menu Podcast

jorge salvetti wrote:
I am quite happy to find these excellent lesson on the web. The arab of the teachers is beautiful, and the explanations are clear and to the point. I hope the levels will continue. It's so easy to fall in love with arabic and so hard to conquer it. Thanks for this wonderful chance of not giving up. as-salam aleikun.

Thanks a lot Jorge for your comment, it is very much appreciated.
As a sneak preview, in June we are going to start a few cool services, so keep an eye out for them.
Salam
Ehab

karen wrote:
Thanks for the lessons.
Sometimes I can't hear the Al, the word for the. Why so you think it just sounds like A alone, instead of AL.

Also which countries would I be most understood when speaking this Arabic?

Thank you
Karen

Hi Karen,

You're very welcome

In this conversation Al is used in the word Al-Sooq, which means "the mall". If 'Al' is following by the letter S then the sound changes to A-Sooq.

In our lessons, we teach the most common and sometimes classical Arabic or what I would call universal Arabic, so you would be understood in the entire Arab world. Our Arabic is similar to what you hear on Arabic Satellite channels. In Moroccan satellite TV for example, they use Universal Arabic and not Moroccan Arabic dialect so that they can reach a wider TV audience i.e. the whole world essentially that speaks Arabic.

Keep it up!

Nice question Karen,, Thanks Moshaya for the explanation.
Here is a table shows more details about the letters those we should pronounce ‘L’ before them:

L is pronounced xxxxxxxx L is NOT pronounced
A: أ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx T: ت
B: ب xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx TH: ث
J: ج xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx D: د
7: ح xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx D’: ذ
7’: خ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx R: ر
3: ع xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Z: ز
3’: غ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx S: س
F: ف xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SH: ش
Q: ق xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 9: ص
K: ك xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 9’: ض
M: م xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 6: ط
H: هـ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 6’: ظ
W: و xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx L: ل
Y: ي xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx N: ن

For example: Al-bab: الباب (The door), you pronounce the L ,, while Al-Thalj الثلج (The snow) you don’t pronounce L, and we often write it like: Athalj

emma byk wrote:
Thank you for cool site,

Hala wrote:
Why don't you say Ween instead of "Ayna" and Mab3rif? thats what jordinians say...?!

Hi Hala,

True that’s what Jordanians say but they’re not used by many other Arab countries so we found it safer to use Ayna as it will be understood by anyone because of its classical roots while Ween is used in certain dialects.

Hi,

Nice lessons, thanks very much.

I'd like to ask about the transcription conventions.

You often use letters 'o' and 'e' for '9amma and kasra, although classical Arabic only has 'u' (put) and 'i' (pin). Is it closer to colloquial pronunciation or just your method of transcribing?

Just a comment about "ath-thalj" الثلج and "as-suuq" السوق. I know many textbooks use doubled letters for the sun letters, which follow "al-". That way the actual pronunciation is rendered.

Keep at it, guys.

Ahlan Anatoli;
Thanks for the nice and important comment, there is no default system in using 'i' or 'e' to be kasra or not, therefore it is totally up to the writer. Most of kasras in Arabic sound like 'i' therefore I prefer to use 'i' for kasra.
Using 'o' or 'u' instead of 9'amma can be difficult,, because 'u' in English can be pronounced as 'put' or 'cut'!! therefore I prefer using 'o' to represent the 9'amma.
I would remind everyone to practice the Arabic letters rather than reading from the English transcript, it might be hard in the beginning, but it gives you more ability to extend your level.
Ta7eyyati

Thanks, Ehab.

So, you actually pronounce most words in this course with kasra as 'i' (as in "city") and with 9'amma as 'u' (as in "put"). It's only the trasnliteration that varies?

I am only asking to confirm that your recommended pronunciation in Arabic because "u" and "o", "i" and "e" are different sounds in European languages.

Agree about the Arabic letters.

What's Ta7eyyati? Is it تحية (regards)?

[What's Ta7eyyati? Is it تحية (regards)?]

Ta7eyya (تحية) is singular,, Ta7eyyat (تحيات) is plural, and Ta7eyyati (تحياتي) is MY regards where this 'ي' is a pronoun for MY.
Alright
Ta7eyyati again

Ah, shukran, ya Ehab, I thought it was singular with a kasra in the end. Thanks for clarifying.

Do you pronounce "ta7eyyati" with an "i" as in "pin" or with an "e" as in "pen". Sorry for being a nuisance.

تحيات
Anatoli

Sorry, another question - the accent is on the long "aa" (-aati) in "ta7eyyati" like "al-mudarrisaat", isn't it?

I thought it was singular because I thought it was a short "a".

Yes, the (a) is long one, so I can re write it as (ta7eyyaatii).
This issue of deciding whether the (a) is a fat7a or alef is floating and there is no reference to it. We might do some decision around it like what we did with the letter (ذ) where we write it as (d')-see apg in share point- but I prefer people to learn the Arabic Alphabet rather than reading the pronunciation,, it is hard in the beginning, but it will make a big difference.
Salam

salam.. i have heard the word wayn and fayn for where! where would these words be used most? shukran

Wa 3alaykom assalaam;
Wayn and fain are used as colloquial in most of the Arabic countries. no harm of using it if you speak to someone in the street. but if you are writing an article, then you have to use Ayn.
Salam

thanks ehab... ehab do u think you could do a lesson on shisha? like to order a shisha and to talk about shisha flavours!

Assalam Alaikum,
I would like to thank you for all your efforts. I have been trying to learn Arabic for a while. This is the type of program that I need to keep me studying the language. Jazakallahukayrn
Salam

Once again, Assallaam alaykum!
Um- what's the difference between La adriy and la aArifa? In which situations do you use which?

