Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Language
Alexander Hourani
2005
Forward
This is a grammar of the common language spoken in Beirut, hence I call it Grammar of
the Beirutian Language. This grammar is based precisely on the language that I speak.
Dialects:
Spoken by the Christians of Mount Lebanon, mainly the Maronites, including the Shiites
too.
Consonants:
Same as in Beirut.
Vowels:
Diphthongs:
2. Druze:
Almost the same as the Mount Lebanon Christian dialect, but q is pronounced as in
Arabic.
3. Iqlm al-Xarrb:
Spoken by the Sunnites of Iqlm al-Xarrb. It is close to the Mount Lebanon, Sidon and
South dialects.
4. Sidon:
Very close to the Beiruti dialect, but contains influence from the South and Palestine.
5. South:
Consonants:
Vowels:
6. Biq:
Spoken by Christians, Sunnites and Shiites of the Biq. It contains wide variations
within it.
Very close to the Mount Lebanon dialect, it is characterized by i instead of at the end,
by ayn instead of n, and by strong stress.
7. North:
It is diverse and contains elements from Palestine, the South, Mount Lebanon, the Biq
and Hauran.
The people of Jdaydet-Marjeyn speak a different dialect, deriving directly from the
dialect of Hauran, in Syria.
B L D Sd St Bq N M
m a baddi a baddi ma badd ma badd ma a baddi ma badd
badd badday
macml macml macml macml macml macmawl macml macml
ebbk ebbk ebbk ebbk ebbk ebbayk ebbk ebbk
cml cmil cmil cmil cmil cmel cmel cmel
r ri, qri qri r ri ri r
jt jt jt jt jt jayt jt jt
Phonetics:
1. Consonants:
The following is a list of Arabic consonants (in Arabic script and Latin transcription
followed here) and of Beirutian consonants corresponding to them.
[] []
b [b] b [b]
t [t] t [t]
t [] t [t], s [s]
j [] j []
[] []
x [x] x [x]
d [d] d [d]
d [] d [d], z [z]
r [r] r [r]
z [z] z [z]
s [s] s [s]
[] []
[] [s]
[]/[] [d]
[t] [t]
[] [z], [d]
c [] c []
[] []
f [f] f [f]
q [q] []
k [k] k [k]
l [l] l [l]
m [m] m [m]
n [n] n [n]
h [h] h [h]
w [w] w [w]
y [] y []
g [g]
p [p]
v [v]
Every word beginning with a vowel begins in reality with a followed by a vowel. Thus,
akal he ate is in reality akal. Initial followed by a vowel will not be marked during
the course of this grammar except in transliterating Arabic.
In general, all Arabic dental fricative sounds (pronounced by placing the tongue between
the front teeth) become alveolar plosive (pronounced by placing the tongue behind the
teeth) in Beirutian:
Arabic Beirutian
t t
d d
However, under the influence of Turkish, which transforms these into alveoloar
fricatives, and after the spread of Arabic teaching through schools, these sounds are also
pronounced as alveolar plosives:
Arabic Beirutian
t s
d z
The sign q is used here for etymological purposes. It is pronounced as . Vowels before
and after it are pronounced either emphatic or soft. falling after it is always emphatic.
Other long vowels falling after it are often emphatic. There are no strict rules for
pronouncing the vowels either emphatic or soft, after or before q.
In some areas of Beirut, like Mazraca and ar el-Jdd, it is strictly pronounced emphatic. E.g.: lb my
heart.
2. Vowels:
a. Short:
[]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants, x, , r, and sometimes l, q, , c)
E.g.: rb [] he hit
rb [] lord
ber [] grave
s [] diving
cber [] through
mc [] cut
xrf [] goat
ll [] God
a []
(before and after the other consonants)
E.g.: jabal [] mountain
balad [] country
Mammad []
Amad []
Cal []
[]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants, x, , r, and sometimes l, q, , c)
E.g.: Bcyy [] of the B
i [i]
(before and after the other consonants)
E.g.: Bayrtiyy [] of Beirut
miyy [] hundred
e []
E.g.: jebet [] I brought
cabed [] slave
elem [] dream
[]
E.g.: cml [] doer, doing
[]
E.g.: s [] diving
[], []
[]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants, x, , r, and sometimes l, q, , c)
E.g.: r gang
mr red
Cmr
o [o]
(before and after the other consonants)
E.g.: bacdo after him
[]
E.g.: bektb [] I write
u [u]
E.g.: huww he
b. Long:
[]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants, x, , r, and sometimes l, q, , c)
E.g.: cml doer, doing
xdm servant
ry going
ml meeting
judge
yr flying
mm advocate
yr becoming
s diving
rb hitting
[]
E.g.: hy this
[]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants)
E.g.: r become
r fly
hardship
[]
(before and after the other consonants)
E.g.: mn who
[]
E.g.: m walking
jy coming
nahrn two rivers
[]
[]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants, x, , r, and sometimes l, q, , c)
E.g.: xd take
l saying
[]
(before and after the other consonants)
E.g.: hn here
tr bull
[]
E.g.: marm deprived
maml done
/ / /
/
/ /
/
3. Diphthongs:
If a vowel is suffixed to this syllable, thus creating two syllables, and revert to ay and
aw. E.g.: bayt my house; lawn my color. In the case of bt, the suffixed pronouns
create two syllables: b and t, of which the first reverts to bay.
This rule is applied in verbs ending with a vowel or with a geminated consonant, like
ama to protect and cadd to count. When the stem of the verb (am- and cadd-) is
closed by a consonant (E.g.: amt I protected, caddt I counted), the final stem
vowel stays . When a syllable is suffixed to the stem (E.g.: amayna we protected,
caddayna we counted), the stem vowel reverts to ay.
The rule does not apply in some pronouns and adverbs like hnk there, hlk those.
If ay and aw close a syllable in an Arabic word, they stay constant in the Beirutian
derivate. E.g.: maw-jd > Ar. maw-jdu; may-mn > Ar. may-mnu. In the case of
mawjd, the syllable maw is closed by the w, hence it stays maw.
The pattern here is not to close a syllable with two consecutive consonants, as y and t in
bayt. Thus, in bt, when ay of bayt shifts to , the t remains the only consonant to close
the syllable instead of yt. In mawjd, the w of maw is the only consonant to close the
syllable hence it does not revert to because there is no other consonant fpllowing it and
closing the syllable.
In the Biq, Druze and Mount Lebanon dialects, strong accentuation of the diphtongs ay
and aw allows them to stay constant in all cases.
Diphthong ew and uw contracts usually into . E.g.: bewrat > brat I inherit.
Stress refers to the phonetic emphasis made on a syllable in a word; this syllable is
pronounced stronger than the other syllables of the word. E.g.: in the word pho-to-gra-
phy, the second syllable to is the one stressed.
A syllable situated directly after a stressed syllable is called post-tonic. E.g.: the syllable gra in pho-to-gra-
phy is post-tonic.
A syllable situated directly before a stressed syllable is called pre-tonic, and the syllable siutuated before it
is called pre-pre-tonic. E.g.: in pho-to-gra-phi-cal, to is pre-tonic and pho is pre-pre-tonic.
In monosyllabic words, stress falls always on the only existing syllable. E.g.: skt, bayy,
emm.
In duosyllabic words, stress falls usually on the first syllable. E.g.: cabed, kaleb, eker,
walad, sera, akwa, atal, katab, sakat, akal, werit.
In duosyllabic and plurisyllabic words containing one long vowel, stress usually falls on
the syllable containing the long vowel. E.g.: cmel, rye, sul, ym, cemln, ml,
euwn, talta, maber.
In duosyllabic and plurisyllabic words containing two long vowels, stress usually falls on
the syllable containing the last long vowel. E.g.: cra, cmd, ws, mft, cmln,
tmsl, cfrt, ndl. This however has the effect of shortening the first long vowel
especially in fast speech.
In participles beginning with m, stress always falls on the verb stem if the participle is
duosyllabic and on the first syllable of the verb stem if the participle is trisyllabic. E.g:
maktb, mettkal, metammil, metcmil, meftecil, memarr, metfarra, mestnwil,
mestmd, mestacmil, mestarj, metcd.
Particples of verbs beginning with a- (like ajbar) stress the first syllable. E.g: mejbir,
memsik.
5. Consonant changes:
The l of the article el assimilates with the consonant following it. These consonants are:
t
j
d
r
z
s
l
n
E.g: el-ames is pronounced eames.
6. Vowel changes:
The weak vowel e is dropped in a word when it is not stressd, when it is situated in a
closed last syllable and when a vowel is suffixed to its own syllable. E.g: cabed slave,
cabdo his slave; trek (m. active participle of tarak to leave), trk (f.); macmel
factories, macmlo his factories; kteb el-maktb becomes ktb el-maktb and it is
pronounced ktbelmaktb.
The same rule applies to i, o and u. E.g.: werit he inherited, werto they inherited;
ptektob you write, ptektbo you write; byejbur he compells, byejbro they compell.
The weak vowel e may be inserted whenever three consonants collide after a stressed
syllable to relief the unease of pronunciation created by the successive consonants. It is
usually inserted between the first and second consonant. E.g.: ptektbo > pteketbo you
write.
A weak vowel e is usually orally inserted between words when three or more consonants
collide. E.g.: f ktb blo there is a book in front of him, here an e is inserted between
the thre colliding consonants b and b leading to the following pronunciation: ktbeblo.
The e in the article el, being always unstressed, is dropped in the following cases:
when it is preceded by another vowel, hence assimilating with it. E.g.: darbo el-walad
they hit the boy is pronounced darabol walad.
when it comes at the beginning of a sentence or in suspention. In this case, el becomes l.
E.g.: el-walad is pronounced lwalad; el-kteb is pronounced lkteb. If the consonant
following it assimilates with the l, the e may still be pronounced to easen the discomfort
created by pronouncing an initial geminated consonant. E.g.: el-ames may be
pronounced as ames and eames.
when a syllable beginning with two consonant follows it, hence an e is inserted between
the l and the two consonants. E.g.: el-ktb is pronounced lektb.
Any consonant preceding el connects with it in speech, thus making el as a suffix to the
preceding word. An exception is when el is followed by two of three consonants. E.g.: w
el-walad is pronounced wel walad; f el-walad he saw the kid is pronounced fel
walad; f el-ktb he saw the book is pronounced f lektb.
Word formation:
According to traditional Arabic grammar, words (kalimt) are based on roots or stems,
which are made of three letters (hurf) represented by the model (mzn) f--l, where f
represent the first letter, the second and l the third. To these letters are added directions
or movements (harakt), i.e. vowels, by which the meaning and type of word (noun,
adjective, verb etc.) is designated. E.g.: the verb qatala belongs to the model faala and
the noun qatlu belongs to the model falu; the vowels of faala and falu separates the
meaning of the two and designates the first as a verb and the second as an infinitif. a
(fathah), i (kasrah) and u (dammah) are considered vowels. (alif), (y) and (ww)
are considered letters. The absence of any vowel after a consonant is called sukn
calmness, immobility.
1. Simple (mujarrad), whose letters are all original, i.e. whose letters are the
letters of the root modeled on f--l. Simple nouns can be:
Triletter: formed of three letters
Quadriletter: formed of four letters
Quintaletter: formed of five letters
Verbs can be trilleter and quadriletter only.
E.g.: ilmu is a trilleter whose letters are -l-m and whose root model is filu;
jafaru is a quadriletter whose letters are j--f-r and whose root model is falalu.
2. Augmented (mazd), for whom other letters are added besides the root letters.
Augmentation occurs as such:
1. Augmenting the root letters f--l: (a) . E.g.: karrama (faala). (b) l.
E.g.: ihmarra (ifalla). (c) Both l and . E.g.: aramramu (faalalu). (d)
Both f and . E.g.: marmartu (fafalu).
2. Augmentation by addition of a letter into the root: (a) (hamzah). E.g.:
akbaru (afalu); intalaqa (infaala); amalu (faalu); hamru
(falu). (b) (alif). E.g.: qtala (fala); salm (fal); masjidu
(mafilu). (c) and y (y). E.g.: yarmau (yafalu) (n.); yaktubu (yafulu)
(v.); sayrafu (fayalu); jaddu (falu). (d) and w (ww). E.g.: jadwalu
(fawalu); ajzu (falu); iawaba (ifawala). (e) m. E.g.: maqtalu
(mafalu); suthumu (fulumu). (f) n. E.g.: nuqtilu (nufilu); inkasara
(infaala). (g) t. E.g.: taktubu (tafulu); taqaddum (tafaul); iatu
(filatu). (h) h. E.g.: hizabru (hifalu). (i) s. E.g.: istahmala (istafala).
(j) l. E.g.: zaydalu (falalu).
Following these rules, words are divided into five categories for which there are specific
formation models:
1. Infinitifs (masdir):
The forms of the infinitifs are irregular and for some forms of verbs there may
exist many forms of infinitifs. With the infinitives are counted also the supines
(masdir mmiyyah) which begins with an m. These are the infinitif forms
with the verbs they derive from:
To these are added another long list of forms of infinitifs which have to be
memorized with the verbs. E.g.: falu, faalu, failu, fulu, fualu, filu, fialu,
falah, faalah, failah, fulah, filah, fulu, fulah, filu, filah, falu,
falah, fulu, falnu, faalnu, filnu, fulnu, falu, tiflu, infilu,
fayallah, ful, fil, filu, tifilu, flu, filu, fal, iflu etc.
2. Derivates (mutaqqt):
filu faala
faila
faula
afala
istafala
failu faila
faula
afalu (m.), falu (f.) faila
faula
falnu (m.), fal / falnah (f.) faila
faala
falu faula
faala
faila
falu afala
falu faula
faalu faula
falu faula
fulu faula
mufalu afala
mufilu afala
mufailu faala
mufilu fala
mutafilu tafala
mutafailu tafaala
munfailu infaala
muftailu iftaala
mufallu ifalla
mufallalu ifallala
mustafilu istafala
mufllu iflla
mufawilu ifawala
mufawwilu ifawwala
mufalilu falala
mutafalilu tafalala
mufanlilu ifanlala
mufalillu ifalalla
falu
filu
fulu
faulu
falu
falu
miflu
miflu
mifalu
fualah
falah
falah
filah
fulah
miflah
filu
fualu
fuaylu
falu
failu
maflu fuila
falu fuila
failu fuila
fulu fuila
mufalu ufila
mufaalu fuila
mufalu fila
muftaalu uftuila
munfaalu infuila
mufallu ufulla
mutafaalu tufuila
mutafalu tufila
mustafalu ustufila
mufllu uflla
mufawalu ufila
mufawwalu ufuwwila
mufalalu fulila
mutafalalu tufulila
mufanlalu ufunlila
mufalallu ufulilla
afalu
mifalu
miflu
mifalah
mufulu
mufulah
4. Diminutifs (tasr):
fuaylu
fiaylu
fuayilu
fuaylu
5. Verbs:
faala yafulu
faala yafalu
faala yafilu
faila yafilu
faila yafalu
faula yafulu
falala yufalilu
Most of the irregularities in Arabic forms, as the infinitive forms, originate from phonetic
dialectic variations inside the Arabic language.
Beirutian inherited only a part of these form, abandoning most of the complexities.
However, the irregularities of Arabic were inherited in Beirutian and this is shown clearly
in the infinitives and in irregular plurals.
Although the etymology of most Beirutian words is known, especially those deriving
directly from Arabic, it is not possible to give a classification of their forms as it is done
with the classification of Arabic words. The only forms which follow a regular pattern
are:
1. Verbal forms and verbal conjugation
2. Active and passive participles
3. Some infinitive forms
4. Dual nouns ending with n and tn
5. Feminine plural nouns ending with t
6. Masculine and feminine nouns ending with n
7. Comparatives and superlative of the form aCCaC
Most of the Arabic forms had crystallized in Beirutian leaving the language with words
which cannot correlate with each others due to changes of original meaning and form
designation. E.g.: the two words mamal factory and maktab office, although
belonging to the common Arabic form mafalu indicating place, had lost their link with
the original menaing which is place of work for the first and place of writing for the
second due to their acquisition of a secondary meaning.
In general, while most Arabic form are deverbal, in the sense that from a simple verb
stem we can derive a multiplicity of verbs, nouns and adjectives all having multiple
designations and meanings, the only regular forms which can be be derived from
Beirutian verbs are intensive verbs, causative verbs, reciprocal verbs, passive verbs,
participles and some infinitives. Although many words of deverbal origin exist in
Beirutian, no special form of specific designation and meaning can be assigned to them.
E.g.: ktb derives from kitbu which is an infinitive of the verb kataba; however, while
kitbu can be assigned to a form filu which designates the infinitive mood and on
which other forms are modeled and while its derivation from the verb kataba can be
asserted through this form, no specific form with a specific designation can be assigned
to ktb because it had lost its infinitive designation and because the form CCC cannot be
used to derive and create any word from any verb. The word ktb has to be taken with the
meaning it has without any concern over its form.
