Arabic_for_Dummies

256 Part III: Arabic on the Go

than a taxi. If you’re traveling across the country, not only is taking a bus an economical option, but you also get to enjoy the beautiful scenery up close and personal!

Most Haafilaat (buses) accept prepaid biTaaqaat (tickets). If you take the Haafila frequently, refill your biTaaqa regularly. Otherwise, if you only take a bus occasionally, you’ll be glad to know that most Haafilaat also accept fuluus (foo-loos; cash) as long as it’s small bills. Here are some common terms you may need or encounter if you decide to take a Haafila:

biTaaqat al-Haafila (bee-tah-kat al-hah-fee-lah; bus ticket)

maHaTTat al-Haafila (mah-hah-tat al-hah-fee-lah; bus station/bus stop)

saa’iq al-Haafila (sah-eek al-hah-fee-lah; bus driver)

tawqiit al-Haafila (taw-keet al-hah-fee-lah; bus schedule)

If you want to say “every” as in “every day” or “every hour,” all you do is add the work kul (kool; every) before the noun that describes the time you’re referring to. For example:

kul al-yawm (kool al-yawm; every day)

kul saa’a (kool sah-ah; every hour)

kul niSf saa’a (kool nee-sef sah-ah; every half hour)

kul rubu’ saa’a (kool roo-booh sah-ah; every fifteen minutes)

Talkin’ the Talk

Malika is waiting at the bus stop. She’s trying to figure out which bus to take, so she asks a fellow commuter for information.

Malika: ‘afwan, hal haadhihi al-Haafila tadhhab ‘ilaa waSat al-madiina?

af-wan, hal hah-zee-hee al-hah-fee-lah taz-hab ee-lah wah-sat al-mah-dee-nah?

Excuse me, does this bus go downtown?

Commuter: laa. Haadhihi al-Haafila tadhhab ‘ilaa khaarij al-madiina.

lah. hah-zee-hee al-hah-fee-lah taz-hab ee-lah kahreej al-mah-dee-nah.

No. This bus goes outside of the city.

Chapter 14: Getting from Here to There: Transportation 257

Malika: ‘ayna al-Haafila ‘ilaa waSat al-madiina? eh-yeh-nah al-hah-fee-lah ee-lah wah-sat al-mah- dee-nah?

Which bus goes downtown?

Commuter: al-Haafila raqm ‘ashra. al-hah-fee-lah rah-kem ash-rah.

Bus number 10.

Malika: mataa sataSil al-Haafila raqm ‘ashra?

mah-tah sah-tah-sil al-hah-fee-lah rah-kem ash-rah?

When does bus number 10 arrive?

Commuter: fii ‘ishriin daqiiqa.

fee eesh-reen dah-kee-kah.

In 20 minutes.

Malika: shukran. shook-ran.

Thank you.

Commuter: ‘afwan. af-wan.

You’re welcome.

Boarding a train

The qiTaar (train) is a popular alternative if you’re looking for transportation that’s convenient, fast, affordable, and allows you to do a little sightseeing while you’re on the go. When you board the qiTaar, be ready to provide your biTaaqa to the qiTaar attendant. Although boarding most qiTaar doesn’t require a biTaaqa shakhSiyya (bee-tah-kah shak-see-yah; personal ID card), you should be ready to present one if an attendant asks you for it.

Talkin’ the Talk

Fatima is purchasing a ticket at the train station.

Fatima: ‘uriidu biTaaqa li muraakush.

oo-ree-doo bee-tah-kah lee moo-rah-koosh.

I would like a ticket to Marrakech.

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Clerk: riHla waaHida ‘aw riHla dhahaab wa ‘iyaab? reeh-lah wah-hee-dah aw reeh-lah za-hab wah ee-yab?

One-way or round-trip?

Words to Know

260 Part III: Arabic on the Go

262 Part III: Arabic on the Go

Table 15-1 (continued)

‘as’ila (ass-ee-lah; questions) you should ask when choosing your wujha include:

kayfa aT-Taqs fii haadhaa al-balad? (kay-fah ah-tah-kes fee hah-zah al- bah-lad; How is the weather in this country?)

kayfa aT-Taqs fii haadha al-waqt fii as-sana? (kay-fah ah-tah-kes fee hah-zah al-wah-ket fee ah-sah-nah; How is the weather during this time of year?)

hal hunaaka kathiir min as-suyyaaH hunaaka? (hal hoo-nah-kah kah-theer meen ah-soo-yah hoo-nah-kah; Are there a lot of tourists there?)

hal haadhaa al-makaan muwaafiq li as-‘sura wa al-‘aTfaal? (hal hah-zah al-mah-kan moo-wah-feek lee ah-soo-rah wah al-at-fal; Is this place suitable for the family and for children?)

hal hunaaka tamtii’ li al-’aTfaal? (hal hoo-nah-kah tam-teeh lee al-at-fal;

Is there entertainment for the children?)

hal al-madiina naDHiifa? (hal al-mah-dee-nah nah-zee-fah; Is the city clean?)

hal al-qarya qarriba min al-madiina? (hal al-kar-yah kah-ree-bah meen al-mah-dee-nah; Is the town close to the city?)

mataa tashriqu ash-shams? (mah-tah tash-ree-koo ah-shah-mes; When does the sun rise?)

264 Part III: Arabic on the Go

‘ay waqt al-gharb? (ay wah-ket al-gah-reb; What time is sunset?)

hal ash-shaaTi’ qariib min al-funduq? (hal ah-shah-teeh kah-reeb meen al-foon-dook; Is the beach close to the hotel?)

hal hunaaka matHaf fii al-madiina? (hal hoo-nah-kah mat-haf fee al-mah- dee-nah; Is there a museum in the city?)

Talkin’ the Talk

Stephanie calls her travel agent, Murad, to get his recommendations on where she should go on vacation this year.

Stephanie: ‘ahlan muraad. haadhihi stefanii.

ah-lan moo-rad. hah-zee-hee steh-fah-nee.

Hi Murad. This is Stephanie.

Murad: ‘ahlan stefanii! Kayfa yumkin ‘an ‘usaa’iduki? ah-lan steh-fah-nee! kay-fah yoom-keen ann oo-sah-ee-doo-kee?

Hi Stephanie! How may I help you?

Stephanie: ‘anaa ‘uriidu ‘an ‘adhhab ma’a ‘usratii li riHla fii nihaayat as-sana.

ah-nah oo-ree-doo an az-hab mah-ah oos-rah-tee lee reeh-lah fee nee-hah-yat ah-sah-nah.

I want to go on a trip with my family at the end of the year.

Murad: haadhihi fikra raa’i’a. hah-zee-hee feek-rah rah-ee-ah.

This is an excellent idea.

Stephanie: hal ‘indaka ‘ay naSiiHaat?

hal een-dah-kah ay nah-see-hat?

Do you have any recommendations?

Murad: hal turiidiina ‘an tadhhabii ‘ilaa makaan daafi’?

hal too-ree-dee-nah an taz-hah-bee ee-lah mah-kan dah-feeh?

Do you want to go someplace warm?