Egyptian Arabic A1, Unit 10: In the street

In the street

Egyptian Arabic A1 · Unit 10

GoalGet attention politely and ask where a place is.

New words

لَو سَمَحْت (law samaḥt) · excuse me (to a man)لَو سَمَحْتِي (law samaḥti) · excuse me (to a woman)شَارِع (shāriʿ) · streetقَرِيب (ʾarīb) · nearبَعِيد (baʿīd) · farمِن هِنَا (min hina) · from here

Explanation

To get a stranger's attention, say لَو سَمَحْت to a man and لَو سَمَحْتِي to a woman. Then ask with فِين: لَو سَمَحْت، المَدْرَسَة فِين؟ means «excuse me, where is the school?». The answer can be قَرِيب (near) or بَعِيد (far), often with مِن هِنَا: قَرِيب مِن هِنَا, «near here». Use مِش to say «not»: مِش بَعِيد. With a feminine noun the adjective changes: المَدْرَسَة بَعِيدَة. You will learn left and right in unit 15.

Say	Meaning
لَو سَمَحْت	excuse me (man)
لَو سَمَحْتِي	excuse me (woman)
قَرِيب مِن هِنَا	near here
بَعِيد	far
مِش بَعِيد	not far

Worked examples

Karim

لَو سَمَحْت، المَدْرَسَة فِين؟

Man

قَرِيبَة مِن هِنَا.

Karim

شُكْرًا.

Man

عَفْوًا.

Karim asks a man the way. Press each line.

Madina

لَو سَمَحْتِي، فِيه مَدْرَسَة هِنَا؟

Woman

أَيْوَه، فِيه. مِش بَعِيدَة.

Madina asks a woman. Press each line.

Near or far? Press each card.

Class activity

Imagine that you are lost in a street. Write two short dialogues, one with a man and one with a woman. Start with لَو سَمَحْت or لَو سَمَحْتِي, ask with فِين, get the answer قَرِيب or بَعِيد and say شُكْرًا. Act them out.

Practice

How do you get a woman's attention in the street?

The picture shows a school. Ask a man where it is.

Press Listen. Is the bank near or far?

Say «it is not far».

The picture shows a city. Say «the street is near».

Mini dialogues

In the street