The list given below shows the phonetic correlation between Arabic words and their
direct Beirutian derivates. They illustrate the patterns of translation between the two
languages including the possibilities of variation.
Translation of words from Arabic to Beirutian follows the phonetic rules discussed in the
phonetics section.
Based on the list given above the following translation pattern can be deducted, which
pattern is a model for the translation of any Arabic word into Beirutian, with the presence
of some exceptions.
CaCCu CaCeC
CaCCaCu CaCCaC
CaCaCu CaCaC
CaCiCu CeCeC
CaCCu CaCC
CaCC (p.) CaCCa
CaCCu CaCCa
CaCCiyah CaCCiyy
CiCCu CeCeC
CiCaCu CaCaC
CiCCu CCC
CiCCaCu CaCCaC
CuC2u CuC2
CuCaCu CoCaC
CuCuCu CeCeC
CuCCiCu (p.) CaCCiC
CuCCiyah CaCCya
CuCCu CuCC
CCaCu CCaC
CCiCu CCeC
CCCu CCC
CCCu CCCa
aCCaCu aCCaC
aCCCu (p.) CCC
aCCC
aCCiCu oCCCa, eCCCa
aCCuCnu eCCuCn
aCCuCu oCCCa, eCCCa
aCCuCu (p.)
aCCiCu (p.) aCCeC
aCCCu (p.) aCCC
iCCaCu eCCaC
iCCiCu oCCCa, eCCCa
iCCCu eCCC
iCCCu eCCC
uCCCu eCCC
uCCaCu oCCCa, eCCCa
uCCuCu oCCCa, eCCCa
taCaC2uCu taCaCCuC
taCCCu (p.) tCCC
taCCiyah taCCiy
taCCCu teCCC
tiCCCu teCCC
yaCCCu yaCCC
CaCCiCu (p.) CaCCiC
CaCCCu (p.) CCCC
CaCCiC (p.) CaCCiC
CaCCin (p.) CaCC
CaCCC (p.) CCCC
CaCCiCu (p.) CaCCiC
CaCCiCu (p.) CaCCeC
CaCCtu (p.) CCCt
CaCCiCu (p.) CaCCiC
CaCCl CaCCa
CiCC CeCCa
CuCC CeCC
CiCCCu CeCCC
CaC2Cu CaC2C
CiCCu CeCCy
CaCCu CaCCa
CuCaCu CuCaC
CaCCnu CaCCn
CaCaCnu CaCaCn
CuCCnu CeCCn
CiCCnu CeCCn
CayCCu CCC
CuCCCu CeCCn
CuCCaCu CeCCC, CeCeCC
CayCaCn CayCaCn
CuCCuCnu CeCCeCn
CiCCiyu CiCCiya
CayCaCu CayCaC
CaCCiCu CeCCeC
CaCCu CCC
CaCC
CiC2C CeC2C
CaC2C
CuC2ayCu CeC2C
CiCCCu CaCCC
CaCCaCu CaCCaC
CaCCu CaCC
CaCCaCu CaCCaC
CiCCaCu CaCCaC
CiC2awCu CaC2C
CuC2Cu CuC2C
CuCCCu CaCCC
CuC2aCu CeCCoC
CiC2iCu CeC2oC
CiCCCu CeCCC
CaCCCu CeCCC
CuCCCu CeCCC
CaCCaCnu CaCCaCn
CaCCCu CCCC
CaCaCCuCu CCeCCuC
CuCCCu CaCCC
CaCaCnu CaCaCn
CiCCawCu CaCCC
CaCCaCtu CaCCaCt
CiCCCu CaCCC
The majority of words are simple formed of a single stem except for loans from
languages other than Arabic. E.g.: ktb book.
Compound words are rare, except for loans from languages other than Arabic. E.g.:
resml capital from rs head and ml money.
Many words are deverbal (i.e. deriving from a verb), especially infinitifs and participles.
This pattern concerns mainly all nouns, adjectives, participles, infinitifs and verbs
directly deriving from Arabic. E.g.: katab has the following deverbal words: kteb, ktb,
katb, kitb, maktb, maktab etc. But some words deriving from other languages have
deverbal derivates which do not exist in the original language. E.g.: fara to disperse
from Syriac pra to cut, to separate has fra and fare (inf.), fre (act. part.), mafr
(pas. part.). Also, talfan to call, to phone from telefn or talifn telephon has mtalfin
(act. part.).
Denominative words (i.e. deriving from a noun or adjective) exist, part of which have
their origins in Arabic. Part of these derive also from loan words. E.g.: talfan to phone
from telefn telephon.
Noun:
1. Gender:
The singular neuter (inanimate objects) is usually designated by the masculine and
sometimes by the feminine depending on the gender of the word in the original language.
E.g.: twl table < Italian tavola (f.).
The neuter plural words take usually the feminine ending especially if the word is
borrowed from a language other than Arabic. E.g.: motr motor, motrt motors.
The feminine ends usually in a/, except in certain words which in Arabic are feminine
but do not end in ah, and in certain words borrowed from other languages. E.g.: beseklt
bicycle < French bicyclette, besekltt bicycles.
2. Number:
The dual comes rare;y in a direct genitive construction as bt el-malek the house of the
king. E.g.: baytn el-malek the two houses of the king. An indirect genitive
construction is more frequent. E.g.: el-kalbn tab abk your fathers two dogs.
But irregular plurals can occur. E.g.: Bayrt Beirutis (m. and f.).
3. Paradigms:
Here are presented examples of words with their dual and plural forms, as well as
singular and plural construct forms. Thus for ab, abu and ab are the construct forms.
ax brother (m.)
S ax axu, ax
D axxn
P axawt axawt
P exwt exwt, exwet
ym resurrection (f.)
S ym ymet, ymt
D ymtn
P ymt ymt
br well (m.)
S br br
D brn
P byr byr
1
With suffixed pronouns if stress is on the pronoun. E.g.: mlo doing it.
2
With suffixed pronouns. E.g.: sawto his voice.
neser eagle (m.)
S neser nesr
D nesrn
P nsr nsr
t whale (m.)
S t t
D tn
P tn tn
a room (f.)
S a t, et
D tn
P uwa uwa
jhel ignorant
M S jhel jhel, jhl
F S jhl jhelt, jhlet
C P jehhl jehhl
xyen traitor
M S xyen xyen, xyn
F S xyn xyent, xynet
C P xawan xawanet, xawant
judge
M S , 4
F S y yet
C P ut ut
akm doctor
M S akm akm
F S akm akmet, akmt
M D akmn
F D akmtn
C P ekama ekama
an rich
M S an an, an5
F S aniyy aniyyet
M D aniyyn
F D aniyytn
C P aniya, anya
atl killed
M S atl atl
F S atl atlet
C P atla
4
With suffixed pronouns. E.g.: qdna our judge.
5
With suffixed pronouns.
S xanjar xanjar
D xanjarn
P xanjer xanjer
wd valley (m.)
S wd wd, wd6
D wdyn
P wedyn wdyn
Bayrt Beiruti
M S Bayrt
F S Bayrtiyy
M D Bayrtiyyn
F D Bayrtiytn
C P Bayrt, Bayrtiyy
M P Bayrtiyy, Bayrtiyyn
F P Bayrtiyyt
Lebnn Lebanese
M S Lebnn
F S Lebnniyy
M D Lebnniyyn
F D Lebnniytn
C P Lebnniyy
6
With suffixed pronouns.
M P Lebnniyy, Lebnniyyn
F P Lebnniyyt
4. Collective nouns:
There are collective nouns which indicate a kind of things. These dont have plurals.
They have derivates which indicate an item of that kind, which are constructed by
suffixing a/ or y/y to the original word.
Thus, laymn refers to orange in general as in the expression bena laymn we sold
orange. When we want to refer to an orange, i.e. one item of the species, we say laymn
an orange and el-laymn the orange (dual laymntn two oranges; pl. laynt
oranges and el-laymnt the oranges).
a. Definite:
el- the
b. Indefinite:
Singular: a; some
ada / adan someone
i ada / adan someone
wad / wed someone
Plural: ns / lam indefinite plural (lit. people)
kam few; some
kam wad / wed few ones
i kam some; a few
1. Personal Pronouns:
a. Nominative:
S P
1 ana; an nena; nen
I we
2 m. enta; ent ento
you, thou you
f. ent
you, thou
3 m. huww henn
he, it they
f. hiyy
she, it
b. Accusative:
S P
1 eyyn eyyna
me us
2 m. eyyk eyykon
you, thou you
f. eyyk
you, thou
3 m. eyy eyyhon
him, it them
f. eyyha
her, it
S P
1 -n -na
me us
2 m. -ak7; -k8 -kon
you, thou you
f. -ik9; -k10
you, thou
3 m. -o11; - / 12 -on; -hon13
him, it them
f. -a; -ha14
her, it
E.g.:
7
After consonant.
8
After vowel.
9
After consonant.
10
After vowel.
11
After consonant.
12
After vowel.
13
Less frequent form.
14
Less frequent form.
he hit her
d. Suffixed to prepositions:
S P
1 - -na
me us
2 m. -ak15; -k16 -kon
you, thou you
f. -ik17; -k18
you, thou
3 m. -o19; - / 20 -on; -hon21
him, it them
f. -a; -ha22
her, it
E.g.:
15
After consonant.
16
After vowel.
17
After consonant.
18
After vowel.
19
After consonant.
20
After vowel.
21
Less frequent form.
22
Less frequent form.
f. maik
with you, with thou
3 m. mao maon; mahon
with him, with it with them
f. maa
with her, with it
2. Demonstrative Pronouns:
3. Reflexive pronouns:
l- self
la-l- by ()self
menn- la-hl- by ()self
l-wad- on () own; alone
nafs- the same
zt the same
bnafs- by () self
4. Possessive pronouns:
S P
1 el elna
la-el la-elna
mine ours
2 m. elak elkon
la-elak la-elkon
yours, thine yours
f. elik
la-elik
yours, thine
3 m. elo elon; elhon
la-elo la-elon; la-elhon
his, its theirs
f. ela; elha
la-ela; la-elha
hers, its
S P
1 taba tabana
mine ours
2 m. tabaak tabakon
yours, thine yours
f. tabaik
yours, thine
3 m. tabao tabaon
his, its theirs
f. tabaa
hers, its
5. Relative Pronouns:
Note: The initial e in ell assimilates with the preceding vowel. E.g.: ell is
pronounced ll. Ell is usually abbreviated into l after a vowel, e.g.: l, and as el after
a consonant, e.g.: f el.
6. Interrogative Pronouns:
; what
Responses: ma nothing
something; anything (with
negation)
E.g.: hayda?Hayda ma. What is this?This is nothing.
hayda?Hayda . What is this?This is something.
Hayda ?Hayda . What is this?This is something.
hayda?Hayda ma. What is this?This is nothing.
ambtamel?Ma ambamel . What are you doing?I am not
doing anything.
f?Ma f . What is there?There is
nothing.
ambtkol ?Teffa. What are you eating?An apple.
ambtkol?Teffa. What are you eating?An apple.
f () is there ( ) ?
mn who; whom
kf how
wn (wayn-) where
Responses: a - to
lahn here; to here; hither
lahonk there; to there
mta when
E.g.: Ayya ensn byamel hk?Hk ns. What sort of persons would do
so?Such persons.
Ayya ktb nat?Hayda. Which book did you choose?
This one.
La-ayya axe t el-ktb?La-el-mallem.
To which person did you give the
book?To the teacher.
Men-ayya axe axadet el-ktb?Men el-mallem.
From which person did you takee
the book?From the teacher.
l; l; la why;what for
E.g.: L amptamel hk?Ma baref. Why are you doing so?I dont
know.
La hal-?Wala la-ayya . What is this for?Not for
anything.
23
Before consonant.
24
Before vowel.
Why did you do so?So that I
would be able to come back
tomorrow.
7. Indefinite Pronouns:
something
ayalla anything
ayya anything
u makn anything; whatever
ma nothing
kel everything
kello all of it
el-kel everything; all
tn (m.); tny (f.); tnyn (pl.) other; the other; the others
wad tn(m.); wed tny (f.); ns tnyn (pl.) another; another one; others
ada tn; adan tn another; another one
1. Qualificative:
It is added after the qualified noun, except for superlative adjectives and for numeral
adjectives which come before the noun if not used with the definite article.
E.g.: ktb aswad a black book
awwal ktb the first book
awal essa the longest story
If using the definite article the numeral and superlative adjectives may be added after the
noun.
E.g.: el-balad el-akbar the biggest country
el-balad el-tn the second country
In direct genitive constructions, the adjective is added after the genitive noun.
E.g.: ras el-jumhriyy el-metaram
the honorable president of the republic
In indirect genitive constructions, the adjective follows the noun it qualifies or precede it
if it is a superlative or numeral.
E.g.: awwal ras lal-jumhriyy
the first president of the republic
ktb zr tabana
a small book of us
2. Comparison:
a. aCCaC form:
The aCCaC form is used for both comparatives and superlatives. E.g.: akbar bigger,
biggest.
When it qualifies a noun, the comparative is placed after it without the use of the definite
article for both.
E.g.: balad akbar a bigger country
men is used to express than.
E.g.: wad akbar menn someone bigger than me
ktb akbar men el-tn a book bigger than the other one
When it is used as predicate, the subject is always definite and takes el. The adjective
doesnt take el. The third person pronoun may be added as a copula between the subject
and predicate. In this case, the definite article can be added to the comparative.
E.g.: hayda el-balad akbar this country is bigger
hayda el-ktb akbar men haydk
this book is bigger than that
hayda el-ktb huww akbar men haydk
this book is bigger than that
hayda el-ktb huww el-akbar men haydk
this book is bigger than that
b. aktar, aal:
Instead of the aCCaC form, aktar more and aal less may be used to express
comparisons of inferiority and superiority.
As comparatives, aktar and aal are placed after the adjective. It is used more when the
adjective is a predicate.
E.g.: balad an aktar b-el-petrol a coutry richer in petrolium
hayda mn aktar this is better (lit. this is more good)
hayda mn aal this is less good
men is used to express relation.
E.g.: rejjl an aktar menno a man richer than him
rejjl an aal menno a man less rich than him
hayda mn aktar men haydk
this is better than that
hayda mn aal men haydk this is less good than that
As superlatives, aktar most (lit. the thing that is the most) and aal least (lit. the
thing that is the least) are placed before the adjective in subject or predicate positions. If
the third person is added as a copula, they take the definite article in a predicate position.
Bn and baynt are used to express relation.
E.g.: hayda aktar kbr this is the biggest
hayda el-akm huww el-aktar marf
this doctor is the most known
hayda el-akm huww el-aal marf
this doctor is the least known
hayda el-akm huww el-aktar marf bn el-okama
this doctor is the most known among
doctors
hayda el-akm huww el-aal marf bn el-okama
this doctor is the least known among
doctors
aktar malb huww hayda the most wanted thing is this
aal malb huww hayda the least wanted thing is this
aktar malb bn hl huww hayda
the most wanted thing among these is
aal malb bn hl huww hayda
the least wanted thing among these is
this
aktar memma more than and aall memma less than are used before verbs.
E.g.: balad an aktar memma ptetawwar
a country rich more than you imagine
balad elo aal memma byenaka anno
a country beautiful less than it is
spoken about
c. add, metel:
For quantity and quality equation, add as as is used after the adjective. metel as can
be used instead of add.
E.g.: walad awl add ab a boy as tall as his father
walad awl metel ab a boy as tall as his father (lit. a boy
tall as his father)
hayda el-walad awl add ab
this boy is as tall as his father
3. Demonstrative:
The demonstratives can be placed before or after the noun. They agree in gender and
number with the noun they qualify except for hal- which is common.
S P
1 -; -y25 / -y26 -na
my our
2 m. -ak27; -k28 -kon
your, thy your
f. -ik29; -k30
your, thy
3 m. -o31; - / 32 -on; -hon33
his, its their
f. -a; -ha34
her, its
E.g.:
S P
1 aby; aby abna
bayy bayna
my father our father
2 m. abk abkon
bayyak baykon
your father, thy father your father
f. abk
bayyik
your father, thy father
3 m. ab abuwon; abhon
bayyo bayyon; bayhon
his father their father
f. abuwa; abha
bayya; bayha
her father
2. em mother:
25
After vowels.
26
Lightening of y.
27
After consonant.
28
After vowel.
29
After consonant.
30
After vowel.
31
After consonant.
32
After vowel.
33
After vowel.
34
After vowel.
