taghyiir Ta's change of air (lit. change of weather)
inbasaT/yinbisiT to have a good time

196 UNIT 14
 Grammar
Expressing the The word raH is used before a non-past tense verb to indicate future
intention:
future
eemta raH tiiji? when are you (m.) going to come?
shu raH ti9mali? what are you (f.) going to do?
ween raH truuHu? where are you (pl.) going to go?
eemta raH ysaafir? when is he going to leave (the country)?
Note that raH always stays the same, and that the non-past verb which
follows it indicates he, she, you etc.

The active participle of verbs of motion can also be used by themselves with
a future sense:
eemta raayiH? When are you (m.) (or when is-he) going?
(lit. when going?)
samiir jaay ba9d usbuu9 Samir is coming in a week.
hum msaafriin bukra They are leaving tomorrow.

Negating the You have met negation in earlier units. To negate raH or a participle use
the word mish.
future
mish raH yiiji ba9d ushuu9 he is not coming in a week
mish raH aruuH bukra I am not going tomorrow
mish raH tsaafir ba9d usbuu9 she is not leaving in a week

11 Use the correct form of the verbs in the parentheses to translate the
English and complete the sentences. (Answers p.l98)
(a) samiir (is going to go) 9ala london bukra. (raaH)

(b) (is going to come) samiira min amriika ba9d usbuu9. (ija)

(c) (are you going to write) yaa 9ali maktuub la aHmad? (katab)

(d) (is going to work) samiira fi sharika jdiida ba9d shahar. (ishtaghal)
(e) (I am going to visit) uxti fi 1-urdun fi S-Seef. (zaar)

UNIT 14 197
 Your turn to speak
12 It is your tum to invite a friend of yours to dinner. Find out when he is free
and arrange a day and time and place for your dinner. Tell him about your
holiday plans and find out what his plans are. Then listen to the model
version.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 (a) staying at home (b) Sahar (c) Samira
have learned
Exercise 2 (a) T (b) F (c) F (d) F (e) T
Exercise 5 (a) dinner (b) Friday (c) Sunday (d) 7.30 p.m.
Exercise 7 bukra; 9indi shughul; is-sabt; faaDi; nitghadda; fikra
kwaysa; waHda
Exercise 9 (a) Greece (b) staying in Amman (c) Bahrain
(d) 2 years ago
Exercise 10 (i) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (a)

Grammar Exercise 11 (a) raH yruuH (b) raH tiiji (c) raH tiktib (d) raH tishtighil
(e) raH azuur

Writing Exercise 13 (a) 1 (b) 5 (c) 6 (d) 3 (e) 2 (t) 4

(a) The Jordan Secondary School
(b) The Yarmouk Insurance Company
(c) One way (street)
(d) The Jordanian Co-operative Society
(e) Exit only
(t) Danger, traffic roundabout (lit. danger, in front of you
roundabout)

198 UNIT 14
 Did you know?
The etiquette of Arab hospitality is justly renowned, but it is as well to understand the
etiquette and meaning of different kinds of invitations since, as in the West,
invitations there is a good deal of invitation which is merely 'for form's sake' and is not
necessarily expected to be accepted, even though in theory it could be.

If you are introduced to someone socially, or simply meet them accidentally

through third parties, it is quite likely that you will be invited there and
then, or perhaps at a subsequent chance meeting, to have tea or coffee at
their house or in some nearby cafe, even if it is obvious from the
circumstances that the person who is inviting you is really in the middle of
doing something else. If you accept, he will take you to have tea/coffee even
if it keeps him from his prior engagement. This illustrates the strength of
the social obligation to 'play host' in Arab society. It would be terribly bad
manners in such circumstances for your acquaintance not to invite you; but
of course, with experience, it becomes obvious when a tactful refusal is
really the desired response. You can use the phrase used in Dialogue 3, for
example, a9tadhir shukran, 9indi shughul shwayy Sorry I can't, thank
you, I have a little work to do. After a few protestations, the invitation will
be dropped.

In rural areas, it is quite common for invitations to lunch or dinner to be

given in the same unplanned way at the end of a chance conversation:
yallah tfaDDal9indna Ia 1-ghada, sharrifil-beet come on, please have
lunch with us, honour our house! Of course, if you accept, the (possibly
really reluctant) host will indeed provide you with lunch. But you can quite
politely refuse by saying something like gheer marra, inshaallaah, ana
ma9zuum 9ind naas another time, God willing, I'm invited to someone
else's, or say that you have work still to do, as suggested earlier, and honour
will have been satisfied on both sides. If the invitation is really genuine it
will be more insistent, and repeated, and if it relates to the future a definite
time will usually be mentioned.

UNIT 14 199
Did you know?
The 'maftana' tendency in Arab society to put things off (in Arabic the word
is bukra tomorrow), and the elastic view of time is proverbial. At one time,
in some parts of the Arab world, western time-keeping (usually GMT plus
2 or 3 hours) competed with Muslim Sun Time, according to which
midnight was the time of sunset each day. The confusion which arose was
unnecessary anyway, it was alleged, since the only kind of time by which
people really lived was 'Ma9leesh' time, ma9leesh meaning literally 'never
mind, it doesn't matter'! This tendency to place little store by exactitude in
matters of time is recognized and joked about by Arabs themselves, who
have been known to ask, when an appointment has been made, whether it is
maw9id 9arabi willa maw9id ingliizi is it an Arab appointment or an
English one?

DW
••

0~
~t,Jl!..,~t,JV..~l=-:1

200 UNIT 14
 Writing
One of the more difficult letters for the English speaker is that which we
have symbolized as D (see Hints on Pronunciation), called Daad in Arabic.
It is written in exactly the same way as Saad which we encountered in Unit
13, except that it has a dot written on top of it. So, on its own it looks like
this:
4J". L)l
..
ar-riyaaD Riyadh (capital of Saudi Arabia)
And at the beginning, middle and end of a word when joined to the
following letter:

niDaal Nidal (man's name) Dariiba tax

Finally, we have the letter thaa, which in Jordan is sometimes pronounced
like the English 'th' in 'thin' or 'path', but more often like 't' in English 'tin' or
'pat'. In a few words, however, thaa is replaced in speech by a sound like an
English 's'. thaa is written exactly like the letters taa and baa which we met
in Units 2 and 3 of this course, except that it has three dots, in a pyramid
shape, written above it. Thus in initial and final position, when joined, it
looks like this:
~
thulth (colloquial tult) third (part)
In medial position:

mithil (colloquial mitil) like

In final position on its own:
~')U
thalaath (colloquial talaat) three

There remain one or two spelling conventions to be dealt with. There is a

so-called 'glottal stop' or 'catch' (see Hints on Pronunciation) which is often
missing in colloquial Arabic but occurs frequently in writing. This is called
hamza, which, when it does occur in our transcription, is symbolized '. In
most cases hamza is not written on its own like other letters but either on
top of, or below, one of the letters alif, waaw or yaa (without its dots).
Some examples commonly seen:
On top of alif:
.
;~I
'as9aar (colloquial as9aar) prices mas'ala question, issue
Below alif:

L\.il.. i;bl
'iqaama residence (permit) 'idaara management, administration
On top of waaw:

Jt~
su'aal question shu'uun affairs, matters

UNIT 14 201
 Writing
On top of yaa without its dots:

mas'uul responsible (person); official

On its own (often at the end of a word):

-.Us.
9ashaa' (colloquial 9asha) dinner masaa' (colloquial masa) evening

Finally, there is the not very common sign of a horizontal line above an
alif, which signifies a hamza followed by a long aa sound:

.;UI JLo1
'aathaar (colloquial aasaar) ruins, relics 'aamal Amaal (girl's name)

13 Match the Arabic street signs on the right hand side of the page with the
transcriptions on the left. From the clues given below, can you work out the
meaning of the Arabic signs?

(a) madrasat al-urdun ath-thaanawiyya ~_,;I!JI iJ~; ~I 4....;..1.4

(b) sharikat al-yarmuuk li t-ta'miin

.la.ii [..J~
. y
(c) ittijaah waaHid - '.Jl..:ll
4.1 4.1~
- 'J ~I ~I
• • Y"
(d) al-jam9iyya 1-urduniyya t-ta9aawuniyya ;lj~ .!1..\..i P t
(e) xuruuj faqaT ~hu !l_,..fl.l ~_r. 0

(f) xaTar 'amaamak duwwaar "\

Clues
madras a school
jam9iyya society
faqaT only
'amaam in front of
ta9aawun co-operation
xaTar danger
thaanawi secondary
ta'miin insurance
ittijaah direction

202 UNIT 14
 ITALKING ABOUT mE PAST
You will learn
• to answer questions about your past experiences
• to talk about excursions you have been on
• to talk about what happened in the past

---
Study guide
Dialogue 1 + Practise what you have learned

---
Dialogue 2 + Practise what you have learned
Dialogue 3 + Practise what you have learned
Key words and phrases

--
Grammar

Your turn to speak

Did you know?
Writing

UNIT 15 203
 Dialogues
n 1 At a tea party, Samya asks 'Ayda
what she did last weekend...
Samya il-usbuu9 il-maaDi ... il-jum9a 1-maaDya ween ruHtu? maa
kuntuush fi 1-beet.
'Ayda ah, ti9rafi ruHna 9a jarash... kaan iT-Ta's ktiir ktiir Hilw... ruHna
axadna 1-iwlaad u taghaddeena hnaak fi maT9am 'yaa hala' ... kulluh
shallaalaat, maay, ktiir Hilwa.
Samya inbasaTu 1-iwlaad?
'Ayda inbasaTu ktiir, li9bu ... kaan fii baTT u maay shallaalaat naazla
heek, ktiir kayyafu ktiir.
il-usbuu9 il-maaDi last week
fi 1-beet at home
shallaal waterfall
li9bu they played
baiT ducks
naazil falling
kayyafu they enjoyed themselves

• jum9a As well as meaning 'Friday', this word can also be used to

designate the whole of a week, for example, shuftuh 'abil jum9iteen I
saw him two weeks ago (lit. I saw him before two Fridays).
• ruHna axadna. •• we went and took ... (lit. we went we took). There is
no need for a word equivalent to 'and' when verbs are put together like
these. Similarly ruuH jiib••• go (and) get... See Grammar this Unit.
kulluh shallaalaat it was all waterfalls (lit. all of it waterfalls).
• kaan fii baiT there were ducks. The past tense of'there is' is simply
formed by putting kaan ([it] was) in front of fii (there is).

204 UNIT 15
 Practise what you have learned
1 You will hear Samya talking to Abd il-Aziz about her trip to Egypt (miSir).
Abd il-Aziz's questions have been left off the recording, although the place
for them is indicated. They are given below in a jumbled order. Complete
the conversation by writing the appropriate question number in the box
opposite each question. (Answers p.212)
New word: il-qaahira Cairo
Remember: bi'ilyib'a to stay, remain; zwaaj wedding
(a) fi 1-qaahira nafisha? D
(b) la miSir! leesh? D
(c) zurtu maHallaat ktiira bi 1-qaahira? D
(d) kiif saafartu 9ala hunaak? D
(e) 'addeesh bi'iitu? D
(f) ween niziltu? D
2 You will hear Atiyya telling of his trip to the Jerash festival. Below is the
programme of-the trip. Mark off the things on it that he did do and put a
cross against the ones he did not do. Can you understand what he did
instead? (Answers p.212)
Jerash Festival Trip
10.00 Bus leaves Amman (a)
12.00 Lunch at Al-Rayyis restaurant (b)
1.0{}-3.00 Visit waterfalls (c)
7.30 Folk dancing (d)
10.00 Bus returns to Amman (e)

3 Your turn to speak. You are in a busy cafe when a man comes up to your
table. Nadira will guide you through a conversation with him.
New word: ta9allamlyit9allam to learn

UNIT 15 205
 Dialogues
n 2 Muhammad asks Naza what she did
on the same lovely weekend...
Muhammad marHaba naaza.
Naza ahleen muHammad.
Muhammad shu sawweetu l-usbuu9 il-maaDi?
Naza ana mbaariH ruHit zurit Hammaamaat ma9iin.
Muhammad Hammaamaat ma9iin, laa? kwayyis!
Naza akalit hunaak laHma mashwiyya ...
Muhammad mumtaaz.
Naza u sabaHit fi 1-birka.
Muhammad il-maaya suxna?
Naza il-maaya suxna u kaanat riHla Hilwa ktiir u riji9it ta'riiban is-saa9a
sab9a il-masa.
Muhammad eemta riji9tu, is-saa9a sab9a?
Naza u taHammamit u nimit.
Muhammad ayy saa9a Tili9tu min 9ammaan?
Naza Tili9na s-saa9a sab9a iS-SubuH u axadat iT-Tarii' ma9ana saa9a
ilia rubu9 ... wiSilna hnaak u ...
Muhammad bi l - er - sayyaara? bi s-sayyaara aw fi 1-baaS?
Naza laa fi 1-baaS ... u haay riHla byi9maluuha sharikit il-'jett' u kaanat
riHla Hilwa ktiir inbasaTna.
Muhammad mumtaaz.
Naza kull ishii kaan Tabii9i, Hilw ktiir...
sawweetu you (pl.) did mbaariH yesterday
Hammaamaat ma9iin Ma'in mumtaaz excellent
hot springs (south of Amman) sabaHit I swam
birka swimming pool riHla trip
riji9it I returned taHammamit I took a bath
nimit I went to bed Tili9tu min you (pl.) went out
Tabii9i natural from, you left

• shu sawweetu •.. ? what did you do ... ? The verb sawwalysawwi is an
alternative used by some speakers for 9imil/yi9mal with the same
meaning.
• ruHit zurit ••• I went and visited (lit. I went I visited). See the note on
ruHna axadna in the previous dialogue.
Naza consistently uses an -it suffix for the 'I' form of the past tense:
ruHit, zurit, akalit, sabaHit, riji9it, taHammamit, nimit instead of
simple -t as in ruHt, zurt, akalt, sabaHt, etc. This is a frequently heard
variant of the 'I' (and 'you (m)') in Jordan and Iraq.
• Hammaam also means 'toilet', 'bathroom'.
il-maaya suxna? was the water warm?
• axadat iT-Tarii' ma9ana saa9a ilia rubu9 the trip took us three
quarters of an hour (lit. took the road with us hour except a quarter).

sharikit il-'jett' the Jett company. This is a large Jordanian bus company.

