Arabic Slang ~ similar to USA?

[palilover 1]

I wouldn't recommend any american using american slang when talking with arabs. It's always taken offensive and doesn't make people look classy.

If they are coming here they need to adapt to it.

Most of them learn it from watching American tv anyways:) At least my husband has picked up on some of the more common stuff....but he does not say it too much though

[morocco4ever 63]

I wouldn't recommend any american using american slang when talking with arabs. It's always taken offensive and doesn't make people look classy.

If they are coming here they need to adapt to it.

Most of them learn it from watching American tv anyways:) At least my husband has picked up on some of the more common stuff....but he does not say it too much though

This is so true. My husband has said phrases that I know, but I have never said. When I asked him where he heard it he tells me from TV.

[S and S 12]

When I was in the middle east I overhead a conversation from some African guys. They definitely weren't from the country I was in and my husband later explained they were refugees. Yet I heard them speaking perfect american street slang. Like I couldn't tell the difference between them and some guys here because they spoke it exactly like they would here. My husband explained that they will pick it up from movies and practice it until they have it perfect. I couldn't believe of all the things to learn from american culture, that street slang would be the favorite thing, lol.

[amal 4]

shoo fee maa fee = whats up

walla safia wafia = not much

chaif haluk = how are u (instead of kaif haluk)

yaaaa salaaaaaaaaaaaaa - ohhhhhhhhh maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan

[S and S 12]

shoo fee maa fee = whats up

walla safia wafia = not much

chaif haluk = how are u (instead of kaif haluk)

yaaaa salaaaaaaaaaaaaa - ohhhhhhhhh maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan

In Iraqi dialect it is "safia dafia" so the dialects have their similarities!

[Henna Rose 0]

I often wonder what the origins are behind some of our crazy sayings and slang ! "Water under the bridge" makes sense, but why is a cow (or mackerel or cannoli) holy? "A bird in the hand..." i never quite understood that one and how about, "Blood from a turnip?"

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

the use of "ch" in chaif is more like accent rather than slang....it kills me when i hear the villagers talking like that...

[PetraPerson101 0]

the use of "ch" in chaif is more like accent rather than slang....it kills me when i hear the villagers talking like that...

It's dialect - that's how I speak.

People can tell I grew up speaking & learned from native speakers (not a book/tape).

Same thing with weird pronunciations - like the gender of words -

kitab-ak ( your book - to a guy )

kitab-ich ( your book - to a lady )

I learned all-out Gulf/Saudi style Arabic in Univ -and- I found out quickly that we (technically) speak *all wrong* in Jordan. XD

Just like when people pronounce my name in Arabic. Some people do it right (Proper: "Qah----"), Others annoy me (Palestinian style: "Gah----" ), while others - downright confuse me: (Amman style: "Jah----")

Edited April 24, 2008 by KyanWan

[amal 4]

Hubster likes to play with the "villager" style Arabic when he's talking to my friends. Now, when one of us calls each other, I always say to him, chaaaaaaaaaaaif hallllluch and he always says..yes, i'm a village GIRL lol. I know the difference but i like to make him laugh.

he'll run around the house singing...chaif, chaif, chaif eno....its hillarious

[sarahaziz 0]

Slang in arabia just sounds nicer said in arabic than english slang said in english.

Insults in arabic are nastier though!

[Donna A 4]

i know my husband and his friends and family if u say the word OK then they tell u patezic block a (long a sound) which means u have a big brick in ur ###. what this has to do with OK is beyond me but its something they find funny.

[♥Sora_9_Dam3a♥ 0]

Don't know any arabic slang, but got a ton of american stuff, my husband always asks me to teach him the lastest slang, which we both learn from the oldest daughter. I am finally getting so old, that I don't know the coolest stuff now. How sad.

that reminds of that scene from Shrek The Third--when he's trying to relate to Artie...lol...don't know if you watched it--but it's hilarious..

Mine told me Happy Weding Birthday i said noooooooo look at the word birth day thinking he meant to say anniversary oh well i knew ha

or the time i told him sit down and keep your pants on...one i will never forget, he goes whattttttttttttttttt????????

A bit OT from the OP but your happy wedding birthday reminds me of my husband. When he had to send me his original birthcertificaet for his ds230 package, he tried to tell me he sent me his happy birthday for immigration...I was like WHAT? lol:)

Beantown is full of slang. Just ride the train on a Friday night nad you'll pick up on loads. I sat next to this girl one time and she was gabbing on her cell phone about how sick everything was. When I was growing up...God I feel old...everything sick was bad. As I listened to her conversation, I realized that in the year 2008, sick is good.....lol

i'm trying to think of what my husband has asked me about....but nothing's coming to mind right now--i'll pay more attention to that...

[Nasturtium 500]

Still totally don't know any slang, but learned a new dialect word a couple of days ago-- Yehella.

[♥Sora_9_Dam3a♥ 0]

heyy...

i just thought of some strange phrases--they're not really slang....but they're phrases that are usually used in arabic--and i think they're used throughout all the different arab countries....

"dammak khafeef"--literally means "your blood is light"--it means that someone has a sense of humor, is funny, or is just nice to be with...it could also mean cute, you can say that something (anything) has "light blood"...lol

you can also say "dammak ta'eel"--literally means "your blood is heavy"--this means that someone is just really annoying, not so pleasant to be around...you could also use it to say that something is ugly...

...there are a lot like this...arabs like to give body parts colors...lol...then a meaning....haha...so for instance, you can say "kirsho akhdar"---which literally means "his belly is green"--and i think that means he's a ladies man...haha...but i think they use that to refer to older men only..lol....

if think of anymore, i'll post em....

[abdo 0]

morocan words:

- kidira : how are you ? for women

- kidir : how are you ? for men

- labass hamdo li allah : i am fine thanks GOD

- brit namchi : i want to go

- brit nakol : i want to eat

- brit nachrob : i want to drink

- ana mrid : i am sick

- kanabrik : i love you

- kankarhak : i hate you

- ana radi namchi : i have to go

- ana fi telefon : i am on the phone

- kidir bebe : how is the baby ?

- kidira okhtak : how is ur sister?

- aji : come here

- safii : ok ok stop

- awani : help me

- brit nchof sahbi : i want to see my friend

- salamo alikom : hello

- kolchi labass : everyone is ok

- ana kantefaraj fi TV : i am watching TV

- ana fi cozina : i am in the kitchen

- kanabri djaj : i like chicken

- kanabri couscous : i like couscous

- kidir joo : how is the weather ?

- besslama : bye bye

- hayad aliya : leave me alone !

- nchofak rada : see you tomorrow

- lyoum : today

- daba : now

i will add more soon