S P
1 emm emna
my mother our mother
2 m. emmak emkon
your mother, thy mother your mother
f. emmik
your mother, thy mother
3 m. emmo emmon; emhon
his mother their mother
f. emma; emha
her mother
5. Indefinite Adjectives:
1. Place:
el-ym today
kell ym every day
yawmiyyan daily
b-el-aher monthly
b-el-sen yearly
kell sen each year
halla now
bass halla; halla bass just now
marra once; once upon a time
E.g.: kenet marra ambem hn I was once walking here
kn yamakn once upon a time
wala marra; abadan never
kel marra all the times
dyman always
amrr sometimes; often; occasionally
datan frequently; often; usually
b-ayya waet at any time
aktar mostly
all; all ma (with verbs) rarely
E.g.: ambamel hal- all I am rarely doing this thing
all ma ambamel hal- I am rarely doing this thing
mbre yesterday
abel mbre the day before yesterday
bukra tomorrow
baed bukra the day after tomorrow
abel; men abel before; earlier
badn; men baed after; later; afterwards; in the future
baed yet; still; not yet
E.g.: baed ma wolo they didnt arrive yet
bad- (with the suffixed pronouns)
still
E.g.: badn ambamelon I am still doing them
an jdd recently
maxxar (m.); maxxara (f.); maxxarn (pl.)
late
e.g.: eja maxxar he came late
mbakkar (m.); mbakkara (f.); mbakkrn (pl.)
early
bakkr soon; early
fard marra at once
awwal first of all
b-el-awwal first; at the beginning
b-el-axr at last; finally
la-addt halla up to now; until now
kamn; marra tny again; also
E.g.: kamn ml hayd! do this again!
bass only
E.g.: ml hayd bass! do this only!
wata then; back then
men wata since
lal-abad for ever
be-asna meanwhile
xala already
E.g.: melta xala I already did it
men ym w rye henceforth
daraj daraj step by step
way way gradually
faja suddenly
der instantly; straightway
bel-waet in time
ya there he is
S P
1
2 m.
f.
3 m. yah, yahuww yahenn
f. yaha, yahiyy
hiyy there he is
S P
1 hiyyn hiyyna
2 m. hiyyk hiyykon
f. hiyyk
3 m. hiyy hiyyhon
f. hiyyha
3. Manner:
hk; hk; haykk; haykk so; as such; in this manner; thus; like that
E.g.: hk namal it was done as such
way somewhat; somehow; nearly
E.g.: huww way zr he is somehow small
yan somewhat; somehow; nearly
E.g.: huww zr yan he is somehow small
la hk w la haykk neither that way nor the other
bel-aa actually; in reality
bel-we actually; in reality
aban naturally
datan usually
bel-d usually
adan on purpose
an aed on purpose
4. Quantity:
yes
naam yes
an jadd seriously; truly
akd certainly; for sure; surely; sure
bel-feel indeed; in fact
bel-aa in reality; actually
men dn akk no doubt
yemken; yemken enn- (with verbs)
maybe; probably; possibly; perhaps
momken; momken enn- (with verbs)
maybe; probably; possibly; perhaps
aeb hardly
la; la no
akd la not at all; surely no
al-f in vain; vainly
abadan never
Negation:
mann- to be not
S P
1 mann manna
I am not we are not
2 m. mannak mankon
you are not you are not
f. mannik
you are not
3 m. manno mannon; manhon
he is not they are not
f. manna; manha
she is not
35
With verbs, only before ra and am.
Numerals:
wad and wed come after the noun they qualify. E.g.: rejjl wad one man.
tnn is rarely used instead of the dual form. It is placed after the noun it qualifies without
taking the definite article and sometimes before it. Its qualified noun takes the plural.
E.g.: klb tnn 2 dogs
tnn klb 2 dogs
Numbers from 3 to 19 have two form: a separate and a construct form. The separate form
is used after the noun it qualifies and takes the definite article. The qualified noun takes
the plural. E.g.: el-neswn el-tlt the 3 women. The separate forms of 11 to 19 are used
as ordinal adjectives.
The construct form is used before the noun with no article. The noun is put in the plural
from 3 to 10, e.g.: ar rjl 10 men; and in the singular from 11 to 19, e.g.: daar rejjl
11 men.
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 are used with the construct form which takes
a singular noun. E.g.: mt rejjl 100 men.
awwal is common when it is placed before the noun it qualifies. E.g.: awwal rejjl the
first man; awwal mara the first woman; awwal lbn the first players. When placed after
the noun it qualifies it takes the definite article and it is only used with the masculine.
E.g.: el-rejjl el-awwal the first man. The other ordinals of 1 are placed after the nouns
they qualify and take the definite article. E.g.: el-mara el-awl the first woman.
The rest of the ordinals from 2 to 10 use the masculine forms as common forms placed
before their qualified nouns in the same manner as awwal. Whenever placed after the
noun, the ordinals take the definite article and agree in gender and number.
E.g.: tn kaleb the second dog
tn benet the second girl
el-benet el-tny the second girl
From 11 and up, there is one form for the ordinal which is the same form as the cardinal
placed after their qualified noun and taking the definite article.
E.g.: el-ras el-dae the 11th president
Adverbial numerals:
1. Verbs stems:
1. Etymology of stems:
b. New stems:
2. Tense stem:
CVC:
CVC: CVC, CVC; CVC
CVCV:
1. CVCV: CVCV, CVCV, CVCV, CVC; VCCV, VCC
2. CVCV: CCV, CVCV, CVC; VCCV, VCC
3. CVCV: CVCV, CVCV, CVCV, CVC; CVCV, CVC
CVCVC:
1. CVCVC: CVCVC, CVCVC; VCCVC, VCCC
2. CVCVC: CVCVC, CVCVC; VCCVC
3. CVCVC: CCVC, CVCVC, CVCC; VCCVC
4. CVCVC: CVCVC, CVCVC; CVCVC, CVCC
CVCC:
CVCC: CVCCV, CVCCV, CVCC; CVCC
CVCCV:
CVCCV: CVCCV, CVCCV, CVCCV, CVCC; CVCCV, CVCC
CVCCVC:
CVCCVC: CVCCVC, CVCCVC; CVCCVC, CVCCC
CCVC:
CCVC: CCVC, CCVC; CCVC
CCVCV:
CCVCV: CCVCV, CCVCV, CCVCV, CCVC; CCVCV, CCVC
CCVCV: CCVCV, CCVCV, CCVCV, CCVC; CCVCV, CCVC
CCVCVC:
CCVCVC: CCVCVC, CCVCVC; CCVCVC, CCVCC
CCVCVC: CCVCVC, CCVCVC; CCVCaC
CCVCVC: CCVCVC, CCVCVC; CCVCVC
CCVCVC: CCVCVC, CCVCVC; CCVCVC, CCVCC
CCVCC:
CCVCC: CCVCCV, CCVCCV, CCVCC; CCVCC
CCVCCV:
CCVCCV: CCVCCV, CCVCCV, CCVCCV, CCVCC; CCVCCV, CCVCC
CCVCCVC:
CCVCCVC: CCVCCVC, CCVCCVC; CCVCCVC
CCVCCVC: CCVCCVC, CCVCCVC; CCVCCVC, CCVCCC
CCCVCV:
CCCVCV: CCCVCV, CCCVCV, CCCVCV, CCCVC; CCCVCV, CCCVC
CCCVCVC:
CCCVCVC: CCCVCVC, CCCVCVC; CCCVCVC
VCVC:
VCVC: VCVC, VCVC; VCVC, VCC
VCCVC:
VCCVC: VCCVC, VCCVC
2. Personal prefixes and suffixes:
a. Perfect:
S P
1 -et -na
2 m. -et -to
f. -t
3 m. -o
f. -it
2nd type: After stems ending in vowels and geminated consonants. E.g.: er, add.
S P
1 -t -na
2 m. -t -to
f. -t
3 m. -o
f. -it
b. Present:
1st type: Before syllable beginning with two or three consonants. E.g.: yenketib,
yestnwal.
S P
1 e- ne-
2 m. te- te o
f. te
3 m. ye- ye o
f. te-
2nd type: Before long vowels, and syllables beginning with one consonat and closed with
a consonant or ending with a long vowel. E.g.: ytil, ym, yedd, yazz, ybaysi,
yfarri, ymin.
S P
1 n-
2 m. t- to
f. t
3 m. y- yo
f. t-
c. Imperatif:
1st type: Used with monosyllable beginning with two or three consonants. E.g.: ektob.
The initial e may be dropped; this leads to the elongation of the stem consonant in the 2nd
person masculine. E.g.: ektob > ktob > ktb; ewrat > wrat > wrt .
e >
e > -
eo > -o
-
-o
The verbal classes are divided according to their stem form. There are two stems: the
perfect stem and the present stem. The present stem is used to construct the indicative and
subjunctive present, the imperative and some participles.
For each class a set of personal endings is assigned. Thus for katab: katab; kto/ub, ktb,
the personal endings are assigned as such (1,1,1) where the first number represent the
first type of persons for the perfect, the second number the first type for the present and
the third number the first type of the imperative.
class:
katab to write
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 katabet36 > ktabet katabna > ktabna
2 m. katabet37 > ktabet katabto > ktabto
f. katabt > ktabt
3 m. katab katabo > katbo
f. katabit > katbit
(Present)
S P
1 ektob nektob
2 m. tektob tektbo > teketbo
f. tektb > teketb
3 m. yektob yektbo > yeketbo
f. tektob
(Imperative)
36
Originally, katabt.
37
Originally, katabt.
(Infinitive)
kitb
(Participle)
kteb (m.)
ktb (f.)
ktbn (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 nkatabet nkatabna
2 m. nkatabet nkatabto
f. nkatabt
3 m. nkatab nkatabo
f. nkatabit
(Present)
S P
1 enketib nenketib
2 m. tenketib tenketbo
f. tenketb
3 m. yenketib yenketbo
f. tenketib
(Imperative)
nketib ma tenketib
nketb ma tenketb
nketbo ma tenketbo
(Participle)
maktb (m.)
maktb (f.)
maktbn (p.)
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 sakatet > skatet sakatna > skatna
2 m. sakatet > skatet sakato > skatto
f. sakatt > skatt
3 m. sakat sakato > sakto
f. sakatit > saktit
(Present)
S P
1 eskot neskot
2 m. teskot teskto > tesekto
f. teskt > tesekt
3 m. yeskot yeskto > yesekto
f. teskot
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
skt
(Participle)
sket (m.)
skt (f.)
sktn (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 nsakatet nsakatna
2 m. nsakatet nsakatto
f. nsakatt
3 m. nsakat nsakato
f. nsakatit
(Present)
S P
1 ensekit nensekit
2 m. tensekit tensekto
f. tensekt
3 m. yensekit yensekto
f. tensekit
(Imperative)
nsekit ma tensekit
nsekt ma tensekt
nsekto ma tensekto
(Participle)
maskt (m.)
maskt (f.)
masktn (p.)
2nd class:
maza to joke
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 mazaet > mzaet mazana > mzana
2 m. mazaet > mzaet mazato > mzato
f. mazat > mzat
3 m. maza mazao > mazo
f. mazait > mazit
(Present)
S P
1 emza nemza
2 m. temza temzao
f. temza
3 m. yemza yemzao
f. temza
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
maze
(Participle)
mze (m.)
mza (f.)
mzn (p.)
nmasa to be wiped up
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 nmasaet nmasana
2 m. nmasaet nmasato
f. nmasat
3 m. nmasa nmasao
f. nmasait
(Present)
S P
1 enmesi nenmesi
2 m. tenmesi tenmeso
f. tenmes
3 m. yenmesi yenmeso
f. tenmesi
(Imperative)
nmesi ma tenmesi
nmes ma tenmes
nmeso ma tenmeso
(Participle)
mams (m.)
mamsa (f.)
mamsn (p.)
3rd class:
akal to eat
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 akalet > kalet akalna > kalna
2 m. akalet > kalet akalto > kalto
f. akalt > kalt
3 m. akal akalo > aklo
f. akalit > aklit
(Present)
S P
1 kul nkul
2 m. tkul tklo
f. tkl
3 m. ykul yklo
f. tkul
(Imperative)
kl ma tkul
kel ma tkl
kelo ma tklo
(Infinitive)
akel
(Participle)
kel (m.)
kl (f.)
kln (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 ttkalet ttkalna
2 m. ttkalet ttkalto
f. ttkalt
3 m. ttkal ttkalo
f. ttkalit
1 nakalet nakalna
2 m. nakalet nakalto
f. nakalt
3 m. nakal nakalo > naklo
f. nakalit > naklit
(Present)
S P
1 ettkal nettkal
2 m. tettkal tettkalo
f. ttkal
3 m. yettkal yettkalo
f. tettkal
(Imperative)
ttkal ma tettkal
ttkal ma tettkal
ttkalo ma tettkalo
(Participle)
mettkal (m.)
mettkal > mettkl (f.)
mettkaln > mettkln (p.)
makl (m.)
makl (f.)
makln (p.)
4th class:
werit to inherit
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 wretet wretna
2 m. wretet wretto
f. wrett
3 m. werit werto
f. wertit
(Present)
S P
1 ewrat > rat newrat > nrat
2 m. tewrat > trat tewrato > trato
f. tewrat > trat
3 m. yewrat > yrat yewrato > yrato
f. tewrat > trat
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
wert
(Participle)
wret (m.)
wrt (f.)
wrtn (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 nwaratet nwaratna
2 m. nwaratet nwaratto
f. nwaratt
3 m. nwarat nwarato
f. nwaratit
(Present)
S P
1 enwerit nenwerit
2 m. tenwerit tenwerto
f. tenwert
3 m. yenwerit yenwerto
f. tenwerit
(Imperative)
nwerit ma tenwerit
nwert ma tenwert
nwerto ma tenwerto
(Participle)
mawrt (m.)
mawrt (f.)
mawrtn (p.)
5th class:
emil:
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 melet melna
2 m. melet melto
f. melt
3 m. emil emlo
f. emlit
(Present)
S P
1 emal, emol, amul nemal, nemol, namul
2 m. temal, temol, tamul temalo, temlo, tamlo
f. temal, teml, taml
3 m. yemal, yemol, yamul yemalo, yemlo, yamlo
f. temal, temol, tamul
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
emln
(Participle)
mel
ml
mln
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 namalet namalna
2 m. namalet namalto
f. namalt
3 m. namal namalo
f. namalit
(Present)
S P
1 enemil nenemil
2 m. tenemil tenemlo
f. teneml
3 m. yenemil yenemlo
f. tenemil
(Imperative)
nemil ma tenemil
neml ma teneml
nemlo ma tenemlo
(Participle)
maml (m.)
maml (f.)
mamln (p.)
6th class:
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 emet emna
2 m. emet emto
f. emt
3 m. m mo
f. mit
(Present)
S P
1 m nm
2 m. tm tmo
f. tm
3 m. ym ymo
f. tm
(Imperative)
m ma tm
m ma tm
mo ma tmo
(Participle)
yem (m.)
ym (f.)
ymn (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 nemet nemna
2 m. nemet nmo
f. nemt
3 m. nm nmo
f. nmit
(Present)
S P
1 enm nenm
2 m. tenm tenmo
f. tenm
3 m. yenm yenmo
f. tenm
(Imperative)
nm
nm
nmo
(Participle)
menm (m.)
menm (f.)
menmn (p.)
7th class:
In this class both forms CaCa and CeC can be used without change of meaning.
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 mt mna
2 m. mt mto
f. mt
3 m. em emyo > emo
f. emyit > emit
S P
1 amt amayna
2 m. amt amayto
f. amayt
3 m. ama amo
f. amit
(Present)
S P
1 em nem
2 m. tem temo
f. tem
3 m. yem yemo
f. tem
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
imy
(Participle)
m (m.)
my (f.)
mn (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 namt namayna
2 m. namt namayto
f. namayt
3 m. nama namo
f. namit
(Present)
S P
1 enem nenem
2 m. tenem tenemo
f. tenem
3 m. yenem yenemo
f. tenem
(Imperative)
(Participle)
mem (m.)
memiyy (f.)
memiyyn / memn (p.)
er, ara to read
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 rt rna
2 m. rt rto
f. rt
3 m. er eryo
f. eryit
S P
1 art arayna
2 m. art arayto
f. arayt
3 m. ara aro
f. arit
(Present)
S P
1 era nera
2 m. tera tero
f. ter
3 m. yera yero
f. tera
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
ry
(Participle)
r (m.)
ry (f.)
rn (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 nart narayna
2 m. nart narayto
f. narayt
3 m. nara naro
f. narit
(Present)
S P
1 ener nener
2 m. tener tenero
f. tener
3 m. yener yenero
f. tener
(Imperative)
(Participle)
mer (m.)
meriyy (f.)
meriyyn (p.)
8th class:
add to count
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 addt addayna
2 m. addt addayto
f. addayt
3 m. add addo
f. addit
(Present)
S P
1 edd nedd
2 m. tedd teddo
f. tedd
3 m. yedd yeddo
f. tedd
(Imperative)
edd ma tedd
edd ma tedd
eddo ma teddo
(Infinitive)
add
(Participle)
ded (m.)
dd (f.)
ddn (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 naddt naddayna
2 m. naddt naddayto
f. naddayt
3 m. nadd naddo
f. naddit
(Present)
S P
1 enadd nenadd
2 m. tenadd tenaddo
f. tenadd
3 m. yenadd yenaddo
f. tenadd
(Imperative)
nadd ma tenadd
nadd ma tenadd
naddo ma tenaddo
(Participle)
menadd (m.)
menadd (f.)
menaddn (p.)
madd (m.)
madd (f.)
maddn (p.)
