Basic Palestinian Arabic: Below are the Palestinian Arabic phrases (Ammiyya dialect) presented in three different forms: English Transcription, Formal Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic), and Latin Script (Romanization). Please note that the Latin script is a transliteration, and pronunciation may vary. Below are just a few Palestinian Arabic phrases that may be useful for a visit to the West Bank, Palestine:
COMMON PHRASES:
| Palestinian Arabic | English Transcription | Formal Arabic | Latin Script |
|---|---|---|---|
| مرحبا (marhaba) or اهلين (ahlayn) | Hello | السلام عليكم (As-salamu alaykum) | As-salamu alaykum or Ahlain |
| اهلا و سهلا (ahlan wa sahlan) | Welcome | أهلاً وسهلاً | Ahlan wa sahlan |
| اهلا فيك (ahlan feek) | Response | أهلاً فيك | Ahlan feek |
| شكرا (shukran) or يسلمو (eeslamu) | Thank you | شكرًا | Shukran or Yeslamu |
| يسلمو يديك (eeslamu eedayk) | Thanks to your hands | يسلمو يديك | Yeslamu eedayk |
| صباح الخير (sabah al kheir) | Good Morning | صباح الخير | Sabah al khair |
| صباح النور/ الورد (sabah al noor or al ward) | Response | صباح النور/ الورد | Sabah al noor or al ward |
| مسا الخير (masa al kheir) | Good Evening | مساء الخير | Masa al khair |
| مسا النور (masa al noor) | Response | مساء النور | Masa al noor |
| بشوفك | See you later | إلى اللقاء | Ila al-liqaa |
| مع سلامة (ma’ salama) | Goodbye/Go in Peace | مع السلامة | Ma’a as-salama |
| تصبح الخير (tisbah al kheir) | Goodnight | تصبح على خير | Tusbah ala khair |
| فرصة سعيدة (sharafna) or شرفنا (fursa sayeeda) | Nice to Meet You | تشرفنا | Tasharrafna or Sharafna |
| كيف حالك (keefak) or كيفك (keef halak) | How Are You? (masculine) | كيف حالك؟ | Keef halak? |
| كيف حالك (keefik) or كيفك (keef halik) | How Are You? (feminine) | كيف حالك؟ | Keef halik? |
| تمام الحمدلله (tamam alhamduleelah) | Good, thank God | بخير، الحمد لله | Bikhair, alhamdulillah |
| (عيش(ة (ayeesh–masc.) (ayeesha–fem.) | Living | عيش | Ayeesh (masc.) / Ayeesha (fem.) |
| (منيح (ة (mineeh–masc.) (mineeha–fem.) | Fine | بخير | Bikhair |
| شو الاخبار (shu al akhbar) | What’s the News/What’s New? | ماذا جديد؟ | Ma tha jadeed? |
| كل شي تمام (kul shee tamam) | Everything is good | كل شيء على ما يرام | Kul shay ‘ala ma yuram |
| صحه (saha) | Enjoy the Food/Bon Appétit | صحة وهنا | Saha w hana |
| على قلبك (ala qalbak) | Response | على قلبك | Ala qalbak |
| مبروك (mabrook) | Congratulations | مبروك | Mabrouk |
| يعطيك العافية (yateek ala’feya) | Thank you for your service | الله يعافيك | Allah ya’afeek |
| (قديش عمرك (qadesh umrak–masc/umrik–fem) | How Old Are You? | كم عمرك؟ | Kam umruk/umrik? |
| (وين ساكن(ة (wayn sakan–masc/sakana–fem) | Where do you live? | أين تعيش؟ | Ayna ta’eesh? |
| من وين انت (min wayn inta–masc/inti–fem) | Where are you from? | من أين أنت؟ | Min ayna anta/anti? |
| بتحكي عربي؟ (bitihky arabey) | Do you speak Arabic? | هل تتحدث العربية؟ | Hal tatakallam al-arabiyya? |
| بتحكي انجليزي (bitihky injleezey) | Do you speak English? | هل تتحدث الإنجليزية؟ | Hal tatakallam al-ingliziyya? |
| شوي (shway) | A little | قليلاً | Qaleelan |
| حفيف (hafeef) | Light/A small amount | خفيف | Khafif |
| والله (wallah) | I swear to God | والله | Wallah |
| ان شاء الله (inshallah) | God Willing | إن شاء الله | Insha’Allah |
| الحمدلله (alhamdulilah) | Praise God | الحمد لله | Alhamdulillah |
| ماشاالله (masha’allah) | God Willed | ما شاء الله | Masha’Allah |
| عنجد (anjad) | Really or Seriously | حقًا | Haqan |
FOOD/SHOPPING:
| Palestinian Arabic | English Transcription | Formal Arabic | Latin Script |
|---|---|---|---|
| (qadesh) (kam) | How Much? | كم؟ | Kam? |
| (indak–masc.) (indik–fem.) | Do you have? | هل لديك؟ | Hal ladayk/ladik? |
| (feeh?) | Is there? | هل هناك؟ | Hal hunak? |
