Egyptian Arabic A1, Unit 15: Asking the way

Asking the way

Egyptian Arabic A1 · Unit 15

GoalAsk the way and say if a place is near, far or next to another.

New words

قَرِيب / قَرِيبَة (ʾarīb / ʾarība) · nearبَعِيد / بَعِيدَة (baʿīd / baʿīda) · farقُدَّام (ʾuddām) · in front of, aheadجَنْب (ganb) · next toبَعْد (baʿd) · afterعَلَى طُول (ʿala ṭūl) · straight onإِزَّاي أَرُوح…؟ (izzāy arūḥ …?) · how do I get to …?

Explanation

To ask the way, start with لَو سَمَحْت (to a man) or لَو سَمَحْتِي (to a woman). Then ask فِين المَحَطَّة؟ or إِزَّاي أَرُوح المَحَطَّة؟ The answer gives short steps: اِمْشِي دُغْرِي، وِبَعْدِين لِفّ يَمِين. Use قَرِيب and بَعِيد (unit 10) for near and far. For a feminine place add -ة: المَحَطَّة قَرِيبَة. Use جَنْب and قُدَّام to say where a place is: البَنْك جَنْب الصَّيْدَلِيَّة. In Egyptian, ج is said g, so ganb.

Masculine	Feminine	Meaning
قَرِيب	قَرِيبَة	near
بَعِيد	بَعِيدَة	far

Worked examples

Karim

لَو سَمَحْت، إِزَّاي أَرُوح السُّوق؟

Hassan

السُّوق قَرِيب. اِمْشِي دُغْرِي.

Karim

وِبَعْدِين؟

Hassan

بَعْد الصَّيْدَلِيَّة لِفّ شِمَال. السُّوق قُدَّام.

Karim

شُكْرًا!

Karim asks Hassan the way. Press each line.

Where is it? Press each card.

Class activity

Think of a place near you. Give directions to it in three or four short steps, then ask a friend to follow them on a map. Then ask your friend for directions with لَو سَمَحْت، إِزَّاي أَرُوح … ؟

Practice

Say «the market is near».

Say «the station is far».

Say «the bank is next to the school».

Ask a stranger how to get to the cinema.

Press Listen. Where is the pharmacy?

Around town, taxis and directions

Asking the way