Thread: Did you learn a little Egyptian Arabic for your trip?

If so, how did you do it? (Find a native speaker? Find a class? Use tapes or a CD? software?)

We'd like to learn a bit, but are having a hard time finding a teacher in my area.

Hi TigerB, I did a TAFE course which was pretty much an adult education recreational type course. But really I learned just as much from a couple of travel phrase books, and checking with Arabic speakers as to pronunciation (which in my case was always shocking anyway).

From the phrase books I learnt all the numbers which was useful and simple words like please, thank you, left, right etc.

The best phrase I learnt that was not in the phrase book was told to me by a friend who had been to Cairo before. Not sure of the proper romanised spelling but it sounds like: ma-fish-wa-loose and means "there is no more money left" very useful in the markets ..l;,

I can recommend the Rough Guide to Egyptian Arabic as a useful phrasebook to take with you. Most of the 'teach yourself Arabic' things around are Modern Standard Arabic rather than the Egyptian version. Although there used to be a book/tape combination called 'Colloquial Arabic of Egypt' by Russell McGuirk - not sure if it's still in print, and I haven't used it before travelling, so not sure how useful it is!

BTW - I think the phrase for 'there is no money' would be pronounced: mafeesh floos
D

I pick up words here and there while in the country. Honestly, I never wanted to learn Arabic - too complicated for me and somehow it never seemed worth it.

MEISSOUN

if you want to have a bash at home there are loads of free resources for learning Arabic on the internet - just download and away you go!

however, i think these courses are really a 2nd best option because there is nothing like face to face tuition. check your library and community centres as they may run some classes.

*not that I've been to Egypt yet, but I'm planning to go...*

I have cds: The Pimsleur Method : Egyptian Arabic.

They're good, but you have to listen over and over and over before you can move on to the next cd. there are 5 cds total in the set that I have. :) I think you can find them at Borders.

(I accidentally stole mine from the library. I thought I'd had someone drop them back off before we moved, but somehow or another, they ended up in Vegas with me!)

I'm leaving on Sunday for Egypt. I've been taking lessons with a private tutor since February. It' sgoing well and i think i'll be able to order food ask questions in restaurant and even use some phrases while shopping. it is complicated tho. but i want to be able to read and speak passable arabic in the next year.

I'm leaving on Friday and frantically trying to brush up on my Egyptian speaking! Hopefully it will come back once I'm there. My hubby is soooo much better at speaking Arabic than I am -- maybe I'll just make him my interpreter!

Thank goodness for phrase books and travellers' dictionaries!

I brought a phrase book with me, and tried to memorize a few words before going to sleep. Very useful: numbers 1-10, thank you, left, right, I already have a husband/boyfriend, no thank you, yes that's okay.


And if you want to shop a lot: could you help me find a cab, could you help me carry this, can I pay with credit card (waving the card around also works like a charm) and ïll be back tomorrow. Take into account that friday and saturday most shops are closed.

I agree with the previous poster regarding the Pimsleur method. That is how my brother improved his Egyptian when he went to Egypt the first time. I speak it fluently, so I don't need any tools or resources, but my brother never really was interested in learning it until his adult years when he bought the Pimsleur CD's. Of course, when you go to Egypt everyone is very helpful in terms of teaching you Egyptian! But don't stress too much, the fact is, most Egyptians speak some degree of fluency in English and they would rather speak English with you so that they can practice their English!!! When I stayed at my cousin's resort in Sharm, none of the employees wanted to speak Arabic with me. They wanted to only speak English so that they can improve their English skills.

I'll bet that came in handy for haggling with Sahar Okasha on your dozen or so costumes! ..g.:

Originally Posted by ChristinaRizkallah

I agree with the previous poster regarding the Pimsleur method. That is how my brother improved his Egyptian when he went to Egypt the first time. I speak it fluently, so I don't need any tools or resources, but my brother never really was interested in learning it until his adult years when he bought the Pimsleur CD's. Of course, when you go to Egypt everyone is very helpful in terms of teaching you Egyptian! But don't stress too much, the fact is, most Egyptians speak some degree of fluency in English and they would rather speak English with you so that they can practice their English!!! When I stayed at my cousin's resort in Sharm, none of the employees wanted to speak Arabic with me. They wanted to only speak English so that they can improve their English skills.

Pimsleur is good, I have this method. They won't teach you the cuss words though. ,m:: Seriously though, just make sure you get the Egyptian Arabic set, because Pimsleur sells a gulf Arabic set as well, which probably won't do you much good in Egypt.

Regards
Priscilla

Originally Posted by rakgirl

I'm leaving on Sunday for Egypt. I've been taking lessons with a private tutor since February. It' sgoing well and i think i'll be able to order food ask questions in restaurant and even use some phrases while shopping. it is complicated tho. but i want to be able to read and speak passable arabic in the next year.

During my 3 Egypt travels,and while on my own i have never needed to speak Arabic to order food or ask questions in restaurants.
In the worst scenario, that is when i get a rush to eat street food i venture into those small koshari joints and just point at whatever i wanna eat..l;,

I found a really funny book called "Making Out in Arabic" (I don't have that kind of aganda, I just bought it for the laugh value, I swear!) It looks like MSA with Egyptian pronunciation.

They have some pretty useful phrases that most people will understand even if they never mastered MSA, and you will definitely make people laugh.

Originally Posted by kamilia

I found a really funny book called "Making Out in Arabic" (I don't have that kind of aganda, I just bought it for the laugh value, I swear!) It looks like MSA with Egyptian pronunciation.

They have some pretty useful phrases that most people will understand even if they never mastered MSA, and you will definitely make people laugh.

Hey, all I have to do to make people laugh is to try to speak Arabic! ..l;,

For some of us, yes, it's so easy. I love those mistakes that make people wipe a tear from their eye...like when I pronounce "I hate you!'' wrong and it becomes " I poop on you!" Yayyyyyyyyyy Arabic!

Although Egyptian and other dialects are all supposed to be easier than MSA, I don't know. Hard.

Originally Posted by kamilia

For some of us, yes, it's so easy. I love those mistakes that make people wipe a tear from their eye...like when I pronounce "I hate you!'' wrong and it becomes " I poop on you!" Yayyyyyyyyyy Arabic!

Although Egyptian and other dialects are all supposed to be easier than MSA, I don't know. Hard.

MSA was my first Arabic, so that seems easy to me. The "easy" thing about dialects is that the grammar is less precise, the language is slightly simplified.

The last time I was studying a dialect, I was practicing by chatting with the teacher in the next room, and told her that I was cooking my husband for Thanskgiving! Not what I meant to say at all!

Dani-as a matter of fact, it did help!

Originally Posted by danidance

I'll bet that came in handy for haggling with Sahar Okasha on your dozen or so costumes! ..g.:

Exactly-my brother was careful to buy the Egyptian arabic!

Originally Posted by jessedan

Pimsleur is good, I have this method. They won't teach you the cuss words though. ,m:: Seriously though, just make sure you get the Egyptian Arabic set, because Pimsleur sells a gulf Arabic set as well, which probably won't do you much good in Egypt.

Regards
Priscilla

Multi-pronged approach. Started with Rosetta Stone - which I enjoyed and did absorb quite a bit - but it isn't fast enough for a part time learner. Then did a Standard Arabic course at University which was very useful - learnt to read and write Arabic characters and letters (which mean you feel less lost when surrounded by Arabic signs - even if you have no idea what they mean); also learnt pronunciation and basic grammar.

With an Egyptian Arabic phrasebook in hand it then became obvious that the most common every day stuff is what is different in Egypt (ie if your Arabic was up to discussing philosophy you probably wouldn't have an issue - but "gidday, how's it goin" will be quite different.) I tried a local Egyptian teacher but picked very little up other than children over here leave home too early and belly dancers are all sluts (no I didn't tell her I was one). Finally, I got another Egyptian to teach me just basic phrases and correct my pronunciation (when he stopped rolling around on the floor laughing).

