Phrases · Dialogue 1 · 12 lines
Greetings & Introductions
Two strangers strike up a conversation on the bus to Amman.
Samir — a traveler from Haifa · Rania — a student from Amman
j / k or arrow keys step through the lines
- Samirالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُم.
א-סלאם עליכם.as-salāmu ʿalaykum.
Peace be upon you.
- Raniaوَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَام.
ועליכם א-סלאם.wa-ʿalaykumu s-salām.
And upon you peace.
The fixed reply — word for word Hebrew ועליכם השלום, down to the ־כם suffix.
- Samirكَيْفَ الْحَال؟
כיף אל-חאל?kayfa l-ḥāl?
How are you?
- Raniaبِخَيْر، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّه. وَأَنْتَ؟
בח'יר, אל-חמד ללה. ואנת?bi-khayr, al-ḥamdu li-llāh. wa-anta?
Fine, praise God. And you?
- Samirأَنَا بِخَيْر أَيْضًا. مَا اسْمُكِ؟
אנא בח'יר איצ'ן. מא אסמך?anā bi-khayr ayḍan. mā ismuki?
I'm fine too. What is your name?
- Raniaاسْمِي رَانْيَا. وَأَنْتَ، مَا اسْمُكَ؟
אסמי ראניא. ואנת, מא אסמך?ismī Rāniyā. wa-anta, mā ismuka?
My name is Rania. And you, what is your name?
ismī = Hebrew שמי, the same noun with the same possessive ־י; the whole exchange maps word for word onto מה שמך.
- Samirاسْمِي سَمِير. تَشَرَّفْنَا يَا رَانْيَا.
אסמי סמיר. תשרפנא יא ראניא.ismī Samīr. tasharrafnā yā Rāniyā.
My name is Samir. Pleased to meet you, Rania.
tasharrafnā — literally 'we have been honored' — is the standard 'pleased to meet you.'
- Raniaأَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا يَا سَمِير. مِن أَيْنَ أَنْتَ؟
אהלן וסהלן יא סמיר. מן אין אנת?ahlan wa-sahlan yā Samīr. min ayna anta?
Welcome, Samir. Where are you from?
- Samirأَنَا مِن حَيْفَا. وَأَنْتِ؟
אנא מן חיפא. ואנת?anā min Ḥayfā. wa-anti?
I am from Haifa. And you?
- Raniaأَنَا مِن عَمَّان. أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا بِكَ فِي الْأُرْدُن!
אנא מן עמאן. אהלן וסהלן בך פי אל-ארדן!anā min ʿAmmān. ahlan wa-sahlan bika fī l-urdun!
I am from Amman. Welcome to Jordan!
ahlan wa-sahlan — the greeting Israeli slang borrowed whole as אהלן; note how bika ('to you') becomes fīk in the Levant.
- Samirفُرْصَة سَعِيدَة يَا رَانْيَا!
פרצה סעידה יא ראניא!furṣa saʿīda yā Rāniyā!
Nice meeting you, Rania!
- Raniaمَعَ السَّلَامَة يَا سَمِير!
מע א-סלאמה יא סמיר!maʿa s-salāma yā Samīr!
Goodbye, Samir!