206 UNIT 15
 Practise what you have leamed
4 listen to Sa'da talking about her weekend, then fill in the blanks in the
summary below about what she did. So if she says ruHt you would fill in
the blank with raaHat. In some cases, more than one word is required.
(Answers p.212)
sa9da (a) _ _ _ _ ijaaza u (b) riHla Ia Hammaamaat
ma9iin. (c) _ _ _ _ fi funduq jamb il-maHaTia u (d) _ _ __
hunaak talaat tiyyaam. kull yoom (e) il-Hammaamaat.
(f) fi maT9am fi 1-balad u ba9d iD-Duhur (g) _ _ __
(h) _ _ _ _ 9ala 9ammaan mbaariH. (i) _ _ _ _ min ir-riHla ktiir.

5 Your tum to speak. You are in Amman on holiday and are talking to a
Jordanian acquaintance about what you have been doing. Below are the
relevant extracts from your diary for the last couple of days, on which to
base your part in the conversation. Nadira will not prompt you this time,
but after the pauses she will give you a version of what you could have said.
Try to do more than just give the briefest possible answers, but you do not
have to include all the information.

WEDNESDAY ~~~ THURSDAY

Visited the -::: f::F;. Visited Husein

amphitheatre ~ mosque and town
"':
centre. Looked at
-;; :: people and stores -
::.. fascinating. Met
-:::
George and had
~;: lunch with him. Had
'Kubba HamiiS' -
~p. delicious. Got back

~
r-~ at 8 and went to bed
at9.
:::

~ ~

UNIT 15 207
 Dialogues
n 3 Shahir is talking to Muhammad about
his early student days in Britain, and
particularly his problems with English
food. Eventually, he got used to it...
Shahir bas ba9dmaa maDa ya9ni Hawaali... faSil bas, 'Christmas Term',
intaha 1-faSi1 il-awwa1 haadha, badeet ana atkayyaf shwayy shwayy
u ba9deen 1amma maDu 1-arba9 sanawaat 1a 1-baka1uuryis kunt ana
mughram bi 1-aki1 i1-ingliizi u Sirt aHibbuh aktar min i1-aki1 il-
9arabi, ah wallah! 1i'annuh kunt sha9art innuh bartaaH 9a1eeh
jiddan, mi9dati mitrayHa, ya9ni maa fii ha1-bhaaraat, maa fii ha1-
fa1aafi1, yaa mHammad, i1-muHriqa haadhi!!
maDa (it) passed, elapsed
Hawaali approximately
faSil term, semester
intaha (it) ended
atkayyaf I accustom myself to
shwayy shwayy gradually
bakaluuryis Bachelor's degree, BA
mughram bi in love with, very fond of
Sirt I began to
sha9art I felt
bartaaH 9ala I feel happy with, at home with
mi9da stomach
mitrayyiH (f. mitrayHa) settled, comfortable
bhaaraat spices
falaafil (hot) pepper
muHriq burning, red-hot

bas ba9dmaa maDa ya9ni Hawaali ••• faSil bas but after about a
term had gone by...
• badeet ana atkayyaf... I began to get used to ... (lit. I began I get used
to). This is another example of a 'verb string': after the verb bida (or
bada)/yibda (to begin) a non-past verb is added directly to make phrases
equivalent to English 'to begin to do something'. Other examples: badeet
at9allam 9arabi s-sana 1-maaDya I began to learn Arabic last year (lit.
I began I learn...), byibda yishtaghil halla' he's beginning to work now
(lit. he is beginning he works) .
il arba9 sanawaat Ia 1-bakaluuryis the four years to the BA.
• Sirt aHibbuh ... I'd come to love it (lit. I became I love it). The verb
SaarlySiir, followed directly by a non-past verb is structurally exactly like
bidalyibda + non-past verb and has a similar meaning. It conveys the
idea 'to get to the point where', for example, binti S-Sghiira Saarat
timshi my little daughter has started to walk (in other words, has reached
the point where she can walk).
sha9art innuh bartaaH 9aleeh jiddan I felt very much at home with it
(lit. I felt that I am happy on it very much) .

208 UNIT 15
 Practise what you have learned
6 Samira has been trying to contact her friend, Maha. listen to the dialogue
and then mark off the answer to each question. (Answers p.212)
(a) Why didn't Maha answer the phone?
e She wasn't feeling well.
e She was at work.
e She was on holiday.
(b) Where did Maha and her family go?
e To Britain.
e To Paris.
e To Beirut.
(c) Decide whether these statement are True or False:
(i) They did not enjoy the trip.
(ii) They do not think Paris is a beautiful city.
(iii) They stayed two weeks.

7 Hind meets her friend Suha and they are exchanging their news, especially
about the children. Fill in the blanks with the words/expressions in the box
to complete the dialogue. Then check your answer on page 212.
New words: daraslyudrus to study

fi raaHat badat byishtaghil kiif il-Haal fi

tudrus ween hunaak raaHat kaanat

Hind marHaba suha. _ _ _ _ _ ? kiif il-iwlaad?

Suha wallah il-Hamdillaah il-kull bixeer.
Hind _ _ _ _ _ samiira u nabiil hal-iyyaam?
Suha samiira - - - - - briTaanya u nabiil _ _ _ _ _ J-baHreen.
Hind shu, _ _ _ _ _ fi ziyaara 9a briiTaanya?
Suha laa, Ia draasa. biddha _ _ _ __
Hind kiifinshaallah mabsuuTa _ _ _ _ _ ?
Suha wallah, ya9ni mish ktiir. awwalha _ _ _ _ _ Sa9ba, bas halla'
aHsan _ _ _ _ _ titkayyaf.
Hind u shu nabiil 9aamil?
Suha wallah, il-Hamdillaah, _ _ _ _ _ , shughluh kwayyis.
Hind allah yixalliihum.
Suha allah yiHfaZik.

UNIT 15 209
 Key words and phrases
To learn

...
il-usbuu9 il-maaDi last week
sharika (pl. -aat) company
is-sayyid (f. is-sayyida) Mr,Mrs
mun. who?
maaysuxna hot water
naam/ynaam to sleep, go to bed
bi'i/yib'a to stay
ta9allam/yit9allam to learn

To understand saafar/ysaafir to travel

mitrayyiH (f. mitrayHa) comfortable, at ease
maDa/yimDi to pass (of time)
kayyaf/ykayyif to enjoy oneself

210 UNIT 15
 Grammar
Verb strings You have encountered a number of 'verb strings'. Examples from this unit
are: ruHna axadna we went (and) took, ruHt zurt I went (and) visited,
badeet atkayyafi began to get used to, Sirt aHibb I got to like, kunt
sha9art I had felt. These strings fall into three types, and in all of them the
subjects of the two verbs are identical:
1 Verb (in any tense) of wanting, being able, liking + verb in non-past
without b(i)-. Earlier examples include baHibb atfarraj ••• I like to watch ... ,
ba'dar awSal I can get to, Habbeet ashuufuh I wanted to see him. The
second verb in these cases has a meaning similar to the English infinitive
'to do' or verbal noun 'doing', with no reference to a particular time - the
time referred to is set by the tense of the first verb in the string.
Examples of this are:
baHibb atfarraj 9ala t-tilivizyuun kul yoom. I like to watch 'IV every
day.
Habbeet ashuu.fuh bas maa 'idirt aaji. I wanted to see him but I wasn't
able to come.

2 kaan +verb in past, non-past with b(i)-, or future, or participle. These

combinations give tenses similar to English 'compound' tenses: kaan
shaafhe had seen, kaan raayiH he was going or had gone, kaan byruuH
he used to go, kaan byaakul he was eating or he used to eat, kaan raH
yruuH he was going to go.
kunt shuftuh 'abil yoomeen I had seen him two days before.
Habbeet ashuufuh bas kaan raayih. I wanted to see him but he had
gone.
kunt baakul il-akil il-9arabi kul jum9a. I used to eat Arab food every
Friday.
lamma shuftuh kaan raayiH 9a I-beet. When I saw him he was going
home.

3 Two verbs in the same teme, but the second verb does not take prefixes. The
first verb is often raalllyruuH and the meaning is similar to the English
'he went and saw'- raaH shaaf (as opposed to 'he went to see'. - raaH
yshuuf). For example, ruHt zurt I went and visited, raaHat axadat she
went and took. You will also hear command forms put together without an
intervening wa (and): ruuH jiib go and get!

8 Put the verbs in parentheses into the appropriate forms to match the
English translation given. (Answers p.212)
(a) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (bada akal- she began to eat ... ) il-ITuur.
(b) (kaan aja- I used to come ... ) hoon ktiir.
(c) maa ('idir shaaf- I could not see ... ) il-mudiir imbaariH.
(d) eemta raH -ni ('idir aja zaar- you (f.) will be able to
come and visit ... )?
(e) il-awwal maa _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (kaan akal- I used not to
eat... ) il-akil il-9arabi, bas halla' -uh (Saar Habb-
I've come to like ... ) ktiir.

UNIT 15 211
 Your turn to speak
9 You are in Jordan and your friend has invited you along with others to a
party. You want to speak to one of the guests whom you do not know.
Introduce yourself, say where you come from and why you are in Jordan,
how long you are staying, and where. Talk about your expereince in Jordan
- places you have been to, the food, the people, things you like and things
you do not like in Jordan. Talk with this person using as much as you can
everything you have learned on this course. Then listen to the recording for
a possible version.

Answers
Practise what you Exercise 1 (a) 3 (b) 1 (c) 6 (d) 5 (e) 4 (f) 2
have learned
Exercise 2 (a) ,/ (b) K (he had lunch at 2.00) (c) K (he did this from
12 to 2, not 1 to 3) (d),/ (e) K (he missed it because
dancing finished at 10.30 not 10.00)
Exercise 4 (a) axadat (b) raaHat (c) nizlat (d) bi'yat (e) kaanat
tzuur/truuH (f) taghaddat (g) kaanat tnaam (h) rij9at
(i) inbasaTat
Exercise 5 1. ,/ He got the newspaper. 2. K The cinema was closed, so
he didn't get the tickets. 3. ,/He put some things in the
post.
Additional message: Someone called John Brown came
wanting to see him. Mr Brown said he'd come back at 8.00.
Exercise 6 (a) she was on holiday (b) Paris (c) (i) F (ii) F (iii) F
Exercise 7 kiifil-Haal; ween; fi; fi; raaHat; raaHat; tudrus; hunaak;
kaanat; badat; byishtaghil

Granunar Exercise 8 (a) badat taakul (b) kunt aaji (c) maa 'idirt ashuuf
(d) ti'darii tiiji tzuuriini (e) kunt baakul, Sirt aHibbuh

Writing Exercise 10 (a) shaari9 'umayya Ummaya Street

(b) kuudaak studyuu shaahiin Kodak, Shahin Studio
(c) thallaajaat refrigerators
ghassaalaat washing machines
jallaayaat vacuum cleaners
tilifizyuunaat televisions
afraan ghaaz gas ovens
mukayyifaat hawaa' air-conditioners
far9 la S-Siyaana maintenance branch (lit.
branch for the maintenance)
(d) maxaazin lil-'iijaar
al-muraaja9a 621077 shops for lease. Call 621077
(e) mamnuu9 al-muruur no entry
(t) ja9farsnaak xidma Hatta
th-thaalitha SabaaHan Jaffarsnack... Service until
3.00 a.m.

212 UNIT 15
 Did you know?
Medical matters It is a useful thing to know at least a few basic words and phrases associated
with illness and medical treatment should you need to explain simple
ailments or symptoms in Arabic. A hospital in Arabic is mustashfa, so if
you wanted to tell a taxi driver to take you to the University Hospital, you
might instruct him waddiini mustashfa 1-jaam9a min faDlak. Most
probably, however, you would go with a minor ailment to a doctor's clinic,
in Arabic 9iyaada, for example, 9iyaadit id-duktuur Hasan Dr Hasan's
clinic.

The profession of doctor is Tabiib (or more colloquially Hakiim). A

dentist is Tabiib asnaan (lit. doctor of teeth). So if you wanted to tell a
receptionist that you wanted to see a doctor or dentist, the polite phrase
would be biddi ashuufTabiib (or Tabiib asnaan) iza mukin. If you
wanted to make an appointment, the phrase is the same as we encountered
in Unit 12 in connection with business appointemts: biddi aaxud maw9id
I want to make Oit. take) an appointment.

How do you explain what is wrong? If you have a headache, the phrase is
9indi waja9 raas (lit. with me pain (of) head). waja9 means pain in
general so can be applied to any part of the body, for example, 9indi waja9
Sadar I have a chest pain, 9indi waja9 Zahr I have a back pain. A 'fever' is
sxuuna, for example, 9indi sxuuna I have a fever, and the adjective is
saxnaan, so binti saxnaana would be 'my daughter feels feverish'.
Structurally similar adjectives to saxnaan are ta9baan (tired), bardaan
(cold), na9saan (drowsy or sleepy). If you have a cold you are
mrashshaH, and if you have a head-cold the word to use is muzakkam.
The general word for 'ill' is mariiD.

