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body parts in Arabic (MSA)

Leg = رجل = rejl
 Hand = يَد = yad
 Head = رأس = ra's
 Arm = زراع = zera3 
3= ع 
Neck = عُنُق = 'onoq 
Foot = قَدَم = qadam 
Toe = اصبع القدم = 'esba3 alqadam 
Shoulder = كَتِف = katef
 Knee = رُكَب = rokab

The 7 Crack Commandments Of Learning Arabic

The 7 Crack Commandments Of Learning Arabic

By :Will Ward entrepreneur and musician living in Washington DC

“3ayz aru7 el-mat3m” I repeated to the cab driver, getting more frustrated as he cruised around the city.

I was a few weeks into my summer course in Arabic at the American University in Cairo. It was my first time studying the language and my parents were coming to visit.

They were landing that night. I was supposed to meet them at the airport outside customs. I had lost track of time at a bar with some friends when I realized it was time to head to the airport.

We had been driving around for half an hour but it didn’t look like we were on a going-to-the-airport kind of road.

“El-mat3m” I repeated, making the motion of a plane landing on my arm. “Ahhh el-Mataar — ze airbort” said the cab driver, grasping now what the frantic, slightly tipsy American wanted.

I later realized I had spent 30 minutes telling my driver to “take me to the restaurant” and, he was (sort of) trying to oblige me by driving around Cairo in circles. I don’t know – maybe he was hoping we would randomly hit the right restaurant.

 The Awful Truth About How To Learn Arabic

From my experience, it takes 3-5 years of hard study to become practically useful at Arabic. What do I mean by “practically useful”?

• Able to read a newspaper article without having to look up most key words
• Able to have more than a basic conversation beyond the cab driver back-and-forth

So if you are counting on taking a couple college courses and calling it a day, you’re probably wasting your time unless your objective is to be able to order falafel sandwiches (or you were a “false beginner” like my wife who grew up speaking it at home).

In fact, I have seen people at advanced levels of academic Arabic struggle to order a bottle of water. (Confusingly, the word for “bottle” and how you pronounce “water” vary greatly from place to place.)

Since that night in Cairo (btw, my parents gave up on me and ended up getting a cab on their own) I’ve gotten a masters degree in Middle Eastern studies, lived in Egypt for 2 years, spent time in Syria, Lebanon, Libya, and Morocco, and now run an English Arabic translation company.

But I still hesitate to say that I “know” Arabic. While I am able to read and write fusha (Modern Standard Arabic) I would sound like an idiot if I had to go on a TV debate show. And while I am comfortable with the local dialects in Egypt or Syria, I had no idea what was going on in Libya.

Arabic is constantly humbling and one of those things that is always humbling and if you are lucky and work hard, your learning curve will look something like this:

Many people think the unfamiliar alphabet and the fact that it’s written right-to-left makes learning Arabic so challenging.

But the alphabet is the least of your worries. It takes just a week or two to learn it and there are a lot of good tools and apps out there to help you. The really hard things for English speakers are:

Sounds: Arabic has at least 7 sounds that do not appear anywhere in English: ع ض ص ط ظ ق ح. This video I found has a good explanation of them (don’t get distracted by his epic beard. Okay do, it’s fine)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWLAFkLeaVc

Diglossia: This is a concept that doesn’t really exist in English. It means that Arabic has two main registers. Each register has its own grammar rules, pronunciation and vocabulary for common words – a high (fusha, or Modern Standard Arabic) and a colloquial (amiyya, or regional dialect). If you are reading a newspaper, writing a constitution or delivering a formal speech you will be operating in fusha. If you are talking with your friends and family or ordering in a restaurant you will be using amiyya. This is a huge topic, but the important thing for language learners is that university Arabic classes focus on fusha which is seen as more prestigious and professionally useful. The problem is that people in the “real world” don’t speak formal Arabic. So when you show up the the Arab world after a few years of academic Arabic and try to rent a flat using fusha people will look at you like you’re speaking Shakespearian English in Tony Soprano’s New Jersey.

Dialects: Not only will you have to learn the high and low Arabic to be considered fully proficient, but the colloquial Arabic differs from country to country. So after you have learned that the word for “table” (and it’s these day-to-day words that change the most) is tawilah in MSA but tarabeza in Egyptian, be prepared to get strange looks in Iraq because there they call it a mayz in certain places…

Grammar: I am not a linguistics geek and don’t have a lot of the vocabulary to explain exactly why Arabic grammar is hard. But suffice it to say that you will be spending a good deal of time with charts like the one below, especially if you are learning at a place that is big on grammar-translation in their teaching style.

