Iraqi Dialect

Versus

Standard Arabic

Kurmanji
Bahdini

Sorani

Syria
Iran

Sunni triangle
Jordan
Shiite Area
Shiite Area
Hawza

Saudi Arabia
Kuwait

Gulf

Iraqi Dialect Usage Analysis

Matti Phillips Khoshaba (Al- Bazi)

(MATFL)
2006

Library of Congress
United States copyright Office in accordance with title 17,United States Code, attests that
registration has been made for the work identified:
Iraqi Dialect Versus Standard Arabic
Matti Phillips ( Al-Bazi)
TX 6-194-045
Effective Date of Registration
July -18 -2005
ISBN-10
ISBN 1-4243-0092-4

All rights reserved to the author

Matti Phillips Khoshaba Al-Bazi
1821 Buckingham Dr.
Salinas, Ca, 93906

Introduction
Iraqi Dialect VS Modern Standard Arab (MSA) helps Iraqi students in higher studies
to get an idea of how they can say Arabic things that they know in a fluent English . By
going over the chapters on and on, they will unconsciously get a schema of how to deal
with the collocations, expressions, idioms, and proverbs that are introduced as notions,
functions, and concepts and use them in the real life conversations. There is enough
analysis of the Iraqi sound system embedded in the mechanism of Iraqi dialect versus
Modern standard Arabic (MSA) to help you be aware of for teaching purposes as well.
This book also shows the areas where Hebrew or Assyrian languages are manifested in
the Iraqi dialect as consonant clusters, or as phrases and or expressions that go rather with
the languages of the indigenous people especially in the matter of intonation and stress
patterns in the sentence and the paragraph levels.
The primary aim of the book is to further push research to discover more about dialects
and sub-dialects in Iraq. I hope students in their university studies will benefit a lot from
this plainly written book.
Matti Phillips Khoshaba (Al Bazi)
MATFL
Associate professor
2006
California, USA

Contents

page

1. Consonants
2. Vowels
3. Iraqi Language Features
(1) Assimilation
(2) Voicing
(3) Elision
(4) Consonant Clustering

1
6
11
14
17
21

4. Phonology
(1) Consonants
(2) Vowels Vs Semi-vowels

23

35

5. Grammar and Syntax

(1) No case ending vowel ling
(2) Accusative cases of dual and plural
(3) Future tense particle
(4) Continuous tense particles
(5) Relative pronoun connector
(6) Passive voice
(7) Gemination
(8) Transitive and contractions
6. Vocabulary
(1)Verbs and Conjugations
(2) Common Verbs
(3) Nouns
7. Functional Words
(1) Wh-questions
(2) Connectors
1. Time
2. Reason
3. Purpose
4. Contrasts
5. Result / consequence
6. Condition
7. Additions
(3) Negation
(4) Prepositions
(5) Demonstratives
(6) Adjectives
(7) Quantifiers as Adverbs

42
42
44
45
47
48
51

53
55
65
80
90
94

98
100
103
105
109
V

(8) Reflexives
(9) Adverbs of Time
(10) Vocatives
(11) Possessives (Objective case)
8. High Frequency Colloquial Iraqi
9. IDIOMS

111
112
114
116
117
127

9. Social Discourse
Notional and Functional Expressions
1. Greetings
2. Greeting Visitors
3. Leave-taking
4. Thank you expressions
5. Congratulation expressions
6. Titles
7. Introducing people
8. Permission
9. Apology
10. Consoling
11. Questioning a point
12. Polite request
13. Obligation
14. Necessity
15. Un-necessity
16. Promise
17. Wishing
18. Possibility
19. Broaching subjects
20. Contradict and argue
21. Ask politely to interrupt
21. Ask not to interrupt
23. Show empathy
24. Disappointment and pessimism
25. Praising
26. Condemnation
27. Support
28. Expectation
29. Convincing
30. Hypothesizing
31. Suspicion
32. Conclusive transitory
33. Etiquettes
34. Avoiding an evil eye
35. Expressions to mean start
36. Criticism
VI

132
133
134
134
135
136
136
137
138
139
140
141
141
142
143
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
154
155
155
155
156
156
158
158
159
160
160

10. Concepts, Notions, and Messages

Behind words and Phrases
1. Shallowness
2. Disliked ones
3. Liked ones
4. Revenge
5. Sneaky ones
6. Talkative
7. Questioning a point
8. Rebuke
9. Complaining
10. Ploys & tricks
11. Warning
12. Refusing
13. Ignoring
14. Advice
15. Play truancy
16. Bravery & courage
17. Offering gifts
18. Promising
19. Humiliation
20. Match or mismatch
21. Trust/ distrust
22. Being nosy
23. Balance
24. Exaggerate
25. Disgusting
26. Too Late
27. Stinginess
28. Threatening
29. Suffix ______siz
30. Prefix: bala__________
31. Suffix ________chii
32. Suffix _______ khaana
33. Allah (SWT)
34. Pejoratives
35. Harassing women
36. Flirting
37. Express Chaos
38. Euphemism

162
164
165
166
168
169
169
170
172
173
174
175
176
177
179
180
181
181
182
184
185
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
194
195
195
196
198
200
202
202
204
VII

11. Wise Sayings

12. Iraqi Proverbs
13. Pan Arab Proverbs
14. Messages Behind Profanity Language
(Not printed but given upon request)
15. Parts of the body
16. Months
Conclusion
16. References

VIII

205
207
211
missing
214
214
215
216

The Iraqi Sounds as consonants and vowels.

Consonants are divided into two types: voiced and voiceless. The voiced consonants are those when
articulated, the vocal cords vibrate. The voiceless have no involvement of the vocal cords.

. (vowels) ( consonants) :
. voiced voiceless :
. voiceless
. (articulation) ( vocal cords) voiced
We can sum them as followings:
Consonants

k
f

sh
ch

voiced

(fan)

tanaka

(joke)

( bend)

thuum

(garlic)

shamra (attitude)
( as if)

.1
.2
.3

samra (brunette)

channa

( tin)

nukta
filka

theta
s

Voiceless

panka
t

. 4

gaal

?eevaan

.7

.8

.9
.10
11

q
S
T

qanaat
( canal)
.12 *
Sadr
(breast)
.13
Taar
( flew)

.14
Daleit
( I remained)
.15
dhaleit ( I got lost) . 16

(jug)

(said)

(Ivan)

theeb
zuur

.1

.2
3

(door)

dibiya

.6

baab

th

haay
(this)
Haleeb
( milk)

khraab (destruction)

dh

.5

h
H
kh

( )

(wolf)

.5

.6
.7*

zh (zhiyaanr) girls name

(heaven)

*L

( I went)

laazim (must)

riHit

m maaku ( there is not)

n niTaani
y

.8

ysaw wi

(he gave me)

( he does)

(with)

wiya

.12
.13

.14
.15

.16
.17

*4 /v/ is a borrowed sound

is a borrowed sound

*12 /q / Moslawi Dialect keeps /q/ velar voiceless as in qaala (he said) .