Medicine (the stuff you take, not the profession) is called dawa, as in
instructions like xud had-dawa talaat marraat kull yoom take this
medicine three times a day. Pills are called Hubuub (sing. Habba). The
verb 'to prescribe' is the same as the one for 'describe': waSaf7yuuSif and a
'prescription' is waSfa, so mumkin ta9Tiini waSfa Ia•.•? would be the
phrase to use for 'can you give me a prescription for ... ?' followed by what
you need, for example, Hubuub man9 it-Hamal contraceptive pills (lit.
pills (for) prevention (of) conception). The pharmacy is Saydaliyya in
Arabic and so to ask where the nearest pharmacy is you would ask ween
a'rab Saydaliyya, min faDlak?

UNIT 15 213
Did you know?
If you ever have occasion to visit anyone in hospital, or who is ill, there are a
number of possible courtesy expressions which can be used. You can simply
say salaamtak (your health!) to which the reply from the invalid is allah
yisalmak! (may God give you health!). Alternatively, the visitor can say
allah yishfiik (may God heal you!), to which the ill person replies allah
yiHfaZak or allah yxalllik (may God preserve you!). On taking leave of
someone ill, a suitable expression might be allah yishfiik u t'uum bi
s-salaama may God heal you and may you get up well! As for most social
occasions, there are expected formulas in Arabic and expected set
responses.

214 UNIT 15
 Writing
So far, we have covered the Arabic alphabet and its spelling conventions as
they appear in normal print. The an of calligraphy, however, is one of the
great glories of Arabic civilization, and there are a large number of script
styles and sub-styles which you are likely to encounter even in street signs,
shop signs and other 'public' writing. In a book like this, we can only give a
few examples of some of the commonest types; with time and practice, and
especially since many Arabic signs appear alongside an English translation
for the benefit of the non-Arabist, you will acquire skill in deciphering and
translating them. By way of example, look at the standard printed version of
the phrase al-majlis ath-thaqaafi 1-briiTaani the British Council:

In some of the most commonly encountered script styles, the same phrase
would look like this:

(a) copybook nasx:

~~._>:JI
M
Jli.!...ll
M
~I

(b) ruq9a (the most common cursive handwriting style, often imitated in
posters, etc.):

(c) ta91iiq style (also common in Persian):

~~)I ~lcJI ~~
(d) kuufi ('Kufic') style, commonly used when a portentous or grandiose
effect is desired: l)...;.ll...,.._,JL i)..jl.i:Jl
~L

Perhaps the most useful of these with which to become familiar is ruq9a.
An excellent manual exists in T.F. Mitchell's Writing Arabic (O.U.P.).

10 Here and on p.216 are some examples of simple street signs and other
writing in a variety of scripts. See if you can decipher them and rewrite
them in the transcription system we have been using in this book, and then
translate them (Answers p.212)

.. ...

[ ..r:- ."". ;
~·.

'(:, l .
""'•• 4
!l
.. .-, r~
--.;..
. '.."'
..!>Lu-:·~r _,•-J~~~-MI!W~ Jtt.:k...a..
·~

.. ...:...:..!~

(a)

(b) (c)

UNIT 15 215
Writing

(d) (e)

L>~~LJI~w~
• (f)