So Without Further Ado …

Will’s Seven Commandments Of Learning Arabic

I often get asked for advice on learning Arabic so I’m compiling my usual sermon here so I can write it once and be done with it. Your suggestions and additions are welcome. This is what has worked for me but of course your mileage may vary…

1.  Don’t Sprint.

Learning Arabic is jumping into the ocean not the swimming pool. No single test, course, or even year of your study will get you there so you need to play the long game. You are trying to get a compounding effect over many years of study; pushing too hard risks burnout.

2. Skip Forward A Class If You Can.

This is not a contradiction to Commandment 1. In most programs, a lot of Arabic 2 is re-teaching Arabic 1. If you come in knowing the alphabet going in and a few basic expressions, try to skip the first class or semester. Being around people who are more advanced than you is a great way to up-level yourself. You will sponge their knowledge like a newborn baby and by the end of the class you’ll be on the same level.

3.  Don’t Try To Learn Arabic While You Work Full Time

For me, I know I have a golden hour every day, maybe two or three if I’m lucky when my brain can get good, high glucose work done. You will need to invest those hours into your Arabic practice to get anywhere. I remember pounding nescafes trying to get enough caffeine to stay awake through Arabic classes after my full time job was done. Needless to say I didn’t retain a lot of what I learned in those classes and didn’t have a lot of time to do  enough studying and unstructured reading. If you at all can, try to study full time.

4.  Study Abroad. In Bursts.

University programs are fine for learning grammar and vocab, but you really need to be living in the Arab world to even start to understand the nuances of how diglossia and dialects work. Despite the headlines, Egypt is a wonderful place to go and I’ve also heard great things about Yemen. I had some amazing experiences studying Arabic in Syria, but sadly that’s not an option now. But I found that once I’d been studying for about 6 or 8 weeks I would start to plateau and get bored, but the faster progress would return after I left for a while and came back. I’m not exactly sure why this is, but it happened to me several times, so I think there’s something there.

5.  Don’t Study MSA & Colloquial At Once.

This gets less important as you are more advanced, but during the first 2 years or so of study, when you are really trying to solidify the grammar in your mind it’s best to only focus on one or the other because the grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary can be significantly different and you will get confused.

6.  Get A Private Tutor ASAP.

I’ve made some of my fastest progress working with a private tutor. If you are trying to learn fast, once you’ve got the basic grammar down its often the best use of your time and money to just get a private tutor and work with them 1-2 hours per day. This is often cheaper than taking university courses and you get much more value in terms of personal attention and matching the work to your needs. Plus you make friends with your tutor, get to go to their house, and typically get privy to a lot of cultural knowledge that you wouldn’t get in a classroom setting.

7. If You Are White, Don’t Wear A Galabiya :D

In every Arabic course for foreigners, there is always one guy who thinks he will “blend in” by going down to the souk and getting a traditional Arabic man-gown to wear to class. This is a horrible idea on many levels – trust me.

 مساء الخير masā'a l-khayr
Good evening

هل تتكلم الإنجليزية ؟ hal tatakallumu l-ingliziyya?
Do you speak English?

هل تتكلم الفرنسية ؟ hal tatakallumu l-faransiyya?
Do you speak French?

يا نادِل yā nādil
Waiter!

قائمة الطعام، من فضلك qā'imatu t-ta'ām, min fadlik
Could I/we see the menu, please

هل عندكم بيرة / خمور hal 'endakum bīra/khumour?
Have you got beer?

لا تأكل اللحم و لا البيض lā ta'kulu l-lahm wa-lā l-bayda
She doesn't eat meat, nor eggs

لا يأكل اللحم ولا البيض lā ya'kulu l-lahm wa-lā l-bayda
He doesn't eat meat, nor eggs

لا آكل اللحم ولا البيض lā aakulu l-lahm wa-lā l-bayda
I don't eat meat, nor eggs

لحم الخروف لي ، من فضلك، وسلطة lahmu l-khurūf lī, min fadlik. wa salata
Lamb for me, thank you. And salad

الكُسكس لي ، من فضلك ،وكوكاكولا 'al-kuskus lī, min fadlik. wa kūkā kūlā
Couscous for me, thank you. And a Coca Cola

لحم الجمل من فضلك، وقنينة الماء lahmu l-jamal, min fadlik. wa qanīnatu l-mā'
Camel meat, thank you. And a bottle of water

لحم دجاج مشوي و رُز وسلطة lahmu d-dijāj mashwiyy wa-rūz wa salata mashwiyya lī
Grilled chicken with rice, and fried salad for me

أيس كريم،قهوة ، و والفواكه للكل من فضلك āis krīm, qahwa, wa l-fawākih lī lkull, min fadlik
Ice cream, coffee, and fruits for all, thank you

الفاتورة ، من فضلك 'al-fātūra, min fadlik
The bill, please


مع السلامة ma'a alsalāma
Good bye (meaning: Go without fear)

إلي اللقاء ilā l-liqā'
So long; Until the next time

  
 أين فندق السلام ؟      ayna funduq salām?
Where is the Hotel Salam?