9th class:
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 baysaet baysana
2 m. baysaet baysato
f. baysat
3 m. baysa baysao
f. baysait
(Present)
S P
1 baysi nbaysi
2 m. tbaysi tbayso
f. tbays
3 m. ybaysi ybayso
f. tbaysi
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
tbeyso
(Participle)
mbaysi (m.)
mbaysa (f.)
mbaysn (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 tbaysaet tbaysana
2 m. tbaysaet tbaysato
f. tbaysat
3 m. tbaysa tbaysao
f. tbaysait
(Present)
S P
1 etbaysa netbaysa
2 m. tetbaysa tetbaysao
f. tetbaysa
3 m. yetbaysa yetbaysao
f. tetbaysa
(Imperative)
tbaysa ma tetbaysa
tbaysa ma tetbaysa
tbaysao ma tetbaysao
(Participle)
mbaysa
mbaysaa
mbaysan
10th class:
(Perfect)
S P
1 marrt marrayna
2 m. marrt marrayto
f. marrayt
3 m. marr marro
f. marrit
(Present)
S P
1 emarr nemarr
2 m. temarr temarro
f. temarr
3 m. yemarr yemarro
f. temarr
(Imperative)
marr ma temarr
marr ma temarr
marro ma temarro
(Infinitive)
emerr
(Participle)
memarr (m.)
memarra (f.)
memarrn (p.)
11th class:
farra to disperse
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 farraet farrana
2 m. farraet farrato
f. farrat
3 m. farra farrao
f. farrait
(Present)
S P
1 farri nfarri
2 m. tfarri tfarro
f. tfarr
3 m. yfarri yfarro
f. tfarri
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
tefr
(Participle)
mfarri (m.)
mfarra (f.)
mfarrn (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 tfarraet tfarrana
2 m. tfarraet tfarrato
f. tfarrat
3 m. tfarra tfarrao
f. tfarrat
(Present)
S P
1 etfarra netfarra
2 m. tetfarra tetfarrao
f. tetfarra
3 m. yetfarra yetfarrao
f. tetfarra
(Imperative)
tfarra ma tetfarra
tfarra ma tetfarra
tfarrao ma tetfarrao
(Participle)
mfarra (m.)
mfarraa (f.)
mfarran (p.)
metfarra (m.)
metfarra (f.)
metfarrn (p.)
12th class:
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 afft affayna
2 m. afft affayto
f. affayt
3 m. affa affo
f. affit
(Present)
S P
1 aff naff
2 m. taff taffo
f. taff
3 m. yaff yaffo
f. taff
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
tefy
(Participle)
maff (m.)
maffiyy (f.)
maffn (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 tafft taffayna
2 m. tafft taffayto
f. taffayt
3 m. taffa taffo
f. taffit
(Present)
S P
1 etaffa netaffa
2 m. tetaffa tetaffo
f. tetaff
3 m. yetaffa yetaffo
f. tetaffa
(Imperative)
taffa ma tetaffa
taff ma tetaff
taffo ma tetaffo
(Participle)
metaff (m.)
metaffiyy (f.)
metaffn (p.)
maffa (m.)
maffy (f.)
maffyn (p.)
13th class:
mal to treat
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 malet malna
2 m. malet malto
f. malt
3 m. mal malo
f. malit
(Present)
S P
1 mil nmil
2 m. tmil tmlo
f. tml
3 m. ymil ymlo
f. tmil
(Imperative)
mil ma tmil
ml ma tml
mlo ma tmlo
(Infinitive)
mmal
(Participle)
mmil (m.)
mml (f.)
mmln (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 tmalet tmalna
2 m. tmalet tmalto
f. tmalt
3 m. tmal tmalo
f. tmalit
(Present)
S P
1 etmal netmal
2 m. tetmal tetmalo
f. tetmal
3 m. yetmal yetmalo
f. tetmal
(Imperative)
tmal ma tetmal
tmal ma tetmal
tmalo ma tetmalo
(Participle)
metmil (m.)
metml (f.)
metmln (p.)
14th class:
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 dt dayna
2 m. dt dayto
f. dayt
3 m. da do
f. dit
(Present)
S P
1 d nd
2 m. td tdo
f. td
3 m. yd ydo
f. td
(Imperative)
d ma td (m., f.)
do ma tdo (p.)
(Infinitive)
adw
(Participle)
md (m.)
mdiyy (f.)
mdn (p.)
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 tdt tdayna
2 m. tdt tdayto
f. tdayt
3 m. tda tdo
f. tdit
(Present)
S P
1 etda netda
2 m. tetda tetdo
f. tetd
3 m. yetda yetdo
f. tetda
(Imperative)
tda ma tetda
td ma tetd
tdo ma tetdo
(Participle)
metd (m.)
metdiyy (f.)
metdn (p.)
15th class:
This class is the same as the 1st class except that in the active perfect it has an additional
form to which a- is suffixed.
a. [Active]
(Perfect)
S P
1 ajbaret ajbarna
2 m. ajbaret ajbarto
f. ajbart
3 m. ajbar ajbaro
f. ajbarit
S P
1 jabaret > jbaret jabarna > jbarna
2 m. jabaret > jbaret jabarto > jbarto
f. jabart > jbart
3 m. jabar jabaro
f. jabarit
(Present)
S P
1 ejbur nejbur
2 m. tejbur tejbro > tejebro
f. tejbr > tejebr
3 m. yejbur yejbro > yejebro
f. tejbur
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
ejbr
(Participle)
jber (m.)
jbra (f.)
jbrn (p.)
mejbir
mejbra
mejbrn
b. [Passive]
(Perfect)
S P
1 njabaret njabarna
2 m. njabaret njabarto
f. njabart
3 m. njabar njabaro
f. njabarit
(Present)
S P
1 enjebir nenjebir
2 m. tenjebir tenjebro
f. tenjebr
3 m. yenjebir yenjebro
f. tenjebir
(Imperative)
njebir ma tenjebir
njebr ma tenjebr
njebro ma tenjebro
(Participle)
majbr (m.)
majbra (f.)
majbrn (p.)
16th class:
man to believe
(Perfect)
S P
1 manet manna
2 m. manet manto
f. mant
3 m. man mano
f. manit
(Present)
S P
1 min nmin
2 m. tmin tmno
f. tmn
3 m. ymin ymno
f. tmin
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
mn
(Participle)
mmin (m.)
mmn (f.)
mmnn (p.)
17th class:
(Perfect)
S P
1 ftaalet ftaalna
2 m. ftaalet ftaalto
f. ftaalt
3 m. ftaal ftaalo
f. ftaalit
(Present)
S P
1 efteil nefteil
2 m. tefteil teftelo
f. teftel
3 m. yefteil yeftelo
f. tefteil
(Imperative)
fteil ma tefteil
ftel ma teftel
ftelo ma teftelo
(Infinitive)
eftil
(Participle)
mefteil (m.)
meftel (f.)
mefteln (p.)
18th class:
stamal to use
(Perfect)
S P
1 stamalet stamalna
2 m. stamalet stamalto
f. stamalt
3 m. stamal stamalo
f. stamalit
(Present)
S P
1 estamil nestamil
2 m. testamil testamlo
f. testaml
3 m. yestamil yestamlo
f. testamil
(Imperative)
(Infinitive)
esteml
(Act. Participle)
mestamil (m.)
mestaml (f.)
mestamln (p.)
(Pass. Participle)
mestamal (m.)
mestamal (f.)
mestamaln (p.)
starja to dare to
(Perfect)
S P
1 starjt starjayna
2 m. starjt starjayto
f. starjayt
3 m. starja starjo
f. starjit
(Present)
S P
1 estarj nestarj
2 m. testarj testarjo
f. testarj
3 m. yestarj yestarjo
f. testarj
(Imperative)
(Participle)
mestarj (m.)
mestarjiyy / mestarjy (f.)
mestarjn (p.)
(Perfect)
S P
1 stnwalet stnwalna
2 m. stnwalet stnwalto
f. stnwalt
3 m. stnwal stnwalo
f. stnwalit
(Present)
S P
1 estnwal nestnwal
2 m. testnwal testnwalo
f. testnwal
3 m. yestnwal yestnwalo
f. testnwal
(Imperative)
stnwal ma testnwal
stnwal ma testnwal
stnwalo ma testnwalo
(Infinitive)
mnwal
(Participle)
mestnwil (m.)
mestnwl (f.)
mestnwln (p.)
(Perfect)
S P
1 stmdt stmdayna
2 m. stmdt stmdayto
f. stmdayt
3 m. stmda stmdo
f. stmdit
(Present)
S P
1 estmda nestmda
2 m. testmda testmdo
f. testmd
3 m. yestmda yestmdo
f. testmda
(Imperative)
stmda ma testmda
stmd ma testmd
stmdo ma testmdo
(Infinitive)
tamd
(Participle)
mestmd (m.)
mestmdiyy / mestmdy (f.)
mestmdn (p.)
19th class:
E.g.: eja to come is conjugate as the 7th class but it takes an initial e- in the 3rd persons
of the perfect. Its imperative is different: taa, ta, tao.
eja to come
(Perfect)
S P
1 jt jna
2 m. jt jto
f. jt
3 m. eja ejo
f. ejit
(Present)
S P
1 ej nej
2 m. tej tejo
f. tej
3 m. yej yejo
f. tej
(Imperative)
taa ma tej
ta ma tej
tao ma tejo
(Infinitive)
majy
(Participle)
jy(m., f.)
jyn (p.)
4. Verbal inflection with suffixed accusative and dative pronouns:
a. Accusative pronouns:
S P
1 -n -na
me us
2 m. -ak38; -k39 -kon
you, thou you
f. -ik40; -k41
you, thou
3 m. -o42; - / 43 -on; -hon44
him, it them
f. -a; -ha45
her, it
When these pronouns are suffixed to the verbs, certain phonetic changes occur in the
form of the verb.
Perfect:
1st type:
et > t na > n
et > t to > t / tuw46
t > t / tiy47
> o > / uw48
it > et
2nd type:
38
After consonant.
39
After vowel.
40
After consonant.
41
After vowel.
42
After consonant.
43
After vowel.
44
Less frequent form.
45
Less frequent form.
46
Before vowels.
47
Before vowels.
48
Before vowels.
t > ayt ayto > ayt / aytuw49
ayt > ayt / aytiy50
> o > / uw51
it > et
t > t na > n
t > t to > t / tuw52
t > t / tiy53
> o > / uw54
it > et
Present:
1st type:
2nd type:
> n- > n-
t- > t- to > t / uw58
t > t / iy59
y- > y- yo > y / uw60
t- > t-
Imperatif:
>
49
Before vowels.
50
Before vowels.
51
Before vowels.
52
Before vowels.
53
Before vowels.
54
Before vowels.
55
Before vowels.
56
Before vowels.
57
Before vowels.
58
Before vowels.
59
Before vowels.
60
Before vowels.
>
o >
Final vowels a, , o of the personal endings and of the verb stem change into , ,
respectively which are always stressed. E.g.: ktabt you wrote, ktabthon you wrote
them; er he read, er he read it.
Stems change due to the addition of the suffixes. The weak vowels e, i and o/u drop if
unstressed. E.g.: katabet I wrote, katabton I wrote it; ektob I write, ektbo I write it.
When stress fall on the vowels o/u and i they change to e; e stays e. E.g.: ektob I write,
ektebon I write them; werit he inherited, wereton he inherited them. In the
imperative masculine the long vowels or change into e, while remains . E.g.: ml
do, melon do them; ktb write, ktebon write them.
Perfect:
katabet (1 sg.)
1
2 m. katabtak katabtkon
f. katabtik
3 m. katabto katabton
f. katabta
katabna (1 pl.)
1
2 m. katabnk katabnkon
f. katabnk
3 m. katabn katabnhon
f. katabnha
katabet (2 m.)
1 katabtn katabtna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabto katabton
f. katabta
katabto (2 pl.)
1 katabtn katabtna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabt katabthon / katabtuwon
f. katabtha / katabtuwa
katabt (2 f.)
1 katabtn katabtna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabt katabthon / katabtiyon
f. katabtha / katabtiya
katab (3 m.)
1 katabn katabna
2 m. katabak katabkon
f. katabik
3 m. katabo katabon / katabhon
f. kataba / katabha
katabo (3 pl.)
1 katabn katabna
2 m. katabk katabkon
f. katabk
3 m. katab katabhon / katabuwon
f. katabha / katabuwon
katabit (3 f.)
1 katabetn katabetna
2 m. katabetak katabetkon
f. katabetik
3 m. katabeto katabeton / katabethon
f. katabeta / katabetha
Present:
ektob (1 sg.)
1
m. ektbak ektebkon
f. ektbik
3 m. ektbo ektebon
f. ekteba
nektob (1 pl.)
1
m. nektbak nektebkon
f. nektbik
3 m. nektbo nektebon
f. nekteba
tektob (2 m.)
1 tektebn tektebna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tektbo tektebon
f. tekteba
tektbo (2 pl.)
1 tektbn tektbna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tektb tektbhon / tektbuwon
f. tektbha / tektbuwa
tektb (2 f.)
1 tektbn tektbna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tektb tektbhon / tektbiyon
f. tektbha / tektbiya
yektob (3 m.)
1 yektebn yektebna
2 m. yektbak yektebkon
f. yektbik
3 m. yektbo yektebon
f. yekteba
yektbo (3 pl.)
1 yektbn yektbna
2 m. yektbk yektbkon
f. yektbk
3 m. yektb yektbhon / yektbuwon
f. yektbha / yektbuwa
tektob (3 f.)
1 tektebn tektebna
2 m. tektbak tektebkon
f. tektbik
3 m. tektbo tektebon
f. tekteba
Imperative:
ktb (m.)
1 ktebn ktebna
2 m.
f.
3 m. ktebo ktebon
f. kteba
kteb (f.)
1 ktebn ktebna
2 m.
f.
3 m. kteb ktebhon / ktebiyon
f. ktebha / ktebiya
ktebo (pl.)
1 ktebn ktebna
2 m.
f.
3 m. kteb ktebhon / ktebuwon
f. ktebha / ktebiya
Verb ending in a vowel da
da (3 m.)
1 dn dna
2 m. dk dkon
f. dk
3 m. d dhon
f. dha
yd (3 m.)
1 ydn ydna
2 m. ydk ydkon
f. ydk
3 m. yd ydhon / ydiyon
f. ydha / ydiya
b. Dative pronouns:
S P
1 -l -lna
to me; for me to us; for us
2 m. -lak -lkon
to you; for you to you; for you
f. -lik
to you; for you
3 m. -lo -lon; -lhon
to him, it; for him, it to them; for them
f. -la; -lha
to her, it; for her, it
With the verbs ending in vowels, stress falls on the final consonant of the verbs. E.g.:
katabt you wrote, ktabtl you wrote to me.
With verbs ending in l, stress moves always forward in the verbal stem. E.g.: kammal he
completed, kammall he completed to me.
2. After verbs ending in one consonant (E.g.: katab):
S P
1 -l -elna
to me; for me to us; for us
2 m. -lak -elkon
to you; for you to you; for you
f. -lik
to you; for you
3 m. -lo -lon; -elhon
to him, it; for him, it to them; for them
f. -la; -elha
to her, it; for her, it
S P
1 -ell -elna
to me; for me to us; for us
2 m. -ellak -elkon
to you; for you to you; for you
f. -ellik
to you; for you
3 m. -ello -ellon; -elhon
to him, it; for him, it to them; for them
f. -ella; -elha
to her, it; for her, it
Changes in the personal endings and verb stem are the same as with the accusative
suffixes. However and of the personal endings do not take the additional forms iy and
uw.
Verb katab:
Perfect:
katabet (1 sg.)
1
2 m. katabtellak katabtelkon
f. katabtellik
3 m. katabtello katabtellon
f. katabtella
katabna (1 pl.)
1
2 m. katabnlak katabnlkon
f. katabnlik
3 m. katabnlo katabnlon
f. katabnla
katabet (2 m.)
1 katabtell katabtelna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabtello katabtellon
f. katabtella
katabto (2 pl.)
1 katabtl katabtlna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabtlo katabtlhon
f. katabtla
katabt (2 f.)
1 katabtl katabtlna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabtlo katabtlon
f. katabtla
katab (3 m.)
1 katabl katabelna
2 m. katablak katabelkon
f. katablik
3 m. katablo katablon
f. katabla
katabo (3 pl.)
1 katabl katablna
2 m. katablak katablkon
f. katablik
3 m. katablo katablon
f. katabla
katabit (3 f.)
1 katabetl katabetelna
2 m. katabetlak katabetelkon
f. katabetlik
3 m. katabetlo katabetlon
f. katabetla
Present:
ektob (1 sg.)
1
m. ekteblak ektebelkon
f. ekteblik
3 m. ekteblo ekteblon
f. ektebla
nektob (1 pl.)