The final example below shows the intricacy of the caligrapher's art, and is
taken from the cover of an aide-memoire which tells fasters when to begin
and end their fast day-by-day during Ramadan. In standard printed (and in
this case vowelled) Arabic, the words read:
0 ,

~~~~~~
'imsaakiyya shahr ramaDaan month of Ramadan fasting times

See if you can match the printed letters with the delicate interweaving of the
shapes in the calligraphed version.

This kind of ornateness is very common on inscriptions in mosques and

other religious buildings, in which the depiction of material objects and the
human form is not permitted.

216 UNIT 15
 Grammar summary
Below is a very brief summary of some of the more important grammatical
and structural points. It is not a complete description of the grammar of
spoken Jordanian Arabic.

Nouns
definite/indefinite: funduq (a) hotel sharika (a) company
il-funduq the hotel ish-sharika the company

singular/plural: type 1 mudarris - mudarrisiin teacher(s)

type2 Taaliba - Taalibaat female student(s)
sharika - sharikaat company(ies)
baaS - baaSaat bus(es)
type 3 (various patterns), e.g.
si9ir - as9aar price(s)
ghurfa - ghuraf room(s)
maktab - makaatib office(s)
(type 1 for certain human nouns only; type 2 for certain female human
nouns, feminine nouns ending in -a, and most foreign borrowings; type 3
the 'broken' plurals, which occur in various patterns, and are the
commonest type)

gender: masculine (most): funduq hotel

feminine: by meaning: hint girl
by ending -a: sharika company
by convention: suu' market

Adjectives - follow nouns and agree with them in gender and definiteness:
funduq kbiir a big hotel
il-funduq il-kbiir the big hotel
sharika kbiira a big company
ish-sharika il-kbiira the big company
(if you say il-funduq kbiir, it means 'the hotel is big')

- are plural if they follow a 'human' plural noun, feminine after non-human
plurals:
fanaadiq kbiira big hotels
il-fanaadiq il-kbiira the big hotels
banaatkbaar big girls
il-banaat il kbaar the big girls
(if you say il-banaat kbaar, it means 'the girls are big')

Comparison - comparative adjectives are of the general pattern aCCaC, where the Cs
represent the consonants of the ordinary adjective: so rxiiS cheap, arxaS
cheaper. 'Than' is min. Soil-baaS arxaS min is-sarfiis means 'the bus is
cheaper than a service taxi'.
The superlative is formed by putting the comparative adjective in front of
the noun: arxaS funduq the cheapest hotel, or by treating the comparative
like an ordinary adjective: il-funduq il-arxaS.

There is/are use fii, negative maa fiih:

(maa) fii naas fi 1-ghurfa there are (no) people in the room

GRAMMAR SUMMARY 217

Possession -for 'my', 'your' etc. add the following to the noun
-i my -na our
-ak your (m.) -kum your (pl.)
-ik your (f.)
-uh his/its -hum their
-ha her/its
(so beeti my house, beeti il-kbiir my big house. beeti kbiir means 'my
house is big')
- between two nouns:
method 1: put the 'possessor' noun after the 'possessed':
kitaab aHmad Ahmed's book

nouns ending in -a (e.g. sayyaara car), change to i and add at when they
are the 'possessed' noun:
sayyaarit aHmad Ahmed's car

the 'possessor' noun can be definite (with il-) or indefinite, but in either
case the 'possessed' noun doesn't have il-:
miftaaH il-sayyaara the car key
miftaaH sayyaara a car key

method 2: as an alternative you can use taba9:

il-miftaaH taba9 is-sayyaara the car key
miftaaH taba9 sayyaara a car key

-'to have': there is no verb 'to have' in Arabic. Use 9ind (with) +the
endings for 'my', 'your' listed above: 9indi tluus I have money. The
negative is formed using maa: maa 9induh sayyaara he doesn't have a car.

Verbs past tense endings are added to the past tense stem(= the 'he' form). Simple verb
stems are of five types. Type 1 stems end in -aC or -iC (where Cis any
consonant); type 2 end in -aCC; types 3 and 4 end in a vowel; and type 5
stems end in aaC, which always changes to -uC, -aC, or -iC (depending
on the verb) before '1', 'you' and 'we' forms.
Stem Type: 2 3 4 5
example: Hajaz Habb Haka nisi shaaf
I Hajaz-t Habb-eet Hak-eet nis-eet shuf-t
you (m.) Hajaz-t Habb-eet Hak-eet nis-eet shuf-t
you (f.) Hajaz-ti Habb-eeti Hak-eeti nis-eeti shuf-ti
he/it Hajaz Habb Haka nisi shaaf
she/it Hajaz-at Habb-at Hak-at nisy-at shaaf-at
we Hajaz-na Habb-eena Hak-eena nis-eena shuf-na
you (pl.) Hajaz-tu Habb-eetu Hak-eetu nis-eetu shuf-tu
they Hajaz-u Habb-u Hak-u nisy-u shaaf-u
Derived verbs also follow these patterns:
1: :xallaS, Haawal, takallam, ishtaghal
2: none
3: :xalla, laa'a
4: none
5: istafaad (short vowel a), iHtaaj (short vowel i)

218 GRAMMARSUMMARY
 non-past tense
(present and future) prefixes and endings are added to the non-past stem:
Stem Type: 2 3 4 5
example: -Hjiz- -Hibb- -Hki- -nsa- -shuuf-
I a-Hjiz a-Hibb a-Hki a-nsa a-shuuf
you (m.) ti-Hjiz t-Hibb ti-Hki ti-nsa t-shuuf
you (f.) ti-Hjiz-i t-Hibb-i ti-Hki ti-ns-i t-shuuf-i
he/it yi-Hjiz y-Hibb yi-Hki yi-nsa y-shuuf
she/it ti-Hjiz t-Hibb ti-Hki ti-nsa t-shuuf
we ni-Hjiz n-Hibb ni-Hki ni-nsa n-shuuf
you (pl.) ti-Hjiz-u t-Hibb-u ti-Hk-u ti-ns-u t-shuuf-u
they yi-Hjiz-u y-Hibb-u yi-Hk-u yi-ns-u y-shuuf-u

The vowel of the stem types 1 and 2 may be a, i, or u and aa, ii or uu in

the case of type 5 - this has to be learnt with each verb.
Two common exceptions are the verbs 'to take' and 'to eat' which have aa-,
taa-, yaa- and naa- prefixes rather than a-, ti, yi-, ni-: yaaxud he takes,
naakul we eat.
Verbs, the first letter of whose stem is w, are partially exceptional, for
example -wSal- to arrive. 'I arrive' is awSal, as expected. But the other
forms of the verb have yuu-, tuu-, nuu- as prefix, e.g. yuuSal he arrives.
Derived verbs also follow the patterns exemplified above:
1: -xalliS-, -Haawil-, -tkallam-, -shtaghil-
2: none
3: -xalli-, -laa'i-
4: -stanna-
5: -statiid-, -Htaaj-
Non-past verbs expressing present time or a general truth normally have a
b- prefix: baHki 9arabi I speak Arabie/I'm speaking Arabic.

Commands To make the command form, first remove the prefix from the non-past
verb. If the result starts with two consonants, prefix i-. If not, add nothing,
e.g.
masculine feminine plural
type 1 i-Hjiz i-Hjizi i-Hjizu (reserve!)
type3 i-Hki i-Hki i-Hku (talk!)
type5 ruuH ruuHi ruuHu (go!)
type 3 (der.) Salli Salli Sallu (pray!)
Negative commands are the same as the ordinary verb preceded by maa
not and followed by -sh: maa taakulsh haada Don't eat that!

Can, Must, May,

Want, etc. must/have to/had to: laazim +past or non-past verb
laazim yruuH he must/has to go
laazimraaH he must have gone
kaan laazim yruuH he should have gone/had to go

may/might: yumkin or mumkin + verb

mumkin yruuH maybe he'll go
mumkin raaH maybe he went
kaan mumkin yruuH he could've gone (but e.g. didn't)

GRAMMAR SUMMARY 219

 want/need to: bidd + possessive ending + non-past verb
bidduh yruuH he wants to go/needs to go

can/could: 'adar + non-past verb

byi'dar yruuH he can go
'idiryruuH he was able to go/could go
Non-past verbs which follow any of the expressions for 'must', 'can', etc.
listed above, or which are the object of another verb do not have the b-
prefix: e.g. baHibb asbaH ktiir I like swimming a lot (NOT baHibb
basbaH ... ).

Participles active participle

This is roughly equivalent to English ' ... ing/having ... ed' or 'a person or
thing which ... s'
examples:
type 1: 9aarif knowing/have known
type 2: maarr passing by/having passed by/passer-by
type 3: m.aashi going/having gone(= O.K.)
type 4: naasi forgetting/having forgotten
type 5: shaayif seeing/having seen
To form the active participles of derived forms simply put m- or mi- in
front of the non-past stem, e.g. m-xalliS finishing/having finished,
mi-stafiid benefitting/having benefitted/beneficiary etc. The only slight
exception to this are stems like -tzawwaj- which always change the last a
to an i: mitzawwij marrying/having married/married person.

passive participle
These are often equivalent ot English 'is/was ... ed':
type 1: ma9ruuf known
type 2: maHbuub liked, loved (hence: popular)
type 3 & 4: maHshi stuffed (e.g. vegetables)
type 5: mabyuu9 sold
To form the passive participles of derived verbs change the final i or ii of
the active p!lrtciple to a or aa; if it is already aa, it stays the same: mxallaS
finished, completed, miHtaaj needed.

Subject Pronouns The subject pronouns are as follows:

ana I niHna (or iHna) we

inta you (m.) intu you (pl.)
inti you (f.)
huwwa he/it humma they
hiyya she/it

These pronouns are not usually used with verbs except for emphasis, e.g.
compare ruHt is-suu' I went to the market, with ana ruHt is-suu', mish
huwwa I went to the market, not him. However, in verbless sentences,
these pronouns are normally used: huwwa mish mawjuud he isn't here.

220 GRAMMAR SUMMARY

Object Pronouns - for 'me', 'him', etc. add the same endings to the verb as are added to the
noun to indicate possession, except that 'me' is -ni, not -i: shaafi:J.i he saw
me, aHibbuh I like him. When these endings are added to a verb form
which ends in a vowel, lengthen the vowel: a9Tiini 1-kitaab give me the
book!, xallaani aruuH he let me go. When -uh (him) is added to a verb
ending in a vowel, the u is dropped: xalliih yruuH let him go!

Verbs and Tenses To say things like 'I am English', 'she is here', 'they are businessmen' you
don't need a verb in Arabic. Simply say 'I English' (ana ingliizi) etc.
For describing past actions, use the past tense. For the present and
'timeless' statements ('I like ice-cream.') use the non-past. For intentions
and future actions use raH + non-past verb: raH asaafir bukra I'm
leaving tomorrow. For past-in-the-past ('The bus had gone when I arrived.')
use kaan +active participle (il-baaS kaan raayiH 1amma waSalt). For
past continuous ('I was talking when he entered.') use kaan + non-past
(kunt baHki lamma daxal). The same combination is used for 'used to':
kunt bal9ab tanis ktiir ayyaam il-madrasa I used to play tennis a lot
at school. To say 'been ... ing for .. .' and similar expressions use the
expression Saar la ••• , e.g.

'addeesh Saar lak hoon? How long have you been here?
ana Saar li saa9a bastanna I've been waiting an hour
huwwa Saar 1uh sana fi 9ammaan He's been in Amman a year

Negation with verbs: use maa ••• (i)sh. The (i)sh element is optional:
maa baHibb or maa baHibbish I don't like
maa Habbeet or maa Habbeetish I didn't like
maa tiHkiish! Don't speak!

with bidd-, 9ind- and fii: as with verbs:

maa biddi aruuH I don't want to go
maa 9indha 9amal she doesn't have a job

with nouns, pronouns, adjectives, participles, and prepositions: use mish

(ormu):
ana mish mudarris I'm not a teacher
inta, mish ana! you, not me!
ana mish faaDi il-1ee1a I'm not free tonight
hiyya mish fi 1-ghurfa she isn't in the room
mish laazim yiiji he doesn't have to come
mish mumkin yiiji he can't come

GRAMMAR SUMMARY 221

 Vocabulary
This is a complete list of all the Arabic words which appear anywhere in
this course. Alphabetical order here is in English except that: capital letters
follow their small equivalents; sh, th etc. are treated as single letters and
follow S and t respectively; initial ' is treated as equivalent to q. 9 comes
last.
Some words have various pronunciations. In particular the short vowels a, i
and u are sometimes dropped, or inserted, so if you cannot find a word here
it may be worth checking any possible alternative spelling. Where two
variants of a word are common they are listed together, with a comma
between. Verbs are listed in past tense/non-past tense form. Verbal nouns
are given after the past/non-past forms, if in common use. The 'I' form of
the past tense of a hollow verb is given in square brackets after it. For nouns
and adjectives plurals are given where appropriate, except in the case of
relative adjectives and nouns (see Unit 9 Grammar).

Abbreviations
(B) Bedouin or non-urban usage
(F) formal usage
part. participle

aab August akil food

aadhaar March aktar more, most
aali automated, automatic aktar shii the most
aan: ll-aan (F) now akthar (F), aktar more most
aanisa Miss alf, pl. (t)alaaf 1,000
aathaar (pl.) (F), asaar ruins allah God
aaxir: aaxir ••• the last ... ahnaanya Germany
9a 1-aaxir extremely amaam (F) in front of
ab, (pl.) abaa' father amaana municipality
abu father of amaanit ll-9aaSima City
abadan: mish ••• abadan not at Hall
all amar: taUt amrak at your
abrill April service
abyaD, f. beeDa, pl. biiD white amriika America
aDaaDyDiif, iDaafa [aDaft] amriiki, pl. amriikaan
(9ala) to add (to) American
aghustus August ams yesterday
ah yes ana I
ahll family, relatives aqall, a'all less
ahlan hello a'rab: a'rab ••• the nearest ...
ahlan wa sahlan, ahla u arba9a four
sahla welcome arba9iin 40
ahleen hello, you're welcome arba9miyya 400
aHad: (yoom) ll-aHad Sunday arba9ta9sh 14
aHmar, f. Hamra, pl. Humur arxaS cheaper