هل لديك غرفة ؟ hal ladayka ghurfa?
Have you got vacant rooms?

من أي درجة هذا الفندق ؟    min aiy darja hādhā l-funduq?
Of which class is the hotel?

هل الغرفة بها حمام ؟ hal 'al-ghurfa beha hammām?
Is there a bathroom coming with the room?

هل الغرفة بها هاتف ؟ hal 'al-ghurfa beha hātif?
Is there a telephone in the room?

هل هناك تلفزيون في الفندق ؟ hal honaaka tilīfizyūn fī l-funduq?
Is there a TV-set in the hotel?

كم سعر الليلة ؟ kam se'r al-layla
What's the price for one night?

اكتب من فضلك uktub min fadlik
Please write

لا أفهم lā 'afham
I don't understand

أفهم 'afham
I understand

غالي ghālī
Expensive!

سأسكن هنا لمدة ثلاثة ليال sa'askun hunā li muddati th-thalāthati l-layl
I'm going to stay here for three nights

أولاً ، أريد أنا أري الغرفة من فضلك 'awwalān, urīd an araa l-ghurfa, min fadlik
First, I want to see the room, please

شكراً ،الغرفة ممتازة shukran. al-ghurfa mumtāzah
Thank you. The room is very nice

السلام عليكم  'as-salāmu calaykum
Hello; Peace upon you

وعليكم السلام  wa'laykumu  as-salām
Hello; Peace upon you, too

كيف حالُك ؟        kayf hāluk?
How are you?

شُكراً ، الحمد لله ، وأنتَ ؟  shukran. al-hamdu li-lāh. wa ant?
Thank you. Fine, by God's mercy. And you?


أنا بخير  'anā bi-khayr
I'm fine

معَ السلامة  ma'a salāma
Go without fear

إلي اللقاء  ilā l-liqā'
So long; Until the next time‎

  مرحباً       marhaban 
Hello; welcome

السلام عليكم 'as-salāmu calaykum
Hello; Peace upon you

وعليكم السلام wa'laykumu  as-salām
Hello; Peace upon you, too

كيف حالُك ؟       kayf hāluk?
How are you?

شُكراً ، الحمد لله ، وأنتَ ؟ shukran. al-hamdu li-lāh. wa ant?
Thank you. Fine, by God's mercy. And you?

أنا بخير 'anā bi-khayr
I'm fine

معَ السلامة ma'a salāma
Go without fear

إلي اللقاء ilā l-liqā'
So long; Until the next time

Arabic phrases about Marriage...

لسنوات عديدة تكلَمَت عائلتي عن موضوع الزواج

li-sanawāt cadīda takallamat cā'ilat-ī can mawdūc zawāj-ī
For many years my family have talked about my marriage

الآن وجدت امرأة للزواج
'al-'ān wajadtu imra'a li-z-zawāj
Now I have found a woman to marry.

اسمها ريم
ismu-hā rīm
Her name is Rim.

عائلتها من رشيد شرق الاسكندرية
cā'ilatu-hā min rashīd sharqi l-'iskandariyya
Her family is from Rosetta, east of Alexandria.

لقد كانت متزوجة من قبل ولكن بلا أطفال
laqad kānat mutazawijja min qabli wa-lākin bi-lā 'atfāl
She has been married before, but has no children.

وهي عندها بيت ورثته عن زوجها المرحوم
wa-hiyya cindahā bayt warithta-hu 'an zawaji-hā 'al-marhūm
And she has a house from her late husband.

وهي تعمل كمحامية وأنا أيضاً
wa-hiya tacmal ka-muhāmiyya wa-'anā aydan
She works as a lawyer, and so do I.

أنا أظن أننا سنكون سعداء معاً لأنها مُدبرة جداً
'anā 'azunn 'inna-nā sa-nakūn sucadā' macan li-'inna-hā mudabbira jiddan
I think we will be happy together, because she is very economical.