1
m. nekteblak nektebelkon
f. nekteblik
3 m. nekteblo nekteblon
f. nektebla
tektob (2 m.)
1 tektebl tektebelna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tekteblo tekteblon
f. tektebla
tektbo (2 pl.)
1 tektbl tektblna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tektblo tektblon
f. tektbla
tektb (2 f.)
1 tektbl tektblna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tektblo tektblon
f. tektbla
yektob (3 m.)
1 yektebl yektebelna
2 m. yekteblak yektebelkon
f. yekteblik
3 m. yekteblo yekteblon
f. yektebla
yektbo (3 pl.)
1 yektbl yektblna
2 m. yektblak yektblkon
f. yektblik
3 m. yektblo yektblon
f. yektbla
tektob (3 f.)
1 tektebl tektebelna
2 m. tekteblak tektebelkon
f. tekteblik
3 m. tekteblo tekteblon
f. tektebla
Imperative:
ktb (m.)
1 ktebl ktebelna
2 m.
f.
3 m. kteblo kteblon
f. ktebla
kteb (f.)
1 ktebl kteblna
2 m.
f.
3 m. kteblo kteblon
f. ktebla
ktebo (pl.)
1 ktebl kteblna
2 m.
f.
3 m. kteblo kteblon
f. ktebla
Verb er:
Perfect:
rt (1 sg.)
1
2 m. rtellak rtelkon
f. rtellik
3 m. rtello rtellon
f. rtella
er (2 m.)
1 erl erlna
2 m. erlak erlkon
f. erlik
3 m. erlo erlon
f. erla
3. Tenses and moods:
a. Indicative:
Verb katab
S P
1 bektob mnektob
2 m. ptektob ptektbo > pteketbo
f. ptektb > pteketb
3 m. byektob byektbo > byeketbo
f. ptektob
Verb m
S P
1 bm menm
2 m. betm betmo
f. betm
3 m. beym beymo
f. betm
2. Present II (imperfect):
This tense is formed by adding am- to the Present I. am- is the abbreviation of amml
being in the process of. amml as such is rarely used, but when used the present stem is
added after it.
E.g.: ambektob I am writing
amml ektob I am writing; I am in the process of writing
Before mn-, am- may drop the m. E.g.: amnamul from ammnamul.
It may also assimilate with a following b. E.g.: amptektob may be pronounced
amtektob.
Verb katab
S P
1 ambektob amnektob
2 m. amptektob amptektbo > ampteketbo
f. amptektb > ampteketb
3 m. ambyektob ambyektbo > ambyeketbo
f. amptektob
This past designates an action occurring in the past or accomplished in the near past. Both
past aorist and perfect are designated by the perfect stem.
E.g.: katab he wrote; he has written
4. Past II (pluperfect):
It is formed by adding the auxiliary verb kn before the perfect stem. The two agree in
gender, person and number.
Verb katab
S P
1 kenet katabet kenna katabna
2 m. kenet katabet kento katabto
f. kent katabt
3 m. kn katab kno katabo
f. knit katabit
5. Past III (imperfect I):
It is formed by adding the auxiliary verb kn before the present II (imperfect). The two
agree in gender, person and number.
Verb katab
S P
1 kenet ambektob kenna amnektob
2 m. kenet amptektob kento amptektbo
f. kent amptektb
3 m. kn ambyektob kno ambyektbo
f. knit amptektob
It if formed by adding the auxiliary verb kn to the present stem. The two agree in
gender, number and person.
Verb katab
S P
1 kenet ektob kenna nektob
2 m. kenet tektob kento tektbo
f. kent tektb
3 m. kn yektob kno yektbo
f. knit tektob
7. Future I:
It is formed by adding the invariable particles ra, r or a before the present stem. r
is an abbreviation of rye going to.
Verb katab
S P
1 ra ektob ra nektob
2 m. ra tektob ra tektbo
f. ra tektb
3 m. ra yektob ra yektbo
f. ra tektob
8. Future II (volitive):
This indicates an action that someone wants to happen in the future. It may however give
the same meaning as the future I.
E.g.: badd ektob I want to write
It is formed by adding the auxiliary semi-verb badd to want before the present stem.
The two agree in gender, number and person.
Verb katab
S P
1 badd ektob baddna nektob
2 m. baddak tektob baddkon tektbo
f. baddik tektb
3 m. baddo yektob baddon yektbo
f. badda tektob
9. Future III (perfect):
It may indicate a future obligation where the action has to be accomplished in the future.
Often used with the 2nd persons.
E.g.: ra tkn katabton you shall have written them
baddak tkn katabton you shall have written them
It is formed by adding the future I or II of the auxiliary kn before the past stem. The
auxiliary and the main verb agree in gender, number and person. Semi-verb badd agree
also with them, while ra is invariable.
Verb katab
S P
1 ra kn katabet ra nkn katabna
2 m. ra tkn katabet ra tkno katabto
f. ra tkn katabt
3 m. ra ykn katab ra ykno katabo
f. ra tkn katabit
S P
1 badd kn katabet baddna nkn katabna
2 m. baddak tkn katabet baddkon tkno katabto
f. baddik tkn katabt
3 m. baddo ykn katab baddon ykno katabo
f. badda tkn katabit
It may indicate a future obligation where the action should be continuous in the future.
Often used with the 2nd persons.
E.g.: ra tkn ambektob you shall be writing them
baddak tkn ambektob you shall be writing them
It is formed by adding the future I or II of the auxiliary kn before the present II. The
auxiliary and the main verb agree in gender, number and person. Semi-verb badd agree
also with them, while ra is invariable.
Verb katab
S P
1 ra kn ambektob ra nkn amnektob
2 m. ra tkn amptektob ra tkno amptektbo
f. ra tkn amptektb
3 m. ra ykn ambyektob ra ykno ambyektbo
f. ra tkn amptektob
S P
1 badd kn ambektob baddna nkn amnektob
2 m. baddak tkn amptektob baddkon tkno amptektbo
f. baddik tkn amptektb
3 m. baddo ykn ambyektob baddon ykno ambyektbo
f. badda tkn amptektob
It is formed by adding the auxiliary kn before the future I. The auxiliary and the main
verb agree in gender, number and person.
Verb katab
S P
1 kenet ra ektob kenna ra nektob
2 m. kenet ra tektob kento ra tektbo
f. kent ra tektb
3 m. kn ra yektob kno ra yektbo
f. knit ra tektob
This indicates an action that someone wanted to happen in the future. It may however
give the same meaning as the future V.
E.g.: kenet badd ektob I wanted to write; I was going to write
kn badd ektob I wanted to write; I was going to write
S P
1 kn badd ektob kn baddna nektob
2 m. kn baddak tektob kn baddkon tektbo
f. kn baddik tektb
3 m. kn baddo yektob kn baddon yektbo
f. kn badda tektob
b. Subjunctive:
The present stem is used in subjunctive constructions. Its tense changes according to the
combinations of auxiliaries with the verbs.
It is used also with the auxiliaries and semi-verbs to construct the tenses. E.g.: badd
ektob I want to write; ra ektob I used to write. In these instances, it is identical in
designation with the infinitive. Thus, badd ektob, which literally means my will is that I
write, can be translated as my will is to write hence I want to write or I will write.
enn- that
E.g.: alabet menno enno yamelon I asked him to do them (that he might do
them)
law if
E.g.: law amel hk , kno ma sman
If I did such a thing, they wouldnt have
forgiven me
c. Auxiliariy verbs:
1. Verb kn:
When added to other tenses it gives a designation of a past action, i.e. the action is placed
in the past. It gives also a designation of possibility.
1. kn + past stem:
It has two designations depending on context:
1. Pluperfect: E.g.: kn katab he had written
2. Past perfect possibility where the action could have been accomplished in
the past.
E.g.: kn katabon, lawma enta katabton he would/might/could
have written them,
hadnt you written
them
2. kn + present stem:
It designates the past IV.
E.g: kn yektob he used to write
3. kn + present I:
It designates a general possibility where the act could be done at any time.
E.g.: kn byektebon eza baddak he would/might/could write them
if you want
4. kn + present II:
It designates the past III.
E.g.: kn ambyektob he was writing
5. kn + future I:
It designates the future V.
E.g.: kenet ra ektob I was going to write
6. kn + future II:
It designates the future VI.
E.g.: kenet badd ektob I wanted to write; I was going to write
b. Present stem:
Used in subjunctive clauses in the sense of may be. It can also have a necessitative future
designation, i.e. shall be.
E.g.: eja der atta ykn el-awwal he came directly so that he may be the first;
3. ykn + present I:
It is identical in designation as the preceeding construction except that it is often used in
relative clauses after nouns. Both forms are interchangeable due to phonetication between
the n of kn and the initial b-.
E.g.: jebl alam ykn byektob get me a pen that may write
5. ykn + future I:
It designates a future subjunctive.
E.g.: el-mohemm huww enno ykn ra yektebon
what is important is that he may
be going to write
7. ykn + pluperfect:
Identical with ykn + past stem, but with a more complete and remote past designation.
E.g.: ala are enno ykn kn katabon provided that he would have had
written them
8. ykn + past imperfect I:
It designates a past continuous subjunctive.
E.g.: el-mohemm huww enno ykn kn ambyektob
what is important is that he may
have been writing
c. Imperative:
d. Participle:
Identical with the active participle of verb to be, i.e. being or having been.
E.g.: kyen being; having been
e. Present I:
It designates a probable or possible of action. Thus it is not identical with the present of
verb to be (is, am, are).
E.g.: beykn61 he would be; he might be; he could be
When added to other tenses it gives a designation of possibility or probability whose time
and aspect is defined according to the combination of verbs.
3. bikn + present I:
It designates a probable present habitual action.
61
beykn contracts into bikn.
E.g.: bikn byektob he might write; he might be used to
write; maybe he writes
5. bikn + future I:
It designates a future probable action.
E.g.: bikn ra yektebon he may/might be going to write
them; maybe he will write
7. bikn + pluperfect:
Identical with bikn + past stem, but with a more complete and remote past designation.
E.g.: bikn kn katabon he might/would have had written
them; maybe he had written them
f. Present II:
It is rarely added to the present stem and to the futures I and II to designates a habitual
action in the past.
E.g.: kn ykn/yeba yektebon he used to write them
kn ykn/yeba ra/baddo yektebon he used to be about to write them
It designates a future action, identical to the future of verb to be. It may refer to an
obligative action especially with baddo.
E.g.: ra ykn hn he will/shall be here
baddo ykn kbr it should be big
It is added:
to the present continuous to indicate a future imperfect action.
E.g.: ra ykn ambyektob he shall be writing
They designate an action which was going to happen or which was wanted in the past.
E.g.: kn ra ykn he was going to be
kn baddo ykn he wanted to be
2. Verb r:
Identical with the past of verbs to become and to happen. In the sense of to become, the
predicate is usually an adjective. In the sense of to happen, the predicate is usually an
event.
E.g.: r kbr he became big
r des an accident happened
When added to other tenses it gives a designation of an action which has started or is
starting to occur.
b. Present stem:
1. yr + present stem:
It designates an action which started becoming an habit in subjunctive clauses.
E.g: badd yy yr yektob I want him to start writing / to become to write
c. Imperative:
d. Participle:
Identical with the active participle of verb to become (becoming / having become) or to
happen (happening / having happened).
E.g.: yer becoming; having become; happening; having happened
e. Pluperfect:
When added to other tenses it gives a designation of an action which has started or is
starting to occur in the far past. Rarely used.
f. Past Imperfect I:
h. Present I:
When added to other tenses it gives a designation of an action starting to happen. This
action may have a probable or possible designation.
i. Present II:
It designates a future action, identical to the future of verb to become and to happen.
E.g.: ra yr akbar it shall become bigger
63
beyr contracts into bir.
f ra yr there is something which is going to happen
It is added:
to the present continuous to indicate a future imperfect action of verbs to become
or to happen. Rarely used.
E.g.: ra ykn ambr abya he shall be becoming white
to the perfect stem to indicate a future perfect action of verbs to become or to
happen.
E.g.: ra ykn r makal a fight shall have happened
They designate an action of verb to become or to happen which was going to happen or
which was wanted in the past.
E.g.: kn ra yr hk such thing was going to happen
kn baddo yr akm he wanted / was going to become a doctor
j. kn + bir:
It comes in the sense of an action that could become / have become or could happen /
have happened.
E.g.: kn bir des, law jt men hn
an accident could happen / have happened, were you to
come from here
3. Verb m:
The primary meanings of m are to rise and to stand, however when used as an auxiliary
it looses these meanings.
This auxiliary is added usually before the verb, and rarely after the verb it modifies.
1. m + perfect stem:
When added to the perfect stem of a verb, it puts emphasis on the action of the verb and
gives the following designations:
that the action happened suddenly in the past, often unexpected. It may be tanslated
by adding particles like suddenly etc.
E.g.: kn ambyek mao, fa m arabo he was taling to him and
suddenly he hit him
kn ambyek mao, fa arabo m he was taling to him and
suddenly he hit him
that the action happened in the past, succeeding to another action, with or without
any causal relation between both actions. Here, particles like then, therefore,
thus can be used in translation.
E.g.: arabo, fa m bek he hit him, therefore he cried
kn nyem w emet waayto he was asleep and I woke him up
w emet melet? And what did you do then?
l r hk?laanno m emela. Why did this happen?Because he
did it.
The auxiliary puts an emphasis on the entrance into the action and may be omitted.
Originally, it meant to stand and make the act. Thus, m arabo originally meant he
rose and hit him.
The coordinative conunction w can be added between the auxiliary and its verb. E.g.: fa
m w arabo instead of fa m arabo.
However, with the insertion of w, m may be used in its original meaning. Thus, m w
arabo means he rose and hit him.
It indicates a continuous action which started in the past. Identical to r + present stem
and to nezil + present stem + fi- / be-.
E.g.: aab mennon w m yerebon he became angry at them and started
hitting them
aab mennon w m yerob fiyon he became angry at them and started
hitting them
This construction, as well as nezil + present stem + fi- / be-, is usually used with
compound verbs which take the prepositions be- / fi-. These compound verbs are used
with these modal auxiliaries, i.e. m, r and nezil. Used without these, these coumpound
verbs get another meaning or no meaning at all. E.g.: arab fiyon means he bumped into
them, m / r / nezil yerob fiyon means he started hitting them. m ykol b-hal-kebb
means he started eating this kebb, ambykol b-hal-kebb means he is eating this
kebb, while akal b-hal-kebb is not used. fi- and be- are used in these cases to designate
a continuous action.
4. ym + present stem:
This has a present and future subjunctive and optative designation. It emphasizes and
concentrates on the entrance into the action which is to be done. Eliminating it would not
change the meaning.
E.g.: labet menno (enno) ym yektob I asked him to write
a ym yerbo beware that he may hit him
nlla ym yamela I hope he may do it
When w is inserted between ym and the verb, the original meaning of ym may be
restored. Thus, nlla ym w yamela means I hope he may rise and do it and I hope
he may do it.
The construction ym + ta / atta / laatta / la + present stem gives the original meaning
of ym, that is to stand / rise to. Thus, xall ym ta ykol means let him stand to eat.
5. bim + Present I:
As with ym + present stem, this construction emphasizes the entrance into the action to
be done. It designates an action which started and was completed in the present, or a
possible future action.
E.g.: kenna amnera, w faja bim bisakkir el-ktb
we were reading and suddenly he closes the book
a tm tello, wa ella bim byamela
beware that you may tell him, else he would do it
As with ym + present stem, this construction emphasizes the entrance into the action to
be done. It designates a future and volitive action.
E.g.: rah ym yamelon he will do them
8. kn m + prefect stem:
9. kn bim + present I:
Identical with the designation of possibility of bim + present I, but with a past
indication.
E.g.: mn enno ma eltello, wa ella kn bim byamela
it was good that you didnt tell him, else he would have done it
10. m + imperative:
Imperative m comes in the meaning of go ahead, also in the original sense of rise,
stand, get up especially if w is inserted.
E.g.: m melon go ahead, do them
4. Verb r:
1. r + perfect stem:
2. r + present stem:
This construction is used in the same sense as m + present stem (+ fi- / be-), but without
use of the prepositions. Thus, instead of aab mennon w m yerob fiyon he became
angry at them and started hitting them, we can use aab mennon w r yerebon.
4. yr + present stem:
This construction may come also in the meaning of to go and to do something. Here, w
may be inserted.
E.g.: nalla yr (w) yamela let us hope he goes and does it
5. bir + Present I:
Identical with the construction bim + Present I. Thus, instead of kenna amnera, w
faja bim bisakkir el-ktb we were reading and suddenly he closes the book, we may
say kenna amnera, w faja bir bisakkir el-ktb.
This construction may come also in the meaning of to go and to do something. Here, w
may be inserted.