?
?awil (1st)

.9
a
arifit ( I knew)
.10

G Garaam ( romance love) .11

7* /zh/

4*

(fraud witness)

j janna

2
The same sound is changed into /g/ in other parts of the country such as Baghdad and
other parts in the South. This change does not include all words of the language. Therefore,
we need to deal with the changed ones for the sake of usage.
* 15 and 16 D & dh are pronounced the same in Iraqi dialect. They are kept
different in written shapes to indicate the difference in meaning..

Consonants as Diaphones:
Iraqis use alternative consonants as diaphones that do not change the meaning of the words.
Here are these diaphones:
1. Moslawi use (G) for /r/ as French speakers in Paris articulate / r
raH nruuH = GaaH nGuuH = we are going to go

2. Baghdadi dialect and Southern speakers use /g/ for /q/ :
qaal hiya qaalat = gaal hiya gaalat = He said that she said so.

.
.

(Standard Arabic and Moslawi )

3. Southern speakers use (ch) for (k) in conjugation of (kaan)

( )

( Standard Arabic)

chaan channa naayim = ka?anahu kaana naa?im an = He seemed to be sleepy

He was as if he were sleepy
4. Southerners and Baghdadi dialect speakers use (ch) as a feminine indicator for (ki):

How are you?

( Standard Arabic)

shlonki ( Moslawi) = shlonich ( Baghdadi dialect and Southern Dialect)
5. Southern speakers change the sound /q/

to

(ch)

or sometimes ( j )

in certain

words such as :
Standard

?inqatal

Iraqi

?inchital

Is killed

qiddaaHa

qarya

jidaaHa

lighter

jarya

chattala

village

qattala

qidaam

jidaam

killing/ killer

ahead/ in front

for

6. Iraqis use /g/

/q/

in certain words

Here are some common words

Rugba
Neck

guraS
gumar
gabil
ydig
yigdar
niltigi
suug
migaS
bread
moon
before
knock
can
we meet
market
scissors
Loaves
or/ ring
be able to
or/ drive

Note: not all words of the /q/

standard are changed into a dialectal consonant /g/

Examples to practice:
gabil

before

gubal

ahead

Shifta qabil hasa. I have seen him before

ruuH gubal raaH tshuufa. Go ahead, youll see him.

Sometimes words are close to each other in pronunciation but not necessarily the same:
Quwaad (qaada) ( )commanders
Gaw waad( gawaaweed)
cuckold ( cuckolds)

Shughlat il quuwaad Tilat gwaada
(The work of the commanders revealed their disloyalties )
It seemed that the commanders were disloyal.

MINIMAL PAIRS OF CERTAIN CONSONANTS

1. /H/ versus / h/
Had dada
had dada

HOsh

hOsh

miHna
mihna

defined, limited
threatened
house, courtyard
cattle / cows
ordeal , catastrophe
profession, job

2. /kh/ versus /gh/

kheir
gheir

da ykharkhir
da y gharghir

prosperity
another, unlike
is snoring
is gargling

Gheir
Another

kheir
good

kheirha bgherha
It is good that you did not have her

Ghaab
khaab
Did not come
disappointed, failed
khaab amala lim-man maa jaa wabta
He was disappointed when you did not answer him.

Gheera (envy)
kheera (the elite)
He felt envious
Saabita il ghira
He is among the best ( the elite) huwa min khiiratil naas
3. /?/ versus /a/
?alam

alam

pain
flag

su?aal
suaaal

question
coughing

4. /s/ versus /S/

seif
Seif

sword
Summer

sad
Sad

dam
deter/repel

5. /sh / versus /ch/

yiH-shii
yiH-chii

stuff
speaks

6. /t/ versus /T/

taab
Taab

regretted
recovered

rattaba

raTTaba

arranged
moisturized

7. /q/ versus /k/

kalib
qalib
Galib

nuqTa
nukta

/nuqTa/
/nikta/

dog
heart (standard)
heart (dialect) ; wajaaaan ga-lib =heartache = difficult to handle
point (standard)
joke

nugta /nugta/ ( ) point (dialect)

nukta /nukta/ joke

(dialect)

8. /p/ versus/ b/
papa

Pope (dialect only)

baba father (standard and dialect)

Or a conversational conjunction to mean (man- to draw his attention to a statement)
e.g.

- Are you able to tell me what these men are doing?

.
...
- Man, get out of here, this is not your business.
gulli ?agdar ?aarif shda ysawuun thola hna?
baba druuH hatha muu shughlak.

9. /th / versus /dh /

yuHathir
yuHadhir
warn
prepare
Iraqis geminate (put shadda on th or dh on) both yudhithir yuhadhir
RaaH tHa-dhir nafis-ha lil shughul .
il shurTa tHadhir il naas mnil Haraamiya .

10. /ch / versus ( j )

inchap

inchab
stop talking
Go away from here
spilt
inchabil Subugh hnaa w twas-sakhat. The paint spilt and made it dirty
Please, stop..

ammi maa tinchap tiskut.

Yij-thib
Attract

yich-thib
lie
il lo:n haatha yij-thibich. This color attracts you.

il walad haatha yich-thib ale:ch w qash miraich .This guy lies to you and laughs at you.
( fools you)

Vowels

We can recognize the following pure vowels in the Iraqi conversational language. These
vowels are long and short. There are also diphthongs that consist of two short vowels the first one is an

on-glide vowel to the next, the space time of producing a diphthong is the same as when producing a
long one.
Short and long vowels:
Short vowels are squeezed between two consonants. So, short vowels are the nucleus of closed
syllables. Long vowels are almost nucleus of the open syllables.
/i/

as in /riHit/
( I went) =

/ii/ as in / baiid/
baeed ( far) =

the closing consonant /d/ is very weak and pronounced lightly
. . )(
.
riHit lihnaak bnafsi wiTlibit mina (minu) l afuu. bas huwa maqibil ?iatithaarii
haaylmanTaqa baeeda mnil shugul wmaa ?agdar ?asuug saaaaa kul yuum minnaak lil shughul wbil
aks
I went there by myself and asked for forgiveness, but he did not accept my apology.
This area is far from my work and I cannot drive one hour everyday back and forth.
aid = count, be ready aid nafsak lil shughul. Be ready to go to work.

aiid= feast aid ruuHak baachir aiid. Be ready tomorrow is the Feast (EED).

