Communication and Clarification

Ask someone to slow down, repeat or clarify what they said.

Reading the Latin spelling

This is a simplified learning transcription adapted from the source, not a phonetic alphabet. sh = ش, kh = خ, gh = غ, 3 = ع, and 7 = ح. The numbers represent sounds. Dotted ṣ, ṭ and ḍ mark emphatic consonants; doubled letters indicate a longer consonant. Regional pronunciation and spelling can vary.

Keep a conversation going

• I don’t understand.

  ما فهمتش.

  ma fhmt-sh.

• I don’t know.

  ما نعرف.

  ma n-3rf.

• Slowly, please.

  بشوية عفاك.

  b shwiya 3afak.

• Repeat, please. (To a man)

  عاود عفاك.

  3awd 3afak.

• Repeat, please. (To a woman)

  عاودي عفاك.

  3awdi 3afak.

• What did you say?

  شنو قلتي؟

  shnu glti?

Notice the ending

The source distinguishes 3awd when addressing a man and 3awdi when addressing a woman. Keep that final i in the second form.

Source and audio

Adapted for LearnLahja from Peace Corps/Morocco, Basic Introduction to Arabic, lesson 18 (PDF page 13). English learning notes, layout and simplified Latin spelling are editorial adaptations. LearnLahja is independent and is not endorsed by Peace Corps.

Audio unavailable. The source names a recording covering lessons 16–18, but no playable recording has been verified for this lesson.