3.3: Dialogue and Reading
- Page ID
- 151320
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.
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.
Dialogue 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.
| 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 |
Dialogue 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.
| 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 |
Dialogue 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.
| 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 \(\PageIndex{1}\)
Search the internet for a famous Arab celebrity. Share this information with your classmates:
- Celebrity name
- Where is the celebrity from?