red asaar (pl.) ruins
aHsan better, best asaf: ma9a 1-asaf unfortunately
aHsan shii preferable aswad, f. sooda, pl. suud black
aja (see ija) to come aSfar, f. Safra, pl. Sufur yellow
ajaar fare, hire fee aSian originally
ajnabi, pl. ajaanib foreign, aw (F) or
foreigner awwal first
akallyaakul, akil to eat awwalmaa as soon as
akiid certain(ly) ax, pl. ixwa brother

222 VOCABULARY
axudlyaaxud, axd, part. maaxid bayaan, pl. -aat announcement
to take ba9atlyib9at, ba9t to send
axDar, f. xaDra, pl. xuDur ba9d after
green ba9deen sfterwards, then
axiiran at last, finally ba9dmaa (+ verb) after
ayaar May ba9D each other
ayluul September ba9iid (9an) far (from)
aywa yes beeDa, pl. heeD egg
ayy(a) which, any been between
a9jab/yi9jib, i9jaab to please beet, pl. byuut house
azra', f. zar'a, pl. zuru' blue fi 1-beet at home
azyaa' (pl.) fashions, costumes bi in, with, by
a9Talya9Ti, i9Taa' to give bida see bada to begin
bidaaya beginning
baab, pl. abwaab door, gate biddi, biddak, etc. I want, you
baal mind want, etc.
ija 9ala baali it occurred to me biduun without
baar, pl. -aat bar biira beer
baarid cold, cold drinks binni, f. -iyya, pl. binni brown
baaS, pl. -aat bus hint, pl. banaat girl, daughter
baa9/ybii9, bee9 [bi9t] to sell bi'ilyib'a, baqaa' to stay
baba ghannuuj eggplant/ birka, pl. -aat swimming pool
aubergine puree biskoot biscuit
bada/yibda,bidaaya tobegin biyjuuz (see jaaz) it's possible,
badawi, pl. badu Bedouin maybe
badinjaan aubergine, eggplant bi9tha, pl. -aat scholarship
baghalyibgha (B) to want abroad
baHar sea bluuza, pl. -aat blouse
baHathlyibHath, baHth (F) bukra tomorrow
to discuss ba9d bukra the day after
bakaluuryis Bachelor's degree tomorrow
bakeet, pl. -aat packet bulbul nightingale
bakkiir early (in the morning) briiTaanya Britain
balaash: balaash at9ibak I don't briiTaani British
want to trouble you burtu'aana, pl. burtu'aan
bi balaash free, for nothing orange (fruit)
balad, pl. blaad village, town, buufee buffet
country
baladiyya municipality daaxiliyya: id-daaxiliyya the
hallah, ballaahi please Interior Ministry
banduura tomato(es) dafa9/yidfa9, dafi9 to pay
bank, pl. bunuuk bank daftar 9eela family card
banTaloon, pl. -aat (pair of) dahab gold
trousers dajaaj chicken
baraka, pl. -aat blessing daliil, pl. dalaayil guide,
bardaan, pl. bardaniin (feeling) directory
cold dalllydill, dalaala (9ala) to show
barDuh also or guide s.o. (to)
bariid mail, post da'ii'a, pl. da'aayi' minute
(maktab) bariid post office daraj stairs, steps
barnaam.ij, pl. baraam.ij daraslyudrus, draasa to study
programme dawa medicine
bas only, just; but dawaam: (wa't) id-dawaam
basiiTa no problem, that's OK working hours
baTaaTis potatoes dawla, pl. duwal state, country
baTaaTis maqli French fries daxal/yudxul, duxuul to enter
baTTa, pl. baTT ducks daxxanlydaxxin, tadxiin to
baxshiish tip, tips smoke

VOCABULARY 223
dayman always fattaaHa, pl. -aat tin opener
diisaDlbar December faTar/yiiTar, ITuur to have
dhnashq Damascus breakfast
dinaar, pl. dananiir dinar fi in
door, pl. adwaar storey; role fibraayir February
dughri straight ahead, fiDDa silver
straightforward fihimlyithBDl, fahaDl to
duktuur, pl. dakatra doctor understand
dulaab, pl. dawaliib cupboard; fii there is
tyre fikra, pl. fikar idea
duush, pl. -aat shower filasTiini Palestinian
duuz (slang) straight ahead filfil pepper
duwali international filim, pl. aflaam film
duwwaar, pl. -aat roundabout, fils, pl. tluus a 1OOth of a dinar
circle finjaan, pl. fanajiin cup
duxuul entrance fi91an really, actually
tluus (pl.) money
DalllyDall, Dall to keep on foo', foog (B) upstairs, above
Dariiba, pl. Daraayib tax ITuur, ITaar breakfast
Diffa: iD-Diffa 1-gharbiyya the funduq, pl. fanaadiq hotel
West Bank fustaan, pl. fasatiin dress
Duhur: iD-Duhur noon fuul beans
ba9d iD-Duhur in the fuuTa, pl. fuwaT towel
afternoon
ghaali, pl. ghaalyiin expensive,
dhaat: bi dh-dhaat in particular dear
dhikraa commemoration ghaaya: Ia ghaayit ... up till ... ,
until ...
DHabT: bi DH-DHabT exactly ghada lunch
DHalllyDHall, DHall (F) = Dall ghadda/yghaddi, taghdiya to
to keep on (doing something) give s.o. lunch
ghalaba a nuisance, pain in the
eemta when? neck
eesh what? ghalaT, pl. aghlaaT wrong;
ey, aywa yes mistake
gharbi Western
fa so, and then, and ghayyar/yghayyir, taghyiir to
faahim, pl. faahmHn (1, you, he, change (sth.)
she) understand(s) pl. (we, you, gheer apart from, except; non-
they) understand gheer marra again
faaDi, pl. faaDyiin free, not busy gheeruh another one
faDDaVyfaDDU to prefer ghurfa, pl. ghuraf room
faDU: min faDlak, f. faDiik
please hal- ... this ...
fakkarlyfakkir, tafkiir (fi) to haada, f. haadi, pl. hadool(a)
think (about) this
falaafil falafel, bean rissoles; hot haadha (F), haada this
pepper haat, f. -i, pl. -u bring!
faqaT (F) only haay this, these
farawla strawberry haayil, pl. haayliin wonderful
farrajlyfarrij ... (9ala) to show hala or yaa hala welcome, reply
... (something) to a greeting
faSU, pl. fuSuul term, semester halla' now
fataWyiftaH, fatH to open haram pyramid(s)
fatHa, pl. -aat opening; unit on heek, heeka like that
a meter mish heek? isn't it? aren't you?
fatra, pl. fataraat period of time didn't they? etc.
fatta dip with bread hidiyya, pl. hadaaya gift

224 VOCABULARY
biwaaya, pl. -aat hobby Haziraan June
biyya she, it HaZZ luck
boon here HiDirlyuHDur, HuDuur to go
buduum (pl.) clothes to, attend
bumma they Hilw, pl. -iin nice, sweet
buna (F), boon here Hily jewellery
bunaak, hnaak there Hisaab, pl. -aat bill, account
bunna (F) they (f.) 'addeesb il-Hisaab How
buwiyya sbaxSiyya personal much does it come to?
identification HSaan, pl. HuSun horse
buwwa he, it Hukuuma, pl. -aat government
HummuS houmous
HaaDir yes, Sir
Haal (m. or f.) pl. aHwaal state ida, iza, idha (F) if
bi Haali by myself iftakarlyiftikir, fikr (innuh) to
kiifHaalaklllaalikf"ll-Haal? think (that)
How are you? iHda9sb eleven
Haali present (time) iHna we
HaawaVyHaawil, muHaawla iHtaajlyiHtaaj, iHtiyaaj [iHtajt]
to try (Ia) to need (something)
HabblyHibb, Hubb to like, love iid (f.), pl. ayaadi hand
Habiibi, f. Habiibti my dear, ijalyiiji, majii', [(i)jiit] to come
darling part. jaay
Hadiiqa, pl. Hadaa'iq park, ijaaza, pl. -aat holiday, leave
garden ijtimaa9, pl. -aat meeting
HaDirtak, f. HaDirtik you illa except
(polite) tinteen illa rubu9 quarter to
HafaZiyiHfaZ: allah yiHfaZak two
God preserve you illi which, who (see Unit 10
HaOa, pl. -aat party Grammar)
HaOa muusiqiyya concert iluh, ilak, etc. to him, to you,
Hajazlyilljiz, Hajiz to reserve etc.
Hajiz reservation imkaaniyya, pl. -aat possibility
Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca inbasaTiyinbasiT, inbisaaT to
Hakalyillki, Haki to speak, to have a good time, enjoy oneself
speak to ingiltera England
Hakiim, pl. Hukama doctor ingliizi, pl. ingliiz English;
Haliib milk English person
Hamd: il-Hamdulillah, il- innuh that (eg. after to know,
Hamdillah Praise be to God say, believe)
Hamdillah 9a s-salaama inshaallah if God wills
Thank God for your well-being inta you (m.)
(esp. after a journey) intaaj production
Hammaam, pl. -aat bathroom, intahalyintibi, intihaa' (F)
toilet, hot spring to end
Hammaam sbaaHa intaqallyintiqil, intiqaal to
swimming pool transfer, move
Harr hot (weather) inti you (f.)
HaSallyiHSal, HuSuul 9ala to intu you (pl.)
obtain iqtiraaH, pl. -aat proposal,
Hatta even, until suggestion
HaiT/yHuiT, HaiT to put irtaaHiyirtaaH, irtiyaaH (9ala)
HawalyiHwi 9ala to contain to feel happy (with), at home
Hawaali approximately, about (with)
Hayy,pl.aHyaa' quarter(ofa isim, pl. asmaa' name
city) isbaara, pl. -aat traffic light,
Hayya: Hayyaak allah God give signal
you life (see Unit 9) ishii anything, something

VOCABULARY 225
ishtaghaVyishtaghll, shughul jamb nextto
to work jamiil beautiful
ishtaralyishtiri, shiraa' to buy jamii9: ll-jamii9 (F) everyone
ishtaraklyishtirik, ishtiraak (fi) jam9a a gathering
to participate (in) jam9iyya, pl. -aat society
ishtiraak membership, januub south
subscription jariida, pl. jaraayid newspaper
islaam: ll-islaam Islam jaw weather
issa at the moment jawaab, pl. -aat reply
istafaadlyistafiid, istifaada jawaaz (safar), pl. jawaazaat
[istafadt] (min) to benefit passport
(from), use profitably jayyid (F) good
istannalyistanna to wait jdiid, jadiid new
ista'jarlyista'jir, isti'jaar to hire jibna cheese
istaraaWyistariiH, istiraaHa jiddan (F) very
[istaraHt] to rest, relax, sit jiit (see ija) 1/you came
down jisir, pl. jusuur bridge, flyover
ista9addlyista9idd, isti9daad jum9a week; Friday
to get ready (yoom) ll-jum9a Friday
ista9jaVyista9jll, isti9jaal to be juwwa inside
in a hurry, urgent ju9aan, pl. -iin hungry
ista9mallyista9mll, isti9maal
to use
istiqdaam summoning ka as
istirliini pound sterling kaamll, pl. kaamJHn complete
isti9aara borrowing kaan/ykuun, koon [kunt] to be
isti91aamaat: maktab n- kaanuun ll-awwal December
isti9lamnaat enquiry office kaanuun ith-thaani January
ithbaat proof kabaab kebab, meatballs
itna9sh twelve kaffalykaffi ••• to be enough
itneen, f. tinteen two (for ... )
(yoom) it-tneen Monday kakau cocoa
ittaSaVyittaSU bi to ring up s.o., ka1aam talk, chat
get in touch with kalima, pl. -aat (F), kUma word
ittijaah, pl. -aat direction kallat7ykallif, takliif to cost
iTaali Italian kam how many, how much?
iTaalya Italy kamaan also, another, more
iza if kamera camera
iza mumkin please kaniisa, pl. kanaayis church
iza samaHt, f. -i please, if you karaaj, pl. -aat garage
wouldn't mind kariim, pl. kurama noble,
izan (F) so, therefore generous
i9tadharlyi9tadhir' i9tidhaar kart, pl. kruut card, postcard
(9an) to excuse oneself (from) kassarlykassir, taksiir to break,
smash
katablyiktib, kitaaba to write
jaab/yjiib [jibt] to bring kathiir (F), ktiir much, many
jaahiz, pl. jaahziin ready kayyaf7ykayyif, takyiif to enjoy
jaami9, pl. jawaami9 large oneself
mosque kbiir, pl. kbaar big
jaam9a, pl. -aat university kiif, keef how
jaanib (bi jaanib (F)) next to kiifak f. kiifik pl. kiitkum
jaay coming, next how are you?
jaazlyjuuz to be possible kiilo kilogram, kilometre
jabal, pl. jbaal mountain, hill kiilomitir, pl. kiilomitraat
jadiid, pl. judad new kilometre
jakeet, pl. -aat jacket kUma, pl. -aat or kalaam word
jalaaltak Your Majesty kishka cracked wheat dish
jamal, pl. jmaal camel kitaab, pl. kutub book

226 VOCABULARY
ktiir many, much, too much maay (f.), maaya water
kubba meatballs maay ma9daniyya mineral
kubba HamiiS deep-fried water
meatballs maayu May
kubba nayya raw meatballs mabna (m.), pl. mabaani
kufta kofta, meatballs building
kull all, every, each mabruuk Congratulations!
il-kull everyone mabsuuT, pl. -iin happy, well
kull shii everything madaalya, pl. -aat medallion,
kunaafa sweet pastry with nuts medal
kundara, pl. -aat pair of shoes madiina, pl. mudun city
kwayyis, f. kwaysa, pl. -iin good madrasa, pl. madaaris school
kweet: il-kweet Kuwait madxal, pl. madaaxil entrance
maDalyimDi to pass, elapse
Ia to, for maftuuH open
laa no mahrajaan, pl. -aat festival
laakin but maHall, pl. -aat shop, place
laa'alylaa'i to find maHalli local
laazim necessary, must maHaTTa, pl. -aat bus-stop,
laft7yliff, laff to wrap, turn station
laHma meat maHlabiyya a milk pudding
laHmit ba'ar beef maHshi stuffed vegetables
laHmit dajaaj chicken majlis, pl. majaalis council,
laHmit xaruuf lamb reception room
laHza, pl. laHaZaat moment il-majlis ith-thaqaafi
lakaan so, then 1-briiTaani the British
lamma, lamman when (not in Council
questions) makaan, pl. amaakin place
landan London maktab, pl. makaatib office
law if, were it to be the case that ... maktaba, pl. -aat library,
law samaHt, f. -i please, if bookshop
you permit maktuub, pl. -aat letter
laysa (F) it isn't malfuuf cabbage
leel night mamarr, pl. -aat corridor
leela, pl. layaali a night mamnuu9 prohibited,
il-leela tonight forbidden
leesh why? mamnuu9 it-tadxiin no
li'annuh because smoking
liira, pl. -aat pound, lira mamnuu9 il-wuquuf no
Iissa not yet parking
li9ba, pl. al9aab game mana9~a9,mana9 to
li9iblyil9ab, lu9ub to play forbid, prevent
loon, pl. alwaan colour manga mango
shu loon ••• What colour is ... ? manTiqa, pl. manaaTiq area,
lubnaan Lebanon region
luTuf: haada min luTfak, f. manZar, pl. manaaZir sight,
luTfik It's very kind of you view
ma'aas, pl. -aat size (clothes
maa not; what etc.)
maa lak, f. lik What's wrong maqli fried
with you? maq9ad, pl. maqaa9id (F) seat
maaDi: il-usbuu9 il-maaDi marag stew
last week marHaba hello
maars March mariiD, pl. marDa ill
maashaallah what God has markab, pl. maraakib ship
willed (see Unit 1, Dia. 4) marra, pl. -aat a time, once
maashi OK kamaan marra again
maashi 1-Haal OK, fine maa ••. bi 1-marra not ... at
maaxid taking (see axad) all

VOCABULARY 227
masa evening, late afternoon mista9jil, pl. -iin urgent, in a
masa 1-xeer good afternoon, hurry
good evening miSir Egypt
masaafa, pl. -aat distance mish not
