great lesson. this happens all the time with my friends! i must confess i am often late (less than 10mins usually). but some people i know are terrible when it comes to being on time

how do you say 'please be on time!' in Arabic?

You could say (ta3aal 3ala alwaqt تعال على الوقت) which means (come on time), however, the most common way is to say (don't be late) which is (la tata2a7'ar لا تتأخر).

Wow, you guys really know how to teach! I wish I had know about this place when I was first starting to learn Arabic. Most of my Arabic teachers didn't know English too well and weren't great teachers. They would have never thought to mention that the س in سامحني wasn't for the future tense and that is something that could really confuse a beginner. You guys seem to know all the pitfalls that English speakers might fall in when trying to learn Arabic. You know how the English mind works.

http://thearabicstudent.blogspot.com

Keep up the great work gentlemen. I am a Ph.D. student in Cincinnati, Ohio where I study Semitic languages, including Arabic. I have a strong background in the classical language, but I don't know a lot about colloquial Arabic. I have been using your lessons for
about a year now and can honestly say that, next to learning the language by living in an Arabic speaking country, your lessons are the most helpful way to learn the Arabic language. I have been using them in combination with both Rosetta Stone and my knowledge from the classroom. Keep up the great work. I truly think that you two are both wonderful teachers.

Sincerely,

Brian B.

Thanks for the wonderful comments guys! With such encouraging and supportive comments, ArabicPod will live forever!

Hi, i like your audio lessons, they are pretty interesting and it's good that you repeat the sentences..they can not be forgot that easy

and smth else really important: the sound and the tone of your voices are just perfect for these lessons.

good luck!

Brilliant. I am going to prescribe

I also love these podcasts. They're great. I know everyone mentioned how helpful it is that you explain everything but I'd just like to say it again: you really DO help an English speaker understand how to use the words in the lessons better than classes and books I've tried. I love how you anticipate things I might not understand and address them. It's even better than if I were to ask a question, because with your better understanding and foresight, you know which issues I don't yet know to ask about. Fantastic. So thorough.

Thorough explanations aside, the first reason I enjoyed your podcasts was the friendliness and the back and forth. It's a very pleasant experience, something I'm much more likely to look forward to than a bunch of flashcards or other audio repetition. Thanks! I enjoy listening! You guys are awesome and do a great job. More, please!

You're very welcome Ursula. We are truly honoured to have this opportunity to teach Arabic, and with your support ArabicPod will only get better. Keep it up!

where did you guys get your genius from? I been wanting to learn arabic for over 10 years. This is the best thing I ever found. god bless you both. fanastic. Genius!!

What is great for me, is that you explain a whole lot of words, circumstance, and culture around the topic. So a topic is not just a dry chunk, but a rich, unforgettable encounter.

The word ﻋﻠﻲ ('alay) will repay close examination. Since it can carry a considerable emotional charge, it may be likened to the Latin “dativus ethicus” (ethical dative). This is the kind of dative we find in Horace’s Epistle to Julius Florus (Quid mihi Celsus agit?).

Since the ethical dative is extremely rare in modern English (cf. my comment on “Just arrived”), it is impossible to render the third sentence literally. In order to produce an idiomatic English equivalent we have to substitute “keep waiting” for “be late” and say “You always keep me waiting” or “You’re always keeping me waiting” (a special use of the progressive form in English).

This lession was very helpful. zakee from California.