Arabic Language Lessons

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Pre-departure Arabic language materials for Jordan contain 10 lessons,grammar notes, cultural notes, and language learning tips.

Contents PageWelcome i

Basic:

1. Greetings & Personal Identification 1

2. Physical State 4

3. Family 7

4. Useful Expressions 8

5. Communication Difficulties 9

Advanced:6.Food 10

7. Directions 118. Numbers & Money 11

9. Question Words 13

10. Time Sense 14

Grammar Notes 15

Cultural Notes 18

Useful Tips 21

The text accompanies the following 10 audio tracks:

JO_Arabic_Language_Lesson_1.mp3 (Time: 8:38) (File Size: 7.90 MB)








JO_Arabic_Language_Lesson_9.mp3 (Time: 1:08) (File Size: 804 KB)



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WELCOME!

This manual is a brief presentation of the spoken Arabic language and some cultural

behaviors in Jordan. With the help of the enclosed interactive language digital audiofiles, you will be able to hear and pronounce the sounds of Arabic and becomefamiliar with them.

In this manual, several topics are introduced where you will find some Arabic wordsand expressions along with their transliteration and English meaning. Somegrammatical and cultural notes are also included in order to help you familiarizeyourself with the language as well as the culture.

Classical Arabic is the formal language in Jordan. It is used in books, newspapers,radio and T.V. However, you should know that the normal Jordanian conversation isoften quite different from the formal language. Dialects of the people you meet will varybased on ancestry and regions within Jordan. For example the word (coffee) ispronounced "gahwa" in rural areas, but in Amman it is pronounced "ahwa". Theselessons will help you learn normal conversation in Jordan, rather than focusing onformalities.

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Jordan, you will have to adjust to some pronunciationdifficulties and deal with some social attitudes and cultural norms. In this manual we

have divided the lessons into basic and advanced. All are important, but if you have alimited time for study, concentrate on the basic necessities. So get ready for a newexperience and challenge and welcome to Jordan...

i


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Basic Lessons 1 - 5:

Lesson 1: Greetings & Personal Identification

I will read each word/ phrase twice. When I finish reading the second time I will give you

some time to practice saying it after me.

English Arabic TransliterationPeace be upon you (common

greeting) assalamu alaikum

(and) Peace be upon you (reply) )( (wa) alaikum assalam

Hello marHaba

Hello (reply) / ahlain / hala

Good morning SabaH elKhair

Good morning (reply) SabaH ennoor

Good bye Ma asslamah

May God give you strength (M) YaTiik elafya

May God give you strength (F) YaTiikii elafya

May God give you strength(M)(reply)

Allah yaafiik

May God give you strength (F)(reply)

Allah yafiikii

What is your name? (male) shuu ismak?

What is your name? (female) shuu ismek?

My name is.... ... ana ismi ....

And you? (m.) u inta?

And you? (f.) u inti?

English Transliteration Arabic

(1) Listen to how two people greet each other.

A: Peace be upon you. A: assalamu alaikum. :.B: (and) Peace be upon you. B: (wa) alaikum assalam :)(.I will greet you and you reply . :

................:


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Now you greet first .......:.......... :)(.

The following greeting is very common in Jordan and can be used any time during theday.

(2) Listen to the following people greeting each other.

A: Hello. A: marHaba. :.B: Hello. B: ahlain or hala :/.

I will greet you first and you reply :...............:....

Now, you greet first ....................:

:/.

(3) Listen to the following morning greeting.

A: Good morning. A: SabaH elKhair :.B: Good morning. B: SabaH ennoor :.

I will greet you first and you reply :. .............. :

Now you greet first ...................:

:.

(4) Listen to how people greet, and ask and answer about their names.

A: Hello. A: marHaba. :.B: Hello. B: hala :.A: What is your name? (m) A: shuu ismak? : B: My name is Ahmad. B: ana ismi Ahmad. :.

Lets practice. I will initiate the conversation and you reply.:.

................: :

................:

Now you start....................:

. : ..................:.

:.


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(5) Listen to how people greet, ask about others names and take leave.

A: Peace be upon you. A: assalamu alaikum. :.B: (and) Peace be upon you. B: (wa) alaikum assalam :)(. A: What is your name? (f) A: shuu ismek? :

B: My name is Noor. B: ana ismi Noor. :. A: Good-bye. A: Ma asslamah. :.B: Good- bye. B: Ma asslamah. :.

I will start and you reply. :.................::

.........:....... :.

