ÿþ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> <title>Colloquial Egyptian Arabic expressions (9('1'* 'D9'EJ) 'DE51J))</title> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" /> <meta name="description" content="Colloquial Egyptian Arabic idioms and expressions." /> <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-29877981-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); </script> </head> <body> <div id="content"> <div id="head"> <span class="title">Arabic learning resources</span> <ul id="menu"> <li><a href="index.html">home</a></li> <li><a href="vocab.html">vocabulary</a></li> <li><a href="grammar.html">grammar</a></li> <li><a href="faq.html">faq</a></li> <li><a href="about.html">about</a></li> <li><a href="links.html">links</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="body"> <h1>Colloquial Egyptian Arabic expressions</h1><br /> <span class="arabic">EC-C-</span> (mkaHkaH) or <span class="arabic">EGC9</span> (mihakka3) <br />Broken-down, decrepit. Can be used to describe someone who's old and in bad health, or an old, broken-down object like a car. <br /><br /><span class="arabic">ED-D-</span> (mlaHlaH) <br />Lively and resourceful, enterprising <br /><br /><span class="arabic">E'DJ4 | E'9F/J4 E2',</span> (maliia/ma3andiia mazaag) <br />I'm not in the mood, I don't feel like it <div class="example"><span class="arabic">E'9F/J4 E2', /DHB*J DD-C'J) /I</span> (ma3andiia mazaag dilwa'ti lil-Hekaaya di)<br /> I'm not in the mood for that right now.</div> <br /><span class="arabic">FA3J</span> (nifsi) <br />"I'd like to" or "I wish to/really wish I could" <div class="example"><span class="arabic">FA3I '3'A1 D(F'F</span> (nifsi asaafir lebnaan)<br /> I'd like to travel to Lebanon.</div> <br /><span class="arabic">E(D:</span> (mabla!) <br />(1) an amount or sum (of money) <div class="example"><span class="arabic">'/J* DG 4JC (E(D: 941) ,FJG</span> (iddet-lu aek bi-mabla! 3aaara gneih)<br /> I gave him a check for the amount of ten pounds.</div> <br />(2) a large amount or great extent <div class="example"><span class="arabic">'DE3'A) C'F* E(D:</span> (il-masaafa kaanit mabla!)<br /> It was a considerable distance.<br /><br /> <span class="arabic">94'F *91AJ E(D: -(J DJCJ</span> <span dir="ltr">(3aaaan ti3rafi mabla! Hubbi liiki)</span><br /> so that you should know how much I love you</div> <br /><span class="arabic" dir="rtl">2FQ - J2FQ (2FQ) 9DI</span> (zann - yizinn [zann] 3ala) <br />To nag, whine, or pester someone (lit. to buzz/hum). <br /><br /><span class="arabic">12D</span> (rizil) <br />Someone impertinent who gives others a hard time <br /><br /><span class="arabic">('JF 9DI</span> (baayin 3ala) <br />To appear or seem a certain way <div class="example"><span class="arabic">('JF 9DJG' E4 E(3H7)</span> (baayin 3aleiha mia mabsuuTa)<br /> She doesn't look happy.<br /><br /> <span class="arabic">('JF 9DJC E*6'JB</span> (baayin 3aleik mitDayyi')<br /> You seem annoyed.</div> <br /><span class="arabic">D-DH- (,) D-'DJ-</span> (laHluuH (pl.) laHaliiH) <br />Slang for a pound (money), especially in the context of bribery <br /><br /><span class="arabic">AHQD 9DI</span> (fawwil 3ala) <br />To jinx someone by mentioning possible misfortune <br /><br /><span class="arabic">9ED DG -1C) H3.)</span> <span dir="ltr">(3mal lu Haraka wisxa)</span> <br />To play s.o. a dirty trick (lit. a dirty move) <br /><br /><span class="arabic">E3E'1 ,-'</span> (musmaar goHa) <br />Goha's nail. An excuse or pretext to keep one's foot in the door. Goha is a popular character from folktales. The story goes that he sold his house except for one nail, with a stipulation that he could come back and do whatever he wanted with the nail whenever. So later whenever he would get annoyed with the new owner of the house, he would come back and hammer on the nail. <br /><br /><span class="arabic">HDJE) (,) HD'JE</span> (wiliima (pl.) walaayim) <br />The standard meaning is "banquet," but whereas a banquet in English is a formal event, wiliima can be used to describe an informal get-together or party with lots of food. <br /><br /><span class="arabic">9ED -3'(G 9DI C/)</span> <span dir="ltr">(3amal Hisaabu 3ala kida)</span> <br />To take s.t. into account and plan for it. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">E3C - JE3C (E3C)</span> (misik - yimsik [mask]) <br />(1) To take hold of or grab; (2) to capture or arrest; (3) to take on or be in charge of (e.g. a job); (4) to stick, adhere, hold; (4) to harp on or keep on about <div class="example"><span class="arabic">E3CH' DG 'D:D7) 'DDI 9EDG'</span> (miskuu-lu l-!alTa lli 3amalha)<br /> They kept reminding him of his mistake.</div> <br /><span class="arabic">E3C - JE3C AJ</span> (misik - yimsik fi) <br />To start a fight with (s.o.), or to invite pressingly or insist that someone accept your invitation <br /><br /><span class="arabic">DEQ - JDEQ</span> (lamm - yilimm) <br />To collect or gather s.t., like money <br /><br /><span class="arabic">'*DEQ 9DI</span> (itlamm 3ala) <br />To gather around or gang up on (s.o.) <br /><br /><span class="arabic">9DB)</span> <span dir="ltr">(3al'a)</span> <br />A beating or thrashing <div class="example"><span class="arabic">61(*G 9DB) ,'E/) \ 3.F)</span> (Darabtu 3al'a gamda/suxna)<br /> I really beat him up/gave him a good thrashing.</div> <br /><span class="arabic">2J 'D#714 AJ 'D2A)</span> (zayy il-aTraa fiz-zaffa) <br />Really out of it; describes someone who doesn't know what's going on around him (lit. like a deaf man at a wedding) <br /><br /><span class="arabic">J/H(</span> (yadoob) <br />Barely, hardly <div class="example"><span class="arabic">'F' J/H( H'./ FA3J</span> (ana yadoob waaxid nafasi)<br /> I've barely caught my breath.<br /><br /> <span class="arabic">'F' J/H( E'./*4 FA3J</span> (ana yadoob maxadtia nafasi)<br /> either "I'm just on the point of catching my breath" or "I've just this very second caught my breath."</div> <br /><br /><span class="arabic">'DA'1 D9( AJ 9(QG</span> (il-faar le3eb fi 3ebbu.) <br />He smelled a rat, began to have suspicions. (Lit. the mouse played in the gap between s.o.'s shirt and chest.) <br /><br /><span class="arabic">EC3Q-</span> (mikassaH) <br />Literally mikassaH means crippled, but it can also mean really exhausted, so tired you can't move. <br /><br /><span class="arabic">E*/1H.</span> (mitdarwax) <br />Literally "dizzy," but it can also mean really exhausted. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">B1B - JB1B (B1B)</span> ('ara' - yi'ro' ['ara']) <br />To complain about someone enviously, in an "evil eye" kind of way <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">1'3G F'4A)</span> (raasu naafa) <br />He's hard-headed, stubborn (lit. his head is dry) <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">F-3</span> (naHs) <br />Bad luck, ill omen; you can call a person naHs if they bring bad luck <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">D' #(J6 HD' '3H/</span> (la abyaD wala iswid) <br />No money at all (lit. neither black nor white) <div class="example"><span class="arabic">E'9F/H4 D' '(J6 HD' '3H/</span> (ma3anduua la abyaD wala iswid)<br /> He's penniless.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">2J 9D( C(1J*</span> (zayy 3elab kabriit) <br />Like packs of matches (the equivalent of "packed like sardines") <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">#AD'E 'DEH3E</span> (aflaam il-muusim) <br />The latest trend (lit. the season's [current] movies) <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">AJDE GF/J</span> (film hindi) <br />Something can be described as an Indian (Bollywood) movie if it's really fantastical and impossible. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">*-A)</span> (toHfa) <br />A collector's item or objet d'art; can be used to describe something/someone amusingly odd or eccentric <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">.FA3</span> (xunfis) <br />A hippie or guy with long hair. Lit. "beetle" (because of the Beatles). <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">(J&)</span> (bii'a) <br />Used as an adjective to describe something trashy, low-life, or the Egyptian equivalent of "ghetto" (as used as a disparaging adjective). Look up <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%D8%B3%D8%B9%D8%AF+%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1">Saad El Soghayar videos</a> to get an idea of what "bii'a" refers to. Lit. "environment." <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">B7Q9 AJ A1H) __.</span> ('aTTa3 fi farwit __.) <br />To gossip about someone. Lit. to cut someone's fur. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">-F(DJ</span> (Hambali) <br />The literal meaning of this word refers to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanbali">Hanbali</a> school of interpretation in Sunni Islam, which is generally considered the strictest of the four traditional mazaahib. When used outside this context in colloquial Arabic, though, it describes someone who is very strict &mdash; a martinet. It can also have a connotation of religious strictness. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">41/H-) | 414H-)</span> (aarduuHa/aarauuHa) <br />A tacky, loud, low-class woman. Sort of like a fishwife, except without the vendor connotation. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">-JF EJ31)</span> (Hiina maysara) <br />When things get better. This expression is fuSHa, but it's commonly used in Egypt regardless. For example, if someone lent you money, you could tell them, <span class="arabic">G1,Q9 DC 'DADH3 -JF EJ31)</span> (haragga3lak il-filuus Hiina maysara), I'll pay you back when things get better for me. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">('1 - J(H1</span> (baar - yibuur) <br />To get past a marriageable age, become an old maid. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">GJ ('1* HE4 D'BJ) -/ J,HQ2G'</span> (heyya baaret wa mia la'ya Hadde yigawwizha)<br /> She's gotten too old to get married and can't find anyone to marry her.</div> <br />This is never said about men. You might say <span class="arabic">GH ('1 (H'D/JG</span> (howwa baar bi-walideih), but this would mean that he takes care of his parents well. This expression comes from <span dir="rtl" class="arabic">'D(1 H'D7BH)</span> (il-birr wiT-Taqwa) &mdash; used in reference to organizations that take care of the eldery. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">E922 EC1E</span> (mo3azzaz mokarram) <br />Content and well-taken-care-of. Usually used in the context of a son or daughter staying at home with their parents. <br /><br /><span class="arabic">(BI - J(BI</span> (ba'a - yib'a) <br />This can be a verb meaning "to become" or more generally "to be." But it can also be a particle used to follow up on a statement, like "So..." or "Then..." <div class="example"><span class="arabic">DH 9'J2 *F,-  J(BI D'2E *0'C1</span> (law 3aayiz tingaH, yeb'a laazim tizaakir)<br /> If you want to succeed, [then] you have to study.<br /><br /> <span class="arabic" dir="rtl">.D5* H./* D3'F3 'D-BHB...'9ED 'JG (BI</span> (khalaSt wa-xadt lesans el-Hu'uu'...a3mel eih ba'a?) <br />I finished and got my law degree...so [now] what do I do?</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">E*C(Q1 9DI</span> (metkabbar 3ala) <br />Bigheaded. To say that someone is <span class="arabic">E*C(1 9DI .DB 'DDG</span> (metkabbar 3ala xal' allaah) &mdash; looks down on God's creations &mdash; or <span class="arabic">E*C(1 9DI 'DF'3 'DDI -H'DJG</span> (metkabbar 3ala n-naas illi Hawaleih) &mdash; looks down on the people around him &mdash; means that the person is really full of himself and thinks he's better than everyone else. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">/JDG AJ 3F'FG</span> (deilu fi sinaanu) <br />Lit. "his tail in his teeth." Based on the idea that in "baladi" areas where people wear traditional galabeyyas, if someone gets into a fight or some trouble and ends up running away, he takes the "tail" of his galabeyya and puts it in his mouth so he doesn't trip over it as he runs off. This expression is the equivalent of "with his tail between his legs"; it describes someone running ingloriously away from a defeat. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">G1(H' /JDGE AJ 3F'FGE</span> (hiribu deilhum fi sinaanhum)<br /> They escaped with their tails between their legs.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">'FA0 - JFA0 (,D/G</span> (infad - yinfed bi-geldu) <br />To escape by the skin of your teeth. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">61( C13J AJ 'DCDH(</span> (Darab kursi fel-klob) <br />To hit the lights with a chair in order to turn them off. Based on the idea that in a "baladi" 'ahwa or place like that, when there's a fight, someone might grab a chair and use it to knock out the lights so they can do whatever they want in the darkness, without being seen. So this expression describes someone who's trying to do bad things under the cover of darkness (figurative or literal). <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">EF (BC D('( 'D3E'</span> (min bo''ak li-baab is-sama) <br />From your lips to God's ear (lit. heaven's gate), i.e. "I hope that what you're predicting/hoping really happens." <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">'0' 91A 'D3((  (7D 'D9,(</span> (iza 3eref is-sabab, baTal il-3agab) <br />An expression meaning that once you learn the reason for something, you won't be surprised or amazed by it anymore. Used to explain curiosity or express relief that now you know why something happened. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">E5D-,J</span> (maSlaHgi) <br />Someone who is totally self-interested and opportunistic. From <span class="arabic">E5D-)</span> (maSlaHa), "interest." Synonym with <span class="arabic">EFA9,J</span> (manfa3gi). <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">9DI H/FG</span> <span dir="ltr">(3ala widnu)</span> <br />Everywhere. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">'DA3'/ H'DF5( (B* 9DI H/FG</span> (il-fasaad win-naSb ba'et 3ala widnu)<br /> Corruption and swindling have [taken over] everywhere.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">CD'E A'6J | CD'E HD' (JH/J HD' J(,J(</span> (kalaam faaDi/kalaam wala biywaddi wala biigiib) <br />"Kalaam faaDi" (or "kalaam faari!") is "empty talk" &mdash; just words or hot air. <span class="arabic">CD'E HD' (JH/J HD' J(,J(</span> means "talk that doesn't accomplish anything" &mdash; useless talk. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">CD'E AJ 'DGH'</span> (kalaam fel-hawa) <br />Used to describe talk that no one will listen to. For example, if someone was complaining and complaining about the government, you could tell them, <span class="arabic">(**CDE AJ 'DGH'</span> (bititkallem fel-hawa), since the government will never listen to their complaints. Lit. "talking in the air." <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">4:D 9DI EJ) (J6)</span> (ao!l 3ala mayya beiDa) <br />A cunning, well-planned plot. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">B9/ 9DI BD(GE</span> ('a3ad 3ala 'albohom) <br />To impose on someone while staying with them. If someone has been staying at your house for a while and you're getting sick of them, you could say they're <span class="arabic">B'9/JF 9DI BD(C</span> ('a3diin 3ala albak), lit. sitting on your heart. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">#E 'DC('&1</span> (omm il-kabaa'ir) <br />In Islam, it means the biggest sin you can commit. Colloquially, it's more loosely used to mean something like "the worst thing you can do." <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">%F 'DDG D' J:J1 E' (BHE -*I J:J1H' E' (#FA3GE</span> (inna allaaha la yu!ayyiru ma bi-qawmin Hatta yu!ayyiru ma bi'anfusihim) <br />This is from sura 13 (ar-ra3d) in the Qur'an. It means "God doesn't change the condition of people until they change it themselves." Used to urge people to take the initiative to change themselves, instead of waiting for some outside force. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">EF 4H4*G D-/ #.E5 1,DG</span> (min auusitu li-Hadde axmoS riglu) <br />From the top of his head to the tips of his toes. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">C/'( 'D2A)</span> (kaddaab iz-zeffa) <br />A big liar. <span class="arabic">'D2A)</span> is the wedding procession; this expression originates in the fact that many people join the wedding procession of people they hate. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">9B/) 'D.H',)</span> <span dir="ltr">(3o'dit il-xawaaga)</span> <br />The feeling, common in Egypt, that local things are inferior and foreign &mdash; especially Western &mdash; things are better. A sort of cultural inferiority complex, with the additional connotation of admiration of foreign things simply because they're foreign. For example, people often think that foreign brands/imports must be higher quality than local. Or, if an Arab government brought in a bunch of Brits to write a report on the internal workings of that Arab country and give recommendations on how to improve things, without the input of a single Arab, you might say it's because <span class="arabic">9F/GE 9B/) 'D.H',)</span> <span dir="ltr">(3andohom 3o'dit il-xawaaga). Literally, the "foreigner complex."</span> <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">E9D4</span> (ma3aleaa) or <span dir="rtl" class="arabic">E9DG4</span> (ma3aliha) <br />A common expression that can mean "Sorry" or "Oh well, never mind." A popular joke goes that in Egypt, everything is done the IBM way &mdash; "In aaa' allaah" (God willing), "Bukra" (tomorrow), "Ma3aleaa" ("Sorry/Oh well"). That is, people tell you they'll do something, God willing; then when you ask them why it wasn't done, they say they'll do it tomorrow. And when in the end you find that they never did it, they comfort you with a "Sorry." As <a href="http://www.sandmonkey.org/2005/01/26/apathy-and-the-opposition-parties-in-egypt/">one Egyptian blogger</a> puts it:<br /> <div class="example"><blockquote>...some people say that the bane of egypt is the word  Inshallah , because if someone says it to ya, it almost always gurantess that they won t do what you asked them to do. Egyptians actually include it in what they call the  failure acronym, also known as I.B.M.! The I stands for Inshallah, which means  god willing ; the B stands for Bokrah, which means Tomorow, as in  will do it Tomorow ; and the M stands for  Maalesh , which is word that conveys solace if you are met with failure or frustration. Those 3 words are usually given in that order for a reason, they compliment eachother as the perfect Trifecta to justify failure. At first they promise u to do it  Inshallah , and when you wonder why shit isn t done, they tell you  Bokrah and when you relaise that nothing is gonna ever get done and confront them with your realisation they tell you  Maalesh . I.B.M. people, making Egypt an economic failure for more then 20 years now.