/e/

as in / metit/
( I died) =

/e:/ as in / Te:r/
(bird) =

We use the Arabic Kasra (short i) as a dash under letters

We use fatHa (short a) as dash over letters

. .
. . .
. . .
Mitit juua wmaaku kulshii hnaa almuud daakul. aidkim duulma, biryaani, paacha almuud
?atghadda yamkim
diruuH Teer. Mnein ?ajeeblak biryaani w duulma. Khomo ?iHna baghdaad ?iHna hNaa bil jarya
aidna bas khibiz tanuur Haar w laban ?itha treed ?ajeeblak w?ith mat reed heech.
I am starving and there is nothing to eat. Do you have Dulma (gape leaves rolls dish), biryaaani (
rice mixed with chicken pieces, potatoes, boiled eggs, almonds, other spices), Pacha( head, legs,
and stuffed intestines and stomach pieces + spices) to have my lunch here at your house.
This cannot be. Where can I bring you biryaani and duulma from. In fact, we are not in Baghdad.
We are in a village. We have only a hot clay oven bread and pasteurized milk. If you want, I can
serve you it. If not, I cant.
5. /a/ as in /Hidharit / ( I attended) = ( )

We can sometimes use the Kurdish short /a/ as a written letter

Arabic fatHa ( Htharit ) ( )

or write nothing as

6. /aa/ or /a:/ as in / bamya/ (bamya) = okra

. .

. ( )
Hdharit ltaaziyat /aHad /aqribaa?ii hnaak yamkum bil Mussul bas ma bqeit hwaaya bqeit leila wiHda
bitit yam ?ahad ?aZdiqaa?ii wmaa khalaanii ?anaam bgheir makaan.
I attended a funeral of one of my relatives there in Mosul but I did not stay long. I slept at a friends
house and he insisted on not letting me go to sleep somewhere else.
7. /u/ as in /mukhtaar/ neighborhood mayor =
8./uu/ as in /muu/
(not) =

.
. .
.
.
Lmukhtaar huwa lshakhiSil lii ymathil lnaas yammil Hikuuma wktheer mnil muaamalaat yinraad
ykuun aleiha khatmil mukhtaar. W?adhin yiTlib il mukhtaar shwayit filuus almuud yikhtim il
muaamalaat wilHikuuma aadatan truuH yammil mukhtaar aalmuud yikhtimil lmuaamalaat.
wilHikuuma aadatan truuH yammil mukhtaar almuud yijmaauun maaluumaat aanil shakhS.
wilHikuuma tSaddigil mukhtaariya.
The neighborhood selected chief (mayor) is mukhtaar who represents people in the government. All
documents as official sheets need to have the mukhtaas stamp on it. I think the Mukhtaar asks for a
little money to put his stamp on it. The government always refers to the mukhtaars to get information
about individuals. The government trusts the mukhtaars.
9. /O/ as in /shorba / soup

) ( ) ( ) (
. .
?aTyab ?akLat maTaaaim bil SabaaH hiya shorbat addas willii beeha shuayat shiariya
mTaamma bil baSalil maqlii> ?amuut aleiha.
The most delicious dish in the restaurants is the lentils soup with noodles and fried onion. I love (die
for) it.

10. /O:/ as in / khO:r/ or / ho:r/

(the name of the )
.

. marsh

?al maeidaan maaruufeen bilaraag w?akthariyithum yaeeshuun bmanTaqatil ?ahwaar w aaruufeen

bshajaaathum w muatimdeen ala ?anfushum w yitHaduun il Tabeea al Saba w/akbar hor bil airaaq
huwa hor il Hammar.
Maeidan are known in Iraq and most of them live in marshes and swamps. They are known for their
bravery. They depend on themselves while facing the challenges of the difficult nature. The biggest
marsh in Iraq is hor El Hammar.
A simple graph for Iraqi and English vowels

u
i:

u:

O
e:

O:

aa

a:

Iraqi Vowels approximate to English vowels:

i = as in (is)
ii = as in (meet)

e = as in (set)
e: = as in (her)

a = as in (apple)
aa = as in (hand)
= as in (cut) = allophone
a: = as in (part) = allophone

u= as in (book)
u: = (uu) as in (moon)

O = as in (pot)
O: = (OO)as in ( all )

1. /i/ : ?ana gitla yijini lbarHa.

( )
I told him to come to me yesterday.

2. /ii/ mabiiha faayda.

It is useless

3. /e/ speakers tend to use it for /i/

bitit or betit
I slept
4./e:/ beitna gbiir (chbeer)
Our house is large
Zein
Good
/e:/ or /ei/ can be represented by

5. /a/ shaindak hna

What do you have here.?
There is an elision of (n)

6. /aa/ haatha l ktaab maalii.

This book is mine.
/maTbuukh

it is cooked \ uncooked
Baghdadi ?aani formal speech = ana
I
Menein inta ?

Aani min Baghdad talking to a driver.
Ana min Baghdad talking to a judge.

7. /u/ usually is centralized to /e/ or /i/

murtaaH (Standard Arabic) :
mirtaaH ( Iraqi dialect )

Comfortable

It is worth mentioning that the short vowel in the first syllable of a word sounds different in the north in
comparison to the south. In the north it is often /i/ in the south it is often/u/. You cannot distinguish this
in writing but in speaking.
North
/i/
Sidig
mirtaaH
mintihii
mibtisim
?istaath

South
/u/
sudug
murtaaH
muntahii
mubtisim
?ustaath

/i/

/u/

sudug

right, true

murtaaH

comfortable

Sidig

mirtaaH

true
comfortable
finished / done
smiling
professor

Mintihi

muntihi

finished

Miptiim

muptisim

smiling

Istaath

ustaath

teacher

8. /uu/ muu zein

not good
ruuH

10

Shuuf

9. /OO/ hO:r

marsh
/O: / can be represented by
Bo:sh

empty

Kho:sh

good

Bo:g

theft

Diphthongs:

1.

/ei/ as in / beit/ bayt ( house) =

2.

/aj/ as in / majit/ mayyit ( dead) = or

geminating = (shadda) the split of /j/ into /aj/ and then /ji/

3.

/ai/ as in / baisikl/ cognate (bicycle) =

MINIMAL PAIRS OF VOWELS

1. Short /a/ versus long /aa/
Tird
Taarad

he expelled
he chased

qital
qaatal

he killed
he fought

2. /i/ versus /ii/

alif
?aleef
?aliif

thousand
tamed

kharif
khariif

gets oblivious
fall (season)

aid
aiid

Tib
Tiib

count, prepare
feast
medicine college, enter
goodness, being nice

Iraqi Language Features

10

11

Assimilation:
One voiceless sound affects the other because the adjacent one is voiced. There are
many examples in the Standard Arabic and in the Iraqi dialect that show this
phenomenon:
e.g.,

The sound ( j )

= to uproot
changes into (ch) when we pronounce the word together quickly.

.
Badit il Hukuuma al jideeda tichtath jithuur l mukharibeen illee tsallaluu mnil buldaan il ?ukhra lil
airaaq.
The new government started uprooting the insurgents who infiltrated from other countries into Iraq.
e.g., ?ichtahada

he worked hard

j changes to ch

Risibit bil ?imtihaanil ?aw wal bas ?ichtahadit w aibirit bil ?imtiHaanil nihaa?ee
I failed the first test but I worked hard and passed the final one.
e.g.,

wichii

(my face)

. . ( )

liman shafni daar wichha w raaH maHicha wiyaai

When he saw me, he turned his face and left. He never talked to me.

tichtar (ruminate)

.
Rijaa?an laa tichtar lii ?afkaar l gheir.
Please, do not repeat blindly others ideas to me.

?ichtimaaa
meeting

raaH tijii lil ?ichtimaaa hal masa lo la?
Are you coming for the meeting today or not?

Historical Assimilation:
11

12
Measure 8 verbs have historically changed the soft /t/ to the root into /T/
(hard) sounds and here are examples:

emphatic

Root = S d m
t sound is added after S
+ +

The voiceless/S/ emphatic changes /t/ into emphatic /T/ and is fixed as:
ISTadama = collided with
Standard Arabic

?iSTadamat Sayaarati bil Haa?iT
My car hit the wall.
Iraqi Dialect

STidmatil sayaara w ?aani nSidamit
My car collided and I was shocked

.
.
Sayaarti sTidmat bil HayiT w mnil jidaam l makeena raHat w kulha tfalashat. Bas mnil waraa
channa jideeda w maSaril ha shee.
My car hit the wall. The front is all damaged. But the rear looks like new and it is not
damaged.

Assimilation of voiceless soft /s/ into /voiceless emphatic /S/

Words with emphatic /T/ may affect progressively or regressively the soft /s/ and change it
into emphatic hard /S/ without changing the meaning:
Progressive assimilation:
The effect is on the following sound

fiTas
TamaSa
is suffocated
sink
Regressive Assimilation:
The effect is on the precedent sound
Verbs

TaSSa
bumps

yaStanbiT
extract

yubaSIT
simplify

TaaSa
pot to drink water

yuSaTir YaSTil
create
stun

ySayTir yaStaTlia
control reconnoiter

Nouns

12

13

?iSTiwaana Sarmaaya
SaTir
CD
Deposit(rent) line

SaraTaan
cancer

SabaTaana
barrel

?iSTuura
myth

Exercise:

) .1
.2

.

.

.
100

) (

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

.3
.4
.5
.6
.7
.8
.9
.10
.11
.12
.13
.14

kina nishrab maay bil TaaSat bas hassa Sirna nishrab bil glaaSaat.
hal sayTara yammil mustashfa beeha TaSSaat qawiyya kharrabit ringaat kul sayaaraatna
lmaay kulish baarid bsharT matigdar tiTmis ?eede:k beeha
Tilaana bil dhalma mnil ghubsha almuud nistatlia al makaan qabil maa yitHarrak il ritil
laazimil Hikuuma tSayTir ala mawaaridil nafT il airaaqiya minduun ?ay munaaqasha.
liman shifit shSaayir ale: min juruuH bil shadhaaya ?instalit wma ridit ?abbawia b wich cha
almuud Tullabak yiftihmuun shii ysawuun lazim tbaSiTha lshaghla ale:hum.
?awalan tjammiail maalummat w baade:n tSannifha wbaade:n tHallilha wbaade:n tistanbiT minha l
Haqaayiq.
malHamat Galgaamish hiya ?iSTuura airaaqiya qadeema ?ilha maghza ?insaani ameeq la tinsa kawnha
?awal malHama ?inkitbat bil taareekh
aadatan il junuud ynadhifuun sabaTaanatil bunduqiya bil ze:t w habil kul yom khamees wysammun l
khamees yom ?il ?idama
lSaraTaan balwa bas aulamaa? raaH yshuufula fad chaara ?itha muu hassa bil mustaqbal
ymawwad ?il shaghla baseeta Haawil tiktib lak saTir saTre:n ?inshha? wkhilaS maa beeha shii.
l?eejaarat Saarat ghaaliya naaar lii daraja laazim tiaTeelhum l sarmaaya (sarqufliya) al ?aqal meet
dolaar almuud t?ajirlak dukkaan al jaada
yinraad nishtireena shwayit ?isTiwaanaat (?aqraaS) le;zariya beeha ?aghaani airaaqiya wiyaa Suwar
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

We used to drink water with Taasa (an aluminum pot, small not too deep) but now we drink it with
glasses.
The check point at the hospital has many big bumps which damaged our cars springs.
Water is too cold; to a degree I bet you cannot put your hands in it.
We went out in the dark at the early morning to reconnoiter the site before the convoy moves.
The Iraqi Government must control all oil revenues without any discussion.
When I saw what had happened to him of shrapnel injuries, I was shocked and I did not want to
look at his face.

13

14

7.
8.
9.

To make your students understand what to do, you need to simplify the subject.
First you collect information, sort, analyze, and then elicit facts from.
Galgameesh Epic is an ancient Iraqi myth with a deep human plot and do not forget it is the first
epic written in history.
Soldiers usually clean their rifles barrels with oil and rope every Thursday and they name
Thursday a maintenance day.
Cancer is disaster but Scientists will find a solution for it if not now in the future.
Man the whole issue is simple try to write one or two lines and you are done. It is not difficult.
Rents is very high and expensive. You must give a deposit of $100 to rent a shop located on the
street.
We need to buy some CDs of Iraqi folkloric songs with pictures.

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

Voicing
A voiceless sound can be affected by voiced surrounding consonants.
If the effect of sounds goes backward, the assimilation is called regressive
Standard

Iraqi

In standard you say (S) hard but in Iraqi dialect you say/z/ soft because r, ii, and gh are all voiced
and affected the (s) to change into voiced /z/. The movement of the effect is going backward, therefore,
the assimilation is regressive.

. ) ( ) (
.

