Collins Arabic Phrasebook and Dictionary Gem Edition. Collins Dictionaries

خروج khuruuj exit غرفة تغيير الملابس qurfat taq-yiir al-malaabis changing room الحمام al-ham-maam bathroom !احذر ih-thar! caution! معلومات ma’-luumaat information استعلامات isti’-laamaat enquiries

Polite expressions

      As in every culture, good manners are very important to Arabs. You may experience excessive politeness when people meet each other. Hugging and kissing on both cheeks is very normal. People often kiss the hand of elderly people out of respect. To address someone formally, use as-say-yid for men or as-say-yida for women before their first name, for example, As-say-yid Ahmed; As-say-yida Faatima. This may vary from country to country.

      There are several styles of greeting in use; it is best to wait for your counterpart to initiate the greeting. Men shake hands with other men. Some men will shake hands with women, however, it is advisable for businesswomen to wait for a man to offer his hand. A more traditional greeting between men involves grasping each other’s right hand, placing the left hand on the other’s right shoulder and exchanging kisses on each cheek.

How do you do?	كيف حالك؟ kay-fa haa-luk?
Pleased to meet you	أنا سعيد لرؤيتك anaa sa-‘ii-dun li ru-ya-ti-ka
Thank you	شكرا لك shuk-ran laka
I am fine	أنا بخير ana bi-khayr
Welcome!	!أهلا و سهلا ah-lan wa sah-lan!
Here you are	تفضل tafad-dal
Pardon?	عذراً ‘uth-ran
This is…	هذا.../ هذه... haa-thaa … (m)/haa-thihii (f)
This is my husband	هذا زوجي haa-thaa zaw-jii
This is my wife	هذه زوجتي haa-thi-hii zaw-jatii
Enjoy your meal!	!وجبة هنية waj-ba ha-niy-yah!
The meal was delicious	كانت وجبتاً لذيذة kaa-nat waj-batan la-thii-thah
Thank you very much	شكراً جزيلاً لك shuk-ran ja-ziilan lak
Have a good trip!	!رحلة سعيدة rih-la sa-‘iidah!
Enjoy your holiday!	!عطلة ممتعة ‘ut-la-tun mum-ti’ah!

Celebrations

Happy birthday!	!عيد ميلاد سعيد ’ied-mii-laad sa-‘iid!
Congratulations!	!مبروك mab-ruuk!
Cheers!	هنيئا han-nii-an
Happy New Year!	!عام جديد سعيد ’aa-mun ja-dii-dun sa-‘iid!

Making friends

What’s your name?	ماسمك؟ mas-muk?
My name is…	...اسمي is-mii…