Family Expressions

Ask about family relationships and describe siblings, ages and everyday circumstances.

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.

Questions

• How is Mohamed related to you?

  أش كيجيك محمد؟

  ash kay-jik Mohamed?

• How is Amina related to you?

  أش كتجيك أمينة؟

  ash kat-jik Amina?

• How many siblings do you have?

  شحال د الخوت عندك؟

  sh7al d l-khut 3ndk?

• How many sisters do you have?

  شحال من أخت عندك؟

  sh7al mn ukht 3ndk?

• What’s your father’s name?

  شنو سمية باك؟

  shnu smit bbak?

• How old is your brother?

  شحال ف عمر خوك؟

  sh7al f 3mr khuk?

Example statements

• My mom doesn’t work.

  مّي ما خداماش.

  mmi ma khddama-sh.

• My mom and dad are divorced.

  بّا و مّي مطلقين.

  bba u mmi mṭllqin.

• I have two twin siblings.

  عندي جوج خوت توام.

  3ndi juj khut twam.

• I have a younger brother.

  عندي خويا صغر مني.

  3ndi khuya ṣghr mnni.

• My male cousin and I are the same age.

  أنا و ولد عمي قد قد.

  ana u wld 3mmi qd qd.

• My older sister is a teacher.

  ختي اللي كبر مني أستاذة.

  khti lli kbr mnni ustada.

• My younger brother goes to school.

  خويا اللي صغر مني كيقرا.

  khuya lli ṣghr mnni kay-qra.

These are source examples for language practice. You can read them without sharing private details about your own family.

Source and audio

Adapted for LearnLahja from Peace Corps/Morocco, Basic Introduction to Arabic, lesson 29 (PDF page 24). 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 28–30, but no playable recording has been verified for this lesson.