E.g.: bir (w) byamela he goes and does it
8. kn r + prefect stem:
9. kn bir + present I:
10. r + imperative:
5. Verb d:
1. d + perfect stem:
It indicates a repeated and accomplished action in the past. Usually this action was
interrupted and the new action is its completion. It may be translated by adding the
particles back or again to the verb.
E.g.: edet katabton men bad ma waafet la-sa
I went back and wrote them after
having stopped for an hour
This auxiliary can indicate a case where the action has been refused by the person for a
time and then accepted back.
E.g.: kn ktr yerfel hal-alab, bass badn d ebil
he used to refuse this demand for
me, but later he went back and
accepted it
It can also indicate an action which is the consclusion of another set of actions or the
development of events. There is no need to have any causal relation between the final
action and the previous actions.
E.g.: ma barif eza d tzawwaj I dont know if he got married (at the end / as
a consequence)
It can be placed after or before the verb it modifies, sometimes separated by the direct
object of that verb. E.g.: ebil el-hdiyy d he went back and accepted the gift; he
accepted the gift at the end.
2. yd + present stem:
6. kn d + perfect stem:
6. Verb reji:
4th class. reji: rej, rje; rja. to go back, to come back, to return.
While conserving its original meaning, as an auxiliary it is used with the same
designations as d.
7. Verb be:
1. be + present stem:
Used in subjunctive clauses, it indicates a sort of polite order or obligation which has to
happen in the future.
E.g.: ello yeba yjbon tn marra tell him that he has to bring them next time
It indicates an habitual action in the past. Identical with kn ykn + present stem and kn
+ present stem.
E.g.: kn yeba yektob men zamn he used to write before
8. Verb all:
The originally meaning of this verb is to stay, to remain. When added as an auxiliary to
other verbs it means to keep on doing something, to keep doing something.
9. Verb nezil:
The meaning of this verb is to go down, to descent. The past form (nezil) is usually
added to the present stem or infinitive followed by be- / fi- + direct object, in the sense of
to start doing something often in an abrupt manner.
E.g.: kn ktr jn fa nezil akel fiyon he was so hungry, so he started eating them
kn ktr jn fa nezil ykol fiyon he was so hungry, so he started eating them
The meaning of the verb is to start. Used as an auxiliary with the present stem or
infinitive it means to start to do something.
E.g.: balla areb fiyon he started hitting them
balla yerebon he started hitting them
kn balla yerebon he already had started hitting them
ello yballi yektob tell him to start writing
halla biballi yektob now he will start writing
baddo yballi yektob he will start writing
axad + present stem indicates an action started by someone in the past. It is identical to
r + present stem.
E.g.: axad yeklna anno he started talking to us about him
1. yemken + perfect stem or pluperfect: This indicates an action which possibly happened
and was completed in the past or remote past.
E.g.: yemken katab he might have written
yemken kn katab he might have had written
2. ymeken + present stem or present I: This indicates a possible present or near future
action.
E.g.: yemken yektob he might write
yemken byektob he might write
12th class: xalla: xall, xall, xallay; xall, xall. to leave, to let, to allow.
This verb when used as an auxiliary, followed by the present stem, means to let / allow
someone do something. The direct object is usually placed between the auxiliary and th
everb.
E.g.: xallk tamlo he let you do it; he allowed you to do it
bixallk tamlo he lets you do it; he allows you to do it
baddo yxallk tamlo he will let you do it; he will allow you to do it
xallna namlo let us do it; allow us to do it
This auxiliary can be used also in the sense of to make someone do something.
E.g.: efet xallaytn amol? did you see what you made me do?
xalln a bel-br it made me fall into the well
15. Verb edir:
The meaning of this verb is to be able. Thus as an auxiliary it is used in the sense of
can and could.
enn- may be inserted between edir and the present stem. E.g.: deret tamela or deret
enno tamela or deret ennak tamela.
Used in subjunctive and optative clauses to indicate a present, future or general ability.
E.g.: nlla yedar yamela lets hope he may be able to do it
This verb means to need, to want. Used as an auxiliary it means to need / want to do
something.
1. z + present stem:
2. yz + present stem:
Used in subjunctive and optative clauses, it indicates a present, future or general need.
E.g.: nlla yz yamela lets hope he may need to do it
This verb means to love, to like. When used as an auxiliary it means to want to do
something or to love / like to do something.
This verb means to force, to oblige; njabar is its passive. When used as an auxiliary it
means to force / oblige someone to do something as an active and to be forced /
obliged to do something as a passive.
jabar takes the suffixed accusative pronouns, that is its direct object, followed by the
present stem. The relative conjunction enn- may be added between the auxiliary and the
verb.
E.g.: jabaro (enno) yamela he forced him to do it
jabarak (enno) tamela he forced you to do it
njabar (enno) yamela he was obliged to do it
ra yenjebir (enno) yamela he will be obliged to do it
This is the imperative of verb me to walk. When used as an auxiliary followed by the
present stem at the 1st pl. person, it means lets do something.
em (m. and f.) is used when there are two persons, one of which is addressing the other.
emo (pl.) is used when there are more than two persons, one of which is addressing all
the others.
E.g.: em namela lets do it
emo namela lets do it
Similar in meaning to r + present stem, it indicates mostly an action which was going
to happen but did not. It is interchangeable also with kn rah / baddo + present stem.
E.g.: eja ta yektebon fa m lhon maktbn he was going to write them but he
found them already written
Other tenses and moods of eja come in the sense of to go / come to do something.
The verb ht (m.), ht (f.) and hto (pl.) is an imperative which may be translated as
give me/us or pass to me/us. The masculine form is used when addressing the speech
to a maculine person, the feminine to a feminine person, and the plural to more than one
person.
E.g.: ht hal-ktb give me this book
When used as an auxiliary followed by the present stem at the 1st pl. person, it can be
translated as lets do. The subjunctive conjunctions ta, la, atta, laatta can be placed
after the auxiliary.
E.g.: ht (ta) nektebon lets write them
Both of them are imperatives of verbs we and eh which mean to wake up. Used
separately, they mean wake up.
Used as auxiliaries followed by the present stem, they indicate an order of prohibition or
awareness from something.
The two common forms a and oa can be used with all persons.
E.g.: a tamela do not do it; beware that you might do it
a namela let us not do it; beware that we might do it
a yamela let him not do it; beware that he might do it
These two forms can be conjugated with the 2nd and 3rd personal endings, each agreeing
with its verb in person.
S P
2 m. ak kon
f. ik
3 m. o on; hon
f. a; ha
S P
2 m. oak oekon
f. oik
3 m. oo oon
f. oa
This verb means to wish. It is used as an auxiliary followed by the present stem, with or
without the conjunction enn-, too to indicate a wishful action, i.e. to wish to do
something.
E.g.: tmannt enno amelon I wished to do them
byetmanna yamelon he wishes to do them
25. lezim:
26. baal:
27. lei:
28. laa:
d. Semi-verbs:
1. Semi-verb baddo:
When added as an auxiliary to the present stem of a verb, it designates a wanted action or
an action going to happen.
ykn baddo + present: this is the subjunctive and optative form of baddo + present stem.
baddo + present stem can also be used in subjunctive clauses.
E.g.: yemken baddo yamelon it is possible that he wants to do them
yemken ykn baddo yamelon it is possible that he wants to do them
3. Semi-verb fiyo:
fiyo is the preposition fi- in with the suffixed pronouns. However, when used as an
auxiliary it designates ability or possibility.
fiyo + present stem: this indicates a present ability or possibility. It is conjugated as such:
S P
1 fiyy, fn fna
2 m. fk fkon
f. fk
3 m. f, fiyo fiyon; fhon
f. fiya; fha
ykn fiyo + present stem: this is the subjunctive and optative form.
E.g.: nlla ykn f yektebon I hope he might be able to write them
4. Semi-verb arlo:
When used alone, it means has been, that is it designates an action which was occurring
in the past and which is still occurring at the time of speech.
E.g.: arl hn arba st I have been here for 4 hours
When used as an auxiliary it refers to the same aspect of action. It is usually followed by
the present I or II.
E.g.: arlo ambyektob men mbre he has been writing since yesterday
4. Semi-verb allo:
S P
1 all alna
2 m. allak alkon
f. allik
3 m. allo allon; alhon
f. alla; alha
When used as an auxiliary followed by the present stem it means it is time for someone
to do something. In general it expresses a situation where someone could have done and
accomplished an act a long time before.
E.g.: allo yamela it is time for him to do it; by now he could have done it
e. Auxiliary participles:
1. Participle kyen:
2. Participle lzem:
lzemlo + infinitive: .
E.g.: lzemlo
kn lzemlo + infinitive: .
E.g.: kn lzemlo
3. Participles der:
4. Participles momken:
5. Participles rye:
rye + (ta / la / laatta / atta ) + present stem is identical to r + (ta / la / laatta / atta
) + present stem.
ma byeswa
ma bir
h. Other verbs:
lk
daxlo, daxlo
i. Imperatives:
j. Infinitives:
The infinitive is less used in a verbal meaning than it is used as an ordinary substantive.
Thus, akel eating, to eat is used generally in the sense of food. E.g.: f akel mao there
is food with him.
Unlike in English where the infinitive is used with the auxiliaries, the infinitive is used
only with the auxiliaries nezil, baddo, balla and lzemlo.
Instead of the infinitive, the subjunctive is used, that is the present stem.
E.g.: njabar (enno) yektob he was obliged to write
2. as a subject of a sentence.
E.g.: kitbeton ptxod waet writing them takes time
4. as an object to a verb. But the subjunctive is used more than the infinitive here.
E.g.: alab menn kitbeton he asked me to write them
kammal kitbeton he continued writing them
5. as an object to verb new to intend and as a genitive with niyy intention. With
niyy, the preposition b- may preceed the infinitive.
E.g.: kn nw emlnon he has intended to do them
niyyet emlnon the intention to do them
endo niyy be-emlnon he has an intention to do them
It can occur as a subject with the suffixed pronouns as its object. In this case it is
translated as the one doing something or the one who did something. It may be
introduced by the relative ell, yall.
E.g.: ktebon kn hn the one who wrote them was here
In answers to questions or other sentences, the participles, often after yes, comes
alone in the sense of the present I or past I.
E.g.: , rfo! Yes, I know him!
, ktbo w xle! Yes, I wrote it and am done!
But as a predicate:
The active comes in the sense of the present continuous, depending on the
meaning of the verb.
E.g.: hayda el-rejjl jy this man is coming
The passive comes in the sense of the past.
E.g.: hayda el-saer maktb this line is written
The auxiliary kn can be added with all its tenses to the participles to modify its time and
aspect.
E.g.: hayda el-rejjl kn jy this man was coming
hayda el-rejjl bikn jy this man would be coming
hayda el-rejjl rah ykn jy this man will be coming
hayda el-saer kn maktb this line was written
hayda el-saer bikn maktb this line might be written
5. Gerund:
1. To construct a clause of the form of while doing . expressing the present, the
pronoun of the subject is placed followed by w then by the participle. To express while
he was doing , the present continuous verb is placed instead of the participle.
E.g.: efto, huww w melon I saw him while doing it
efto, huww w ambyamelon I saw him while he was doing it
2. To express the past gerund, in the form of having done ., the conjunctions men
bad ma after is used.
E.g.: men baed ma emela, sallamn yyha
(after) having done this, he submitted it to me
3. The pronoun + w + passive participle indicates the state of the object after the action
was applied on it. The clause is adverbial.
E.g.: efto, huww w maktb I saw it, having been written
6. Voices:
There are three voices: active, middle and passive. The usual passive forms have an n-
prefixed to them. Other passive and middle forms take t- as a prefix.
E.g.: Active: katab to write
Passive: nkatab to be written
Active: kattab to make someone write
Passive: tkattab to be made to write
Middle:
Prepositions:
h
x
hk lakan
; naam
l; la
bala; mbala
aywa; wa; aywah
tf
eff
f; f
ya wayl
y
y
y layna
y aa
walla
balla
Syntax
Use of Cases:
a. Accusative:
No case endings.
Use of preposition la, le to, for to indicate a direct and indirect object. In this case, a
suffixed accusative pronoun is attached to the verb.
E.g: axad el-daftar he took the notebook
axado la-el-daftar he took the notebook (lit. he took it, to the notebook)
b. Genitive:
1. - Simple construction:
c. Dative:
d. Ablative:
e. Instrumental:
1. eza:
This introduces an open conditional clause, where it is uncertain whether the condition
will be fulfilled or not. Present and future tenses are used often here in the conditional
clause and in the independent clause.
Present I Present I:
eza ptamela, bak mar if you do it, I give you money
Future I or II Future I or II
eza ra tamela, badd ak mar if you will do it, I will give you money
lawla, lawma are used with the subjunctive. The main clause take a negative pluperfect.
E.g.: lawma enta tamela, ma kenna wolna lahn
if it wasnt for you doing it, we wouldnt have arrived at this
3. ella eza:
The main clause takes a negative Present I or future, while the conditional clause takes
the present I.
E.g.: ma ra amela, ella eza ptektob I will not do it, unless you write
ma bamela, ella eza ptektob I will not do it, unless you write
4. en, n:
Other subordinate clauses:
1. Purpose clauses:
Purpose clauses are introduced by the following conjunction followed by the subjunctive
in the form of the present stem:
2. Relative clauses:
enn- that
S P
1 enn enna
that I that we
2 m. ennak enkon
that you that you
f. ennik
that you
3 m. enno ennon; enhon
that he that they
f. enna; enha
that she
The relative conjunction can be used with the suffixed pronoun to express the subject of
the clause. enno can be used for all persons.
3. Causal clauses:
4. Concessive clauses:
Months:
Knn el-tn
bt
dr
Nsn
Ayyr
Hzayrn
Tammz
b
Ayll
Tirn el-awwal
Tirn el-tn
Knn el-awwal
Tann
Talta
Orba
Xams
Joma
Sabet
Ahad
Ethnonyms:
Rm (pl. Rm) Greek, Roman
Seryn (pl. Seryn) Syriac
Arman (pl. Arman) Armenian
Obt (pl. Abt) Copt
Keldn (pl. Keldn) Chaldaean
Ar (pl. Ariyy) Assyrian
aba (pl. aba) Ethiopian
Arab (pl. Arab, Erbn) Arab
Kerd (pl. Krd) Kurd
Terk (pl. Trk) Turk
Terkmn (pl. Terkmn) Turkman
Nr (pl. Nawar); ajar (pl. ajar) Gypsie
Morab (pl. Marb) Maghreban
Franj (pl. Franj) Frank
Ajam (pl. Ajam); Irn (pl. Irniyy) Iranian
Mas (pl. Masiiyy); Narn (pl. Nara)
Christian
Ortodoks, Ortodoks (pl. Ortodoks, Ortodoksiyyn, Ortodoksiyy)
Orthodox
Katolk, Katolk (pl. Katolk) Catholic
Mrn (pl. Mawrn) Maronite
Yab (pl. Yab) Jacobite
Ltn (pl. Ltn) Latin
Protestant, Protestn Protestant
Meslim (pl. Meselmn, Eslm) Muslim
Senn (pl. Senniyy, Senna); Eslm Sunni
(pl. a, iyy) Shii
Derz (pl. Drz) Druze
Alaw (pl. Alawiyy) Alaouite
Esmal (pl. Esmaliyy) Ismaelite
Yazd (pl. Yazdiyy) Yazidi
Vegetables xodra:
adas lentil
ardawk artichoke
banadra tomato
badnes parsley
bal rhododendron
baal onion
baa potato
batenjn aubegine
bazella geen pea
bmy okra
flya kidney bean
fejel radish
flayfl arra pepper
flayfl elw green pepper
fl beans
halyn asparagus
me, laymn lemon
hendb chicory
ommo chick-pea
xass lettuce
xyr cucumber
jazar carrot
ksa courgette
lefet turnip
lby been
malff cabbage
meta
nana mint
are marrow
arnab cauliflower
rezz rice
sele
sbnex spinach
tm garlic
zatar thyme
zaytn olive
Fruits fwk:
enab grapes
ennb
afand orange
anans pineapple
avok avocat
bala dates
bax water melon
berdn, laymn orange
bmal a type of orange
bufr bitter orange
derr peach
ekkden medlar
festo pistachio
frz strawberry
gewwfa, gawwfa guava
griffn grapefruit
xarma
ayn
xx plum
janrek green plum
jz walnut
karaz cherry
kastana chestnut
lz almond
manga mango
memo apricot
mz banana
nj pear
ata
remmn pomegranate
emmm melon
sfarjal quince
mandar beet
obbr cactus
nbar pine
tamer dates
teff apple
tn fig
tt mulberry
yan, lan squash
Kitchen tools adawt el-mabax:
ara juicer
kafkr big spoon
kassrl cooking pot
mabra
mala, malea spoon
manxal sieve
maan grinder
mely frying vessel
mefy strainer
leb mold
eme funnel
awbak rolling pin
awk fork
sekkn cutter
iniyy tray
anjara cooking pot
Spices bhrt:
felfol amar cayenne
felfol arr chili powder
felfol elow allspice
aba basil
hl cardamom
jzt el-tb nutmeg
kammn cumin
kari curry
kezbra coriander
mardak marjoram
paprika paprika
erf cinnamon
semm sumac
semsom sesame
mar fennel
wara r bay leaves
yansn anise
zafarn saffron
zanjabl ginger
Most common verbs:
1. Movement:
abar [1]: to cross. abaro el-naher, they a [8]: to dip, to immerse. aon b-xall,
crossed the river. he dipped them in vinegar.
