Makkah & Madina: September 2011

Friday, September 16, 2011

Arabic to English Cardinal Numbers

Arabic Cardinal Numbers
First	Awwal	Oula
Second	Thani	Thania
Third	Thaleth	Thaletha
Fourth	Rabe’	Rabe’a
Fifth	Khaames	Khaamesa
Sixth	Sadis	Sadisa
Seventh	Sabe’	Sabe’a
Eighth	Thamen	Thamena
Ninth	Tase’	Tase’a
Tenth	acher	achera
Eleventh	Hady achar	Hadiata achar
Twelfth	Thani achar	Thania achar

Common Arabic to English Phrases

How to Introduce Yourself

Do you speak (English/ Arabic)?	Hal tatakallamu alloghah alenjleziah/ alarabiah? هل تتكلم اللغة الإنجليزية /العربية؟
Just a little.	Qaleelan! قليلا!
What's your name?	Ma esmouk? Ma esmouki? ما إسمك؟
My name is ...	Esmee… إسمي....
Mr.../ Mrs.…/ Miss…	Assayed…/ Assayeda…/ Al anesah ... السيد... /السيدة/ الانسة...
Nice to meet you!	Motasharefon/ motasharefatun (f) bema'refatek متشرف / متشرفة بمعرفتك
You're very kind!	Anta lateef/ Anti lateefa أنت لطيف! أنتِ لطيفة!
Where are you from?	Men ayna anta/ anti (female)? من أين أنت؟
I'm from (the U.S/ Morocco)	Ana men (amreeka/ almaghrib) أنا من (أمريكا/ المغرب)
I'm (American)	Ana (amreeki/ amrekiah (female) أنا أمريكي/أمريكية
Where do you live?	Ayna taskun?/ Ayna taskuneen? (female) أين تسكن؟ أين تسكنين؟
I live in (the U.S/ France)	A'eesho fel welayat almotaheda/ faransa أعيش في الولايات المتحدة/ فرنسا
Did you like it here?	Hal istamta'ta bewaqtika/ bewaqtiki (f) huna? هل استمتعت بوقتك هنا؟
Morocco is a wonderful country	Al maghrib baladun jameel! المغرب بلد جميل!
What do you do for a living?	Ma mehnatuk? Mehnatuki (female) ما مهنتك؟
I work as a (translator/ businessman)	A'mal ka(motarjim/ rajul a'maal) أعمل كمترجم/ كرجل أعمال
I like Arabic	Ohibbu allughah al arabia أحب اللغة العربية
I've been learning Arabic for 1 month	adrusu allughah al arabia mundu shahr أدرس اللغة العربية منذ شهر
Oh! That's good!	Hada shay'un Jameel هذا شيء جميل
How old are you?	Kam howa umruk? umroki (female) كم هو عمرك؟
I'm (twenty, thirty...) years old.	Umri ( 'eshreen/ thalatheen) sanah (th as in bath) عمري (عشرين/ ثلاثين) سنة
I have to go	Yajebu an athhaba al aan! (th as in that) يجب أن اذهب الآن
I will be right back!	Sa arje’o halan سأرجع حالا
Wish Someone Something
Good luck!	Bettawfeeq بالتوفيق!
Happy birthday!	Eid meelad sa'eed! عيد ميلاد سعيد
Happy new year!	Sana sa'eedah! سنة سعيدة
Merry Christmas!	A'yaad meelad Saeedah أعياد ميلاد سعيد!
Happy Eid	Eid mobarak! عيد مبارك!
Happy Ramadan	Ramadan mobarak! رمضان مبارك
Congratulations!	Mabrook! مبروك!
Enjoy! (for meals...)	Shahia tayebah! شهية طيبة
I'd like to visit Iraq one day	Arghabu bezeyarat al iraq. أرغب بزيارة العراق
Say hi to John for me	Sallem ‘ala John men ajlee سلِّم على (جون) من أجلي
Bless you (when sneezing)	Rahimaka Allah رحمك الله
Good night and sweet dreams!	Laila sa'eda wa ahlaam ladida ليلة سعيدة و أحلام لذيذة!
Solving a Misunderstanding
I'm Sorry! (if you don't hear something)	‘Afwan! !عفوا
Sorry (for a mistake)	Aasef! !أسف
No Problem!	La moshkelah لامشكلة
Can You Say It Again?	A’ed men fadlek!/ A’eedi men fadleki (fem) أعد من فضلك
Can You Speak Slowly?	Takalam bebot’ men fadlek/ fadleki (fem) تكلم ببطء من فضلك
Write It Down Please!	Oktobha men fadlek/ Oktobiha men fadleki (fem) أكتبها من فضلك! / أكتبيها من فضلك!
I Don't Understand!	La afham! !لا أفهم
I Don't Know!	La a’ref! !لآ أعرف
I Have No Idea.	La adri! لاأدري
What's That Called In Arabic?	Ma esmoho bel arabiah? ما أسمه بالعربية؟
What Does "gato" Mean In English?	Mada ta'ni kalemat "qit" bel inglizia? ماذا تعني كلمة "قط" بالانجليزية؟
How Do You Say "Please" In Arabic?	Kaifa taqoulu kalimat "please" bel arabia? كيف تقول كلمة "بليز" بالعربية؟
What Is This?	Ma hatha (th as in that) ما هذا؟
My Arabic is bad.	Lughati al arabic laisat kama yajib لغتي العربية ليست كما يجب
I need to practice my Arabic	Ahtaaju an atadarraba 'ala al arabia! احتاج ان اتدرب على العربية
Don't worry!	La taqlaq! La taqlaqi (fem) !لاتقلق/ لا تقلقي
Arabic Expressions and Words
Good/ Bad/ So-So.	Jayed/ saye'/ 'adee جيد / سيء / عادي
Big/ Small	Kabeer/ Sagheer كبير / صغير
Today/ Now	Alyawm/ Al aan اليوم / الآن
Tomorrow/ Yesterday	Ghadan/ Albareha غدا / البارحة غدا / البارحة
Yes/ No	Na’am/ Laa نعم / لا
Here you go! (when giving something)	Khod! !خد
Do you like it?	Hal a’jabak? Hal a’jabaki? (female) هل أعجبك؟
I really like it!	A’jabani haqqan! أعجبني حقا
I'm hungry/ thirsty.	Ana jae’/ ana ‘atshaan أنا جائع/ أنا عطشان
In The Morning/ Evening/ At Night.	Sabahan/ masa’an/ laylan صباحا/ مساءا/ ليلا
This/ That. Here/There	Hatha/ thalek. Huna/ hunaak (th as in that) هذا /ذلك. هنا/هناك
Me/ You. Him/ Her.	Ana/ anta/ anti (you female). Houwa/ Hiya أنا/ أنت. هو/ هي
Really!	Haqqan !حقا
Look!	Onzor / Onzori (female) !أنظر! أنظري
Hurry up!	Asre'/ Asre'ee (female) !أسرع! أسرعي
What? Where?	Matha? Ayn? (th as in that) ماذا؟ أين؟ ماذا؟ أين؟
What time is it?	kam essa'a? كم الساعة؟
It's 10 o'clock. 07:30pm.	Enaha al 'ashera. Ennaha assaabe'a wa nesf. إنها العاشرة. إنها السابعة و النصف مساءا
Give me this!	A'teni hatheh! (th as in that) !أعطني هذه
I love you!	Uhibbok/ uhibboki (female) أحبك
I feel sick.	ana mareed. .أنا مريض
I need a doctor	ahtaju tabeeban! !أحتاج طبيبا
One, Two, Three	wahed, ithnaan, thalatha (th as in think). واحد, إثنان, ثلاثة
Four, Five, Six	arba'a, khamsa, sitta أربعة, خمسة, ستة
Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten	sab'a, thamania (th as in think), tis'a, 'ashara. سبعة, ثمانية, تسعة, عشرة