Learning the Arabic Articles is very important because its structure is used in every day conversation. The more you master it the more you get closer to mastering the Arabic language. But first we need to know what the role of Articles is in the structure of the grammar in Arabic.
Arabic articles are words that combine with a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by the noun. Generally articles specify the grammatical definiteness of the noun. Examples are "the, a, and an". Here are some examples:

articles مَقَالَات maqaalaat
the ال al
a no equivalent in arabic
one وَاحِد waahed
some بَعْض ba'th
few قَلِيْل qaleeel
the book الْكِتَاب alketaab
the books الْكُتُب alkotob
a book كِتَاب ketaab
one book كِتَاب وَاحِد ketaab waahed
some books بَعْض الْكُتُب ba'th alkotob
few books الْقَلْيْل مِن الْكُتُب alqaleel men alkotob

Arabic animals vocabulary in modern standard Arabic '2'

Parrot : babghaa' , babghaawaat
ببغاء ، ببغاوات 

Duck : battah , batt
بطة ، بط

Pigeon : hamaamah , hamaam
حمامة ، حمام

Goose : iwazzah
إوزة

Chicken : dajaajah , dajaaj
دجاجة ، دجاج

Rooster : diik , duyuuk
ديك ، ديوك

turkey: ديك رومي diik ruumi

Owl ; bummah , buum
بومة ، بوم

Peacock : taawuus , tawaawiis
طاووس ، طواويس

Stork : laqlaq , laqaaliq
لقلق ، لقالق

swallow: عصفور الجنة 'uSfuur al-janna

sparrow: عصفور دوري 'uSfuur duury

Ostrich : na'aamah , na'aam
نعامة ، نعام

Crow : ghuraab , ghirbaan
غراب ، غربان

Nightingale : bulbul , balaabil
بلبل ، بلابل

Falcon : saqr , suquur
صقر ، صقور

Eagle : nisr , nusuur
نسر ، نسور

Swan : baja'ah , baja'
بجعة ، بجع

Dove : yamaamah , yamaam
يمامة ، يمام

Reptile : zaahif , zawaahif
زاحف ، زواحف

Amphibian : barmaa'iyyah , barmaa'iyyaat
برمائية ، برمائيات

Snake : tu'baan , ta'aabiin
ثعبان ، ثعابين

Sarahan horned viper: حية قرناء Hayya qarnaa'

Turtle : sulhufaah , salaahif
سلحفاة ، سلاحف

Lizard : sihliyya , sahaalin
سحلية ، سحال

Frog : difdi' , dafaadi'
ضفدع ، ضفادع

Crocodile : timsaah , tamaasih
تمساح ، تماسيح

Snail : halazuun , halazuunaat
حلزون ، حلزونات

Lion : asad , usuud
أسد ، أسود

Hippopotamus : faras an-nahar
فرس النهر

Giraffe : zaraafah , zaraafaat
زرافة ، زرافات

Arabic animals vocabulary in modern standard Arabic 

Animal : hayawaan , hayawanaat 
حيوان ، حيوانات 


Cat : qitta, qittat 
قطة ، قطط


Dog : kalb , kilab
كَلب ، كلاب


Cow : baqarah , baqaraat
بقرة ، بقرات


Bull,ox : thoor , thiraan
ثور ، ثيران 


Calf : ijl , 'ujuul
عجل ، عجول


Buffalo : Jaamuus , jawaamiis
جاموس ، جواميس 


Cattle : bahiima , bahaa'im 
بهيمة ، بهائم


Sheep : ghanaam , aghnaam
غنم ، أغنام 


Lamb : kharuuf , khiraaf
خروف ، خراف


Donkey : himaar , hamiir
حمار ،حمير 


Horse : hisaan , husun
حصان ، حصن 


Camel : jamal , jimaal 
جمل ، جمال


Goat : maa'iz , mawaa'iz
ماعز ،مواعز


Pig : khanziir , khanaaziir
خنزير ، خنازير


Rabbit : arnab , araanib 
أرنب ، أرانب 


Mice : fa'r , fi'raan
فأر ، فئران


Rat : jurad , jirdaan 
جرذ ، جرذان


Bird : taa'ir , taa'iraat 
طائر ، طائرات


Sparrow : usfuur , 'asaafiir 
عصفور ن عصافير 


Rhinoceros : waHiid al-qarn
وحيد القرن


Zebra : himaar wahshi 
حمار وحشي


kangaroo: kanghar
كنغر


Panther : fahd , fuhuud 
فهد ، فهود


Tiger : namir , numuur 
نمر ، نمور


Elephant : fiil , fiyala
فيل ، فيلة 


Monkey : qird , quruud 
قرد ، قرود