................: Now you start.

...................: :)(....................:

:....................:

:.

(6) Listen to how people greet, ask about others names, and use a veryencouraging expression to those who do good work.

A: Good morning. A: SabaH elKhair :.B: Good morning. B: SabaH ennoor :.A: What is your name? (m) A: shuu ismak? : B: My name is Ahmad and you? B: ana ismi Ahmad u inti? :

A: My name is Noor. A: ana ismi Noor. :.B: May God give you health (f) B:YaTiikii elafya. :. A: May God give you strength A: allah yaafiik (m reply) :.

I will initiate the conversation and you reply.:.

................: :

................:

:.................::

Now you start. .......:...........

:.. ..................::

...................::....................:


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Lesson 2: Physical State

I will read each word/ phrase twice. When I finish reading the second time I will give yousome time to practice saying it after me.

English Arabic Transliteration

How are you? (m.) kaif Halak?

How are you? (f.) kaif Halik?

Thank God (common reply) alHamdu lillah

OK (lit."Perfect") tamam

Good (m.) kwayes

Good (f.) kwayesa

Happy (m.) mabSuuT

Happy (f.) mabSuuTa

Tired (m.) Taban

Tired (f.) tabana

(1) Listen to how these two people greet each other, and inquire about the healthquestions.

A: Peace be upon you. A: assalamu alaikum. :.B: (and) Peace be upon you. B: (wa) alaikum assalam. :)(.A: How are you? (m.) A: kaif Halak? :B: Thank God. B: alHamdu lillah. :.

Now, we will do the same thing we did in the first lesson; I will do the (A) part of the dialogand you take the (B) part.

I will read (A) and you reply with (B) part:

................: :

...............:

Now you start. ...................: :)(.


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...................::.

(2) In this and the following dialogs you are given the opportunity to initiate theconversation. Listen to this dialog.

A: Hello. A: marHaba. :.

B: Hello. B: hala. . :: A: How are you? (f.) A: kaif Halik? :

B: OK B: tamaam. :.

You start and I reply....................:

. :

...................: .:.

Now my turn to start.

. :

.............:

:

.............:

(3) Here is another dialog about greeting, and well being.

A: Good morning. A: SabaH elKhair :.B: Good morning. B: SabaH ennoor :.A: How are you? (m.) A: kaif Halak? : B: Good (m) and you? B: kwayes u inti? : A: Good (f) A: kwayesa. :.

You start and I reply...................:

:.

..............:.... :

..................:


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Now my turn to start.

:. ...............: : ...............: :.


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Lesson 3: Family

I will read each word/ phrase twice. When I finish reading the second time I will giveyou some time to practice saying it after me.

I lll will read each sentence twice and I will stop for a while after the second reading to letyou say it after me.

1. I have a family. 1. ana endi aila. ..

2. I have a father. 2. ana endi abu. ..

3. I have a mother. 3. ana endi umm. ..

4. I have a sister. 4. ana endi okht. ..


Family aila

Father abu

Mother umm

Brother aKhu

Sister oKht

Son iben

Daughter bent

Husband zawj

Wife zawja

I have... ... ana endi ...


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Lesson 4: Useful Expressions

I will read each word twice and I will stop for a while after the second reading tolet you say it after me.


Sorry (m) aassef

Sorry (f) aassfah

Excuse me afwan

It's OK basiiTa'

No problem ! mish mushkelah!

Would you please ! law samaHt!

Thank you shukran!

You welcome (reply) afwan

Be my guest/ Here you go (m) tfaDDal

Be my guest/ Here you go (f) tfaDDalii

Yes / Aywa / naamNo la

Here haun

There hunaak

Later on! badain!

Never abadan

Now / hassaa

It is possible / Is it possible? mumken

Come on! yallah!


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Ok- I agree tayyeb

Ok mashii

Normal aadii

If God wills inshalla

Lesson 5: Communication Difficulties

I will read each phrase or sentence twice, then pause so that you can repeatafter me.


I (don't) understand (m.) )( ana (mish)faahem

I (don't) understand (f.) )( ana(mish) faahema

I (dont) know )( ana (ma) araf

I (dont) like )( ana (ma) aHeb

I (dont) want )( ana (ma) beddi

Another time/ Again / Kamaan marra/ marra thanya

I can't speak much Arabic ana ma aHkii arabii kthiir

Slowly! shwaya shwaya!