mas'uul, pl. -iin (9an) mishi/yimshi, mashy to go, go
responsible (for) away
masraH, pl. masaariH theatre mishmish apricots
masraHiyya, pl. -aat play mishwaar, pl. mashawiir walk,
mashghuul, pl. -iin busy, outing, errand
occupied mitDaayi', pl. mitDay'iin
mashkuur thank you irritated
mashwi, pl. mashaawi roast; mitil, mithil like
roast or grilled meats mitir metre
mashy: raaH/yruuH mashy to mit'assif, pl. mit'asfiin sorry
go on foot mit'axxir, pl. mit'axriin late
masluu' boiled mitrayyiH, pl. -iin settled,
maSaari (pl.) money comfortable
matalan, mathalan for example mitshakkir, pl. -iin thankful
matHaf, pl. mataaHif museum mitzakkir, pl. -iin remembering
maT9am, pl. maTaa9im mitzawwij, pl. -iin married
restaurant mithil (F), mitil like
mawjuud, pl. -iin present, here miyya (construct from miit) 100
maw'if, pl. mawaa'if bus or taxi hi 1-miyya percent
station mi9da stomach
maw9id, pl. mawaa9id mi9jib ..• pleasing (to ... )
appointment, time when mniiH, pl. mnaaH good
something is due mrashshaH, pl. -iin having a
maxadda, pl. -aat cushion cold
maxbaz, pl. maxaabiz bakery msabbaHa chick pea dip with
maxluuTa a variety of dishes spices
maxraj, pl. maxaarij exit mtabbal puree of roasted
mayuneez mayonnaise aubergine/eggplant
maZbuuT true, correct, exact mTarraZ embroidered
ma9a, ma9 with, together with mu (B), mish not
ma9leesh never mind, that's OK mubaashir direct
ma9luumaat information mu'assasa, pl. -aat institution
ma9na (m.) pl. ma9aani mu'assasit in-naql il-9aamm
meaning the Public Transport Company
ma9'uul, ma9quul reasonable mudarraj amphitheatre
mish ma9'uul incredible! mudarris, pl. -iin teacher
ma9ruuf: i9mal, f. -i ma9ruuf mudda, pl. -aat period of time
do me a favour mudiir, pl. mudara manager,
ma9zuum, pl. -iin invited director
mbaariH yesterday mufrad, pl. -iin single
mbayyin it seems muftaaH, pl. mafatiiH key
mfakkir, pl. -iin (fi) thinking (of) mughram, pl. -iin (bi) in love
mHammaS toasted (with), very fond (of)
miHtaaj, pl. -iin (Ia) in need (of) muhandis, pl. -iin engineer
miin who? muHriq burning hot
miiteen 200 mujaddara lentil and rice dish
mi1H salt mujawharaat jewels
min from, of, than m~,pl.-aat
min saniteen two years ago conversation
mineen from where? mulawwan coloured
minyu menu mulk property
mirtabiT, pl. mirtabTiin (fi) mumaththil,pl.-iin
connected (to) representative
misaafir, pl. misaafriin mumkin possible
traveller, travelling mumtaaz, pl. -iin excellent

228 VOCABULARY
munaasba, pl. -aat occasion nuSS half
muqaabil (F) opposite nuSS 9a n-nuSS, nuSS u
muqaamara gambling nuSS so so, not bad
muqabbilaat hors d'oeuvres nuufambar November
muruur passing; traffic
shurTit il-muruur traffic 'aabally'aabil, mu'aabla to meet
police qaahira: il-qaahira Cairo
musaa9id, pl. musaa9diin 'aally'uul ['ult] to say, tell
assistant qaa'ima menu
muslim, pl. -iin Muslim 'abil before, ago
mustashfa (m.), pl. -yaat 'abilla, 'abilmaa (+verb) before
hospital qaddam/yqaddim, taqdiim to
mustawrad imported serve, offer, put forward
musta9idd, pl. -iin ready, willing 'addeesh how much
mushakkal varied, mixed 'addeesh si9ruh? How much
mutabbal puree of roasted does it cost?
eggplant/aubergine 'adiim, pl. 'udama old, ancient
muxaabraat: il-muxaabraat 'ahwa coffee
il-9aamma General 'ahwa 9arabi Turkish coffee
Intelligence Organisation 'alam, pl. i'laam pen
muxtalif, pl. muxtalfiin (9an) 'amiiS, pl. 'umSaan shirt
different (from) 'ariib min ••. near ...
mu9ayyan, pl. -iin specific, qarya, pl. qura (F) village
particular 'aSar, qaSr, pl. 'uSuur palace,
mwaafiq, pl. mwafqiin (ma9a) fort
in agreement (with) 'aTaayif (pl.) pancakes
'aTa9/yi'Ta9, 'aTa9 to cut, pick
naas (f. or m. pl.) people 'azaaza, pl. -aat bottle
naazil, pl. naaziHn (ti) staying 'a9ad/yi'9ud to sit down
(at) (eg. a hotel) 'a9da sitting area
naa9im smooth, soft 'idirlyi'dar, qudra to be able to
naadi, pl. nawaadi club 'irsh, pl. 'uruush a piastre,
naamlynaam, noom [nimt] 1OOth of a dinar
to sleep 'ubruS Cyprus
naasab/ynaasib to be convenient 'uddaam in front of
to, suit quds: il-quds, il-'uds
naawi, pl. nawyiin intending Jerusalem
nabaat, pl. -aat plant
nabaati vegetarian raabi9, f. raab9a fourth
nabiid wine raaWyruuH [ruHt] to go (to)
nafs: nafsuh, nafsi etc. himself, raas, pl. ruus head
myself, etc. raayiH going
nafs il- •. . the same ... radd, pl. ruduud answer, reply
naql: in-naql il-9aamm public rafa9/yirfa9, rafa9 to lift up
transport raH + non-past verb going to
nawalyinwi, niyya to plan, intend (future)
na9am yes; yes? raHma mercy
na9saan, pl. -iin drowsy rajul, pl. rijaal (F) man
neskafe. instant coffee rajul a9maal businessman
nhaar daytime rakaD jogging, running
nihaaya end ra'alyara (F) to see
niHna we raqam, pl. arqaam number
niil: in-niil the Nile ra'aS shar'i belly dancing
niisaan April ra'iis, pl. ru'asa president, head
nisba: bi n-nisba Ia with regard (eg. of department)
to ra'y, pl. aaraa' opinion, view
nizillyinzil, nuzuul to go down; shu ra'yak, f. ra'yik (ti) ••• ?
stay (eg. at a hotel) what d'you think (of) ... ?
noo9, pl. anwaa9 kind, sort raxiiS, rxiiS cheap

VOCABULARY 229
raza'/yirza', rizi' to give salaama: ma9a s-salaama
sustenance to goodbye
riHla, pl. -aat trip, outing, salaamtak Your health! (to
journey ill person)
riif countryside salaTa, pl. -aat salad
riji9/yirja9, rujuu9 to go back sallam/ysallim: allah ysalmak
riji9 yi9mal to do again, redo God give you peace
rijjaal, pl. rijjaala man samak fish
rikiblyirkab, rukuub to ride, sambuusak meat pastry
get into or take (bus, car, bicycle sammalysammi, tasmiya to
etc.) name, call
riyaaDa sport sammaa9a telephone receiver
rooHa: tazkara rooHa raj9a sana, pl. sniin, sanawaat year
return ticket sandawitsh, pl. -aat sandwich
tazkara rooHa bas one way sa'allyis'al, su'aal (9an) to ask
ticket (a question) (about)
rubu9, pl. arbaa9 quarter sarii9 quick, express
rusuum (pl.) fees sawa together
ruumaani Roman sawa/yiswi to be worth
ruusi Russian sawwal ysawwi to do
ruxSa: ruxSit swaa'a driving saxnaan, pl. -iin feverish
licence sayyaara, pl. -aat car
ruzz rice sayyid gentleman
is-sayyid ••. Mr... .
is-sayyida ••• Mrs ... .
saabi9, f. saab9a seventh sa9aadtak Your Excellency
saada plain, without sugar sa9uudiyya: is-sa9uudiyya
saadis, f. saadsa sixth Saudi Arabia
saafar/ysaafir, safar to travel, go sbaaHa swimming
away sibaaq il-xeel horse-racing
saakin, pl. saakniin fi living in sifaara, pl. -aat embassy
saakin, pl. sukkaan inhabitant sigaara, pl. sagaayir cigarette
saa9a, pl. -aat hour; watch; clock siidi: yaa siidi 'sir' (term of
'addeesh is-saa9a? What time address)
is it? siinama cinema
saa9ad/ysaa9id, musaa9da to sikriteera, pl. -aat secretary (f.)
help simi9/yisma9, sama9 to hear,
sabab, pl. asbaab reason, cause listen
sabaH/yisbaH, sbaaHa to swim sirviis 'service' taxi
saba9miyya 700 sitt (f.), pl. -aat woman
saba9ta9sh 17 sitta six
sabt: (yoom) is-sabt Saturday sitta9sh 16
sabtambar September sittiin 60
sab9a seven si9ir, pl. as9aar price
sab9iin 70 steek steak
safariyyaat travel agency, ticket sukkar sugar
office sukkar 'aliil medium sugar
sahra muusiqiyya musical (coffee)
evening su'aal, pl. as'ila question
sahhal/ysahhil: rabbina ysahhil sur9a: hi sur9a quickly
May God make it easy suubarmarkit, pl. -aat
sahil easy supermarket
sajjal/ysajjil, tasjiil to record, suu', suuq (f.), pl. aswaa'
register market
sakanlyuskun, sakan (fi) to live suurya Syria
(in) suxun hot (tea, etc.)
sakkar/ysakkir to close sxuuna fever
salaam: is-salaam 9aleekum
Peace be upon you (greeting)

230 VOCABUlARY
SaaHib, pl. aSHaab friend, shii, pl. ashya, ashyaa' thing,
owner something
SaaHbi my friend ay shii anything, which thing?
SaarlySiir [Sirt] to become, fii shii 6. •• • there's something
begin wrong with ...
Saar Iii sana hoon I've been shiik, pl. -aat cheque
here a year shiish tawuk roast chicken on a
SabaaH il-xeer Good morning spit
SabaaH in-nuur Good shimaal north, left
morning (reply) shiriblyishrab, shurba to drink
Sadaf sea-shell shismuh, shismah what's-his-
Sadar chest name,thingummybob
SaHiiH true, correct shita winter, rain
SaHra desert shmaal north, left
SallaH/ySalliH, taSliiH to repair shoob hot (weather)
SaraaHa: bi SaraaHa frankly shu? what?
Saydaliyya chemist's shop, shubaaT February
pharmacy shugfa, pl. shugaf chunk (eg. of
Sa9b difficult meat)
Seef summer shughul work, occupation
Sghiir, pl. Sghaar small, young shukalaaTa chocolate
SiHHa health shukran thank you
SubuH morning shukran jaziilan (F) thank
Suura, pl. Suwar picture you very much
shu'uun (pl. ofsha'n) affairs
shurba soup, drinking
shaaf7yshuuf[shuft] to see shuwarma doner kebab
shaami Syrian shwayy, shwayya a little
shaari9, pl. shawaari9 street shwayy shwayy slowly,
shaay tea gradually
shab9aan, pl. -iin full up,
satiated (after a meal)
shafa/yishfi: allah yishfiik May taalit, f. taalta third
God heal you! (to an ill person) taamin, f. taamna eighth
shaghghallyshaghghil, tashghiil taani, f. taanya, pl. taanyiin
to operate, set going second, other
shaghla, pl. -aat thing taariix, pl. tawariix date
shahar,pl.shuhuur,ashhur (calendar)
month taasi9, f. taas9a ninth
shallaal, pl. -aat waterfall taba9 belonging to
shams (f.) sun tabbuula salad made with
sha'n, pl. shu'uun matter, affair cracked wheat
bi sha'n about, on the subject tadxiin smoking
of tadhkira (F), tazkara ticket
sharaab drink, squash tafarraj/yitfarraj, furja (9ala)
sharHa, pl. -aat slice to watch
sharika, pl. -aat company, firm tafSiil, pl. tafaSiil detail
sharq east taghadda/yitghadda to have
ish-sharq il awsaT the lunch
Middle East taghyiir,pl.-aat change
sharqi eastern taHamrnam/yitHamrnam to
sharrat7ysharrif: sharraftuuna have a bath or shower
You've honoured us (host to taHarraklyitHarrak, Haraka
guest) to move
shaxS, pl. ashxaaS person taHat under, below, downstairs
shayx (F), sheex old man, sheikh takayyat7yitkayyaf, takayyuf
sha9ar/yush9ur, shu9uur (hi ••• ) to get used to
to feel (... ) taksi, pl. taksiyyaat, takaasi
sha9bi popular, folk taxi

VOCABULARY 231
talaaf (see alt) thousands tismaH, f. -ii, pl. -uu Iii Would
talaata three you permit me?
(yoom) it-talaata Tuesday tis9a nine
talaatiin 30 tis9iin 90
talaatmiyya 300 tishriin U-a~al October
talaatta9sh 13 tishrin ith-thaani November
tamaam excellent; OK tneen, itneen two
tamaaniin 80 tuffaaHa, pl. tuffaaH apple
tamaanmiyya 800 tult a third (fraction)
tamaanta9sh 18 turki Turkish
tamaanya eight
tammuuz July thaalith (F), taalit third (first,
tamra, pl. tamar date (fruit) second, ... )
tana' 'aVyitna' 'al, tana' 'ul thaani (F) or (B), taani second,
to move around other
tanis tennis thalaatha (F) or (B), talaata
tannuura, pl. tananiir skirt three
ta'miin insurance
ta'riiban about, almost Taabi9, pl. Tawaabi9 stamp
taraklyutruk, tark to leave Taalib, pl. Tullaab, Talaba
taSa~ar~tSa~ar,taSa~r student
to imagine Taawla, pl. -aat table
taSwiir photography Tab, Tayyib well, OK
tasharraf7yitsharraf: tasharraft Tabiib, pl. aTibbaa' (F) doctor
I'm honoured (guest to host) Tabiib asnaan dentist
tashkiila variety, selection Tabii9i natural
tatbiila spicy dressing Tab9an of course
taTriiz embroidery Talab, pl. -aat order (in
tawaaliit, pl. -aat toilet restaurant); application
tawakkaVyitwakkal 9ala llah Talab/yiTlub, Talab (min ••• )
to put one's trust in God (see to ask (... ) for, order
Unit 9) Ta's weather, climate
tawqii9, pl. -aat signature Tarii', Tariiq (m. or f.), pl.
taza~aj/yitza~aj, zawaaj Turu' road
to get married Tawiil, pl. Twaal long, tall
tazakkar/yitzakkar to remember Tayyaara, pl. -aat plane
tazkara, pl. tazaakir ticket Tayyib well, OK; kind, good-
ta9aala, f. ta9aali, pl. ta9aalu hearted
come! Tili9~Tla9, Tuluu9 to go up,
ta9aawun co-operation go out, set out, get into (bus),
ta9allamlyit9allam, ta9allum come out as
to learn Tuul: 9ala Tuul immediately,
ta9ashsha/yit9ashsha to have straight on
dinner or supper
ta9aTT~t9aTTal to break
u, wa (F) and
down
ujra fare
ta9baan, pl. -iin tired, not very
uktuubar October
well
umm, pl. ummahaat mother
tfaDDal, f. -i, pl. -u Be so kind.
umm 9ali a sweet heavy
Come in. Please sit down. etc.
pudding
tibigh tobacco
urdun: U-urdun Jordan
tiina, pl. tiin fig
urduni Jordanian
tikram, f. -i, pl. -u You're too
usbuu9, pl. asabii9 week
kind
utiil, pl. -aat hotel
tilifoon, pl. -aat telephone
uxt, pl. ixwaat sister
tilighraam, pl. -aat telegram
tinteen (f.) two
tisa9miyya 900 wa (F), u and
tisa9ta9sh 19 waaHad, f. waHda one

232 VOCABULARY
waafa'lywaafi', muwaaf'a (9ala) xaTa', pl. axTaa' mistake
to agree (to) xaTar danger
waddalywaddi to lead, take xaTT, pl. xuTuuT line
waja9 pain xeer: bi xeer (F) well
wala shii nothing xidaama: ayy xidaama Can I
wala maHall nowhere help you?
walad, pl. iwlaad boy, child xidma service (charge)
wallah, wallaahi by God xi1aal during
wa' 'at7ywa' 'if to stop min xilaal by means of
wa't, waqt, pl. aw'aat time xishin rough
wara' 9inab vine leaves xubiz bread
wasT centre, middle xud, f. -i, pl. -u (see axad) take!
