I would like to learn common phrases and words to use on our vacation. Help!!!

I need things to use when trying to communicate with Mohammed's family.

Jackie

Jackie,

What type of phrases are you looking for?

asalamu alaikum - peace be upon you
kaif halek - how are you
ana bikhair, al humdullilah - i am fine, thank God
sabah al khair - good morning
shukran - thank you

moshtaglekko - i miss you all
sho betsawee - what are you doing


naaeeman - you say this when someone gets out of the shower

naaeeman....never heard that

bedak tashrab shi - do you want to drink something
bedak tashrab chai - do you want to drink tea

bedak takol shi - do you want to eat something


bedak trooh ala bait hasa? - do you want to go home now?
bedak trooh ala bait mama? - do you want to go to mamas home?

gdaish saaah - what time is it

min fadlaak - please

Jackie-- I would use "Alhamdulillah, quasi" as your response to Kaif halek since you're going to the Irbed area, right?

Sabah el khair's response is "Sabah el noor" (although some really romantic husbands will say somehting else, ward (roses) or yasmeen (jasmine) or whatever.)

Shukran's response is Afwon-- you're welcome.

Marhaba! Hello
Marhaba or Marhabten is the response-- whether or not you like them enough to only give one or two hellos

Ahlan wa Sahlan-- welcome (as in welcome to our home or something like that)
Ahlan- response given or Ahlain-- lots of welcomes

Make them talk about themselves! "wa enti?" (and you? female) or "wa enta?" (and you, male).

al bait? at home?

seyara is a car

wagif-- stop for a man
wagfi- stop for a woman

hellas-- enough, stop

Noor says it all the time to me when I am done taking a shower... and his brother has said it to him many times after a shower... I don't know if it is used by everybody or not Noor swears it is though

Oh this is great! Keep em coming. Think of things you would say if you were going back.

Kelly, Mohammed pronounces it n-eye-aymen. Says it every time I get out of the shower. I think it means congrats on your shower..lol Ok JP what does it mean?

Jackie

habeebi said there isn't an english translation but your idea is about as close as it gets lol...

hhehe if you are at his family home and he wants to leave but you want to stay, you can say... "ma baddee arooh hassa" meaning "I don't want to leave right now".... that will make his family happy to hear you say that you don't want to leave

if mohammed leaves unexpectedly and you wonder where he went... you can say "wain mohammed" meaning "where's mohammed"

YOU CAN'T FORGET THIS ONE...

when they offer you the nasty nasty coffee... and you've had your drink...and shook the cup, say "daymeh"

Well he hinted at the idea that we might stay with family while there and not get an apartment I'm spoiled. I've always had an apartment in Jordan, some better than others, but a closed door and privacy all the same. This might be a long 2 weeks.

oh...how could I compliment the food? Like, 'the dinner was delicious?'

Jackie

the food was delicious - el akel zaki
hehe i like to make him laugh by saying, when he asks how the food was..... mmmmm it was m-tak tak

bede arooh ala hamam - i have to go to the bathroom

Phrase NOT to use: 'Do you like cous cous?' (don't ask me how I know.....)

Jackie

the anticipation is killing me...do tell !!!

I'm thinking because cous=female privates

i just wanted her to share the story...i'm sure it had something to do with saying it in front of his family or something...
my cous cous story, we were in the market and i saw it and said..ohh cous cous..i just love that stuff.....yeah, he turned a lovely shade of burnt sienna!!

When Mohammed first came to America we were buying food at the arab store and I was buying a box of falafel mix. Next to it was....you guessed it, couscous. So I say to him, 'habibi, do you like cous cous?'....he turned 3 shades of red. When we were outside he explained it to me. No wonder the meat cutter guy was laughing.

Jackie

hahahaha j-mag!! how many more days now... i think i've lost enough weight to be stuffed into your luggage... now, if i can just get my arse to chicago

So what do they call couscous then?

I don't think it's "dirty" in Moroccan arabic. But then again, neither of us like couscous.

I've heard it called "maftoul"

I think maftoul is very similar to couscous. Maftoul is also called "Israeli couscous". Maftoul is larger than couscous though.

lol, i was going to write something but I forgot what it was...lol...

ohh, forget = nseet

No, it isn't dirty in Darija. Moroccans have other names for female private parts.

okkkkkkkkk how would I say-------- What would you like to do today?

Jackie

I was told it's called "cousy" there.


How do you say, "gawd this meal is disgusting...how did you live in this house all these years?"





Just kidding. lol

what would you like to do today - sho bet-heb ta'amel elyom

awww... Jak - I wish I'd have known a few months ago - I sold my "Learn Conversational Arabic in 10 days" cd set at a garage sale... It's on the ipod tho, if you ever want a burned copy..... holla!

btw - all you Jordanian connected folks - I have a student who has an opportunity to possibly go to Jordan for a month or 2 this summer for school. She wants to look into either music or dance lessons while there - any ideas on where to look? I can hook her up in Egypt, but I don't know abt Jordan. I'm figuring music lessons might be easier to find. She plays flute/ney and is learning zils/drumming.... any help out there from the SO's?
thanks!
Noura

Hmmm 12days? That is not much. I would just say wallah alot... or pick up a Berlitz phrase travel book and practice with your husband. Alot of times these books also come with CDs to help with pronoucation.

Habeebi says to look in Amman. He says everything is there but he doesn't know any names ... sorry i couldn't have been more help

Hey guys...i don't know if you guys still need it or not...but here are a few more...


inshallah = God willing
wallah = i swear
shu ismack = (male) what's your name
shu ismeck = (female) what's your name
com omrack = (male) how old are you
com omreck = (female) how old are you
humdilla = thank God i'm good
ana quasa = i am fine
habibi = (male) my love
habibti = (female) my love
meshey = okay
leff = (male) turn around
leffy = (female) turn around
wahad = one
gadish = how much
kahawa = coffee
bagai = beef
lahama = meat
judge = chicken
shy = tea
jeeply = bring me
bidee = want to
ana = I
asharub = drink
akul = eat
baab = door

okay...that's enough for now...you guys are awesome, btw...got some more words to add to my studies

Tiff..ps...hope you have a nice trip...I LOVE it there!