( )( )
.
. ) (
Akhi l zagheer daauu lil askariya l?anu min mawaaleed khamsa w sabaeen.
khaTiya baaid maa khilaS min markazil tadreeb, ?ikhthuu l wiHda faaala.
wara thmint ?ayaam Saar aleihim hijuum w Saar mafquud.
Wguuluun ?azdiqaa?a ilee rijaau mnil ?asir ?anuu ?ismu chaan bqawaa?im l ?asir l taabia lil Saleebil
?aHmar .
?inshalla hay tkuun Sidik w yirjaa lina bil salaama.
My youngest brother was called to go for military service because he was born in 1975.
When he finished his basic training, he was taken to an active unit.
After 8 days , they were attacked and he was missing.
His friends who came back as prisoners said that his name was on the Red Cross list of prisoners.
We hope this is true and he will come back safely

Qaus
qo:z w qazaH

/SalaTa/

qo:z
rainbow

/zalaTa/ (salad)
/s/ changes into /z/

.
. .

14

15

.
lzalaTa l airaaqiya mashhuura lian taHtawee al ashya katheera. Beeha TamaTa w khyaar w khas w
karaafis w maraat ykhaluun beeha nianaaaw dheefulha zaytil zaytuun w khal. W limman treed,
khaleelak nuumi Haamidh.
W baaidh il baaraat l muHtarama , ykhaluun aleiha lablabee.
The Iraqi salad is famous because it has many ingredients such as tomato, cucumber, lettuce, and
celery. Sometimes there is mint, olive oil, and vinegar. If you want, add lemon to it. In some of the
remarkable cafes, they add garbanzo to the mixture.


iSbi9il Sagheera
izbi9il zagheera
/s/ changes into /z/
the small finger

.
.

?izbiaee l zagheera raaHat bil makeena liman chinit ?ashtighil bil maamal w maHad dafaalee shei
kataaweedhaat. W liman shtakeit al mudeerna, gallee ?ashHadak tiftaH Halgag w tiHchee beeha, raaH
?akhaleek tshuuf ?illee ma yinshaaf baeinak.
My small finger was cut by a machine when I was working in a factory and none gave me any
compensation. When I complained to the boss, he told me to shut up and not speak about it. If you
do, he said, I will let you suffer a lot, I will show you what your eyes have never seen.

desire /wahis /

/wahz/

. . -

Gullee aindak wahiz nruuH lil chaykhaana w nilabinna geim ?azneef ya tawlee.
Leish ma aindee wahiz. kHaleena hasa nruuH gabil maa tattimil dinya.
- tell me if youd like to go to the coffee house and play some dominos (?azneef) or play backgammon
- why not. Let us go right now before it gets dark.

?isdaar
issuing

?izdaar

) (
. . ) (
Gaamatil Hikuuma al jideeda b?izdaar qaraaraat bmanail tajawul w mana Haml il silaaH
almuud ysayTiruun al wadhia bas ma da tfeed wiyal mukharibeen > hum da yijuun daa yijuun
w daa ykharbuun.
The new government issued decrees to impose curfew and ban carrying weapons to control the
situation, but this (procedure) has no effect on the insurgents. They come and sabotage anyways.

ghaS-ban

ghaz-ban

15

16

coercively, willy nilly

. ( ) .1
. .... .2
1. triid ma triid raaH tsaw-wiiha ghazban an-nak
You like it or not, you will do it coercively.
2. haay muu biidak tsw-wiiha lo la .. haay tiamalha ghazban annak
It is not in your hand to do it or notthis is . You do it coercively (willy nilly)

Siq-Tat
zgi-Tat
Handicapped = cannot use it (hand) any more
. . .1
.2
1. I was hit with a shrapnel and my hand is handicapped. I cannot now move
it or take anything with it.
2. Leave it the way it is.( though something wrong with it)

Elision:
One sound or more is deleted in pronunciation due to the voiced or voiceless sound quality.
(1) In Arabic ( al )
before the definite nouns is deleted as a whole or as a part when
pronounced in phrases. The place of articulation plays a role in this phenomenon but Arab
Grammarians attribute elision to the fact that Solar Alphabets versus Lunar Alphabets.
The Solar Sounds VS the Lunar Sounds
When I tried to find out what makes solar sounds ecourage the elision of (L), I found out that
they ( solar ones) include the alveolar ( laterals + sibilants), the alveolar dentals and inter
dentals, and the Arabic emphatics ( pharyngealized Almufakhamat) consonants.
Laterals + sibilant

alveolar-dentals

16

inter-dentals

17

Emphatics

L n

sh

th

th (theta)

Dh

When (al ) precedes these consonants because of the place of articulation, the sound (L) is
deleted. Dropping a sound is named elision .
In this case, the speaker splits the next consonants into two segment. The first segment closes the
syllable with. The second segment is the start of the new syllable. This action by itself is
geminating i.e., shadda in Arabic.
Examples
Tilaa
min
al
Went-he
from
the
He went out of the class.

Suf.
class

This is how the Iraqi native speakers do with solar consonants in the normal speech.
Practice
writing . .1
speaking dialect( )
writing .
speaking dialect ()

.2

This elision (2) is very clear after prepositions because they are not stressed in a
sentence but followed by (al) then a noun as an object.
Preposition + al + noun
Ba-ada + al + naum
After + the + sleep (n.)
After sleeping

baada n naum
baada al naum

(fast pronunciation)
( careful reading)

and therefore preposition before nouns take (L) and then we drop the (alif):

after sleeping baadin nom

from the morning -mniS SibiH
on the surface alS SaTiH
in the house bil beit
from here- min na (na)
to here lih naa

17

( )
( )

18

A.M. qablal dhuhir

at late night taaleel leil

Iraqi dialect transcribers prefer to put at the end of the preposition rather than before the noun that
follows. Some others put separately.
I find out the duration between the first word and lam is shorter if compared to the time in between
lam and the last word, as in, baadil + nom . I prefer to put lam with the preposition otherwise
can be put before the nouns or verbs. We need also to make students aware not to read it the same way
they do when they read Standard Arabic.

Standard Arabic

Separate

with the prepositions

There are cases /?/ Hamza is kept (1)when we keep a space between the preposition and a noun or (2)
?al is a start:

( ) .

... .. ... ......( 1)

(2)

(1) Kinit-u fii ?al be:t i

(2) chinit bil beit
(3) Elision is also clear by not pronouncing (n) in the verb to have (ainda) and it comes out in speech
as (aid da). The sound/n/ is completely dropped in a speedy conversation.

she has
You plural have
They have

aidha

aidkum

aid-hum ( aindim Moslawi )

(3) Moslawi dialect speakers drop completely (hu from hum ) whether possessive after nouns, or object
after verbs:

Possessive (Noun+hum) = their + noun

Standard

Moslawi

Byuuthum
Banaadighum
silaaHum
aitaadhum

byuuutim
(byuuthum)
banaadiqim (banaadigum)
silaahim
(silaaHum)
aitaadhim ( aitaadhum)

their houses
their rifles
their weapons
their ammunitions

Object
Verb + hum
Standard

ra?ayt-u-hum

= I saw them

18

19

Southern

shifit-hum

Moslawi

Northern

= I saw them
(u nominative case is deleted)

shift-im
= I saw them
(u- nominative case is deleted
( hum changes into im)

Practice :
.( )
. .1
Qabil yumein, dazeitlimfluus. Bas hum ma maa yishbaauu(n). Moslawi
Two days ago, I sent them money. But they are not satisfied.

. . .2
Gabil youmein dazeitilhum fluus. bas thola ma yshibauu
Two days ago, I sent them money. But these guys are not satisfied.

Lunar Consonants.
If we exclude the solar sounds, all other sounds are Lunar. In their case, the (a)
is dropped and the (L) consonant is fully pronounced and it is attached to the
end of the previous word.
Beit + al + mu-al-lim
Beitilim + mal-lim

Practice
. .1

.( )
. .2
( )
.
.3

()

.
.4
)
(
. .5
()
. .6
.( ) .7
( .8
()
19

20

Consonant Clusters :
Consonants may follow each other in utterances. The cluster can be at the beginning or within a phrase
or a sentence. Iraqis tend to form a 2-consonant cluster at the beginning of words (except Shiites. They
use /?/ at the beginning of words and that changes the syllables)
Within a word:
Ktibit
Wrote-I
I wrote

Shiites : ?iktibit
Within a sentence:

/ta dam ma rat il sha waa ria/

/td m rat l dra: bi:n /

20

21

destroyed the streets

streets are destroyed

destroyed the drive-ways

streets are destroyed

Shiites: ?itdamaraat ?id daraabeen

More Examples:
( )
.1

I noticed insurgents hiding in the house.

Shiites: ?ilmiHit ?ilmkharibeen ?ii khabuun ?anfushum bil ?ibyuut

We do not

.2

I knew later that they had caches of ammunition in the area.

lmiHIt : 2 consonants (Lm ) and then a vowel /i/
arifit : 2 consonants (ar) and then a vowel/i/
This phenomenon is also found in Nouns, usually in the plural form (at least 2 syllables) :

alaa leek
bags

bTaa
Teen
blankets

khraabeeT
mess up

TraaTeer
idiots

Or the first syllable with /a/ or /i/

sha-khaa-biiT scribbles

ka-taa-kiit
young teens

bazaa ziin cats

zaraa-ziir Sterlings (bird)

fashaa-fiish ( black liver grilled on a charcoal fire)

anaa-qiid bunch ( cluster) usually of grape

tha- aa-biin Vipers

The Iraqi Dialect (ID)

Versus
The Modern Standard Arabic(MSA)
Introduction
The Iraqi dialect(ID) includes three distinguished sub dialects within the country.

These sub dialects are:

(1) Baghdadi dialect(BD),
(2) the Southern dialect (SD),
and (3) the Northern dialect(ND)(Abu-Haidar, 1989)or Moslawi Dialect
The Baghdadi dialect is spoken by the majority in the capital of Iraq, Baghdad (Abd-elJawad, 1987).

21

22

The Southern dialect is spoken by people in the districts south of Baghdad such as Hilla,
Amaara, Nasiriya, and Basrah (Altoma, 1969).
The Northern dialect is spoken by the minority in Baghdad and in all districts in the North part
of Iraq such as Mosul, Sharqaat, Kirkuk and the suburbs of Tikrit and Samarra.
Ill use the general term Iraqi dialect (ID) to refer to the common features that these
sub-dialects share as one system, explaining the differences if they are significant.
The Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) that I discuss here is different from the Iraqi sub-dialects,
a school language that has its own phonology, grammar, syntax system, and rich lexicon of classical
literature with its own social discourse.
The Iraqi dialect in this study, then, includes in its analysis all the three sub-dialects,
manifesting here and there certain differences in pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary. I also limit
myself to a few examples to make and defend my points at the three linguistic levels of this dialect:
phonology, grammar, and vocabulary.
The goal of this study then, is to raise the awareness of Learners as natives or an L2 on the issues of
sounds, grammar, and vocabulary since Arabic language lacks such dialectal research.
For the subtleties of morph-o-phonological issues, Ill try my best to represent Arabic
marked (difficult) sounds by symbols such as /dh /for and , /q/ for , /S/ for , / T / for ,
/H/ for , /G/ for , /a/ for , /x/ for . The rest are common transcription symbols used in
English dictionaries.

Phonology
The Iraqi dialect(ID) has 3 consonants more than the Modified Standard
Arabic(MSA), and 3 additional long vowels compared to the standard ones.
Consonants
ID has these additional consonants voiced /g/, voiceless ch , and voiceless /p/ (Altoma,
1969).
/g/ ,
/k/ ,

j , /b/
ch , /p/

voiced
voiceless

1. /g/

22

23

It is necessary to know that there is an MSA sound /q/ which is different from /k / .
This /q/ is a post-velar voiceless stop represented by an Arabic letter different from
the sound /g/ , a velar voiced stop represented by this dialectal gaaf letter But Baghdadi dialect
uses a diaphone /g/
to articulate /q/ in most of the words of the language without changing
the meaning. Therefore, it is an allophone or diaphone for the same sound . Here are a few examples.
MSA

/fauq/
(over, on)

Baghdadi dialect

/fo:g/
(over, on)
How are you.
Excellent

. -

(In MSA Foq il nakhil ) means literally (on the top of the date palm), a phrase that has no
meaning in Standard Arabic).

winta shlonak ?

walla mchayasa beedi ?

shda dguul maani simaan

... -

. . daguulmalyuuSa beedi maarif shaasawwi . kho tiarif l suug mayit w shugul maaku w t?aflasnaa.

. .






. Lader baal . L?imuur ?in shalla raaH titSallaH. ?ilha mudabbir.
How are you?
In fact it is not good.
What are you saying.. I can not hear you?
I say it is not good, and I do not know what to do? You know that the market is slow and there is no
work. I am bankrupt.
It does not matter. Things will get better ?inshalla (if God wills). It has a creator (God).

/qila:da/
necklace

/gla:da/
necklace

Raqaba

rugba

Neck

neck

)(
.

Haay shimkhalliya brugbatha? What has she put around her neck?
Glaada amnil thahab il khaaliS. A necklace of pure gold.
Pronouncing /q/as /g/ shows no effect on the meaning of the words. Therefore, we consider /g/ an
allophone of /q/ and not a different phoneme of the language.

23

24

/quum/
stand up

/ guum /
stand up

. . ( )
Ma dguum truuH minaana. ?inta tilghii hwaaya .
Go away from here. You talk too much.

Its is remarkable to say that the Iraqi dialect imperative verbs, unlike the
Standard Arab, does not drop the long vowels in orders, such as (guum.
Stand up, get up, ?o:gaf ..stand up, stop.. guul lii
me ).

) tell

Yraqia
Patch it up

yragia
patch it up

Yirqaa
hit

yirgaa
hit (obscene - fornicate)

. )(
Ragaaa b raajdi wtarada mnil ghurfa.
He spanked him and kicked him out of the room.

( ) ( )
Shuuf l shaghla ghalaT w la tguum tragiaha
Let me tell you. What youve done is wrong. Dont try to patch it up.

Other Examples:

Haq
Hag

Shgad
How much

thigeel
heavy

manguua
drenched

gaaa
floor

augib baachir
after tomorrow

naagiS
incomplete

In Southern dialect change /q/ into /j/ in certain words:

Qidir
Jidir

*
Ibriiq
Ibriij

sharqii
eastern

Jreeb
near

jiddaaHa
lighter

thijeel
heavy

jiddaamii
in front

Sharjii = is limited to (babil sharji -neighborhood in Baghdad) or (hawa sharji a breeze coming from
the east.
Sharj in MSA means Anus
In the south, speakers may change k to ch or j as in these words:

24

25

Kam
Cham

kbiir
chbiir

How many big

kthiir
chthiir
much

yinkibiH yibkii yinkiwii

yinkibiH yipchii yinchiwii
stumble

cry

be scorched

kalaawii
cha-laawii
kidneys

kaf
chaf

kitif
chitif

hand palm shoulder

2. ch
This sound restricts itself to the southern and Baghdadi dialects. It is similar to the English
voiceless affricate sound (a combination of the stop/t/ and fricative sh )
This sound ch

can be found

(A) in loan words,

chaakuuch =
chamcha

hammer
trowel (malinj)

. )(
Jeeblii chakuuch chbeer w chamcha (malinj) jideeda.
Bring me a big hammer and a new trowel.

(B) an allophone for the /k/ sound in certain words as chaan for

. ( )
Liman china zghaar. China ninTir abuuna yiji l aSir mnil shughil
When we were children, we waited for our father to come in the evening from his work.

and (C)as an indicator for the possessive pronoun (your) a female singular second person. shlonich

) (
Shlonich yaa khaala or (Hajiiya) ?
How are you aunt?

A. In borrowed words:
This sound /ch/ is found at the beginning, middle, and end of words. These words are loan words taken
from other languages.

/chamilugh/
fenders

/sanda weech/
sandwich

/chamcha/
trowel

/ char pa: j a/
frame of the bed

25

26

.....
Shtireit sandweech safari lil ghadwiya w gadheitha.
I bought a sandwich to go for lunch and that was it.
L chamcha li beedak ateega w shughilna ma ySeer beeha.
The trowel in your hand is old and we cannot do our work with.
Dharabitni sayaara wraaH kulil chamilugh min safHatil yasaar.
A car hit me and the left fender is all gone.
Yam aw-wad haatha muu maHsuub aleina haatha jaay al chaamiluugh
They do not count him on us he has come to us on fenders
They do not count him against us..he is a stand -by guy ( hanging by)
Standard Arabic (MSA) has its own words as equivalents to these words, in which this / / sound is
not found.
Iraqi Words with consonant ch

Laakin
( laachin)
Chaa shlon

chanTa
ChinaT
Chahra
Chahraat
Pircheem

so how ?
or janTa =

briefcases

jinaT=

(unliked) face

(disliked) faces

marpeech (Sonda)

kleicha

briefcase

a patch for welding

Paraacheem

hich

so how ? (south only)

Laaid shlon ?

but

patches

hose

do not worry about it / forget about it

Chavjeer

Iraqi cookies

a very big spoon (for a caldron size)

( chavjeer il balad)

(someone you can see everywhere)

Peicha = a scarf around womans head to cover her neck also

Lachak = hijaab , burgua, niqaab = veil
Zimiich = the fertile soil

B. ch as diaphone for /k/ :

26

27
In the Iraqi dialect, people tend to pronounce /k/ as ch an
allophone in most words of the language. The most common one is the /kana/ verb and its
conjugations. It is necessary to say that /jakunu/ in the present tense cant be changed. The
change of k to ch happens only in the past tense.
MSA
ID*

(it does not apply to Northern Dialect )

/ka:na/
/ch a:n/
He was
He was

.( )
Bhal ?ichtimaaa il ?akheer chaan yilghii (yiHchii) hwaaya
In the last meeting, he was talking too much.

/cha:nat/
She was

/ka:nat/
She was

. )(
Bhal ?ichtimaaail ?akheer chaanat tilghii (tidwii) hwaaya
In the last meeting, she was talking too much.

/chinit/
I was

/kuntu/ or /kinit/
I was

.

Bhal ?ichtimaaa il ?akheer ?inta chinit tilghi(tidwii) hwaaya.
In the last meeting, you were talking too much.

/kinna/
we were

/chinna/
we were

Chinna maasheen w shifnaa
While we were walking, we saw him.

Kaanuu
chaanu

Chaanuu maasheen, shifnaahum (shifnaahim)

We saw them while they were walking.
*The Northern dialect uses the MSA sound /k/ as /k/, /q/ as /q/ without any change. The Iraqi dialect in
general weakens the /u/ sound in the first syllable of any word in /i/ or centralized schwa.
Conjugation of channa
Channi, channana

( as if)
as I, we were

27

28

Channak, channich, chankum

as if you were

Channa, channha, chanhum

as if , he/ she/ they were

. ( )

Shbiik chan-nak ma shaa-yif dinii ( id- dun-ya)

What is up as if you are not civilized (i.e., you have not seen such a thing before) . You behave
strange .

Channa Saaluuk = he is ugly ( skinny . does not care about his appearance and outlook)
.....
Chaan mith lil warid.. ma aarif shSaar bii?
He was OKAY .I do not know what happened to him?
( as health or as behavior)

C. The dialectal / -ich / is used instead of MSA /

-aki/

The pronoun /-ich / as one form can be linked to the end of a noun as a possessive pronoun for
female singular 2nd person only.
MSA

ID*

/___uki/

/- ich/

/beitki/
/be:tich /
your(f. singl.) house
your(f.singl.) house
* (it does not apply to ND)

Ma tguadeen bbeitich mirtaaHa w mhanniya

Why dont you stay in your house and get comfortable and relaxed.