ajjal [11]: to hasten, to hurry. ajjal be- a ala [8]: to drop on, to land over.
emlnon, he hurried in doing them. att el-afr ala el-are, the bird
landed on the surface.
alla [12]: to increase, to raise. alla
ertefo, he raised its height. aas [11]: to immerse, to plunge.
aason bel-mayy, he plunged them in
'm [6]: to float. m ala wejj el-mayy, water.
it floated on the face of water.
eri [4]: to sink. el-markab eri, the
baa [12]: to keep. ba endo, he kept boat sank.
it with him.
xalla [12]: to keep, to leave. xalla el-
baram [1]: to turn. baramo 90 daraj, he kanz b-el-sayyra, he left the sweater in
turned it 90 degrees. the car. xalla el-kanz mao, he kept the
sweater with him.
be [7]: to stay, to remain. be bel-bt,
he stayed home. harr [8], harhar [9]: to detach) from
somewhere and fall down. ambeyharhir
ahar [2]: to go out, to exit. ahar men kell el-dhn an el-, all the paint is
el-da, he went out of the room. falling down from the wall.
dr [6]: (1) to turn. dr awl nafso, he hazz [8]: to shake. kn ambihezz, it was
turned around himself. (2) to tour. dr shaking. hazzo fa wei, he shook it so it
el-balad kello, he toured all the country. fell.
aas [1]: to dive. byeos la-eme 10 karraj [11]: to move, to make s/t to move
mtr, he dives 10 meter deep. on. karraj el-araby, he moved the
chariot.
kawwa [11]: to turn. kawwa men na [8]: to jump. na men el-korn lal-
haydk el-mafra, he turned at that baer, he jumped from the cornishe to
junction. the sea.
laff [8]: (1) to turn. laff men haydk el- nazzal [11]: to make s/o to descend.
mafra, he turned at that junction. (2) nazzalo men f, he made it descend
[also, laflaf] to wrap. laffo b-wara, he from up.
wrapped it with a paper.
nezil [5]: to go down, to descend. nezil
mara [1]: to pass, to pass by. mara men men el-ayyra, he went down of the
hn halla, he passed by here now. plane. nezil al-daraj, he descended the
stairs.
marra [11]: to let pass. marrao men
hn, he let it pass form here. d [6]: to lead. don bel-areb, he lead
them in war.
maa [12]: to make s/o to
walk. mana mao, he made us walk addam [11]: (1) to move forward. addam
with him la-end, he moved to me. addam el-sa,
he moved the hour forward. (2) to serve.
mayyal [11]: to make s/t to incline. addamlon samak, he served them fish.
mayyalo la-endo, he made it incline into
his direction. m [6]: to rise, to stand. m men el-nm,
he woke up. m an el-kers, he rose
ml [6]: to incline. ambiml la-hal- from the chair.
mayl, it is inclining to this direction.
m ala [6]: to rise against. m ala el-
me [7]: to walk. me al-raf, he feer, he rose against poverty.
walked on the sidewalk.
awwam [11]: to make s/o to
me b- [7]: to follow. me b-hal-fekra, rise/stand/move. awwamo men marao,
he followed this idea. he made him move from his place.
naal [1]: (1) to transport. ambyenol aad [1]: to sit. aad al-kers, he sat on
ba ly, he is transporting expensive the chair.
material. (2) to copy. naal el-emten
an ell addo, he copied the test form aad [11]: to make s/o to sit.
the person next to him. (3) to transmit, to aado ala el-kers, he made him sit on
pass on. naall risl, he transmitted a he chair.
letter to me.
rafa [2]: to raise, to lift. rafa do, he
naal [11]: (1) to transport (many raised his hand.
times). naalon men matra la matra,
he transported them from one place to r [6]: to go. r a ayda, he went to
another. (2) to make s/o copy. naalto Sidon.
emten, I made him copy my test.
rajja [11]: to return back. rajjao la- the cooking pot. (2) to make s/o fail.
bo, he returned it back to it owners. saato el-estz, the teacher made him
fail.
rakkab [11]: (1) to install. rakkab lamba
bel-da, he installed a lamp in the room. sarra [11]: to quicken, to hasten, to
(2) to assemble. rakkab el-ea be-baa, hurry. sarra mayo, he hastened his
he assembled the pieces with each walking pace.
others. (3) to mount. rakkabo f el-
md, he mounted it over the column. sfar [13]: to travel. sfar a Fransa, he
(4) to let ride. rakkabn mao bel- traveled to France.
sayyra, he let me take a ride with him in
the car. starja [18]: to get back. starja bayto
men ell metallno, he got his house
raa[1]: to dance. beyit tero l el-ll, back from those who were occupying it.
she kept dancing all night long.
f [6]: (1) to float. f ala sate el-
rawwaj b- [11]: to hasten in. rawwaj be- baer, he floated on the surface of the
emlnon, he hastened in doing them. sea. (2) to flood. f el-naher, the river
flooded.
rawwa [11]: (1) to loose, to miss.
rawwa asan fora, he missed his best r [6]: to fly. el-fr ambetr bel-
chance. sama, birds are flying in the sky.
reji [5]: to come back, to return. reji alla [11], ayla [9]. (1) to kick out, to
men el-safar, he returned from travel. throw out. kn ambyek fa allao
labarra el-estz, he was talking, so the
rekib [5]: to ride, to mount. rekib al- teacher kicked him out. (2) to place up,
n, he rode the horse. to move up, to take up. alla el-anta
al-tetxt, he placed the bag up in the
saba [2]: to swim. saba men hn la- attic. (3) to take out. alla men jaybto alf
n el-Mrays, he swam from here to lra, he took out of his pocket a 1000
n el-Mrays. lira. alla ktr samak men el-baer, he
took out many fishes of the sea.
saffar [11]: to make s/o travel, to send
abroad. saffar wldo la-Amrka, he sent ayyar [11]: to make s/o to fly, to let s/o
his childen to America. to fly. ayyar el-afr men el-afa, he let
the bird fly out of the cage.
saat [1]: (1) to fall. (2) to fail. saat b-el-
madras, he failed at school. eli [4]: to go up, to ascend. eli la-end
el-jrn, he went up to the neighbours.
alab [9]: to flip, to move. alabon
fn tatn, he flipped them up and eli enn- [4]: it was found that. w bel-
down. axr eli enno huww el-arm, and
finally it was found that he is the thief.
saat [11]: (1) to drop. saat el-xodra
bel-anjara, he dropped the vegetables in
tmaddad [11]: to lie down. r tmaddad ma, we stopped walking. (3) to arrest.
al taxet, he lied down on the bed. waafeto el-bols, the police arrested
him. (4) to stand. waif bel-aff, stand
tmaa [12]: to take a walk. r yetmaa in the line.
al-korn, he took a walk on the
corniche. waal [11]: to conduct, to lead.
waaln al-bt, he conducted me home.
taddam [11]: (1) to move forward.
taddam la-eddm, he moved forward. waal la- [11]: to reach. waal lal-axr,
(2) to progress. hal-balad he reached the end.
ambyetaddam, this country is
progressing. waa [12]: to decrease, to lower. waa
luwwa, he lowered its height.
talab [9]: to flip, to roll. talab fn
tatn, he rolled up and down. wei [4]: to fall. wei an el-sate, he
fell of the roof. wei lataet, he fell
tzala [9], tzala [9]: to skate, to glide. down.
ambyetzala al-jald, he is skating on
ice. weif [4]: to stand. weif ala el-wl,
he stood on the table.
twajjah la- [11]: to head for, to go
towards. twajjah lal-madn, he headed we [7]: to go down, to drop, to
towards the city. decrease. we seer el-dolr, the price
of dollar went down.
weil [4]: to arrive. weil a Lebnn, he
arrived to Lebanon. zaa: to slip. zaa al-are, he slipped
on the floor.
waa [11]: (1) to drop. waao men
do, he dropped it from his hand. (2) to zatt [8]: to throw. zatto men do, he
sign. waao ala ara, they signed a threw it of his hand.
petition.
z [6]: to move, to displace. zo men
waaf [11]: (1) to raise, to make s/o to hn lahonk, move from here to there.
stand. waafo jles, he made it stand
straight. (2) to stop. waafna an el-
Verb list:
Note: the numbers after the verb indicate the verbal class.
abba [12]: to fill. abba el-ks teff, he allam el-dhn ala tybo, the paint
filled the bag with apples adhered to his clothes.
laj [13]: to treat, remedy, cure. meri arba [9]: to climb. arba al-sajra, he
fa lajo el-akm, he got sick so he was climbed the tree.
treated by the doctor.
arrab [11]: to sort things according to
alak [1]: to chew. kn ambyelok el- their type. arrabon asab el-ln, he
elk, he was chewing the gum. sorted them by color.
allam [11]: (1) to teach. allamo yek, arra [11]: to enlarge the width.
he taught him how to speak. (2) to mark,
to highlight. allamton b-ln amar, I arram [11]: to pile. arram el-a, he
highlighted them with a red color. (3) to piled the hay.
be apparent on something, to stick to
something, to adhere to something.
aar [1], aar [11]: to press, to
squeeze. aar laymn, he pressed azz [8]: to cherish (used with the
oranges. present tenses). huww biezzak, he
cherishes you.
aab [11]: to become nervous. zaajn
fa aab, we annoyed him so he became azza [12]: to offer condolences, to
nervous. condole. rena nazz be-mt xayyo, we
went to offer him our condolences for his
aa / e [7]: to give. an ell endo, brothers death.
he gave me what he has.
azzab [11]: to torture, to make suffer, to
aas [1], aas [11]: to sneeze. torment. hayda el-eel ambiazzebn,
this work is torenting me.
attal [11]: to carry. attal el-ba, he
carried the goods. ejiz [4]: to be incapable, to be impotent.
ejiz an emlno, he became incapable
aal [11]: (1) to disable, to deactivate, of doing it.
to damage. aal el-motr, he
deactivated the motor. (2) to disrupt, to em [7]: to become blind.
interrupt. aalna an eelna, he
interrupted us from our work. (3) to go emil [5]: to make.
on vacation. aalit el-madras la-
yawmn, the school went on vacation for eil [4]: to become wiser. kebir w eil,
two days. he grew up and became wiser.
ayya l-: to call someone, to ask addab [11]: to punish, to rectify the
someone to come. ayyi la-xayyak, cal behaviour of someone.
your brother.
axad [3]: to take. baat [2]: to send. baatl el-mar, he
sent me the money. baatna la-endo, he
a [8]: to cough. sent us to him.
ajjar [11]: to rent out. ajjaro ea be-200 baa [2], bara [9]: to dig in earth.
dolar, he rented out an apartment for
200 dollar. bahdal [9]: to scold.
allaf [11]: to compose. allaf enniyy, he bakka [12]: to make someone cry.
composed a song.
bakkar [11]: to be early, to come early.
amman [11]: (1) to provide. ammanelna
akel, he provided us with food. (2) to bala [2]: to swallow.
insure, to make sure. amman enno yejo,
he made sure that they will come. ball [8], ballal [11]: to wet.
assar [11]: to touch, to impress. eto barad [1], berid [5]: (1) to become
assarit fiyy ktr, his story touched me a colder. (2) to feel colder. (3) to become
lot. cooler.
azzan [11]: to call for Muslim prayers, to baraz [1]: to be prominent. baraz be-hal-
pronounce the azn. mehn, he became prominent in this
profession.
baaj [2]: to apply pressure over barrad [11]: to cool, to make cold.
something creating cavites in it.
baa [1]: to make happy.
baa [11]: to sit on the ground aaf [11]: (1) to make weaker. (2) to
stretching the legs. make thinner.
baa [2]: (1) to defeat someone. (2) to abb [8], abab [9]: (1) to put
make someone fall on the ground. something in its original place. (2) to
pack, to pack up.
bawrad [9]: (1) to become cooler.
bawrad el-aes, the weather became dabbar [11]: to arrange.
cooler. (2) to feel cooler. Halla
bawradna, now we are feeling cooler. dafa [2]: to pay.
bx (bx) [6]: to fade (used for colors). dall [8]: to guide, to indicate.
bx lawno, its color faded.
allal [11]: to mislead.
bek [7]: to cry.
dallal [11]: to pamper, to spoil.
bya [10]: to become white.
amm [8]: to join something with
() [6]: to be lost, to get lost. something else.
daak [2]: to mix things with each other damma [12]: to make someone bleed.
pressing and squeezing them; to crush.
daaket el-asilt atta yenafo, I mixed dammar [11]: to destroy. el-azyef
abd squeezed the laundry with each dammarit el-binyt, the rockets
other so that they may become clean. destroyed the buildings.
daar [2]:to touch. a tedaro, do not ddaa, dda, dda, ddaay; dde, dde
touch it. [19]: to pretend. ddaa enno byarif, he
pretended to know.
da [8]: (1) to knock on something. da
al bb, he knocked on the door. (2) to eif [4]: to become weak.
hit something. da bel-twl, it hit the
table. db (db) [6]: to melt, to dissolve.
arab ayno ala: to have a crush on def [7]: (1) to become warm. def el-
someone. taes, the weather became warm. (2) to
feel warm.
arab [1]: to hit, to beat.
dx (dx) [6]: to feel dizzy.
daras [1]: to study.
eik [4]: to laugh.
arr [8]: to harm, to be harmful. hayda
biorr ma bifd, this is harmful not emin [4]: to rent a land, a farm etc.
useful.
d (d) [6]: to taste.
darrab [11]: to train someone.
der [7]: to know about something.
dass [8]: to feel an object, to touch
something or someone with the hand. eris [4]: to feel a sort of pain in the
molars.
awwa [12]: to light, to open the lights.
f (f) [6]: (1) to spill over, to
dawwax [11]: to make someone dizzy. overflow. fet el-mayy men el-bnyo,
the water spilled over the bathtub. (2) to
dawwar ala [11]: to search for someone, inundate, to flood. f el-naher, the river
to look for someone. kn ambidawwir overflowed.
layna, he was looking for us.
yaq / dya [13]: to bother someone. faa [12]: to empty something from
something else.
ayya [11]: to loose.
faal [11]: to prefer something or
ayyaf [11]: to offer something to someone over something or someone
someone. ayyafo ahw, he offered him else.
coffee.
faa [2]: to examine.
dayyan [11]: to lend. dayyann mar,
he lend me money. faxat [2]: to pierce something creating a
small hole.
dayya [11]: to tighten.
fa [8]: to spread, to diffuse (used with faa [1]: to crack something. faqa el-
odors). fait ra bea, an nasty odor baya, he cracked the egg.
spread.
faas [1]: (1) to crack. faasit el-baya,
fahham [11]: to make someone the egg cracked. (2) to crack something.
understand.
faa [12]: to pick.
fajjar [11]: to explode something.
faa [11]: to make someone angry.
faka [2]: to limp.
faar [11]: to make someone poor.
fakk [8], fakkak [11], fakfak [9]: to untie
or undo something. faas [11]: (1) to crack (used when eggs
crack letting the new born animal go out
fala [2]: to plough the earth. of it). (2) to be born (used in a
metaphorical and pejorative sense).
fala [1]: to make someone feel bored or
annoyed by insisting on him. faa [11]: to crack something, to be in
the act of cracking things. ambifai
fala [1]: to spread something over a b, he is cracking eggs.
surface. fala el-tyb al-are, he spread
the clothes on the ground. faram [1], farram [11]: to grate
vegetables.
falat [1]: to slip. falat men d, it slipped
out of my hand. (2) to let go of fara [1]: (1) to spread something over a
something or someone. falata men do, surface = fara. (2) to furnish a room or
he let go of it from his hand. house.
fall [8]: to leave a place. fara [1]: (1) to break down, to fail. (2) to
make fruits fall from the trees.
fallal [11]: to make someone leave a
place. farja [12]: to show.
farka [9]: to make someone walking fall
fallat [11]: (1) to let go of something or down by putting any sort of obstacle in
someone. (2) to let go, to release. fallat front of him.
men el-abes, they released him out of
prison. farra [11]: to empty something from its
content.
faa [2], fara [9]: to blow up, to
explode. farra [11]: (1) to separate between two
things or persons. (2) to discriminate
faad [1]: to loose something. between two things or persons. farra
bn el-sd w el-b, he discriminated
faadl- + suffixed pronouns [1]: to feel between blacks and whites.
the loss of the presence of someone.
farax [9]: to spread the legs.
fasad [1]: to corrupt someone or fazz [8]: to jump.
something.
fe [7]: to be empty.
fasax [2]: to split into two parts.
fehim [4]: to understand.
faax [2]: to step, to walk.
felit [4]: to slip. felit men d, it slipped
fasal [1]: to separate. out of my hand.
fasfas [9]: to separate the meet from the f (f) [6]: to wake up.
bones.
feir [4]: to become poor.
fakal [9]: to disarrange, to mess up, to
make a mess of something. feri [4]: to be unoccupied with work.
faa [11]: to lie, to tell incredible alab [1]: to win over, to defeat.
stories.
fata [2], fatta [11]: to open. ala [1]: to close.
fatal [1]: (1) to turn, rotate or twist amaz [1]: to blink for someone.
something and change its direction. (2)
to go around, to tour. amma [11]: to close the eyes.
fatt [8], fatfat [9]: (1) to fragment into ammaz [11]: to blink.
smaller pieces (intransitive). (2) to
fragment something into smaller pieces anna [12]: to sing.