"La a3ref" and "la adry" can replace each other except if it's followed by noun, then "la a3ref" ONLY can be used.
Like saying (I don't know the answer), you say (la a3refo alijaabah) but can NOT say (la adry alijaabah).

السلام عليكم In this lesson Ayna Jamila? in the number 2 متى satarja3 say? You can also say متى ستكن في البيت?
is correct?

It is (متى ستكون في البيت؟).
Yes, if you write it like that then it gives similar meaning which is (when is she going to be at home?).

طيب شكرا

Today was a good lesson,too.

See you.

Hi boys! I like very much your lessons.
But sometimes I am a little puzzled from the your arabic letters in the PDF transcripts
For example: the end form of l (lam) in الى(ela)... Is it just a special font or what?
Thank you very much. I felt love in arabic and you help me a lot to learn it!

And what is in the end of متى (mata)in the PDF? Is it really only t?
I am sorry for my questions, I am just a beginner...

This is a letter called (alef maqsoorah), here it is (ى), it looks like (ya - ي) but without the dots, however, you pronounce it as normal alef, so a word like متى is pronounced like (mata).

Thank you, Ehab!
And I had thought I know all arabic letters
It is an unofficial letter, isn`t it?

It is really another form of the letter alef (أ), that's why you don't find it in the alphabet tables.

A friend gave me this site was helping me with the Arabic language we are in juarez chihuahua mexico, he told me that these letters
2 ق
3 ع
5 خ
6 ط
7 ح
8 ص
9 ء
4 ض
Were used for these numbers but I see that you use other used anymore and that my friend gave me, I can use that make me feel better right?

There is no one standard to use those numbers, we at ArabicPod have chosen our current style as it is widely used more than all other methods. You will get used to it.
Good luck.

Hi guys... I still learn arabic from yours lessons - they are great really... and I sometimes return to previously lessons. So now (wow) I have fekrah jayeda (good idea) - to my question from the January - alef maqsoorah is using just as the end form of alef ... is it truth? Sorry... I didn`t understand it a long time and now I hope I take it

That is right Maroot. If you know that Alef Maq9oorah (ى) comes only at the end of the word, and it sounds just like the normal Alef (أ) but without the Hamza (ء) part.
Hamza (ء) is usually pronounced at the beginning of letter Alef (أ) which sounds like the A letter in (Absolutely), and the (ا) part is the vowel sound (like letter A in CAT) which is the same sound that Alef Maq9oorah makes.

to Maroot:

At the end of some words ‘alif appears as ‘alif maq9oora (shortened ‘alif) to which there is no certain rule, it is more like a tradition. It is pronounced as a short ‘a’. Some examples are such female names as Layla, Huda, Salwa, Yumna. Another popular example would be Eid Al Adha.

you said Thahabat ela alsooq going to town,what about almadinah?

It is just in English people use the word (Town) to mean (Market), however your understanding is right, Madina literally means City/Town and you can say (Thahabat ela almadina).

There's no need to employ the word "town" here since "souk" is widely used in English. If you search the BBC's website you'll find scores of examples such as the following: "Stalls in the souk have new wooden shutters and new lamp posts have been erected." (BBC 18.11.2008) Even the word "hafla" is now used in English, though it is much less common than "souk". Example: "the festival includes an evening hafla, a souk and a bazaar." (BBC 2.2.2010)

it was the best arabic site I've ever seen
jazzakumullah khoiron katshiro

Esselamu aleykum
I'm a new member of this great site
These lessons are really helpful. Jazakallahu khayr
You are doing an amazing job!!

Teaching style rocks! Thanks so much

a quick question ;

you use 'at' in different positions for these two words ; 'Thahabat' and 'Satrje3', even if you say both of them refers to female . One is used at the end of the word and the other is used at the begining of the word . Can you explain why it is ?

thanks

@efsun,

Thahabat is a past tense verb

ذهبت - d'ahabat - She went

In past tense verbs, the last letter indicates who is doing the action. If it's the 'at' sound, it refers to 'she' e.g.
أكلت - Akalat - She ate
أكل - Akala - He ate
أكلوا - Akaloo - They ate

The other word you mentioned is a present tense verb, and in present tense verbs the first letter specifies the subject

ترجع - Tarje3 - She returns or you return
يرجع - Yarje3 - He returns
أرجع - Arje3 - I return

This will become clearer after listening to our podcasts for a while. I recommend you listen to the podcast titled "The Arabic Root System", and perhaps search the lesson pages for "Grammar".

jeez ! It's getting more confusing ..

the female subject ,the 'at' sound , doesn't change whether it is used in present tense or past but the other subjects change in these both tenses ; cuz you don't put anything at the end of the word AKALA in past tense for male but you put ' ya ' sound at the beginging of the YARJE3 in present tense . Am I missing sth. , Do I get it right ?

slmz

Can you say wa laa adry instead of la adry (i donot know)?

@Imraan, The sentence would read: "And I don't know." I have heard it more common than in English to start sentences with "and." So my guess would be that to start with "wa" would be common and understood and therefore correct.

In the supplementary vocabulary is the word Hadeeyah (gift). I find this word written elsewhere with alif after H (so long vowel). Is there different ways of writing this word? Or spelling error?
Thank you for lessons! Doing one every day.

Hi Ehab and Moshaya, I just started but until this third lesson, audios are not working, there is a problem I guess??

Hi, in the PDF you have mentioned some other useful vocabulary such as “(she) buys - تشترى” what would be he equivalent for (he) buys ? And how can you use this word in a sentence could you please give me an example. شكرا جزيلا!

Hi there, the pdf for this is not available. Same with the previous one but the pdf of your first lesson is available.

I cannot open the pdf file either