| (wayn mumkin ashtaree) | Where can I buy? | أين يمكنني شراء؟ | Ayna yumkinuni shira? |
| (ghalee) | Expensive | غالي | Ghali |
| (rakhees) | Cheap | رخيص | Rakhis |
| (nos kilo) | Half Kilo | نص كيلو | Nis kilo |
| (zaakee) | Delicious | لذيذ | Lazez |
| (muqrif) | Disgusting | مقرف | Muqarif |
| (fuwakay) | Fruit | فواكه | Fawakeh |
| (tufah) | Apples | تفاح | Tufah |
| (mowz) | Bananas | موز | Mawz |
| (inab) | Grapes | عنب | Inab |
| (bateekh) | Watermelon | بطيخ | Batikh |
| (burtuqal) | Oranges | برتقال | Burtuqal |
| (khokh) | Peach | خوخ | Khokh |
| (ruman) | Pomegranate | رمان | Ruman |
| (mish mish) | Apricots | مشمش | Mishmish |
| (tamar) | Dates | تمر | Tamar |
| (teen) | Figs | تين | Teen |
| (khudar) | Vegetables | خضار | Khudar |
| (bandura) | Tomatoes | بندورة | Bandura |
| (batata) | Potatoes | بطاطا | Batata |
| (basal) | Onions | بصل | Basal |
| (baytinjan) | Eggplant | باذنجان | Baytinjan |
| (zahra) | Cauliflower | زهرة | Zahra |
| (jazar) | Carrot | جزر | Jazar |
| (ikhyar) | Cucumber | خيار | Ikhyar |
| (limon) | Lemon | ليمون | Limon |
| (kusa) | Zucchini | كوسا | Kusa |
| (abokado) | Avocado | أفوكادو | Avocado |
| (filfil) | Pepper | فلفل | Filfil |
| (khas) | Lettuce | خس | Khas |
| (baharat) | Spices/Herbs | بهارات | Baharat |
| (zanjabeel) | Ginger | زنجبيل | Zanjabeel |
| (qurfa) | Cinnamon | قرفة | Qirfa |
| (na’na’) | Mint | نعناع | Na’na’ |
| (baqdunis) | Parsley | بقدونس | Baqdunis |
| (towm) | Garlic | ثوم | Towm |
| (za’atar) | Thyme | زعتر | Za’atar |
| (jibnay) | Cheese | جبنة | Jibnah |
| (rowz) | Rice | رز | Ruz |
| (jaj) | Chicken | دجاج | Dajaj |
| (lahmay) | Meat | لحم | Laham |
| (zayt) | Oil | زيت | Zayt |
| (zaytoon) | Olives | زيتون | Zaytun |
| (laban) | Yogurt | لبن | Laban |
| (asal) | Honey | عسل | Asal |
| (zibday) | Butter | زبدة | Zibda |
| (makaronay) | Pasta | مكرونة | Makarona |
| (bayd) | Eggs | بيض | Bayd |
| (khobz or kohbiz) | Bread | خبز | Khubz or Khubz |
| (shoorba) | Soup | شوربة | Shorba |
DRINKS:
| Palestinian Arabic | English Transcription | Formal Arabic | Latin Script |
|---|---|---|---|
| ميه (maiy) | Water | ماء | Ma’ |
| عصير (aseer) | Juice | عصير | Aseer |
| شاي (shaiy) | Tea | شاي | Shay |
| قهوة (qahuway or ahuway) | Coffee | قهوة | Qahwa or Ahwa |
NUMBERS:
| Palestinian Arabic | English Transcription | Formal Arabic | Latin Script |
|---|---|---|---|
| واحد (wahad) | One | واحد | Wahid |
| اتنين (itnayn) | Two | اثنان | Ithnan |
| تلاتة (talata) | Three | ثلاثة | Thalatha |
| اربعة (arba’) | Four | أربعة | Arba’a |
| خمسة (khamsay) | Five | خمسة | Khamsa |
| ستة (sitay) | Six | ستة | Sitta |
| سبعة (saba’a) | Seven | سبعة | Sab’a |
| تمانية (tamaneya) | Eight | ثمانية | Thamaniya |
| تسعة (tisa’a) | Nine | تسعة | Tis’a |
| عشرة (ashra) | Ten | عشرة | Ashara |
| احداش (ihdash) | Eleven | أحد عشر | Ahad Ashar |
| اطناش (itnash) | Twelve | اثنا عشر | Ithna Ashar |
| تلطاش (talatash) | Thirteen | ثلاثة عشر | Thalatha Ashar |
| اربعطاش (arab’tash) | Fourteen | أربعة عشر | Arba’a Ashar |
| خمسطاش (khamistash) | Fifteen | خمسة عشر | Khamsa Ashar |
| سطاش (satash) | Sixteen | ستة عشر | Sitta Ashar |
| سبعطاش (saba’tash) | Seventeen | سبعة عشر | Sab’a Ashar |
Final Remarks
Here are just a few useful Basic Palestinian Arabic phrases for any visitor to the West Bank, Palestine, which will hopefully be of value to travellers. What is important to know is that the Arabic spoken in the Palestinian Territories is Levantine Arabic. This is a different, regional dialect to MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) which is the official written language of the Arab world, and which is often taught in the West.
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