My Initial Arabic Vocabulary

Just a quick posts to document my first words of Arabic.  Just like I've determined in many places before, knowing the local language is appreciated by the locals and is a great conversation starter; same holds true here. Greetings in Arabic lasts a long time like 5-10 minutes so there a many greeting like phrases in Arabic.  I did learn one thing as I was writing down phrases as I learnt them.  During taxi rides I would ask for my Arabic word of the day which I record in my daytimer.  I also like to do the same as I meet my Saudi co-workers.  One of the young Saudis was curious to see what I had on my list so I showed him.  He then says: "why are your words written with an Indian accent?"  My reply: "Oh, that would be cause many of my words are from the taxi driver."  LOL, most if not all taxi drivers in taxi drivers in Saudi are from an area in southern India called Kerala.

For the most part the younger generation knows English better than the older generation and I'm pretty sure on this one too:  Their English is better than my Arabic.

My goal is to learn 10 words a month.  Coming up on 2 months and current word count = 27.

Assalam Ealaykum:  Peace Upon You

Kayf Halif / Kayf Hal:  How are you?

Hamdu Lellah:  Good, Peace be to God.   (I like how this one rolls off the tongue!)

Saber Alkhyr:  Good Morning

Saber alnur:  reply to above: "I am bright"

Masa Alkhry:  Gord Afternoon.

Masa Alnur:  reply to above

Kayf Alhal:  How is your situation?

Alhan: Hi

Hala or Halahala:  Slang Hi.

Masalama:  Good Bye (Also like how that one sounds.)

Naam or Iya:  Yes

Laa: No
Shurkran: Thank you
Min Fadlak:  Please

Comme Folos:  How much? (money)

Wahhed: One

Ashara: Ten

Ishirin: Twenty

Endek: Do you have...?

Mook Mafi: Crazy

Maji Nun:  Born Crazy

Inta row: You go

Sura Sura: Go Away

Waggif: Stop

Yaa Saa: Left

Yaa Min: Right

Giddam:  Straight or slang for "Let's Go" or "Turn it Up" or "Giddy Up"

Yallahh:  Go or like "Allez, allez" in cycling.  Mohd's Encouraging Words.

ريجان ليون جوزيف جوزيف.

Even after 5 weeks now, I'm still marveled at anything written in Arabic.  Many of my documents come written either completely or partially in Arabic: my registration into the Saudi Engineering Council, my driver's license and my work visa.  The blog title is actually my name!! Arabic is also written from right to left so that throws you off as well when trying to translate.  I'm taking pictures of stop signs, granola boxes, license plates - it's just fascinating.  The license plates have the numbers in both styles so that made it easy to learn.  I find the numbers very confusing compared to "regular" numbers:  what looks like a seven is a six, what looks like a backwards three is a four, what looks like a nugget is a five, the zero looks like a dash, the seven is a V and the eight is an upside down V!  At least the number one and nine are kinda similar to ours.  Plus, I don't know why they made the two and three so similar looking. (kinda like our O and Q.)  Here are the numerals and their pronunciations: