5.7: Dialog - (Where Are From?)

Learning Objectives

In this section, you will be able to:

• Introduce yourself to others, by giving your name and telling where you are from.
• Ask others where they are from.

Introduction

Acquaintance and dialogue between members of the Arab community is one of the most important means of communication among them. Arabs like to meet new people and have conversations with them whenever they get the chance to meet them, whether at work, college, street, home, etc. The dialogue usually begins with a greeting, the most common and formal greeting is "Asalaamu Alaikum" ("peace be with you"), the response is "wa alaikum salaam" ("and peace be unto you"). And handshake usually comes with a greeting coupled with eye contact and a smile, after which the two-exchange information to get to know each other.

Dialog 1

In this dialog, the conversation is between two men (Wajdi & Nooh). Wajdi starts the conversation by greeting Noah and asking some questions. In this conversation, you will learn when, and how to use the attached pronouns for first and second-person masculine.

Dialog 1

English	Transliteration	Arabic
Peace be upon you	alsalam ealaykum	السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُم
And may peace be upon you	w ealaykum alsalam	وعَلَيْكُم السَّلام
How are you?	Kayf haluka?	كَيفَ حالُكَ؟
Good, thank God, and you?	Bikhayr Wal-hamdallah, wa anta?	بِخَيْرٍ والحمدُ لله. وأنتَ؟
Good! My name is wajdi... What's your name?	Bikhayr. 'ana asmi wajdi ... ma asmuka?	بِخَيْرٍ. أنا اسْمِي وجدي ... ما اسمُكَ؟
My name is Noah	'ana asmi Nooh	أَنا اسْمِي نوح
Where are you from?	min 'ayn 'anta?	مِنْ أَيْن أَنْتَ؟
I'm from California	'ana min wilayat kalifurnia	أَنا مِنْ وِلايَة كاليفورنيا
From what city in California?	Min 'ayi madina fee wilayat kalifurnia?	مِنْ أَيّ مَدِيْنَةٍ في وِلايَة كاليفورنيا؟
I'm from San Diego	'ana min mdynt san diighu	أَنا مِنْ مَدِيْنَةِ سان دييغو
Pleased to meet you	tasharafna	تَشَرَّفْنَا
Pleased to meet you	tasharafna	تَشَرَّفْنَا

Dialog 2

In this dialog, the conversation is between a man "Waheed" and a woman "Maysaa." Waheed starts the conversation with Maysaa by the greeting, then he asks some questions. In this conversation, you will learn when, and how to use the attached pronouns for first and second person feminine.

Listen to the dialogue.

Shaking hands

Dialog 2

English	Transliteration	Arabic
Good morning	sabah alkhayr	صَباحُ الخَير
Good morning	sabah al noor	صَباح النور
How are you?	Kayf haluki?	كَيفَ حالُكِ؟
Good, thank God, and you?	Bikhayr Wal-hamdallah, wa anta?	بِخَيْرٍ، والحمدُ لله. وأنتَ؟
Good! My name is Waheed... What's your name?	Bikhayr, 'ana ismi Wahid ... ma asmuki?	بِخَيْرٍ. أنا اسْمِي وحيد. ما اسمُكِ؟
My name is Maysaa	'ana ismi Maysaa	أَنا اسْمِي ميساء
Where are you from?	min 'ayn 'anti?	مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتِ؟
I'm from Iraq	'ana min al-eiraq	ِأَنا مِنْ العِرَاق
From what city in Iraq?	Min 'ay mdinat min al-eiraq?	مِنْ أَيِّ مَدِيْنَةٍ من العراق ؟
I'm from Baghdad city	'ana min madinat baghdad	أنا من مَدِيْنَةِ بغداد
Nice to meet you	fursa saeida	فُرصَةٌ سَعيدَةٌ
Thank you	shukran	شُكراً

Dialog 3

In this dialog, the conversation is between a woman “Nadine”, and 3 people from both gender “Dani”, “Hanine” and "Naji”. Nadine starts the conversation with by the greeting, then she asks some questions. In this conversation, you will learn when, and how to use the attached pronoun using first, second and third person masculine and feminine.

Listen to the dialogue.

Meeting new people

Dialog 3

English	Transliteration	Arabic
Hello	Marhaban	مَرْحَباً
Hello	Ahlaan	أَهْلاً
How are you?	Kayfa halukom?	كَيفَ حالُكم؟
Good, thank God	Bikhayr Wal-hamdullah	بِخَيْر والحمدُ لله
My name is Nadine... What's your name?	'ana asmi nadine ... ma asmukum?	أنا اسْمِي نادين ... ما اسمُكُم؟
My name is Dani ...her name is Hanine, and his name is Naji	'ana asmi dani ... heya asmuha hanine ...wa huwa asmuhu naji	أَنا اسْمِي داني ....هي اسْمُها حنين و هو اسْمُه ناجي
Where are you from?	min 'ayn 'antum?	مِنْ أَيْن أَنْتُم؟
We are from Syria	'nhnu min suria	نَحنُ مِنْ سوريا
In which city in Syria?	min ay mdinah fi suria ?	مِنْ أَيِّ مَدِيْنَةٍ في سوريا ؟
I am from the city of Aleppo ....and they are from the city of Damascus	'ana min madinat halaba.... wa hum min madinati dimashq	أنا من مَدِيْنَةِ حَلب.... وهم من مَدِيْنَةِ دِمَشق
Nice to meet you	Tasharrafna	تشرّفنا
We, also	wanahnu aydaan	ونَحنُ أيضاً

Activities

Practice saying these phrases in Arabic.

Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Introduce yourself.

Query \(\PageIndex{2}\)

Introduce yourself to your colleagues, and let them introduce themselves to you. Remember to start with a greeting; try to use different greetings each time you introduce yourself. Ask how they are and where they are from. Make sure to use the right attached pronouns for the second and third person according to gender.

Query \(\PageIndex{3}\)

Answer before flipping the card.

Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Query \(\PageIndex{4}\)

Activity

Search the internet for a famous Arab celebrity. Share this information with your classmates:

• Celebrity name
• Where is the celebrity from?