</blockquote></div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">EJ) EJ)</span> (meyya meyya) <br />Can mean either "great" or "definitely." Literally, "100%." <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">JDD'</span> (yalla) <br />"Come on" or "Let's go," often used with a connotation of "Hurry it up!" Ex. <span class="arabic">JDD' (F'</span> (yalla biina), "Let's go." Also sometimes used to mean something like "Ok, all right" when you've agreed on something with someone. People frequently say, "Yalla bye" at the end of phone conversations, for instance. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">3'0,</span> (saazig) <br />Naive. However, "saazig" has a more negative connotation than the English "naive" does; "saazig" is like being naive to the point of total cluelessness. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">E1*(7</span> (mortabeT) <br />Literally "connected," but can be used to mean "taken" in a romantic sense; the person in question has a boyfriend or girlfriend. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">EJF 'D-DH /G E1*(7</span> (miin il-Helw da?! mortabeT?)<br /> Who's that cute guy?! Does he have a girlfriend?</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">('D9'A()</span> (bil-3afya) <br />(1) only barely <div class="example"><span class="arabic">'D71B /DHB*J E2/-E) 'C*1 EF 'D'HD ,/'  H'DE1'AB (*3*H9( 'DF'3 ('D9'AJ)</span> (iT-Turu' dilwa'ti muzdaHama aktar mil-awwil giddan, wal-maraafi' bitistaw3ib in-naas bil-3afya)<br /> The roads have gotten much more crowded than before, and the infrastructure barely has room for [all] the people.</div> <br />(2) by force <div class="example"><span class="arabic">DE' *AHB* AI E,'D 'D7(  -E/* 1(F' %F #(HJ' /.DFI CDJ) 'D7( ('D9'AJ)</span> (lamma tafawwa't fi magaal iT-Tibb, Hamadt rabbinna inn abuuya daxxalni kolliyyit iT-Tibb bil-3afya)<br /> When I did so well in medicine, I was grateful (lit. I thanked God) that my father made me enter med school.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">9DI 'DG1C1C</span> <span dir="ltr">(3ala l-horokrok)</span> <br />Barely, just enough. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">'DEJ2'FJ) E'4J) 9DI 'DG1C1C</span> (il-mizaniyya maaya 3ala l-horokrok)<br /> I'm just getting by with my budget.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">D9(J</span> (li3abi) <br />When used to describe a man, this means feckless or frivolous &mdash; someone who doesn't like to work, just play. <div class="example"><span class="arabic" dir="rtl">'DHD/ /G D9(J  E'(J0'C14 '(/'  9'J2 JD9( CH1) H(3</span> (il-walad da li3abi, mabiyzaakira abadan, 3aayiz yil3aab koora wa bass)<br /> That boy is feckless, he never studies and just wants to play soccer.</div> <br />When used to descibe a woman, it means that she is very flirtatious with lots of men. <div class="example"><span class="arabic" dir="rtl">'DE1' /I D9(J)  /'JE' (*,1J H1' 'D1,'D)</span> (il-mara di li3abiyya, dayman bitigri wara r-reggaala)<br /> That woman's a total flirt, she's always running after men. (Very negative connotation.)</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">('D0E)</span> (biz-zimma) <br />Honestly, really. <div class="example"><span class="arabic" dir="rtl">('D0E)  /I E4 E3.1)</span> (biz-zimma, di mia masxara?)<br /> Really, isn't this preposterous/outrageous?</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">(J9J/ HJ2J/</span> (biy3iid wiyziid) <br />To keep going on and on about something. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">'DEA1H6 E' FB9/4 F9J/ HF2J/ AI 'DCD'E HF/H1 9DI '.7'! 9D4'F FE3CG' 9DI 'DF'3</span> (il-mafruuD mani'3oda ni3iid winziid fil-kalaam wa-ndawwar 3ala axTaa' 3alaaaan nimsikha 3ala n-naas)<br /> We shouldn't sit around going on and on about stuff and searching for mistakes so we can hold them over people.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">DBQ- - JDBQ- (*DBJ-) ('DCD'E 9DI</span> (la''aH - yila''aH [tal'iiH] bil-kalaam 3ala) <br />To make insulting insinuations/remarks about. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">'DEA1H6 (BI F(7D 4:D 'D9J'D H'B5/ (C/G 'F 'DF'3 *B9/ *DB- ('DCD'E 9DI (96 /G E4 5- 'DDI E' JB/14 JBHD D-/ CDEG AI H4G J(BI E' JBHDG'4 .'D5 HJ-*A8 (JG' DFA3G</span> (il-mafruuD ba'a nibaTTal ao!l il-3iyaal wa-a'Sud bi-kida inn in-naas ti'3od tila''aH bil-kalaam 3ala ba3D, da mia SaHH, illi mayi'dara yi'uul li-Hadd kelma fi wiaau yib'a mayi'olhaaa xaaliS wa-yiHtafiZ biiha li-nafsu)<br /> We should stop acting like children, and what I mean by that is that people sit making insulting insinuations about each other; that's not right, if you can't say something to someone's face, then you shouldn't say it at all, just keep it to yourself.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">FCQ/ - JFCQ/ (*FCJ/) 9DI</span> (nakkid - yinakkid (tankiid) 3ala) <br />To make someone's life miserable. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">-E'*J E4 3'J('FJ AJ -'DJ -*I JHE 'DA1- FC/* 9DJ'</span> (Hamaati mia saybaani fi Haali, Hatta yoom il-faraH nakkadit 3alayya)<br /> My mother-in-law won't leave me alone; even on the wedding day she made me miserable.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">'3*-ED - J3*-ED</span> (istaHmal - yistaHmil) <br />To bear, put up with. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">'3*-ED* C*J1 HCF* (3C* HE' (1/4 9DJG' (#J CDEG</span> (istaHmalt kitiir wa-kunt baskut wa-mabaroddia 3aleiha bi-ayya kelma)<br /> I put up with a lot; I would keep quiet and not respond to her with a single word.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">'*DCC - J*DCC</span> (itlakkik - yitlakkik) <br />To search for or pick on something trivial as an excuse (to get mad, etc). <div class="example"><span class="arabic">CD JHE H'D*'FJ (**DCC DJ AJ 'J -',G</span> (kulle yoom wit-taani bititlakkik liyya fi ayya Haaga)<br /> Every other day she finds something tiny to get mad at me about.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">'D:E2 H'DDE2</span> (il-!amz wil-lamz) <br />Criticizing and slandering; maligning and defaming. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">A17</span> (farT) <br />An excess/extreme of. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">#F' CF* #9'FJ EF A17 'D*3'E- H'D*3'GD E9 'D".1JF</span> (ana kunt a3aani min farT it-tasaamuH wit-tasaahul ma3l-axriin)<br /> I used to suffer from an excess of forgiveness and lenience with other people.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">E'(7JB4</span> (mabaTi'a) <br />I can't stand (something). <div class="example"><span class="arabic">#F' (C1G E-E/ 39/! /EG JD74  E'(7JB4 #*A1, 9DJG</span> (ana bakrah moHammed sa3ad! dammu yolToa, mabaTi'a atfarrag 3aleih)<br /> I hate Mohamed Saad! He's so annoying and unfunny, I can't stand to watch him.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">EG(Q(</span> (mihabbib) <br />Bad, lousy. Lit. "blackened with soot." <div class="example"><span class="arabic" dir="rtl">J' FG'1 '3H/! J' FG'1 '3H/ HEG((!</span> (yanhar iswid! yanhar iswid wimhabbib!)<br /> An expression of frustration. Lit. "Oh black day! Oh black, sooty day!"</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">'-*'1 - J-*'1</span> (iHtaar - yiHtaar) <br />Literally, to be confused, but it can also mean "to try your hardest and still fail." <div class="example"><span class="arabic" dir="rtl">'-*1* J' 1(J  '-*1*!</span> (iHtart ya rabbi, iHtart!) after bickering with someone who's impossible to please<br /> Oh my God, I can't win!</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">9JFJG EDJ'F)</span> <span dir="ltr">(3eineih malyaana)</span> <br />He's economically comfortable/well-off. Lit. "his eyes are full." <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">(*GJ#DJ \ E*GJ#DJ</span> (bithayya'li/mithayya'li) <br />"I think..." or "It seems to me..." Not as definite/strong as <span class="arabic">(9*B/</span> (ba3taqid), "I believe." <div class="example"><span dir="ltr">100%</span> <span class="arabic" dir="rtl">E4 9'1A (3 E*GJ#DJ 'F 'DCD'E /G 5-</span> (mia 3aaref, bass mithayya'li inn il-kalaam da SaHH meyya bil-meyya)<br /> I don't know, but it seems to me that that's completely right.