Common English to Arabic Phrases

English Phrases	Arabic Phrases

English Greetings	Arabic Greetings:
Hi!	Salam! سلام
Good morning!	Sabah el kheer صباح الخير
Good evening!	Masaa el kheer مساء الخير
Welcome! (to greet someone)	Marhaban مرحبا
How are you?	Kaifa haloka/ haloki ( female) كيف حالك؟
I'm fine, thanks!	Ana bekhair, shokran! أنا بخير شكرا
And you?	Wa ant? / Wa anti? (female) و أنت؟
Good/ So-So.	Jayed/ 'aadee جيد / عادي
Thank you (very much)!	Shokran (jazeelan) (شكرا (جزيلا
You're welcome! (for "thank you")	Al’afw ألعفو
Hey! Friend!	Ahlan sadiqi/ sadiqati! (female) أهلا صديقي /صديقتي!
I missed you so much!	Eshtaqto elaika/ elaiki (female) katheeran إشتقت إليك كثيرا
What's new?	Maljadeed? مالجديد؟
Nothing much	Lashai jadeed لا شيء جديد
Good night!	Tosbeho/ tosbeheena (female) ‘ala khair/ تصبح/ تصبحين على خير
See you later!	Araka/ Araki (female) fi ma ba'd أراك في مابعد
Good bye!	Ma’a salama مع السلامة
Asking for Help and Directions
I'm lost	Ada'tu tareeqi! أضعت طريقي! أضعت طريقي!
Can I help you?	Hal beemkani mosa’adatuk? هل بإمكاني مساعدتك؟
Can you help me?	Hal beemkanek mosa’adati? هل بإمكانك مساعدتي؟
Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)?	Ayna ajedu (al merhaad/ assaidaliah)? أين أجد (المرحاض/ الصيدلية)؟
Go straight! then turn left/ right!	imshy ala tool, thumma ‘arrij yaminan/ shimalan أمشٍ على طول ثم عرّج يمينا/ شمالا!
I'm looking for john.	Abhatu ‘an John أبحث عن جون
One moment please!	Lahda men fadlek/ fadleki (female) لحظة من فضلك
Hold on please! (phone)	ibqa/ ibqay (female) ala al khat raja'an إبقى/ أبقي علي الخط رجاءا!
How much is this?	Kam howa thamanoh? (th as in bath) كم هو ثمنه؟
Excuse me ...! (to ask for something)	Men fathlek/ fathleki (female) (th as in that) من فضلك
Excuse me! ( to pass by)	Alma'derah المعذرة
Come with me!	Ta'ala/ ta'alay (female) ma'ee! تعال معي!

Makkah Clock Tower

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line project in Makkah (Mecca) saw a 18.1km line constructed to connect the holy cities of Makkah (Mecca), Arafat, Muzdalifa and Mina. The line provides transport for about 3.5 million people who arrive at Makkah (Mecca) annually to perform Hajj. The number is expected to increase to five million in future. Construction of the monorail project has helped to solve the problem of heavy traffic congestion in the holy cities during the Hajj period and meet the transportation needs of the local people . Master plans drawn up by Mono Metro show that five monorails need to be constructed to handle the flow of pilgrims to the holy cities.

Makkah Metro Train

"The Makkah monorail project has been one of many undertaken by Saudi Arabia to expand its railway network."Based on the need to transport pilgrims from Mina to Arafat a four-line parallel loop network was developed. The line can transport about 500,000 pilgrims in six to eight hours. It has also allowed authorities to reduce the number of buses needed to transport pilgrims from 70,000 to 25,000.

Makkah Metro Train

The first phase of the project includes the four-line loop with a network of pick-up and drop-off stations between Mina and Arafat. The first of the five new metro lines started operating with Automatic Train Protection at 35% capacity by November 2010. By mid-2011, the line will run without a driver but with an attendant on board. The metro will reach full capacity to carry 72,000 passengers in each direction per hour by 2011's Hajj. About 8,000 skilled and unskilled workers, along with 5,000 engineers, were engaged in the project.

Makkah Metro Train Project

The line services Mina, Arafat and Muzdafila, each of which have three substations each. The four-line parallel loop network splits into single tracks covering all the encampment zones in Mina. Mina is the last station on the metro line and is located towards the west of the Jamarat Bridge. The metro line will be linked to all the four floors of the bridge with elevators.

The four-line parallel route moves south towards Arafat before reaching a main station next to the Arafat Mosque and splitting again into a single-line network to carry pilgrims into Arafat. The lines come together again and move towards Muzdelefa, where pilgrims can spend ceremonial time before returning to Mina.

The line runs on a viaduct with the depot located at the end of the trail that is behind the first station in Arafat. A turnaround loop is planned between the last station and the depot.

Makkah Metro Train

The future

Studies are being carried out to ascertain the extension of the monorail to a station close to the Grand Mosque in Makkah (Mecca) and linking it with Jeddah airport and the Haramain Railway that connects the two holy cities of Makkah (Mecca) and Madinah. Similar projects are planned for the city of Madinah in the future.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Learn Arabic before go for Umrah or Hajj (Makkah or Madina [Saudi Arabia])

Arabic is one of the most spoken languages in the world with over 200 million speakers. It is spoken in 24 countries and is the official language of all the countries of northern Africa, the Arabian peninsula, and in much of the Middle East, including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As the religious language of Islam, it is also the second language of millions of Muslims around the world. It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

The Arabic language can be divided into three main categories:

Quranic (Classical Arabic):

This is the Arabic of Islam's holy book, the Quran (or Koran). It is archaic, which means that it is very old, dating from the late 600's when the Quran was written down. It is used in the Quran and in the holy books of Islam. No one speaks Classical Arabic as a native, nor is it used for conversation. It is learned primarily for reciting and reading the Quran.

Formal or Modern Standard Arabic:

This is an updated version of Classical Arabic which is taught in the schools of Arab countries. It is the language of the news, modern literature and education. No one speaks it as a native language but it is used as a common language for people who speak very different varieties of Arabic or by second-language speakers.

Spoken or Colloquial Arabic:

There are many local varieties of Arabic, many languages in their own right. The most widely spoken and understood of these is Egyptian Arabic. Other distinct varieties are Iraqi, Levantine (Lebanese/Syrian/Jordanian/Palestinian) and Moroccan Arabic.

Some common Arabic phrases are presented here for your information