menu Podcast

One simple question. In the transcript, you used "ده" to connote the colloquial word "da". Why did you spell it this way? Isn't it a short form of the standard word "هذا"? Anyway, I have been told in the past that when it comes to colloquial terms in Arabic, you shouldn't ask the question "why"

In Egyptian Arabic, many letters are pronounced differently, and the letter (ذ) is one of these letters, and it is pronounced as (د), so a word like (ذهب-gold) is pronounced as (dahab) instead of (d'ahab).
Hope that helps.

Thanks Ehab!
What about the "ha" instead of "aleph"? i.e. why is "da" not spelled: دا
instead we get: ده

لماذا؟

This brings up something I first found quite confusing. The spelling of words in Arabic script seems to adapt to the oral pronunciation. Supremacy of the oral seems assumed.

English usage does not typically adapt spelling simply to fit a local (colloquial) pronunciation, where the author conveys the sense of the spoken word (say in works of fiction).

Above should be "except where the author conveys the sense of the spoken word."

*jenkki


As far as I know both are correct concerning EA

دا و ده

Ya, because it is colloquial Arabic there is no specific rule on writing it as (ده) or (دا). However, as the sound after the (د) is short it is most likely to be written as (ده).

hi ehab.....what is the arabic for chickpeas?I cannot find it in my wise books.thanks.

@ berry

Look at the transcript for "Our garden".

Just wondering, does ربنا share any connection with Jewish word rabbi? Seems too similar to be coincidental.

@chazyouwin

Yes, Charles, you're right. The Arabic noun "rabb" (lord) is derived from the same root as the Hebrew word "rabbi".

Thanks for the egyptian arabic lessons. I would love to have more egyptian arabic lessons as it is my favorite dialect.