If you stay in the tourist areas you shouldn't need any Arabic - people who deal with tourists will have better English/German/French that most of us will ever achieve in Arabic. But I think a little language is a mark of respect.

i've also done Pimsleur Egyptian Arabic course - it helped me very much to travel in Egypt on my own especially in Cairo, Baharia, Siwa and other places where they don't speak english that well.
I really enjoy Pimsleur's programme - works well for me and i must say all the phrases worked quite well (were not makin people laugh :) i wish this course had a countinuation!

<Finally, I got another Egyptian to teach me just basic phrases and correct my pronunciation (when he stopped rolling around on the floor laughing).>

..l;, :Alol: ..l;,

Btamal eh ya basha!!!!! LOOOL I know enough Egyptian Arabic, but I think I mastered Gulf Arabic LOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Usually when I speak Arabic, I get surprised reactions. Of course people die laughing, but in a good way, just because they cannot believe that I hold a normal conversation with them LOOOL

I found a really funny book called "Making Out in Arabic" (I don't have that kind of aganda, I just bought it for the laugh value, I swear!) It looks like MSA with Egyptian pronunciation.

Isn't that what we learn anyway? I can't say my name, hello, goodbye, please, thank you or anything useful but I can say "I love you", "darling", "my love", "you are my life"...

My Arabic is like my Maori, only not as good - I can't speak it and know no grammar whatsoever, but I recognise quite a few words or phrases when I hear them now. I'd really like to learn a little. The alphabet puts me off enormously, because when it comes to learning languages I really seem to need to be able to visualise the word and also hear it, to be able to know how to say it, if that makes sense. (Too much audio-lingual French and Latin, I suspect.)

It's sad that we can only talk like whores when we learn from songs ..cr.:

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Isn't that what we learn anyway? I can't say my name, hello, goodbye, please, thank you or anything useful but I can say "I love you", "darling", "my love", "you are my life"...

My Arabic is like my Maori, only not as good - I can't speak it and know no grammar whatsoever, but I recognise quite a few words or phrases when I hear them now. I'd really like to learn a little. The alphabet puts me off enormously, because when it comes to learning languages I really seem to need to be able to visualise the word and also hear it, to be able to know how to say it, if that makes sense. (Too much audio-lingual French and Latin, I suspect.)

I have that same book too. They even teach you how to say: "Do you wanna come home with me" or "My place or yours" VEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRY useful to know ladies LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL ..g.: ..g.: ..g.:

Originally Posted by Sashy

<Finally, I got another Egyptian to teach me just basic phrases and correct my pronunciation (when he stopped rolling around on the floor laughing).>

..l;, :Alol: ..l;,

Yeah Sashy, get some hot guy to teach you LOOOOOOL I bet you will learn alot ..g.: ..g.:

From what I found as well, that they get very flattered when you try to speak Arabic, even with broken accent.

Originally Posted by angelina

I have that same book too. They even teach you how to say: "Do you wanna come home with me" or "My place or yours" VEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRY useful to know ladies LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL ..g.: ..g.: ..g.:

I'm so glad there's someone else with that book. But there are useful things in there too, like "Leave me alone" and "I can't marry you. I have a husband."

My fave is that the whole thing is in MSA, so even things like "Do you want to sleep with me?" or "I can't have sex without a condom" sound like a formal political announcement. YES!

Originally Posted by angelina

Yeah Sashy, get some hot guy to teach you LOOOOOOL I bet you will learn alot ..g.: ..g.:

From what I found as well, that they get very flattered when you try to speak Arabic, even with broken accent.

:tongue:

Originally Posted by angelina

I have that same book too. They even teach you how to say: "Do you wanna come home with me" or "My place or yours" VEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRY useful to know ladies LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL ..g.: ..g.: ..g.:

Actually, we don't even need that book for those purposes. Just look a guy in the eye, be a female in Cairo after Ramadan, wear a short sleeve shirt... YOU'RE TOAST!