Novel Reading Excercise–Tilka al-Ra’iha
Drew’s First Arabic Lesson
Arabic Class!
Let’s learn some Arabic! The following lesson will give you some basic phrases in Arabic. I will provide the Arabic then a transliteration in Latin Characters and finally a translation.
Welcome
السلام عليكم واهلا بك إلى صف اللغة العربية
انا استاذك و اسمي درو
Salam alaikum wa ahlan wa sahlan bik ila saf algra arabia. Ana Ostaadhk wa ismee droo”
“Peace be upon you and welcome to Arabic Class. I am your instructor and my name is Drew”
Introductions: What’s Your Name/ Where you From
ما اسمك؟
Ma Ismooka (when asking a man)/ Ma Ismooki (when asking a woman)
“What is your name”
…اسمي
Ismee…
“My name is”
تشرفنا
Tasharafna
“Pleased to me you”
كيف الحال
Kayf al Haal?
“How are you”
بخيرالحمد لله
Bikhair al-hamdulillah
“I’m fine, thanks be to God”
من اين انت؟
Min ayna anta (m)/ min ayna anti (f)
“Where are you from ?”
…انا من مدينة … في ولاية
Ana min madinat … fi walayiat…
“I am from the city of …. in the state of …”
مع السلامة
Ma’salama
“Goodbye!”
Do you Like the Cat? Do you Like the Dog?
هل تحب/تحبين القتة؟
Haal Toohib (m)/ Toohibeen (f) al-qitta?
“Do you like the cat?”
نعم أحب القتة
Na’m, Ohhib al-qitta (the apostrophe sound here is an “Ah” sound in the back of your throat)
“Yes, I like the cat”
لا أحب القتة
Laa Ohhib al-qitta
“I do not like the cat”
هل تحب/تحبين الكلب؟
Haal toohib (m) / toohibeen (f) al-Kelb?
“Do you like the dog?”
نعم/لا أحب الكلب
Na’m Ohhib al-kelb/la ohhib al-Kelb
“Yes I like the dog/I do not like the dog”
Do you Drink Tea/ Coffee?
هل تشرب/تشربين الشاي؟
Haal Tashrab (m)/Tashrabiin (f) as-chai?
“Do you drink tea?”
هل تشرب/تشربين القهوة؟
Haal Tashrab (f)/ Tashrabiin (f) al-qahwa?
نعم أسرب الشاي/القهوة
Na’m ashrab as-chai/al-qahwa
“Yes I drink tea/coffee”
لا أسرب الشاي/القهوة
La Ashrab as-chai/al-qahwa
“No I do not drink tea/coffee”
The Realities of Arabic Textbooks
Studying Arabic is such a wonderful and culturally enriching experience. Still, you will quickly learn that geopolitical realities between the United States and the Arab World will influence what you learn. Here is one phrase I learned in my first year Arabic classroom before I learned colors, ordinal numbers or alternate forms for “mother” or “father.”
انا ضابط في الجيش
Ana daabit fil jaysh
“I am an officer in the army”