Episode 38 · I have to go

Welcome back to Sahet el-Teeneh. Last time, you navigated the neighbourhood and managed to book an official appointment with Dr. Hala.

Well, today is the day. You've been working so hard cleaning out Téta Nabiha's flat that you've run yourself a little ragged.

You are sitting in Dr. Hala's immaculate clinic. She finishes checking your temperature, sighs with maternal concern, and writes on her prescription pad.

lezim tékhod ed-dawa.

لازم تاخد الدوا — You have to take the medicine · lezim tékhod ed-dawa

She is giving you a strict instruction. That first word, lezim, is the heart of it. It means 'must' or 'have to'.

لازم تاخد الدوا — You have to take the medicine · lezim tékhod ed-dawa

Then we have tékhod, which means 'you take', and ed-dawa, which is 'the medicine'.

لازم تاخد الدوا — You have to take the medicine · lezim tékhod ed-dawa

Say 'You have to take the medicine' with me: lezim tékhod ed-dawa.

لازم تاخد الدوا — You have to take the medicine · lezim tékhod ed-dawa

Again, nice and steady: lezim tékhod ed-dawa.

لازم تاخد الدوا — You have to take the medicine · lezim tékhod ed-dawa

You nod, but Dr. Hala isn't finished. She points her pen at you to make sure you're really listening.

ma lezim tishtghil el-yom.

ما لازم تشتغل اليوم — You mustn't work today · ma lezim tishtghil el-yom

Did you catch that first little word? She added ma right at the start.

ما لازم تشتغل اليوم — You mustn't work today · ma lezim tishtghil el-yom

Just like when we learned ma baddé for 'I don't want', putting ma in front of lezim turns 'must' into 'must not'.

ما لازم تشتغل اليوم — You mustn't work today · ma lezim tishtghil el-yom

Then she adds tishtghil for 'you work', and el-yom, which is 'today'. Try saying 'You mustn't work today': ma lezim tishtghil el-yom.

ما لازم تشتغل اليوم — You mustn't work today · ma lezim tishtghil el-yom

Once more, channel a bit of Dr. Hala's medical authority: ma lezim tishtghil el-yom.

ما لازم تشتغل اليوم — You mustn't work today · ma lezim tishtghil el-yom

ma baddé.

Let's pause and lock those in. To tell someone they have to take their medicine, we say: lezim tékhod ed-dawa. And to forbid them from working today: ma lezim tishtghil el-yom.

You check your watch. You've been in the clinic for a while, and your bed is calling your name.

lezim rou7.

لازم روح — I have to go · lezim rou7

Perfect. You're using that same word, lezim, but this time for yourself.

لازم روح — I have to go · lezim rou7

It's followed by rou7, which means 'I go'. Before, you learned to say 'I want to go', which is baddé rou7. But this is stronger. It's an obligation.

لازم روح — I have to go · lezim rou7

Say 'I have to go' out loud: lezim rou7.

لازم روح — I have to go · lezim rou7

Again, firmly: lezim rou7.

لازم روح — I have to go · lezim rou7

Just as you say that, the clinic door creaks open. Jad pokes his head in, looking full of energy.

He starts talking a mile a minute. He wants to drag you over to Abu Naji's café to look at the hinges for Téta's blue door.

Dr. Hala steps right between you and Jad, giving him her absolute most formidable look.

bikaffé!

بيكفّي — That's enough · bikaffé

Jad freezes. She just told him, 'That's enough.'

بيكفّي — That's enough · bikaffé

bikaffé is a brilliant word to have in your pocket. It means 'it is enough', and you use it exactly like this when you want a situation to stop.

بيكفّي — That's enough · bikaffé

Practice it with me, giving it that firm boundary: bikaffé.

بيكفّي — That's enough · bikaffé

Once more: bikaffé.

بيكفّي — That's enough · bikaffé

Jad raises his hands in surrender. You decide to back Dr. Hala up and make your exit absolutely clear.

baddé imshe halla2.

بدّي إمشي هلّق — I want to leave now · baddé imshe halla2

You are not messing around. We know baddé is 'I want'. imshe literally means 'to walk', but here it means 'to leave' or 'get going'.

بدّي إمشي هلّق — I want to leave now · baddé imshe halla2

And halla2 means 'now'. Notice that little catch in the throat at the very end of halla2? It's a sharp stop.

بدّي إمشي هلّق — I want to leave now · baddé imshe halla2

Say 'I want to leave now' with me: baddé imshe halla2.

بدّي إمشي هلّق — I want to leave now · baddé imshe halla2

A little smoother: baddé imshe halla2.

بدّي إمشي هلّق — I want to leave now · baddé imshe halla2

Jad nods, finally getting the picture. He smiles softly and tells you to feel better.

Dr. Hala smiles approvingly and hands you the prescription. You are officially off duty for the day, and it feels good to be taken care of.

Before you head to bed, let's lock in everything we learned today. I have to go: lezim rou7. You have to take the medicine: lezim tékhod ed-dawa. You mustn't work today: ma lezim tishtghil el-yom. That's enough: bikaffé. And I want to leave now: baddé imshe halla2.

Great job today. Go get some rest, and we'll see you for our next lesson. Remember, new episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday. See you in the neighbourhood!