Syrian-Arabic Words & Phrases

The Cockney of Arabic in Syria

 

If you attempt to speak basic Syrian Arabic while you are touring Syria, you are on for a shock, you will be standing in the street, at the hotel, in a taxi or at a restaurant, asking yourself why with all the time and effort you have put into learning this (interesting language), that you are not getting anywhere, you hardly understand what are they saying, your words not being understood.

Like the majority of travellers, you probably learnt your Arabic from a book or a CD or online or even from an Arabic teacher.

What you have learnt and attempt to speak are different from the locals.

Arabic language is very rich language, for every English word you would find two or more equivalent words that have the same meaning.

 

In order to understand and being understood, it’s important to choose and learn the common words which are used in everyday life amongst the locals.

Like the cockney of London (East End), this is the cockney of Arabic spoken in the street of Damascus.

Commonly used words:

Aff-one: Excuse me, pardon me, I beg your pardon, Allow me, one minute please, do not mention it, its my pleasure, Please, Thank you.

Ba-sss: Enough, that’s all, stop doing, prevent, interrupt, cease, bring or come to a halt, finish, break off, call it a day, discontinuation.

Shou-Kran: Thank you, very kind of you, I am grateful.

A A : Yes, Yes ( you make a gesture by nodding the head down)

La la: No, No (nod the head up).

La Shou-kran : No Thank you

 

Greatings & Questions

Hello :  Marhaba

Good morning:  S-bahh Al-khair

Good evening:  Masa Al-khair

Please: Men-fadllaak (m) if you are speaking to a male.

Please: Men-fadllake (f) if you are speaking to a female.

How much  : Gha-daish ?

How much money : Gha-daish Massarie?

Money : M-ssary

Syrian Pound: Laira

20 Syrian Pounds : Esh-reen Laira

That is all : BA-SS

Enough: Ba-SSS

Time : wa-ght

The :  Al

What :  Shoo

What is the time ?:  Shoo al wa-ght?

Want :  Bad-ak

You want :  Bad-ak

What do you want? :  Shoo Bad-ak?

How:  Key-f

How are you:  Key-fack (m)

How are you:  Key-fake (f)

Thank you:  Shou-kran

Very Much:  kh-teer

 

Directions

I: Ana

Want : Bdee

I want: Ana Bdee

Go : Roohh

Walking : Mashee

  -1-I want to go there walking: Ana Bdee Roohh Mashee.

Where: La-wane?

Restaurant: Matt-aam

The : Al

To the: Al

To the restaurant : Al-Matt-aam.

To the Museum : Al-matt-hf.

  -2-I want to go to the restaurant: Bdee Roohh Al -Matt-aam

The place : Al-Macann

Near: Gh-reep

Is : Hul ?

        -3-Is the place near? : Hul Al-Macann Gh-reep ?

The place is near : Al-Macann Gh-reep

Yes: A ( you make a gesture by nodding the head down)

No : Laa (nod the head up)

Very : Kht-eer

Near : Gh-reep

Very near: Kht-eer Gh-reep.

far: Ba-eed

Very far : Kht-eer Ba-eed.

        -4-Is The place far ? : Hul Al-Macann Ba-eed ?

A bit : Sh-wae

A bit far : Sh-wae Ba-eed

Very Far: Kht-eer baeed

Walking : Mashee

I: Ana

Would Like: B-dee

I would like: Ana B-dee

To Go : Roohh

Walking : Meshee

Go walking : Rooh Meshee

        -5-I would like to go walking : Ana B-dee Roohh Meshee

Where : Wane

To Where ?: La-wane ?

Shopping : Souk

Which : Aya

One : Waa-hed

Which one ?: Aya-waahed ?

Way : T-reequ

Which way ? : Aya T-reequ

To The: La

        -6-Which way to Souk Al-Hamidiyeh?: Aya T-reequ  La Souk Al-Hamidiyeh

 I want to sleep : Ana Bdee Namm

I want a taxi: Ana Bdee Taxi

Me: Ana

And: Wa

Him: Hoo-eh

Her : Hee-eh

Me and him: Ana wa Hoo-eh

I am: Ana

Tired : Ta-baan(m)

Tired: Ta-baaneh(f)

I am tired : Ana tabaan(m)

Noise : Sout , Dujeh

Noises : Ass-waat, Duj-jeh, Dujeej

Very : Kt-eer

Very noisy : Kh-teer Duj-jeh.

Tomorrow : Boo-kra

there is: Fee

More : K-man

Tomorrow there is more.....Boo-kra fee K-man !