Arabic for beginners

[Lsab]

I'd like to recommend Linguaphone. I'd like to but I can't!! I know it's supposed to be an excellent way to learn a language but my cassettes (20 years old now) didn't get to see much light of day. I can't blame the course though - you need to take it out of the box for it work! I think they do much shorter courses now so may be worth a look. The only trouble with learning by CD (like I'd know of course!) is that Egyptian Arabic is quite a bit different to standard Arabic. They'll understand you but you might find it hard to understand them. I really admire you for trying - you put me to shame!!

[Lsab]

Originally Posted by Georgina

Where is the something bolice!? You know they don't have a letter 'p' in Arabic.
That's why you hear Egytians say Bebsi Cola and shob, etc.

...and in Egypt they don't have the 'j' sound when speaking Arabic. I can always tell an Egyptian by that - they pronounce it 'g' as in good.

[ScottyMac]

Originally Posted by Georgina

Looking at things another way, I was recently having a heated debate with an Egyptian friend and I described something as 'a complete load of bo11ocks'!

He said 'What are bo11ocks?'

I told him and he said but these are a good thing!

I said yes but when things are really good we say they are the 'dogs bo11ocks'!

But I couldn't explain for the life of me why we say these two expressions.

I now just stick to 'that is a complete pile of steaming camel's sh1t'

Hope I don't get thrown off the forum for using bad language

I hate not knowing where expetions come from so i looked it up... Apparently Meccano sold their kits in 2 sizes, Box Standard and Box Deluxe. Box Deluxe became Dogs Bo11ocks and Box Standard became Bog Standard in daily use. i.e. the best and the normal.

[ScottyMac]

Originally Posted by lsab

I'd like to recommend Linguaphone. I'd like to but I can't!! I know it's supposed to be an excellent way to learn a language but my cassettes (20 years old now) didn't get to see much light of day. I can't blame the course though - you need to take it out of the box for it work! I think they do much shorter courses now so may be worth a look. The only trouble with learning by CD (like I'd know of course!) is that Egyptian Arabic is quite a bit different to standard Arabic. They'll understand you but you might find it hard to understand them. I really admire you for trying - you put me to shame!!

OK so I need to look for a Learn Egyption arabic CD

[Leila]

Originally Posted by Georgina

Where is the something bolice!? You know they don't have a letter 'p' in Arabic.
That's why you hear Egytians say Bebsi Cola and shob, etc.

la,la! where is the bank please?

[Leila]

Originally Posted by queenie40something

There you go وحر إز ذي بنك بليس

or should it be 'waher iz ze bank blis'!!

[queenie40something]

Lol well done Leila got it right again x

[Leila]

ليل
هاي حو إس ث ويثر تودي؟

[nubianqueen]

just learning some more arabic words before saad comes 2morrow i know as he says i am not learning very much at the moment, too worried about hv however here is some more cos i cant find the thread i set up.

milk

[nubianqueen]

lost it i start again!


milk laban
i want oreed
my neighbour gary (female)
garaty (male)
can you take me to mumken enarouh
would you like tahiby
come here tala
tea shay
coffee kahwa
water mya

what is the time saa cam
how much be cam
how much is this kom sear haza
please men fadlak
how are you today kaif halok alyoum
i am very well ayam bekhar


hmm thats is for alyoum

nubianqueen