Fablingo Arabic · Introduction — Meet the neighbours

Oh, you made it! Come in, come in. Watch your step on these cobblestones, they've been here for about eight hundred years.

Welcome to the Book Quarter. This little corner of the medina is going to be your home for a while, and honestly, you couldn't have picked a better spot.

It's a place where time slows down. We've got the best tea, the oldest books, and neighbors who will absolutely make it their business to know everything about you.

In a good way, I promise! Since you'll be staying here, we need to get you speaking the local language. We speak Modern Standard Arabic, or Fusḥā, here.

It is the universal written Arabic, understood everywhere. And don't worry about the alphabet—we are going to take it one step at a time. Come on, let me introduce you to someone.

This is Ustadh Farid. He owns the oldest bookshop in the quarter, and he knows where every single book is hidden.

مَرْحَبًا!

مَرْحَبًا — Hello · MAR-ha-ban

He just said مَرْحَبًا. It's the most common, friendly way to say 'Hello' in Arabic.

مَرْحَبًا — Hello · MAR-ha-ban

Look at the word on the screen. See that letter in the middle? That's a 'ḥaa'. It's a breathy, heavy 'h' sound, like you're breathing on glass to clean it. Ha. Try it with me: مَرْحَبًا.

مَرْحَبًا — Hello · MAR-ha-ban

Let's say it again, nice and slow. MAR-ha-ban.

مَرْحَبًا — Hello · MAR-ha-ban

Exactly. Now, go ahead and say hello back to him. مَرْحَبًا.

مَرْحَبًا — Hello · MAR-ha-ban

Perfect. He already likes you. Now, let's head across the alley to the courtyard. There's someone else you absolutely have to meet.

This is Sitti. She's the grandmother of the neighborhood. She sits here every morning sorting fresh mint for the cafe, and she keeps an eye on everyone.

أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا!

أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا — Welcome · AH-lan wa SAH-lan

She says أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا. It means 'Welcome'. But the literal meaning is so beautiful.

أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا — Welcome · AH-lan wa SAH-lan

'Ahlan' means family, and 'Sahlan' means ease. When we say it, we're really telling you: 'You have come to your family, and you can step with ease.'

أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا — Welcome · AH-lan wa SAH-lan

It is the warmest welcome you can give. Say it with me: أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا.

أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا — Welcome · AH-lan wa SAH-lan

Again. Notice the rhythm. AH-lan wa SAH-lan.

أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا — Welcome · AH-lan wa SAH-lan

Let's try it. Greet her back so she knows you feel at home. مَرْحَبًا, أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا.

أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا — Welcome · AH-lan wa SAH-lan

Let us do a quick recap of our new greetings to make sure they really stick. We started with MAR-ha-ban, marhaban, meaning Hello. Then we added AH-lan wa SAH-lan, ahlan wa sahlan, which means Welcome. You are making wonderful progress, so keep practicing and I will see you next time!

Oh, look over there by the cafe entrance. That's Hajj Mahmoud. He practically lives at that table.

He always orders too much tea and forces it on passersby.

See? You can't refuse. Take the tea, but you need to know how to thank him.

To say 'Thank you', we say شُكْرًا. It is short, sweet, and used everywhere.

شُكْرًا — Thank you · SHOOK-ran

Notice the little marking over the first letter, the 'sh' sound? It makes an 'oo' sound. SHOOK-ran.

شُكْرًا — Thank you · SHOOK-ran

Say it with me, and smile when you do it. شُكْرًا.

شُكْرًا — Thank you · SHOOK-ran

Go on, tell him. The tea is hot, don't drop it!

شُكْرًا — Thank you · SHOOK-ran

Watch out behind you! That's Yasmin coming through, she is always in a hurry.

مِنْ فَضْلِكَ، الطَّرِيق!

مِنْ فَضْلِكَ — Please · min FAD-li-ka

Quick, step to the side. She just said مِنْ فَضْلِكَ. It means 'Please'. Literally, 'from your favor'.

مِنْ فَضْلِكَ — Please · min FAD-li-ka

It's the most polite way to ask for something. The middle sound is a deep 'D'—the letter Daad. Very heavy. min FAD-li-ka.

مِنْ فَضْلِكَ — Please · min FAD-li-ka

Try it with me: مِنْ فَضْلِكَ. One more time, min FAD-li-ka.

مِنْ فَضْلِكَ — Please · min FAD-li-ka

We use 'ka' on the end when speaking to a male, and 'ki' for a female. But for now, just practice مِنْ فَضْلِكَ. It will get you very far.

مِنْ فَضْلِكَ — Please · min FAD-li-ka

شُكْرًا!

شُكْرًا — Thank you · SHOOK-ran

Ah, she said 'Thank you'. You remember that one, right? شُكْرًا. Now, I think it's time you go get unpacked.

But before I leave you at your door, we need to know how to say goodbye. We say مَعَ السَّلَامَةِ.

مَعَ السَّلَامَةِ — Goodbye · MA-a s-sa-LA-ma

It translates to 'with safety' or 'with peace'. It's a wish for your protection as you leave. مَعَ السَّلَامَةِ.

مَعَ السَّلَامَةِ — Goodbye · MA-a s-sa-LA-ma

Say it with me. Let it flow. MA-a s-sa-LA-ma.

مَعَ السَّلَامَةِ — Goodbye · MA-a s-sa-LA-ma

Beautiful. We will be seeing a lot of each other. Rest up, you've got a lot of medina to explore tomorrow.

مَعَ السَّلَامَةِ — Goodbye · MA-a s-sa-LA-ma

مَعَ السَّلَامَةِ!

مَعَ السَّلَامَةِ — Goodbye · MA-a s-sa-LA-ma

Let's wrap up by practicing these beautiful new phrases together one more time. First we have MAR-ha-ban, marhaban, which is hello, followed by AH-lan wa SAH-lan, ahlan wa sahlan, meaning welcome. Then we learned SHOOK-ran, shukran, for thank you, and min FAD-li-ka, min fadlika, to say please. Finally we can say MA-a s-sa-LA-ma, ma'a ssalama, which is goodbye. You did a wonderful job today, and I cannot wait to see you in our next Fablingo Arabic lesson.

I can't wait to show you the rest of the neighborhood. Next time, we're going inside that bookshop properly.

We release two lessons a week, every Tuesday and Friday. Come back, keep learning, and we'll see you next time on Fablingo Arabic!