You are on page 1of 3

Arabic Basic Courtesy and Social Phrases

(Southern Iraq & Upper Gulf Dialect)

(Page 1 of 3 pages.)

How to use this phrase sheet:

1. Select the proper English phrase in the left-hand column.


2. Read the transliterated Arabic phrase in the middle column
3. If available, an Iraqi friend can read and help with pronouncing the Arabic text
in the right-hand column.

NOTE:

1. Phrases are in Formal Spoken Arabic ("F" below) and the southern Iraqi /
Upper Gulf (Iraq area) regional dialect ("G"). Literal/cultural meaning in
parentheses.

2. CAPITALS indicate stress/emphasis in pronunciation of words.

May the peace be upon you. As-saLAAMU al-LAIKUM ‫السالم عليكم‬


(F; traditional greeting)

(And) May the peace be Wa al-LAIKUM as-saLAAM ‫وعليكم السالم‬


upon you (F; trad'tl reply)

Good morning. Sa-BAAH al-KHAIR ‫صباح الخير‬


(F; May you have a morning
of goodness)(Greeting)

Good morning. Sa-BAAH an-NOOR ‫صباح النور‬


(F: May you have a morning
of light)(Reply)

May Allah greet you (F/G) High-YAAK Allah ‫حياك اهلل‬


May Allah keep you (reply) AB-QAAK Allah
‫أبقاك اهلل‬
How are you? (formal; plural) KAIF HAAL-ukum? ‫كيف حالكم؟‬
(F; How is your condition)

How are you? (G) Ah-SHLOWN-akum? ‫أشلونكم؟‬


(Lit: How is your color?)

Praise be to Allah, fine. (F) Al-HAMdu-LILLAH, bi-KHAIR ‫ بالخير‬, ‫الحمد هلل‬


Praise be to Allah, fine. (G) Bi-KHAIR, al-HAMDU li-LLAH ‫ الحمد هلل‬،‫بخير‬
Arabic Basic Courtesy
and Social Phrases
(Southern Iraq &
Upper Gulf Dialect)
‫كيف العائلة؟‬
(Page 2 of 3 pages.)
How is your family? (F)

KAIF al-AA'ila?
How is your family? (G) KAIF al-Eye-YAAL? ‫كيف العيال؟‬
Allah willing, they are all well. In-SHA' Allah, KUL-uhum ‫إن شاء اهلل كلهم‬
bi-KHAIR
‫بخير‬

Praise be to Allah, they are


‫كلهم بخير‬, ‫الحمد هلل‬
al-HAMDU-li-LLAH,
all well. (Reply) Kuluhum bI-KHAIR
‫شكرًا‬
Thank you. Shoo-KRAAN

You are welcome. Ah-FWAAN ‫عفوًا‬


Please (accept/take this). ta-FAD-dal-LOO (formal) ‫تفضّلوا‬
(~= s'il vous plais; por favor)
(ta-FAD-dal)(informal)
‫تفضّل‬
Good evening. me-SAA' al-KHAIR ‫مساء الخير‬
(F; May you have an evening
of goodness)(Greeting)

Good evening. me-SAA' an-NOOR ‫مساء النور‬


(F: May you have an evening
of light)(Reply)

Welcome. AH-hal-lan wa SA-ha-laan ً‫أهال وسهال‬


(You are welcomed as easily
as one of the family.)
(F; traditional greeting)

May Allah bless you (for your Al-LLAh yu-BAAR-ak FEE-kum ‫اهلل يبارك فيكم‬
kindness). (F; traditional reply)
What is your name, please? (F) MAA huwa IS-muk, ‫فضلك؟‬ ‫ من‬،‫ما هو اسمك‬
min FAD-lak??
Arabic Basic Courtesy
and Social Phrases
(Southern Iraq &
Upper Gulf Dialect)

(Page 3 of 3 pages.)

You honor us (by making your (1) ta-shar-RAFNAA ‫تشرّفنا‬


acquaintance)(F) (2) SHAR-raf-TOONAA
‫شرّفتونا‬
Yes (F) (1) NA'am )‫نعم… (فصحى‬
Yes (G) (2) AYE-wah
)‫أيوه … (بلدي‬
No, sorry. (F) LAA, ma'a al-AASif ‫ مع األسف‬،‫ال‬
Perhaps; maybe; possibly. (G) MUM-kin; min al-MUM-kin ‫ممكن؛ من الممكن‬
Thank you very much. (F/G) shoo-KRAAN ga-ZEEL-aan ً‫شكرًا جزيال‬
Don't thank me for doing my LAA shukar ala WAA-jib ‫ال شكر على واجب‬
duty (to be honest) Reply)

That will work; fine, OK (G) TAI-yib; KWAIS; KHOsh ‫خوش‬، ‫ كويس‬،‫طيب‬
Don't worry about that (G) MAA yu-HIM-mak ‫ما يهمك‬
(lit: That doesn't concern you)

Goodbye. (I leave you in MA' as-sa-LAAM-at ‫مع السالمة‬


Allah's safety)(F)(Departee)

May you go in Allah's


protection. (F)(Reply) Fee I-MAAN Al-LAH
‫في أمان اهلل‬

Provided to participants in training programs conducted under auspices of Exotic


Languages Agency. Copyright © 2003, Stephen H. Franke, dba Middle East Services Group.
All rights reserved. Tel / fax: 310.832.1037

You might also like