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">J/G .AJA)</span> (iidu xafiifa) <br />He's a thief, he's light-fingered (lit. his hands are light). <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">C14G H'39</span> (kirau waasi3) <br />Lit. "his potbelly is wide." It can either mean that someone eats a lot, or that he takes a lot of bribes. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">E'3#D4 - E'(J3#D4 AJ</span> (masa'ala - mabyis'ala fi) <br />To not care about (lit. not ask about). <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">:1B'F \ F'JE AJ 'D93D</span> (!ar'aan/naayim fil-3asal) <br />Completely ignorant/unaware of what's going on around you. Kind of like "living under a rock." (Lit. drowning/sleeping in honey.) <div class="example"><span class="arabic">'D/FJ' EBDH() H'F*H F'JEJF AJ 'D93D</span> (id-donia ma'luuba wintu naymiin fil-3asal)<br /> The world's been turned upside-down while you were sleeping.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">2J'/) 'D.J1 .J1JF</span> (ziyaadit il-xeir xeirein) <br />You can't have too much of a good thing. You could say this to someone if they give you a gift of something that you already have. <br /><br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">E3- - JE3- (@__ 'D'16</span> (misiH - yimsaH bi-s.o. il-arD) <br />To wipe the floor with someone. Used just like the English expression. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">GJ 9'J2) -/ JG2Q#G' HJE3- (G' 'D'16</span> (heyya 3ayza Hadd yihazza'ha wa-yimsaH biiha l-arD)<br /> She needs someone to cut her down to size and wipe the floor with her.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">E','(*H4 HDQ'/)</span> (magabituua wallaada) <br />This expression describes someone who thinks they're so great, no one else can come close to their amazingness. <div class="example"><span class="arabic">-'33 'F EH6H9 'D(F'* E4 D'BJG /G .DI CD H'-/ AI 'D(D/ A'C1 FA3G DB7G H E','(*H4 HD'/G</span> (Haasis innu mawDuu3 il-banaat mia la'ya da xalla kulle waaHid fil-balad faakir nafsu lu'Ta wa-magabituua wallaada)<br /> I feel like this situation, with girls not being able to find [husbands], has made everyone in the country think himself a real catch and the world's most amazing guy.<br /><br /> <span class="arabic">/G E4CD*G 'FG 'D%9D'E GDD DG C*J1 H.D'G JA*C1 'FG 'DE.1, 'DDI E','(*H4 HD'/)  5-J- GH DG -','* CHJ3) DCF E4 DD/1,) /I</span> (da moakiltu innu l-i3laam hallil lu kitiir wa-xallaah yiftikir innu l-muxrig illi magabituua wallaada, saHiiH hoowa lu Hagaat kwayyesa laakin mia lid-daraga di)<br /> His problem is the media made a big deal about him and made him think he's a director like no other; yeah, he's good, but not that good.</div> <br /><span dir="rtl" class="arabic">72Q</span> (Tozz) <br />A not-very-polite interjection. Used on its own, it's equivalent to "So what!" or "Whatever!" Used with the preposition <span class="arabic">AJ</span>, it means "To hell with..." A few years ago Mohamed Mahdi Akef, then the head of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, famously said <span class="arabic">72 AJ E51</span> (Tozz fi maSr), "To hell with Egypt," or "Screw Egypt," and that caused some controversy. <br /> <br /><span class="back">&larr; <a href="vocab.html">All vocabulary lists</a></span> <span class="forward"><a href="colloq3.html">More colloquial expressions/idioms</a> &rarr;</span> <br /> </div> <div id="footer"> <p><a href="mailto:webmaster%20(at)%20desert-sky%20(dot)%20net">Contact</a></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>