Lesson 5 - Being Polite in Spoken Arabic

Question 1

mit’assef (m)
mit’asfe (f)
mit’asfīn (pl)

Answer 1

I’m sorry
the m, f, pl is according to who is speaking

Question 2

basīṭa

Answer 2

Take it easy (response to mit’assef)

Question 3

bihimiš

Answer 3

never mind

Question 4

ma3lēš

Answer 4

never mind

Question 5

wala yhimmak (m)
wala yhimmek (f)
wala yhimmku (pl)

Answer 5

no worries (response to an apology)

Question 6

3afwan

Answer 6

excuse me (when you sneeze, cough or need to get another’s attention)

Question 7

ahlan wasahlan
or
ahla w sahla

Answer 7

you are welcome to come
greeting someone at the door

Question 8

ahlan fīk (m)
ahlan fīki (f)
ahlan fīkum or fīku (pl)

Answer 8

response to ahlan wasahlan
(when someone is welcoming you to their home)

Question 9

fīk (m)
fīki (f)
fīku (pl)

Answer 9

in you
to you

Question 10

min faḍlak (m)
min faḍlek (f)
min faḍilku (pl)

Answer 10

please asking a favor
“out of your goodness…”

Question 11

min faḍlak a3tīni qannīnet mayye

min faḍlak a3tīni ‘annīnet mayye

Answer 11

Please (m) give me a bottle of water
use either mayye or mayy

Question 12

a3tīni

Answer 12

Give me

Question 13

qannīnet mayye or ‘annīnet mayye
qannīnet il mayye or ‘annīnet il mayye

Answer 13

qannīnet mayye - a bottle of water
qannīnet il mayye - the bottle of water

Question 14

qannīne or ‘annīne
qanāni or ‘anāni (pl)

Answer 14

bottle

Question 15

mayy
mayye
mayāyah (pl)

Answer 15

water

Question 16

law samaḥɪt (m)
law samaḥti (f)
law samaḥtu (pl

Answer 16

Please - requesting something
“if you permit…”

Question 17

ɪtfaḍḍal (m)
ɪtfaḍḍali (f)
ɪtfaḍḍalu (pl)

Answer 17

please when offering a thing to someone or welcoming someone into our home

Question 18

ɪtfaḍḍal iḥki (m)
ɪtfaḍḍali iḥki (f)
ɪtfaḍḍalu iḥku (pl)

Answer 18

please speak, say something

Question 19

ahlan wasahlan, ɪtfaḍḍal (m)
ahlan wasahlan, ɪtfaḍḍali (f)
ahlan wasahlan, ɪtfaḍḍalu (pl)

Answer 19

Welcome
please come in
(when inviting someone)