wasT il-balad the centre of xuDra, xuDaar vegetables
town xuSuuS: bi xuSuuS concerning,
waSSal/ywaSSil, tawSiil (9a) about
to take someone to a place, give xuSuuSi private
someone a lift
waziir, pl. wuzara minister yaa •.. ... ! (addressing someone)
(government) yallah let's go! off you go! come
ween where? on!
ween inta? Where've you been yam at all, completely
(all this time)? yamiin right (opp. ofleft)
wi and yanaayir January
widd- (B), bidd- want ya9ni it means; 'I mean' or 'you
willa or know'
wiSiVyuuSal, wuSuul (Ia 9ind) yin1kin perhaps
to arrive (at) yoom, pl. (t)iyyaam day
wizaara, pl. -aat ministry il-yoom today
wuquuf (F) parking yunaan: il-yunaan Greece
yuulyu July
xaat7yxaaf, xoof, [xuft] to fear, yyaa- See Unit 8 Grammar
be afraid of
xaaliS pure; completely
xaamis, f. xaamsa fifth zaaki delicious
xaarij outside zaarlyzuur [zurt], ziyaara to
xaaSS special visit
xaaTrak: min shan xaaTrak, f. zaayid plus
-ik for your sake zaayir, pl. zuwwaar VISitor
xabiir,pl.xubara expen zamaan time, a long time ago
xalaaS OK, that's it zayy like
xalaS/yixlaS to finish, end za9laan, pl. -iin upset, annoyed
xaliij: il-xaliij the Gulf za99allyza99il to upset, annoy
xa1lalyxalli to leave zeen (B), mniiH, kwayyis
xalla .•• yi9mal to let or make good, OK
... do zeet oil
allah yxalliik God preserve ziina decoration
you ziyaara, pl. -aat visit
xallaS/yxalliS to finish something zooj husband
xamasmiyya 500 zooja, pl. -aat wife
xamasta9sh 15 zrii9a plants
xamiis: (yoom) il-xamiis zwaaj, pl. ziijaat wedding
Thursday
xamsa five Zaahir: iZ-Zaahir it appears,
xamsiin 50 apparently
xaraj/yixruj, xuruuj to go out Zahar (person's) back
xarrablyxarrib, taxriib to ruin Zann: 9aZunni I think
xarTa, pl. xaraayiT map
xass lettuce 9aad: leesh 9aad But why?
xashab wood 9aada, pl. -aat custom

VOCABULARY 233
9aadi ordinary, normal 9aSiir fruit juice
9amn: kull 9amn wa antwn bi 9aSir afternoon
xeer Happy Eid, Happy 9aTni give me (see a9Ta)
Birthday, etc. 9aTshaan, pl. -iin thirsty
9aamil, pl. 9ummaal worker 9azamlyi9zim, 9uzuuma to
shu 9aamil? What are you invite
doing? 9aZiim, pl. 9uZama great
9aanun general, public 9ibaara 9an in other words,
9aarif, pl. 9aarfiin (1, you, he, consists of
she) know(s), pl. (we, you, they) 9idda: 9iddit a number of,
know several
9aashir, f. 9aashra tenth 9iid, pl. a9yaad festival
9abbaly9abbi, ta9biya to fill in 9iid il-tiTir festival at the end
(form), fill up (tank) of Ramadan
9ada: maa 9ada except for 9iid il-aDHa festival at the
9adas lentils end of the pilgrimage
9add/y9idd, 9add to count, list 9iid mubaarak Happy Eid
9addaad, pl. -aat meter (eg. in 9ilba, pl. 9ilab can, box, packet
taxi) 9imillyi9mal, 9amal to do,
9afwan, il-9afu You're welcome make
(reply to shukran) 9ind with, at, at the house of
9ala on, against, to etc. 9iraaq: il-9iraaq Iraq
9alashaan because, for 9irit7yi9raf, ma9rifa to know,
9am See Unit 11, Dialogue 5 come to know
9amal, pl. a9maal work 9ishriin 20
rajul a9maal businessman 9iyaada, pl. -aat clinic, surgery
9amm, pl. a9mamn uncle on 9umaan Oman
father's side 9umur, pl. a9maar age, length
yaa 9amm informal way of of life
addressing older man 9umri maa shuft ••• I've
9ammaan Amman never seen ...
9arabi, pl. 9arab Arab, Arabic 9unwaan, pl. 9anawiin address
9arD display, showing (of film) 9u'ud pl. 9u'uuda necklace
9asha dinner, supper 9uTul, 9uTla, pl. -aat holiday,
9ashaan because, for, in order to day off
9ashra ten 9uTlit il-usbuu9 weekend
9ashshaly9ashshi to give dinner 9uTur perfume
or supper to 9uzuuma, pl. -aat invitation

234 VOCABULARY
 English-Arabic Glossary
This glossary contains the words which appear in the Key Words and
Phrases sections of each unit, plus some items which have been added on
grounds of general usefulness. Nouns are given in the singular and plural.
Adjectives are given in the masculine form, and feminine and plural only if
not predictable. Irregular past tenses in English, like 'went', should be
looked up under the present tense (in this case 'go'). The Arabic verbs are
listed with past tense form first, followed by non-past without the b- prefix.
Phrases like 'Do you mind if.. .' are listed under the key word in the phrase
(here 'mind').

able, (to be- to) 'idirlyi'dar ask for TalablyuTiub

about (= approx.) Hawaali as soon as awwal maa
(=concerning) bixsuSuuS as soon as he comes... awwal
what's the meeting about? maa yiiji ...
bixuSuuS eesh ll-ijtimaa9? as well kamaan
above foo' at fi, bi, 9ind
address 9unwaan pl. 9anaawiin he isn't at home huwwa mish
aeroplane Taa'ira pl. Taa'iraat fi 1-beet
after ba9d + noun; ba9d maa + at all bi 1-marra
verb I don't like it at all maa
after breakfast ba9d il-ffuur byi9jibni bi 1-marra
after a couple of days ba9d attempt HaawaVyHaawil
yoomeen August aghustos
after he'd gone... ba9d maa
raaH ••• bank bank pl. bunuuk
afternoon ba9d iD-Duhur, il- bad mish kwayyis, mish mniiH
9aSir not bad mish baTTaal
afterwards ba9deen bath (to take a-) taHammam/
again kamaan marra yitHammam
ago 'abll, min bathroom Hammaam pl.
a couple of days ago 'abil Hammaamaat
yoomeen, min yoomeen be kaanlykuun
agree (to) waafaqlywaafiq (9ala) beans fuul
I don't agree to that ana mish beautiful jamiil
mwaafiq 9ala haada because 9alashaan
airport maTaar pl. maTaaraat become Saar/ySiir
all kull beef laHmit baqar
also kamaan, barDuh been:
always dayman how long have you been... ?
America amriika 'addeesh Saar lak ...
answer jawaab, radd before 'abil + noun; 'abil maa +
anything ay shii (or ay ishii) verb
anything else? shii taani? before the meeting 'abil n-
and u, wa ijtmaa9
apple tuffaaH before he comes... 'abil maa
appointment maw9id pl. yiiji ...
mawaa9id beforehand min 'abil
do you have an appointment? begin badalyibda; SaarlySiir +
9indak maw9id? non-past verb
I'd like to make an appointment I began work today badeet il-
with... biddi aaxud maw9id 9amal il-yoom
ma9a... I began to like it Sirt aHibbuh
approximately Hawaali, ta'riiban behind wara
April abrill below taHat
Arab, Arabic 9arabi beside (=next to) (hi) jaanib
ask (a question) sa'aVyis'al best aHsan, il-aHsan
I'd like to ask if... biddi as'al the best one aHsan waaHad
iza... the best thing aHsan shii

GLOSSARY 235
better (than) aHsan min chocolate shukalaaTa
big kbiir pl. kbaar box of chocolates 9ilbit
bill Hisaab shukalaaTa
the bill, please a9Tiini 1-Hisaab church kaniisa pl. kanaa'is
minfaDlak cinema siinama pl. siinamaat
biscuit(s) biskoot city madiina pl. mudun
black aswad, f. sooda, pl. suud city centre wasT U-balad
blouse bluuza pl. bluuzaat close sakkarlysakkir
blue azra', f. zar'a, pl. zuru' closed musakkar
boiled masluu' coffee (Arab) 'ahwa
book ktaab pl. kutub coffee (instant) niskafee
boss mudiir pl. mudaraa come (to) aja/yiiji (9ala)
bottle 'azaaza pl. 'azaazaat come on! yallah!
box (chocolate, etc.) 9Uba pl. comfortable(= at ease) mitrayyiH
9ilab company (= business) sharika pl.
boy walad pl. iwlaad sharikaat
bread xubiz cold (weather, etc.) baarid
breakfast ITuur would you like a cold drink?
bring jaab/yjiib biddak tishrab baarid?
bring! haat, haati (f.) complete (verb) kammall
Britain briiTaanya ykammil
brown binni complete kaamil
bus baaS pl. baaSaat concerning bi n-nisba Ia
by bus bi 1-baaS congratulations! mabruuk!
bus station/stop maHaTTit contact ittaSallyittaSU bi
U-baaS convenient munaasib
business (commerce) a9maal
busy mashghuul
but bas, 1aakin day yoom pl. (t)iyyaam
buy ishtaralyishtiri half-day (working) nuSS in-
nhaar
December diisambar
call (telephone) ittaSallyittaSU hi dentist Tabiib asnaan
camel jamal pl. jmaal desk maktab pl. makaatib
can (verb) mumkin; 'idir/yi'dar details tafaSiil
+ non-past verb diary muzakkira pl.
can you say it slowly? mumkin muzakkiraat
shwayy shwayy? different (from) muxtalif (9an),
can you direct me to... mumkin gheer
tdillni 9ala... ? take a different one xud
how can I get to ... ? kiifba'dar gheeruh
awSalla 9ind... ? difficult (for) Sa9b (9ala)
can (container) 9Uba pl. 9ilab dine ta9ashsha/yit9ashsha
car sayyaara pl. sayyaaraat dinner 9asha
chair kursi pl. karaasi direct (to a place) dall/ydill (9ala)
change (buses, money, etc.) director mudiir pl. mudaraa
ghayyarlyghayyir discuss baHathlyibHath
cheap raxiiS distance masaafa
is there anything cheaper? fii what's the distance from ... ?
ishii arxaS? kam U-masaafa min ... ?
check (= bill) Hisaab do 9imil/yi9mal
chemist's shop Saydaliyya pl. what are you doing? shu
Saydaliyyaat 9aamil, f. 9aamila?
chicken dajaaj doctor (medical) Tabiib pl.
roast chicken dajaaj mHammar aTibbaa
child walad pl. iwlaad door baab pl. abwaab
cigarette sigaara pl. sagaayir down, downstairs taHat
pack of cigarettes 9ilbit sagaayir downtown wasT U-balad

236 GLOSSARY
dress fustaan pl. fasatiin excuse me?(= please repeat)
drink sharablyishrab na9am?
drive saa' (or saaq)lysuu' (or expensive ghaali
ysuuq) expert xabiir pl. xubaraa
driver's license ruxSit swaa'a
drop (s'one) off waSSaVywaSSil far (from) ba9iid (9an)
how far is it? 'addeesh il-
each kull
masaafa?
each other ba9D fare ujra
they like each other biyHibbu how much is the fare?
ba9D 'addeesh il-ujra?
early bakkiir February fabraayir
early in the morning
few 'aliil or qaliil
iS-SubuH bakkiir
fifteen xamasta9sh
it's still early! (i.e. don't leave yet) fifty xamsiin
Iissa bakkiir! fill 9abbaly9abbi
east sharq film (photographic or movie)
eastern shar'i or sharqi filim pl. aflaam
eat akaVyaakul find laa'alylaa'i
Egypt miSir finish (something) xallaS!yixalliS
Egyptian miSri fine, OK kwayyis
egg beeD first awwal f. uula
eight tamaanya
five xamsa
eighteen tamaanta9sh floor (= storey) door pl. adwaar
eighty tamaaniin
food akil, Ta9aam
eleven iHda9sh foot:
else: on foot mashi
anything else? shii taani? for Ia, ila
end xalaS/yixlaS this is for you haada ilak
what time does it end? is-saa9a for two weeks Ia usbuu9een
kam byixlaS?
four arba9a
end fourteen arba9ta9sh
at the end of the street fi fourth ( .. fifth, sixth) raabi9
nihaayit ish-shaari9
fourth (fraction) rubu9 pl. arbaa9
in the end fi n-nihaaya three-fourths talaatt arbaa9
enjoy oneself inbasaT/yinbasiT, forbidden mamnuu9
kayyaf7ykayyif forty arba9iin
engineer muhandis pl. free(= not busy) faaDi
muhandisiin are you free tonight? inta
English ingliizi faaDi il-leela?
enough kaafi, byikaffi Friday (yoom) il-jum9a
that isn't enough haada maa fried ma'li or maqli
byikaffiish
friend SaaHib, f. SaaHiba, pl.
that's enough of that! bas! aSHaab
xalaaS! from min
evening masa front:
good evening! masa 1-xeer! in front of 'uddaam
good evening! (reply) masa full malyaan
n-nuur!
the market is full of people
in the evening il-masa is-suu' malyaan naas
every kull
every evening kull masa
everyone kull waaHad, il-kull garage karaaj
everything kull shii, il-kull gas (for a car) banziin
exactly bi DH-DHabT (or bi gas tank xazzaan
Z-ZabT) fill the tank 9abbi 1-xazzaan
example: gas station maHaTTit banziin
for example mathalan get axad/yaaxud, HaSaVyiHSal
excuse me law samaHt, f. -i 9ala

GLOSSARY 237
get off (bus, taxi, etc.) nizillyinzil hot water m.aaya suxna
(min) hotel funduq (or fundu') pl.
get on, in (bus, taxi, etc.) rikibl fanaadiq
yirkab hour saa9a pl. saa9aat
get to wiSiVyuuSal hours of opening/working awqaat
gift bidiyya pl. hadaaya id-dawaam.
girl bint pl. banaat house beet pl. byuut
give a9Ta/ya9Ti how? kiif or keef
go (to) raaHiyruuH (9ala) how are you? kiif Haalak?
go on foot raaHiyruuH mashi how about ...? shu ra'yak •••?
where're you going? ween how about having lunch
raayiH, f. rayHa? together? shu ra'yak
let's go! yallah! nitghadda sawa?
go out/up Tili91yiTla9 how much, how many? kam.? or
God willing, perhaps inshaallah 'addeesh?
gold dahab houmous Hum.m.uS
golden dahabi hundred m.iyya
good mniiH, kwayyis hungry ju9aan
goodbye ma9a s-salaama husband zooj, pl. azwaaj
grateful m.itshakkir
great! tamaam! m.um.taaz! I ana
green axDar, f. xaDra, pl. xuDur if iza
grilled mashwi ill mariiD pl. m.araDa
mixed grill mashaawi in fi
m.ushakkala incredible! m.ish ma9'uul!
grown-up kbiir pl. kbaar information ma9luum.aat
guide (book or person) daliil inside daaxil
it huwwa or biyya
half nuSS
hand iid pl. ayaadi
hand-made shughul iid jacket jakeet pl. jakeetaat
happy mabsuuT, m.irtaaH January yanaayir
have 9ind + pronoun job shughul pl. ashghaal or
what d'you have? shu 9indak? 9am.al pl. a9m.aal
I have an appointment 9indi Jordan U-urdun
maw9id Jordanian urduni
have(= take) axadlyaaxud juice (offruit) 9aSiir
when d'you have breakfast? July yuulyuu
eem.ta btaaxud U-ITuur? June yuunyuu
he huwwa
hear sim.i9/yisma9 kilogram kino pl. kiilowaat
here(= in this place) boon kilometre kiilom.itir pl.
here(= present) mawjuud kiilom.itraat
sorry the boss isn't here aasif, know 9irif7yi9raf
U-m.udiir m.ish mawjuud d'you know the manager?
hello, hi! m.arHaba, ahlan bti9raf U-m.udiir?
holiday 9uTla, ijaaza d'you know how to play... ?
home(= house where one lives) bti9raftil9ab •••?