(transitive).
r (r) [6]: to be jaleous.
fatta [11]: to search.
aras [1]: to pant.
fayya [11]: to wake up.
araz [1]: to insert something into xada [2]: to trick and fool someone.
something else.
hadam [1], haddam [11]: to demolish
garr [8], gargar [9]: to chatter. something.
abbab [11]: to make someone love kam [13]: to judge or try someone.
something or someone.
akam [1]: (1) to rule. (2) to befall
xabbar [11]: to tell someone something. someone (used with pain). akamo
waja, a pain befall him.
xarab [1]: to ruin.
akk [8]: to scratch.
xaraj [1]: to excrete.
akkam [11]: to treat.
aram [1]: to deprive.
xala [2]: to pull out, to tear out, to take
off. ara [1]: to burn.
alla [12]: to make beautiful, sweet. arka [9]: to stir hostilities between
people.
xallaf [11]: to give birth.
xarrab [11]: to destroy, to damage.
xalla [11]: (1) to finish from doing
something. (2) to save someone. arrak [11]: to shake, to agitate, to stir.
2nd Scene
[Tino is sleeping. Meanwhile sounds are heard, followed by sounds of broken glass. Two
gunmen, Abbs and Fahed, break in the hotel. One of them wakes Tino up.]
Abbs: Bass wala kelm asan ma neetlak kam axes ento hn? Kam wad wl?
Kam wad?
Tino: Tlat tla tlattae.
Fahed: Tlattae.
Abbs: l addim l ma Fahed ftalo kell el-eraf badd yyhon kellon.
[Tino and Fahed wake up the guests and make them descend into the lobby.]
Fahed: a ada ysammen awto. Yalla wl.
Barakt: Ana eltellak ma benzal.
Fahed: Latat wl. [He push him onto the stairs with the others.]
Abbs: Kfkon ento? l. Sman mn fhamo kell kelm ana esm Abbs, w
huww esmo Fahed, bas ana esm Abbs fhemna? Sman mn wl
sman mn.
Fahed [screaming]: Smao wl.
Abbs: Halla el-sa wed w no abokra betr el-sa sett w no w men
halla laabokra f 5 st, w baddo yr al men aeltn ya menawweskon
wad wara el-tn
The guests: Tawwesna?
Abbs: asab el-tertb ell ra nekon y halla w bel-xer menfajjir el-beny
alayna ana w Fahed ya betlo w menballi men halla nair la-l-sawra
The guests: Sawra?!
Fahed: Sawra, Sawra.
Abbs: u fhemna? B-el-sawra lzem ada yballi w hal-ada me ra yej la-wado
w nena me nesna tankn hal-ada ana Abbs exewt el-tnn el-
bant ambibo elk ala el-ert w dmhon ballalo zz el-sayyart
bayy ra ymt w ma f mestafa byestaeblo b-bal wado el-mt ell
byestaeblo b-bal
Fahed: Xayy el-zr men jema arabeto sayyra ataleto kn amyelab ala el-ar
ma dafalna jeneyto l? El-sayyra ell arabeto kbr w ptelma
Abbs: W nena kellna abra ma mnedar nelma.
Fahed: wassao el-ar w r baytna l? Laanno ktr zr
Abbs: Laanno bo zr.
Fahed and Abbs: baddna nexlamennon, hayd zr w kbr.
Fahed: Mbre men abokra aradna men el-mamal ell kenna amneteil f ana w
Abbs, l tabaho fna ammenarri el-emml ala el-erb kenna
ammenarreon.
Abbs: Wlak baddna narreon.
Fahed: Kf badha tballe el-sawra eza ma arranhon aradna.
Abbs: Halla ento smeto ell elnlkon y hy hy? ll ta f
The guests: [they answer no, by shaking their heads]
Abbs: Badl mraaa alef rea balha asan, omra ma tkn, nena arafelna nmt
ento asan menna ?
The guests: Tst.
Abbs: Metl el-exw nena w eyykon, baddna netelkon w netol lna l ma
baa ten.
Fahed: El-nr eza myetak w baddak texlas menna, zett lak fha, ya ptefha ya
ptefk.
Abbs: Ento kamn me mabsn b-aytkon, ana baref, ana jy rayyekon.
Fahed: Law elkon byt, ma kento nzelto hn, nena eza aadnkon, aadnkon laanno
ma endkon byt w l w l ento mattarn l sktn? Ya xofo nafaskon w
sketo al ya ma txallo ada ayrkon yek badda tej el-sawra wn badda
tr? Ma hiyy menna w fna
Abbs: Add ma ysaffrha badda terja tej
Tino: Sdna sdna sdna sdna ayyib h hayd kl sawra?
Abbs: Nena ma jabarnkon taemlo sawra abadan nena addamnlkon alln
[The guests consult with each other]
Tino: Mal namel sawra ya jama? Sdna sdna lk malla hayt estz
Raf, waynak ent eklak kelm.
Raf: El el el-sawra ana bl, tax, fa ezeb, fa jardet ezeb, fa edd l-el-ray
el-m, fa tahayyu, fa iqtim
Abbs: Fa sedd bzak, mn allak tek enta?
Tino: Sdna, sdna, sdna, sdna, weytak nena ma byetla be-dna nballi b-el-sawra,
laanno kell wad fna b-mt ell.
Abbs: Ana fra ma terab enta w eyyhon .. wn daftar el-asm.
Tino: Hy el-asm.
Fahed: Wafo b-el-aff wafo b-el-aff wl b-el-aff
Barakt: alla eddmak
Fahed: Wf.
Barakt: Hayda ajnab sdna.
Fahed: Skt, alla eddmak.
Aysar: Sdna ana awwesn.
Fahed: Skt.
Aysar: Awwesn xalas.
Fahed: xalas.
Abbs: Halla yall byela esmo bil der w biarreb lahn ta a el-raem. Sa
enno kelkon arar la-l-mujtama, bass me lzem tmto kf ma kn f ns elha el-
awlawiyy. W ra tetraamo ala hal-ass wl . wl ana me ye l kf
yn lkon? [Adb passes out] Ma ada yetarrak men maallo trek, xall
yert way men hal-let el-zefet.
Saed: Ya maskn ya Adb.
Abbs: Barakt el-Malek.
Batakt: Ya laf ans kbr ana. [In a loud voice] der.
Aysar: der.
Barakt: Wlak u bk ana Barakt ana ana Barakt sdna w ma hayda el-mr.
Abbs: Arrib lahn. [Barakt steps one step] Wlak arrib lahn.
Barakt: Ma hal-aab.
Abbs: Xrs Aysar Kadakofka.
Aysar: der.
Abbs: adertak el-mr.
Aysar: Naam.
Abbs: Aysar w Barakt, mlain w moreb, wad w tnn.
Barakt and Aysar: L sdna?
Abbs: Ento afyn el-mujtama ento ento el-aeb mattar w ammetxall yenerib b-
tetro ammetbo al-sawra ktr wad tnn.
Aysar: L sdna l ana wad?
Abbs: Laannak enta ell betlaenlo yemken law ma kenet betlaenlo, ma kn
beyann.
Aysar: Azu b-Ellh sdna ambeyann la-hal-bara Elys el-zr laanlo
lann
Barakt: Hayda ejrm u hal-ak hayda!
Abbs: u elet?
Aysar: Me ana sdna, hayda Barakt.
Abbs: u elet enta?
Barakt: Ana elet ana ana ana ma elet, ana elet u hal- ya kirm.
Abbs: La.
Barakt: u ala el-arm.
Abbs: La.
Barakt: Walla arm sdna adertak betalli ala alt sr bala tam.
Abbs: Xrs. Bema ennak ma ra tl bema ennak moreb w huww mlain me ra
entor laabokra atta etelkon badd tlanl nad el-sawra el-jdd makon
men halla lal-sa tlt w ness ya betsallmn el-nad ya betsallam arwkon
u fhemna?
Aysar: Fhemna walla fhemna.
Abbs: Taiyyt el-Alawz.
Tahiyyt: der.
Abbs: l dra wl ma taeml lik rejjl ent el-raem tlt raa h.
Fahed: Nena rae.
Abbs: Raf Zb.
Raf: Ana der, ezan ana mawjd.
Abbs: Mufakkir?
Raf: Naam.
Abbs: Be betfakkir enta?
Raf: ana bfakkir eh b-el- b-el-mestabal el-sawr, bfakkir b-el-jl el-ye el-
lmutanm, bfakkir, bfakkir bi-tawu el-rasmliyyn el-muxain ma xmil el-
abaa el-rzia, bfakkir h bfakkir bi-tazyf el-mabdi el-assiyya wa kayfiyyat
takyfiha ma al-tayyrt al-maalliyya w al-assiyyt wa axran el naariytn
b-elm el-nabt elm
Fahed: El-nabt.
Raf: elm el-nabt.
Abbs: Bfakkir enno el-raem 4 ansab la-elak, laanno kell ell addayton ak, w ana
ma bebb el-ak
Barakt: Hayda kell omro mellna makel.
Abbs: Zakariyya el-Kel Kel u hy?
Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Abbs: Kellell.
Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Abbs: Arrib la-end taf.
Zakariyya: Zakariyya el-Keklekl.
Abbs: Wl arrib la-end.
Fahed: Arrib la-endo taf.
Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Abbs: Kellell.
Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Abbs: Kellell.
Zakariyya: Zakariyya Keklekl.
Abbs: Wl wai Kellell.
Zakariyya: l Kek.
Abbs: Kek.
Zakariyya: Keklek.
Abbs: Kekkel.
Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Abbs: Kellell.
Zakariyya: Wlak el-Keklekl.
Abbs: Wl u otak enta.
Zakariyya: Kellell.
Abbs: Keklekl.
Zakariyya: Kellell.
Abbs: Wlak el-Keklekl.
Zakariyya: Kellell.
Abbs: Wl l Keklekl.
Zakariyya: Kellell.
Abbs: Wl l wary.
Zakariyya: Wark.
Abbs: Wary.
Zakariyya: Wark.
Abbs and Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Zakariyya: Kellell.
Abbs: Wlak u pteteil.
Zakariyya: Keklekl, abatit, abatit.
Abbs: u pteteil wl, u pteteil? Badd exla nak xale Roberto Telyn ra
bekon 5, 6, ento nymn sawa w hk betallkon nymn sawa 5, 6.
Zakariyya: Ana xams?! L ana 5? Sdna oo elo 5 sdna huww w ana w ana 6
laanno sdna huww arb w ana ebn el-balad hn badn hayda eza awwato
ma bihemmo ma byefham Arab laanno
Abbs: Enta ptefham Arab.
Zakariyya: Ana ana befham Arab, lzem
Abbs: Enta ya ebn el-balad ptefham Arab, 5, w huww arb, ma byefham Arab 6.
Fahed: Halla lau hal-ara, ma el-xams add el-sett, badal ma nokon add
baekon, menokon eddm baekon hk, w menlkon b-fared ra, mn hk?
Zakariyya: , eza hk .
Fahed: .
Zakariyya: Eza hk .
Fahed: Mna hy.
Zakariyya: El-xams add el-sett
Fahed: Treka layna.
Zakariyya: Ya ayn.
Fahed: treka layna, fa fekrak men hal-ny.
Zakariyya: Faayto.
Roberto: Io volo parlare a lambasciatore dItalia.
Fahed: Yalla matraak enta kamn wl.
[Sawsan is crying]
Abbs and Fahed: u beha?
Fahed: Bado anna?
Abbs: Arrb lahn ammo la f.
Fahed: Bado wl.
Abbs: Wl bado wl.
Fahed: Arrb ya ext arrb u f? u ra nkelkon?
[Sawsan and her fiance come closer]
Abbs: u esmak enta? u esma ya?
Jack: Esma Sawsan ya estz w ana xaba.
Abbs: W enta u esmak ya ammr?
Jack: Jack.
Abbs: Jack.
Fahed: Jack ha ha ayyib wl ayyib.
Abbs: Layk ya Sawsan ma txf ma f bifazzi ra nekon xer raem 13
w mesy Jack 7, law ma kn xabik, kenet bawwso halla, laanno lam
tfaal rja la-maallik.
Zakariyya: Aynak tf Jack kf aa, men hn, lahn, lahn, kn hn, r hn, efto
hn, wn huww Jack halla?
Abbs: Ya hnk Jack.
Fahed: Nzl lataet wl nzl lataet.
Zakariyya: Nzel.
Fahed: tarrak balla.
Abbs: Karnk Mawwir ed tawwerl hal-klb?
Fahed: F mawwir kamn?
Abbs: Mn Karnk.
The guests: Wn huww Karnk?
Abbs: Wl wn huww Karnk?
The guests: Wn huww Karnk?
Karnk: Tino mn ambiayyi baba? Tino Tino mn ambiayyi? [He speaks some
Armenian and then appears form up the stairs.] u hayda baba?
Fahed: Wl u badak mabr amtamel f? Nzl lahn wl.
Karnk: Kenna nymn baba.
Fahed: Wl nzl lataet tarrak.
Abbs: Karnk 8.
Karnk: L 8? Kf 8? Ma mn 8?
Abbs: Wl 8.
Karnk: 8 8.
Abbs: Adb el-Rayyis.
Fahed: Rayyis.
Tino: Ya hn Adb.
Abbs: Eza d we llo ramo 9 w 10 Saed el-Mlek mn Saed el-Mlek?
Saed: Ana sdna kattir xayrak ala hal-raem
Abbs: Mn baed ma traam?
Tino: Sdna baed f ana w el-sett Abla, sbet el-otl hn kello.
Abbs: Ptxod enta el-raem 11, w el-sett Abla el-raem 12 ento mefln layna
Tino: Wjbtna.
Abbs: Jamatlna kell hal-jobana hl. Hawd jebtelkon yhon ma men el-bt me
arznn bass bimao el-l way ala el-bb w ala el-zz, ala ma ada
yextor ala blo yehrob men halla laabokra nena me fyn nall nrebkon,
nena baddna nela nert abokra enna eel w hawd mabban tef
aall fatet bb zz zr, awwankon el-barak hadd ya Fahed alleon
ala el-zz.
The guests: Ya mama byefao byefao byefao.
Fahed: W yefao u fha? Nena u jyn namel hn?
Abbs: Hayd el-lya ya betr lyet 15 muwen, nena w ento, zalln madsn
b-ym men el-eyym mnedaso la-l-kem lataet el-are ya betr lyet
aya el-sawra el-orafa, ell kn elhon el-araf enhon yefteto el-sawra
makon 5 st ya sawra ya mt ana le ert abl el-sawra w abl el-
mt.
Glossary:
bye buyer
fraho rejoice; be happy
ferih: ferh, freh; frah to rejoice, to be happy
r other; other than
hads talk
xawja merchant, gentelman
xl horses
jme mosque
kns church
ll night
mahmkn busy
mahmk (f. mahmk; pl. mahmkn) busy
m f there is no ()
metr (act. part. of tara) buyer
nbesto be glad, happy (imp.)
nbasat; nbesit, nbest to be glad, happy
nhr day
ahw coffee shop
sne manufacturer, artisan
sb race
shb owners
sheb (f. shb; pl. shb, ashb) owner; master; friend; companion
re street
tye obedient
thanno be fortunate
thanna: thann, thann, thannay; thanna, thann to be fortunate
y O
s disobedient, rebel
Texts
The poem is a story occurring in Tripoli, under the rule of Mustaf Barbar, governor
of Tripoli, between 1801 and 1833. It concerns an army officer who used to spend his
money on drink and gamble and who kept his family in want as a result of that. In this
piece, Barbar questions the family of the officer who tells him that they are poor and
that their father spends the money on the welfare of the army. Barbar sends his slave
to bring the officer so that he pays him his due wage. The officer is brought to the
governor and he is afraid that the truth about him be revealed. He is questioned then and
the governor finds out the reality of his acts, therefore he orders his execution.
Original text
Poetical pronunciation Beiruti pronunciation64
64
As if pronouncing an ordinary prose text. It should be taken into consideration that the original dialect of
the author is different; his dialect belongs to the North dialect.
65
i.e. the governor.
66
i.e. the family of the officer.
Glossary: