Workplace words and phrases

Arabic

Royal District Nursing Service

Guidelines for Use

RDNS is committed to the Multicultural Victoria Act 2004, which informs RDNS' policies
to ensure people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds can
enjoy access to RDNS' services equally, and are treated with respect and sensitivity.
RDNS' clients originate from 145 countries and speak 74 languages.
Each of RDNS' nursing centres provides services to local CALD communities, which vary
markedly from centre to centre. Some centres may have large population groups from
single ethnic backgrounds; others may have several groups of varying ethnicity.
RDNS recognises that effective communication is essential to the delivery of high
quality services and communicates with people who speak little or no English with the
use of accredited interpreters (on-site and telephone), the provision of translated
materials, and wherever possible employing staff who can provide services to clients in
a language other than English.
In addition, RDNS makes available this information sheet which comprises common
words and phrases that might be used when a client from a non-English speaking
background is experiencing an episode of care from RDNS.
Whilst this document was originally developed for use by RDNS staff, it may of use to
you or people you know and as a result is freely available for download and use.
This document includes information on the following:
Introduction to the language
Topic 1: Greetings
Topic 2: Making / changing appointments
Topic 3: Medical problems
Topic 4: farewell
RDNS remains committed to providing the best possible care to all of our clients.

RDNS

January 2007

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Royal District Nursing Service

Workplace words and phrases

Arabic

Introduction to the Arabic Alphabet

Arabic is a semitic language written from right to left and the Arabic alphabet consists of 28 letters. It is
spoken by over 240 million people throughout the Arab world as the main language with the exception of
Somalia and Djibouti although they are members of the Arab League (21 states). It is also spoken in some
parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Written classical Arabic is unified throughout the Arab world but spoken Arabic differs considerably from
country to country and even from district to district. The Dialects vary to a great extent but they may be
grouped in five categories: (1): Levantine (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan), (2) Iraq, (3) The Arabian
Peninsula, (4) Egyptian (Egypt and Sudan), (5) North Africa (Libya, Tunis, Algeria and Morocco).
Arabic
Letter

Name of
Letter
alif

English
Equivalent

Closest Pronunciation in English

() as a in dad

(b) as in bed

(t) as in table

th

th

(th) as in thin

jm

(j) as in judge
(h) with the sound of clearing the throat

kh

kh

(ch) as in Scottish loch or German Bach

dl

zhl

zh

(d) as in dim
(th) as in then

R
zy

(r) as in train

(s) as in busy

sn

(s) as in sad

shn

sh

(sh) as in shed

sd

(s) as in sun with more emphasis

dd

dh

T
Z

(t) as in cut

yn

ghayn

gh

(th) as in thus
No English equivalent. A fricative sound produced in
the throat to give a harsh sound of (aaaah)
roughly similar to German (r) or the French (r) with
more gargling sound
(f) as in fit

qf

(c) as in column with emphasis from the throat

kf

(k) as in kit

lm lm

(l) as in leak

mm

(m) as in mint

nn

(n) as in nill

(h) as in hat

ww

oo, ou, u, w

ee, i, y

(d) as in double with more emphasis

(oo) as in boot, (ou) as in ghoul, (u) as in ruler, (w) as

in wet
(ee) as in feel, (i) as in Afghani, (y) as in yet

The term hamza ( )is a glottal stop like the stop before (a) in above. The English equivalent is ().

RDNS

January 2007

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Royal District Nursing Service

Workplace words and phrases

Arabic

Topic 1: GREETINGS
English

Arabic

Closest Pronunciation in
English
Marhaba

Hello
Good morning

abh alkhayr

Good evening / night

What is your name?

mass alkhayr

( M) ma howa ismak?
(F) ma howa ismek?

I am a nurse

( M) an mumaredh

(F) an mumaredhah

My name is
Mr / Mrs
I am happy to see you again

ismi howa

/ ( M) assayyid

(F) assayyidah

/( M to M) an saaeed beroayatak

marratan okhrah
(M to F) an saaeed beroayateki
marratan okhrah

(F to M) an saaeedah beroayatak
marratan okhrah
(F to F) an saaeedah beroayateki
marratan okhrah

No
Yes

Naam

Good

jayyid

Do you understand me?

(M & F to M) hal tafhamni?

(M & F to F) hal tafhamini?

an afham

I understand

( M & F to M) an l afhamak

I dont understand you

(M & F to F) an l afhamuki

Do you need an interpreter?

I need an interpreter

RDNS

hal behajeh il motarjim?

ana behajeh il motarjim

January 2007

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Workplace words and phrases

Arabic

Royal District Nursing Service

Topic 2: MAKING / CHANGING APPOINTMENTS

English
What day can I visit you?

Arabic

Closest Pronunciation in
English

At what time?

Sunday

Morning

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

(M & F to M) fee ay yawm astaeea

ziratak?
(M & F to F) fee ay yawm astaeea
zirateki?
Fee ay waqt?
alithnayn
athulth
alarbia
alkhamees
aljumaah
assabt
alahad
abahan

uhrran
masan

Midday
Evening / At Night

.... aureed an
autalfin

I need to
Make a phone call

attakallam ma

Speak
to your doctor

( M & F to M) abebak

to your family

( M & F to M) aelatak

(M & F to F) abebek

(M & F to F) aaelatek

( M & F to M) ibnak

to your son

(M & F to F) ibnek

( M & F to M) ibnatak

to your daughter

(M & F to F) ibnatek

zawjek

to your husband

zawjatak

to your wife
to your brother

( M & F to M) akhouk

to your sister

( M & F to M) aukhtak

I need to change our visit time

RDNS

(M & F to F) akhouki
(M & F to F) aukhtek

an behajeh il taghyeer waqt

zirati

January 2007

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Workplace words and phrases

Arabic

Royal District Nursing Service

Topic 3: MEDICAL PROBLEMS

English

Arabic

Closest Pronunciation in
English

How are you?

(M & F to M) kaifa halak?

(M & F to F) kaifa halek?

Ayna alalam?

Where does it hurt?

The chemist will bring your tablets
this afternoon / tomorrow

( M & F to M) sayaqoum aaidhali

beihdhr adwiatak bada ohr
/

Show me the medications that you

are taking

/ ( M & F to M) areni aladwiah allati

I want you to take your medicine

Can you get yourself some water?

I need to
Check your blood pressure

alyawm / ghadan
(M & F to F) sayaqoum aaidhali
beihdhr adwiatek bada ohr
alawum / ghadan

takhuzhoha
(M & F to F) areni aladwiah allati
takhuzhenaha

/ ( M & F to M) aureed menka an

takhuzh dawak
(M & F to F) aureed menki an
takhuzhi dawaek

(M & F to M) hal yumkenuka ihdhar

ma benafsak?
(M & F to F) hal yumkenuki ihdhar
ma benafseki?

.... aureed an ..
( M & F to M) aqees dhagh dammak

(M & F to F) aqees dhagh dammeki

Take your pulse

( M & F to M) aqesa nabdhak

Change your dressing

( M & F to M) an aughayyer

(M & F to F) aqesa nabdheki

dhammadak
(M & F to F) an Aughayyer
dhammadeki

Isaf

Ambulance
Doctor

abeeb

Medicine

dawa

Are you constipated?

Do you have diabetes?

RDNS

January 2007

hal tuani min alimsk?

(M & F to M) hal anta mub
beassukkari?
(M & F to F) hal anti mubah
beassukkari?

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Workplace words and phrases

Arabic

Royal District Nursing Service

Topic 4: FAREWELL
English
You can ring me on .

Arabic

Closest Pronunciation in
English

...... ( M & F to M) yumkinuka alitel

be al arraqam .
(M & F to F) yumkinuki alitel be
al arraqam .

shukran

Thank you
Im pleased to have met you

( M & F to M) tasharrfto
bemoqabaltak
(M & F to F) tasharrfto
bemoqabalateki

afwan

You are welcome

wadan

Good - bye
Keep well
Take care / All the best / Good
luck

RDNS

/ ( M & F to M) iatani beahatak

(M & F to F) iatani beahateki

Ma afdhal attamanit

January 2007

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