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Learning (some) Arabic

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1.7K views 2 replies 2 participants last post by  cairogal  
M
#1 ·
I am moving to Dubai later this year and would be very grateful for some advice on what I could to to prepare for living there, in the way of some basic Arabic (I really just mean in the way of, 'please' 'thank you' 'hello' 'good bye' etc.)

Either general hints and tips or references to books or websites, would be much appreciated

Perhaps Dubai is so international, that it really is unnecessary - I would be interested in any feedback - but I am reluctant to go there without a single work to say just thank you!

I have never lived in a country, where I didn't speak the local language and I am very consicous of my extreme ignorance when it comes to Arabic. I don't even know, if it is the case that there are many Arabic dialects, so that words in one might be completely different from another.

Apologies if I have missed an existing thread on this topic - please re-direct me if you are aware of one

Many thanks
 
C
#2 ·
Please=minfadlik (when speaking to a woman) minfadlak(when speaking to a man)

Thank you= shokhran

You're welcome=al afwn (the pronunciation varies a lot from one Arabic speaking nation to another)

Welcome= Marhaba...for when you meet someone. Sorta used like "hello"
A greeting for any time of the day= As-salaam alaykum (means "peace be upon you"

Response to As-salaam alaykum= wah alaykum salem

Goodbye= masalemah or As-salaam alaykum

Truth be told, you won't get many opportunties to use Arabic in your day to day activities. Almost everyone in the service industry is from the Phillipines, India, etc. The taxi drivers are typically Indian or Pakistani (not exclusively, but primarily). However, if you're working with Emiratis and other Arabic speakers your attempts to speak Arabic will be appreciated.
 
C
#3 ·
I don't even know, if it is the case that there are many Arabic dialects, so that words in one might be completely different from another.
Click to expand...
The words do vary from one country to another. I didn't realise "milk" had one name in Egypt and another name in the Gulf countries. :) Good luck-happy learning.
 
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