Episode 20 · I don't understand

Ahla w sahla! Welcome back to the neighbourhood. You've been doing so well lately, putting words together and actually building your own sentences.

You're sitting outside Abu Naji's café enjoying the morning, and Jad is at your table. The only problem is, Jad's baseline speed is about a hundred miles an hour.

layk, lyom 3ashiyyé fina ninzal 3ala l ba7er, byi7ko inno t ta2es ra7 ykoun ktir 7elo, shu ra2yak?

Before you can even process what he said, Sett Sana marches over from her shop. She points at the ceiling of your flat and fires off an urgent question.

ya jara, imta byijé l msalle7 taba3 l 2asatel? l mayy 3am tinzal 3ala d dikkené!

Oh no. She's asking about a plumber because there's a leak, but all you hear is a flood of fast words. You completely freeze. Your mind goes entirely blank.

It happens to everyone! When the neighbourhood talks this fast, it's time for the ultimate beginner's survival toolkit. First step: admit you have no idea what's happening. We say: ma bifham.

ما بفهم — I don't understand · ma bifham

This means 'I don't understand'. The word ma simply means 'not' or 'don't' when we put it in front of a verb. And the verb is bifham. Say it with me: ma bifham.

ما بفهم — I don't understand · ma bifham

Just look at Sett Sana and say it clearly so she knows. Try it: ma bifham.

ما بفهم — I don't understand · ma bifham

ma bifham.

Sett Sana pauses. She slows down a tiny bit and gestures to the water pipe, asking when someone is coming to fix it. You understand the gesture, but you still don't have the answer.

So now you need the second tool in the kit. 'I don't know'. Say it: ma ba3ref.

ما بعرف — I don't know · ma ba3ref

Again, we start with ma. The tricky part is the deep letter 3 in the middle. It comes from the back of the throat. Try it slowly with me: ma ba3ref.

ما بعرف — I don't know · ma ba3ref

Give her an apologetic shrug, and tell her you just don't know. Say: ma ba3ref.

ما بعرف — I don't know · ma ba3ref

Let's pause. We have the two most important defensive shields a learner can ask for. First, 'I don't understand': ma bifham. And second, 'I don't know': ma ba3ref.

Remember when Lili told you what the people in the neighbourhood do? You learned the word for 'they speak'. They really do speak fast here. byi7ko ktir bi sir3a.

You want to soften the blow and explain why you're struggling. You need to say 'I don't speak Arabic well'. It goes like this: ma bi7ke 3arabé mni7.

ما بحكي عربي منيح — I don't speak Arabic well · ma bi7ke 3arabé mni7

We know ma bi7ke means 'I don't speak'. The new word is at the end: mni7. It means 'well' or 'good'. Make sure you hit that breathy letter 7 at the end, like you're fogging up a mirror. Say it again: ma bi7ke 3arabé mni7.

ما بحكي عربي منيح — I don't speak Arabic well · ma bi7ke 3arabé mni7

Let's put it together with what you learned on your first day. Look at Sett Sana and say 'I am learning Arabic, I don't speak Arabic well.' bit3allam 3arabé, ma bi7ke 3arabé mni7.

Sett Sana's face immediately softens. The briskness drops. She pats your shoulder. But you still need to sort out this plumbing issue.

You need a bridge to get through this. It's perfectly fine to ask for help in your own language. Let's ask: 'Do you speak English?' bti7ke inglizé?

بتحكي إنجليزي؟ — Do you speak English? · bti7ke inglizé?

Notice the difference? 'I speak' is bi7ke. But to ask 'do YOU speak', we add a letter t right near the start. bti7ke. Try the whole question: bti7ke inglizé?

بتحكي إنجليزي؟ — Do you speak English? · bti7ke inglizé?

Sett Sana shakes her head no. But Jad is right there! Turn to Jad and ask him. bti7ke inglizé?

بتحكي إنجليزي؟ — Do you speak English? · bti7ke inglizé?

é akid! wala yhemmak.

Jad explains the water leak to you in a mix of English and Arabic. The pressure is off. Now you just need to tell him to keep this pace. Let's learn a beautiful phrase: shwayy shwayy.

شوي شوي — Little by little · shwayy shwayy

It literally translates to 'a little, a little'. But we use it constantly to mean 'slowly', 'gently', or 'step by step'. Say it with me: shwayy shwayy.

شوي شوي — Little by little · shwayy shwayy

Jad gets ready to explain the rest of the plan for the day. Look at him and tell him to take it slowly. shwayy shwayy.

شوي شوي — Little by little · shwayy shwayy

Jad laughs and agrees. Across the square, Maya walks by with her architectural plans. She caught the end of that interaction, and gives you a warm, approving smile. You advocated for yourself.

You survived! Let's review the toolkit. 'I don't understand': ma bifham. 'I don't know': ma ba3ref. 'I don't speak Arabic well': ma bi7ke 3arabé mni7. 'Do you speak English?': bti7ke inglizé? And 'little by little': shwayy shwayy.

It is totally okay to not know everything right away. You are doing this shwayy shwayy, and that's the real trick to it. See you next time! New lessons drop every Tuesday and Friday.