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Advanced Lessons 6 - 10:

Lesson 6: Food

I will read each word twice, and then pause so that you can repeat after me.


Bread Khubez

Cheese jebna

Rice ruz

Salt mileH

Sugar sukkar

Water maii

Tea shaii

Coffee gahwa

Milk Haliib

Juice aSiir

Vegetables KhuDar

Fruit fawakeh

Breakfast fuTuur

Lunch Ghada

Dinner ashaDelicious zaaki

Hungry (m.) juaan

Hungry (f.) juaana

Thirsty (m.) aTshaan

Thirsty (f.) aTshaana

Full (m.) shabaan

Full (f.) shabaana


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Lesson 7: Directions

I will read each word/ phrase twice, and then pause so that you can repeat afterme.


Where? wain ?

On (lit. "In") fii

Street share

Peace Corps firaq assalam

Office maktab

Post office maktab barid

Bus station mujamma

Left / shmaal / yassaar

Right yamiin

Next to janb

Up faug

Down taHt

Straight duGhri

Lesson 8: Numbers (0-10) and Money

I will read each word/ phrase twice, and then pause so that you can repeat after

me.


Zero Siffer

One waHad

Two ethnain

Three thalatha


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Four arbaa

Five Khamsa

Six sitta

Seven saba

Eight

thamania

Nine tesa

Ten ashara

Money maSari

Gersh (s.) gersh

Gersh (pi.) gruush

Dinar / laira / diinar

Quarter of a dinar rube diinar

Half a dinar nuS diinar

The change elbagii


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Lesson 9: Question Words:

Ill read each word twice, and then pause so that you can repeat after me.

English Arabic TransliterationWhat ? shuu?

Who ? miin?

When ? / aimta? / mata?

How ? kaif?

Where ? wain?

How much? How many ? gaddaish?

Which ? ayy?

Why ? Leesh ?


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Lesson 10: Time Sense

Ill read each word twice, and then pause so that you can repeat after me.


Today eliaum

Yesterday embaareH

Tomorrow bukra

Early bakkiir

Late mita'aKher

Morning eSubeH

Noon eDhuhor

Afternoon ElaSer

Evening elmasaa

Night ellail

Week usbuu

Month shaher

Year sana


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Grammar Notes(no recording available)

Arabic Alphabet

Arabic Sound English equivalent Example

aa A jacket - apricot

ba B book

ta T tall

tha (same as "thin") three

ja J juice

Ha (emphatic "h" with strong expulsion of breath) no equivalent

Kha (same as German "Bach") no equivalent

da D dark

The (same as "the") this

ra R room

za Z zoo

sa S small

sha (same as "shine") short

Sa (emphatic "s" pronounced with the teeth slightlyapart pressing the tip of the tongue against thelower teeth)

no equivalent

Da(emphatic "d" pronounced with the tongue pressing

against the edge of the upper teeth with the tip

protruding)no equivalent

Ta(emphatic twhere you should be able to bite the

sides of the tongue as flat as possible)no equivalent

Dha (emphatic "Th") no equivalent

a (pronounced with the constriction of the larynx) no equivalent

Gha

(like Parisian r, sound of gargling)no equivalent

fa F father

ga G goal

ka K kind

la L lemon

ma M month

na N number


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ha H happy

wa - u W way - food

ya - i Y yard - visa

Writing

- Arabic script is read and written from right to left.- The shape of letters changes according to their position (at the beginning, in the middle or atthe end of the word).

No equivalent letters

- Some Arabic letters have no English equivalent but can be pronounced in English: ( , , )

- Some letters do not exist in the English language and also have no equivalent. They need some

practice to be pronounced correctly: (, ,,, , , , )

The hamza "

- It is a glottal stop that is sometimes added on long vowels and other times is by itself.Long vowels

Long Vowels Pronunciation Example

aa (e.g. flag) (delicious) zaaki -

uu (e.g. shoes) (sweater) bluuza -

ii (e.g. piece) (rent) iijar -

Short vowels

The short vowels are certain symbols put above or below the letters and as a result change the pronunciation.Short vowels are often not written but with practice you will grasp the way to use them.

Symbol Pronunciation Example

..... a very short a (e.g. animal) (ate) akal -

..... a very short u (e.g. full) (bear) dub -

..

... a very short i (e.g. fridge) (apricot) mishmish

.....his symbol is added to indicate

that no vowel is used.(dog) kalb

Arabic Language Lessons

Documents

Transcript of Arabic Language Lessons