Arabic for beginners

[SEICHEM]

What I find confusing is when I see a certain phrase in one phrase book and commit it to memory, I then see exactly the same phrase in another phrase book and it is said completely differently even the words used are not the same???

[J4hurghada]

I have noticed that in the little book that is given to you at the airport.

[Peter Mitry]

English is no different; there are lots of different words for the same thing! And then there are dialects! Its just the same with Arabic; the Egyptian Arabic is quite different from the Arabic in Morocco and some of the other Arab countries.

The bottom line is they will probably understand enough and will maybe even tell you the right word to use.

[Leila]

Originally Posted by queenie40something

LOL - he needs to share them with us.

The only slightly rude one I know is emshee ( sp ) which basically means go away.

Zift or hara seems to do the trick! something to do with bowel movements I am told!!!!!!!!!

[queenie40something]

LOL I will have to put that one in my book.

[queenie40something]

Hi all found this great site Yamli Editor easy way to write Arabic - cheats way.

See if it works - what does this say please

هلو هو ار يو تدي

[Lsab]

I couldn't work out what your example said

[queenie40something]

LOL maybe it dont work then or I done it wrong!!

[Lsab]

20 years married to an Egyptian and I hardly know a word of Arabic, so I would say it was more likely me that did it wrong LOL

[vix]

Originally Posted by lsab

20 years married to an Egyptian and I hardly know a word of Arabic, so I would say it was more likely me that did it wrong LOL

I'm sure like me, you always get the gist of conversations, especially when he's being 'shifty'