U-beet
when d'you go home? eem.ta lamb (meat) laHm.it xaruuf
btruuH U-beet? last aaxir
hors d'oeuvres m.uqabbilaat the last... aaxir•••
hospital m.ustashfa pl. late mit'axxir
m.ustashfayaat later ba9deen
where's the nearest hospital? learn ta9allamlyit9allam.
ween 'a'rab m.ustashfa? leave taraklyutruk
hot shoob, Haarr; suxun leave (holiday) ijaaza
it's very hot today shoob ktiir Lebanon lubnaan
U-yoom. Lebanese lubnaani

238 GLOSSARY
left (opposite to right) shmaal mechanic miikaniiki
on the left 9a sh-shmaal meeting (business, etc.) ijtimaa9
take a left xud shmaalak pl. ijtimaa9aat
let xallalyxal1i middle wasT
let's go for a trip! xalliina milk Haliib
nruuHriiDa mind:
don't let him do that! maa d'you mind if...? tisD1BH, f. -i,
txalliihsh yi9mal heek pl. -u
lift (to give a- to) waSSaV minister waziir pl. wuzaraa
ywaSSil ministry wizaara pl. wizaaraat
like (= have a liking for) Habbl minute da'ii'a (or daqiiqa) pl.
yHibb, a9jablyi9jib da'aayi'
do you like swimming? bitHibb Miss il-aanisa
is-sibaaHa? moment:
do you like Jordan? bti9jibak just a moment! laHZa!
il-urdun? Monday (yoom) it-tneen
like(= want) bidd +pronoun money tluus, IXUISaari
would you like tea? biddak month shahar pl. ashhur
shaay? more aktar
like (=similar to) mitil or mithil I can't do more than that maa
like this/that heek ba'darsh a9mal aktar min
listen simi9fyisJXUI9 heek
litre litir pl. litraat morning SabaaH or SubuH
little (amount) 'aliil or qaliil, good morning!
shwayya SabaaH il-xeer!
a little milk shwayyit Haliib SabaaH in-nuur! (reply)
live sakanlyuskun in the morning iS-SubuH
where d'you live? ween saakin/ mosque masjid pl. masaajid
saakna (f.)? Friday (large) mosque
look (at) tafarraj/yitfarraj 9ala (IXUisjid) jaami9
look! shuuf, f. -i, pl. -u most aktar shii
long Tawiil I like swimming most baHibb
(a) lot ktiir is-sibaaHa aktar shii
I like it a lot baHibbuh ktiir movie filim pl. atlaam
a lot of people ktiir min movie-house siinaJXUI pl.
in-naas siinamaat
lunch ghada Mr. is-sayyid
lunch (verb) taghaddalyitghadda Mrs. is-sayyida
much ktiir
mail bariid museum IXUitHafpl. JXUitaaHif
make 9imillyi9mal must:
manager mudiir pl. mudaraa you must go laazim truuH
man rijjaal pl. rjaal
businessman rajul a9maal pl. name isim pl. asaami
rjaala9maal your name (polite)? il-isim
many ktiir il-kariim
map xarTa pl. xarTaat near (to) 'ariib (min)
March JXUIBrs the nearest... 'a'rab •••
market suu' or suuq pl. aswaaq necessary laazim
vegetable market suu' il-xuDra need iHtaaj/yiHtaaj ila, bidd +
meat market suu' il-laHm pronoun
married mitzawwij d'you need money? biddak
May maayuu tluus? tiHtaaj ila tluus?
maybe biyjuuz, yuD1kin newspaper jariida pl. jaraayid
maybe he'll come biyjuuz yiiji never abadan
mean: never mind ma9leesh
what does ... mean ? shu next jaay
ya9ni •••? the next time il-JXU~rra 1-jaaya
meat laHJXUI next year is-sana 1-jaaya

GLOSSARY 239
nice mniiH pack or packet (cig's) 9ilba pl.
night leel, leela 9ilab
at night bi 1-leel packet (biscuits) bakeet
every night kullleela Palestine filasTiin
good night! tiSbaH 9ala xeer! Palestinian filasTiini
nine tis9a pants(= trousers) banTaloon
nineteen tisa9ta9sh paper (piece of-) wara'a or
ninety tis9iin waraqa pl. awraaq
no laa pardon? na9am?
no parking mamuu9 il-wuquuf park (public) Hadiiqa pl.
nosmohlng nuunnuu9 Hadaayiq
it-tadxiin passport jawaaz safar
normal(= ordinary) 9aadi past:
not maa ... sh, laa or mish it's five past three is-saa9a
I don't know mish 9aarif, f. talaata u xamsa
9aarifa pay dafa9/yidfa9
don't go! maa truuHsh! pen 'alam or qalam pl. i'laam
November nuufambar oraqlaam
now halla' people in-naas
number raqam pl. arqaam petrol banziin
telephone number raqam it- petrol station maHaTTit
tilifuun banziin
per cent bi 1-miyya
obligatory laazim ten per cent 9ashra bi 1-miyya
occupied(= busy) mashghuul person shaxS pl. ashxaaS
o'clock: pharmacy Saydaliyya pl.
it's five o'clock is-saa9a xamsa Saydaliyyaat
October uktuubar photograph Suura pl. Suwar
of course Tab9an photography taSwiir
office maktab pl. makaatib picture Suura pl. Suwar
official (person) muwaZZaf pl. place maHall pl. maHallaat
muwaZZafiin plan (verb) nawa/yinwi
oil (for cars, etc.) zeet what are you planning to do?
check the oil for me please eesh naawi ti9mal, f. naawya
ifHaS Iii z-zeet min faDlak ti9mali?
OK (=fine!) Tayyib! or maashi! play (verb) li9ib/yil9ab
is that OK? ma9leesh? please ... ! (invitation) tfaDDal, f.
on (top of) 9ala, foo' -i, pl. -u
old (of people) kbiir pl. kbaar please ... ? (request) iza mumkin
how old are you? 'addeesh or law samaHt, f. -i, min
9urnrak? faDlak, f. -ik
old (of things) 'adiim or qadiim possible mumkin
one waaHad, f. waHda postcard kart pl. kruut
once marra, marra waHda post-office maktab il-bariid
once again kamaan marra present(= here) mawjuud
only bas present(= gift) hidiyya pl.
open fatall/ yiftaH hadaaya
opposite(= facing) mu'aabil or pretty jamiil
muqaabil price si9ir pl. as9aar
or willa what's the price? 'addeesh
orange burtu'aan is-si9ir?
order 'amar/yu'mur problem mushkila pl.
what's your order? shu mashaakil, ghalaba
btu'mur? prohibited mamnuu9
ordinary 9aadi put HaTT/yHuTT
other taani
outside xaarij, barra quarter rubu9 pl. arbaa9
owner SaaHib, f. SaaHiba, pl. three-quarters talaatt arbaa9
aSHaab question su'aal pl. as'ila

240 GLOSSARY
read 'ara or qaralyi'ra or yiqra seventeen saba9ta9sh
I can't read Arabic well maa seventy sab9iin
ba9rafsh a'ra 9arabi mniiH she hiyya
ready jaahiz; musta9idd shirt 'amiiS pl, 'umSaan
is the food ready? il-akil jaahiz? shoes (a pair of) kundara
are you ready to go? inta shop dukkaan pl. dakaakiin
musta9idd truuH? shower (bathroom) duush
reasonable ma9'uul silver fiDDa
a reasonable price si9ir ma9'uul single:
red aHmar, f. Hamra, pl. single room ghurfa Ia shaxS
Humur waaHad
refridgerator thallaaja pl. sit, sit down 'a9ad/yu'9ud;
thallaajaat istaraaH/yistariiH
repair SallaWySalliH please sit down! tfaDDal,
reservation Hajiz istariiH! (f.) -i
reserve Haj821yiHjiz six sitta
restaurant maT9am pl. sixteen sitta9sh
maTaa9im sixty sittiin
return riji9/yirja9 skirt tannuura pl. tananiir
rice ruzz sleep (verb) naamlynaam
ride (horse, bus, cycle) rikib/ sleep noom
yirkab slowly shwayy shwayy
right (opposite to left) yamiin small Sghiir pl. Sghaar
on the right 9a 1-yamiin smoke daxxanlydaxxin
take a right :xud yamiinak so as to 9alashaan
right(= correct) maZbuuT, so-so nuSS u nuSS
SaHiiH sorry mit'assif, f. mit'asfa
road Tarii' (or Tariiq) pl. Turu' speak HakalyiHki
(orTuruq) do you speak English? btiHki
roasted mashwi ingliizi?
room ghurfa pl. ghuraf spend (time) qaDalyaqDi
room ( = space) maHall spend (money) Sarat7yiSruf
there's no room maa fii maHaU sports riyaaDa
stamp (postage) Taabi9 pl.
salad salaTa Tawaabi9
salary raatib stand up 'aamly'uum
same nafs station (bus, train) maHaTTa
the same thing nafs ish-shii pl. maHaTTaat
at the same time fi nafs il-waqt stay (in hotel) nizillyinzil
sandwich sandawitsh pl. stay (= remain) bi'ilyib'a
sandawitshaat stop wa' 'af7ywa' 'if
Saturday (yoom) is-sabt store(= shop) dukkaan pl.
say (to) 'aal (or qaal)/y'uul dakaakiin
(or yiquul) straight ahead dughri or duuz
school madrasa pl. madaaris go straight on Dall dughri, f.
sea baHar Dallidughri
second (third, fourth ... ) taani street shaari9 pl. shawaari9
see shaaf7yshuuf student Taalib pl. Tullaab or
can I see ... ? mumkin Talaba
ashuuf... ? sugar sukkar
see what I mean? shaayifkiit? suit naasablynaasib
self: when would suit you? eemta
by myself bi Haali biynaasibak?
by himself, etc. bi Haaluh suit (clothes) badla pl. badlaat
sell baa9/ybii9 summer Seef
send ba9at/yib9at Sunday (yoom) il-aHad
September sabtambar sweet Hilw
set out (for) Tili9/yiTla9 (9ala) swim sabaH/yisbaH
seven sab9a swimming sibaaHa

GLOSSARY 241
swimming pool birka time (= occasion) marra pl.
Syria suurya marraat
Syrian suuri this time hal-marra
(the) last time aaxir marra
table Tawla pl. Tawlaat several times 9idd.it marraat
take axadlyaaxud time (o'clock):
to take a shower axad duush what time is it? 'addeesh
take (s'one s'where) wadda/ is-saa9a?
ywadd.i time (to have a good-) inbasaT/
take me to the office! waddiini yinbisiT
1-maktab! we had a great time inbasaTna
tall Tawiil pl. Twaal ktiir
talk HakalyiHki times of opening awqaat
taxi (fixed route) sarviis id-dawaam
taxi (private) taksi xuSuuSi or tired ta9baan
sayyaarit ujra to Ia
tea shaay from ... to... min ••• Ia •••
teach darraslydarris it's five to three is-saa9a
teacher mudarris pl. talaata ilia xamsa
mudarrisiin, f. mudarrisa pl. today ll-yoom
mudarrisaat together (in each other's company)
telephone tilifuun sawa
telephone (s'one) ittaSallyittaSll tomato(es) banduura
(bi •••) bi t-tilifuun tomorrow bukra
television tillvizyuun day after tomorrow ba9d bukra
tell 'aallyi'uulla tonight ll-leela
I want to tell you... bidd.i a'uul too:
lak ••• that's too much haada ktiir
ten 9ashra travel saafarlysaafir
thanks shukran travel agency wakaalit
there (= over there) hunaak is-safariyyaat
there is fii trip riHla pl. riHlaat
they, them humma, hum or hun trouble:
thing shii pl. ashyaa, shaghla I don't want to put you to any
pl. shaghlaat trouble balaash at9ibak
the same thing nafs ish-shii trousers banTaloon
think iftakarlyiftikir try HaawallyHaawil
think (opinion): Tuesday (yoom) it-talaata
what d'you think of... ? shu twelve itna9sh
ra'yak fi. •••? kiifshuft •••? twenty 9ishriin
third (fourth, fifth) taalit twice marrateen
third (fraction) tult two itneen
two-thirds tulteen
thirsty 9aTshaan
under taUt
thirteen talaatta9sh
understand fihimlyifham
thirty talaatiin
I don't understand mish
this/that haada, f. haad.i, pl.
faahim, f. faahma
haadoola
university jaami9a pl. jaami9aat
thousand alf pl. aalaaf
until Ia ghaayit
three talaata
unreasonable mish ma9'uul
Thursday (yoom) ll-xamiis
upset za9laan
ticket tazkara pl. tazaakir
upstairs foo'
return ticket tazkara rooHa
use ista9mallyista9mil
raj9a
used to (to get-) takayyat7
time wa't or waqt yitkayyaf (9ala)
I don't have time maa 9ind.i wa't
some time ago 'abll fatra
time(= length of) mudda visit (verb) zaarlyzuur
a long time mudda Tawilla visit ziyaara pl. ziyaaraat

242 GLOSSARY
walk masha/yimshi wife zooja, pl. zoojaat
want: winter shita
I want, you want, etc. hiddi, with hi, ma9a
hiddak etc. tea with milk shaay hi Haliih
washing-machine ghassaala pl. I came with him jiit ma9uh
ghassaalaat without hiduun
watch (wrist) saa9a pl. saa9aat woman sitt pl. sittaat
watch tafarraj/yitfarraj 9ala wood xashah
water maay, maaya work shughul pl. ashghaal or
mineral water maay 9amal pl. a9maal
ma9daniyya work (verb) ishtaghal/yishtaghil,
we niHna or iHna 9imil/yi9mal
wear lihislyilhas where d'you work? ween
Wednesday (yoom) il-arha9a htishtaghillbti9mal?
week ushuu9 pl. asaahii9 it isn't working right maa
next week il-ushuu9 il-jaay htimshiish maZbuuT
last week il-ushuu9 il-maaDi worker 9aamil pl. 9uiDIDaal
weekend 9uTiit il-ushuu9 would:
weather jaw what would you like? eesh
The weather's hot il-jaw Haarr hitHihh?
welcome! hello! ahlan wa sahlan; wrap laft7yliff
ahlan fiik, f. -i (reply) wrap it up for me lifflii yyaah
welcome: you're welcome! 9afwan write katahlyiktih
(reply to shukran) wrong ghalaT
west gharh
western gharhi year sana pl. sanawaat or sniin
what? shu or eesh? next year is-sana 1-jaaya
what is ... ? shu ••• ? last year is-sana 1-maaDya
when? eemta? yellow aSfar, f. Safra, pl. Sufur
when (= at the time when) lamma yes na9am, aywa, ee
when he comes... lamma yiiji ••• yesterday mhaariH
where? ween? day before yesterday awwal
from where? mineen? mhaariH
where to? 9ala ween? yet:
which ... ? ayy •••? he hasn't come yet Iissa maa
which(= that which) illi ajaash
white ahyaD, f. heeDa, pl. hiiD you inta, f. inti, pl. intu
who? miin? you (polite) HaDirtak, f.
who/whom(= the person who) illi HaDirtik
why? leesh? young Sghiir pl. Sghaar

GLOSSARY 243
Breakthrough Language Packs
Complete self-study courses

Each Breakthrough Language Pack is designed as a complete self-

study course using audio cassettes and a course book. Each pack
contains:

• Three 60- or 90-minute audio cassettes or CDs

• The course book

Breakthrough Language Packs available:

Breakthrough Arabic ISBN o-333-56692-Q
Breakthrough French ISBN Q-333-48191-7
Breakthrough German ISBN Q-333-56730-7
Breakthrough Greek ISBN Q-333-48714-1
Breakthrough Italian ISBN Q-333-48179-8
Breakthrough Russian ISBN Q-333-55726-3
Breakthrough Spanish ISBN Q-333-571 05-3
Breakthrough Further French ISBN Q-333-48193-3
Breakthrough Further German ISBN Q-333-48189-5
Breakthrough Further Spanish ISBN Q-333-48185-2
Breakthrough Business French ISBN Q-333-54398-X
Breakthrough Business German ISBN Q-333-54401-3
Breakthrough Business Spanish ISBN Q-333-54404-8

• CD Packs are also available for

Breakthrough French ISBN 0-333-58513-5
Breakthrough German ISBN 0-333-57870-8
Breakthrough Spanish ISBN 0-333-5787 4-0