/fluuski/
your(f.singl) money

/flu:sich/
your(f. singl.) money

.
Moslawi .
Baghdadi or Southern

Fluusich wein raaHat?

Shbeeki mayta al fluus. Fluusich maHad yakhithha minnich.
Where has all you money gone?
Why are you so worried about money, No one will take your money from you.
NOTE:

The Northern dialect (ND) uses /-ik/ as one singular feminine form of grammar instead of the
three MSA grammar alternatives /-uki/ as a nominative case, /-aki/ as accusative case, and /iki/ as a genitive case.

28

29

Three Samples:
(1) MSA:
your (singular feminine) house
Baytuki ( nominative) = subject
baytaki ( accusative) = object to a verb
baytiki (genitive)=object to a preposition
in that order

(2) The Iraqi Northern Dialect (Moslawi) drops the vowel of the grammar case before (-ki) :
Beitki,
fluuski,
amalki

+ + +
(3) Iraqi Southern Dialect :
The speakers in the south keep the same vowel /i/ before (ch)
Beitich,
fluusich,
amalich
in that order

+ +

+ +

Again, Speakers of the Northern Dialect do not show the grammar case of the noun and they add (ki)
instead of /ich/.
This pronoun can link itself to the end of a preposition as an object of that preposition, as well.(still
feminine singular)
MSA

/maaaki/
with you

ID (southern and Baghdadi)

/wiyaach/
with you (feminine singular)

riHit lil shughil wiyaach- lbaarHa

riHit lil shughil wiyaak- lbaarHa
I went to work with you yesterday.

/bi du:naki/
without you

/blayaach
without you

maa ruuH blayaach l?ay makaan

maa ruuH blayaak l?ay makkan
I dont go without you anywhere.

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/ale:ch /
on you

/aaleiki/
on you

Maatimid aleich ?abadan

Maatimid aleik ?abadan
I dont depend on you at all.
This pronoun /-ich/ can also attach itself to the end of a verb as an object as a singular feminine second
person pronoun (you).
MSA
ID (southern and Baghdadi)

/sh iftich /
I saw you (f.singl.).

/ ra ?eituki/
I saw you (f.singl.).

shiftich mbaariH titmashein bil shaaria illi ?amaam l suuk

shiftak mbaariH titmashaa bil shaaria illi ?amaam l suuk.
I saw you walking down the street that is next to the market.

/sa:aad titS /
I helped you (f.singl.).

/sa:aad tu:ki/
I helped you(f.singl.)

.
Shgad saaait tich bas maa yfeed wiyaach
Shgad saaat tak bas maa yfeed wiyaak
Shgad saweit wiyaach ma-da yfeed
I helped you a lot but you dont see it.
The Iraqi dialect attached- Possessives Table
fluus-ii
fluus-na

my money
our money

fluus-ak

your money M.

fluus-ich

(kii- Jordanian/ Moslawi)

fluus-kum

fluus-a

Your money Pl.

(-u Jordanian / Moslawi)

fluus-ha

their money

D: Some Arabic words with sh change into Iraqi ch :

his money
her money

fluus-hum

e.g.

your money F.(

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?infishakh

break of the skull

?infiTar / ?infichakh

( )( ) ( ) ( )
Limman dharaba b HaSwa Takhat raasa w fachakhitta wbida l dam yinzaf minna
When he threw a gravel at him, it hit his head and broke his skull which started bleeding.

chai chaweesh kalabcha

chanta chingaal ?inch charshaf
fircha che:k
Tea sergeant P handcuffs bag
hook
inch sheet(bed) brush check
E: some words with /k/ change into /ch/

Inchi-baH chirish Sicheen chillab chees isti-chaan chaithaab tichthib
Stumbled

belly

Knife

hook

bag

became quiet liar

Compare:
jath-thaab

(attractive)

chath-thaab

( liar)

( )

juub ( dry skin of an animal for skimming milk)

Chuup

( tire)

Jaay ( is coming)
chaay ( tea)

yiHshii ( stuff things in )

yiH-chii ( speak)

We may notice three readings (northern, middle , and southern ) for the same words:

Ibriiq
khifaq
DaH-Haq
Daq
Ibriig
khifag
DaH-Hag
Dag
Ibriij
khifaj
DaH-Haj
Daj

3. /p/ the Persian letter

31

lie (v.)

32

Unlike the Modified Standard Arabic, the Iraqi dialect has the voiceless and aspirated stop
labial /p/ at the beginning, middle and end of words. These words are borrowed words taken from other
languages.

/para u:t/
/ si:pa:ja/
/parda/
parachute
luggage rack
curtain

.
.
.

Shtireina parda shgad Hilwa l barHaa l aSir mnil baabil sharji

haayil seepaaya zgheera w maa tisaa l chanTatna l gbeera. haayil seepaaya raaH matitHammal
gharaadh ilee aleiha. Haay thigeela aleiha.
?infilatil bismaar mnil Taarma bil Taabiqil thaani w nizal parashuut al shaaria ?ili waraana wshgad
dawarna alei w maa ligeinaa.
We bought a nice curtain yesterday evening from Al baab il sharji
This luggage rack is small and it does not accommodate our big bags. This rack cannot hold all things
on. This is too heavy for it.
A nail released from this verandah on the 2nd floor and it went down straight to the street behind our
house. We tried to find it but we couldnt.

4. / dh

In the Iraqi dialect, there is no difference between & in pronunciation. The Iraqi
people keep the spelling of the words with two different figures , , but they pronounce them the
same.
Standard Arabic:

/ dhal l treig/
He got lost

/ Dal bilbeit/
He remained

In Standard Arabic the two sounds, however, are different:

/ dh / is an emphatic pharyngealized voiced alveolar sound.

/dal la/
got lost-he = He got lost
/D / is an emphatic pharyngealized voiceless inter-dental sound.

/ D al la/
stayed-he = He stayed
In the Iraqi dialect, the Iraqis keep the classical writing to differentiate the meaning but the sound is the
same.

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Exercise:
.

( ) ( ).1
.
( ).2
( )( .3
( ) ..... .4

. )
( )

.5
.6

( ) ( ) ) .7
.
) ( .... () ... .8
. ) ( .. ) ....
.9

10
1.

ya min tiab , ya min shiga yamin ala l Hadhir liga.

Some people sow , other sow. Some people ork hard, others make the benefit out of it.
2. Da yinTuuuna il tamwiin mithil naguuT il Hib
They give us very little rations like drops of water oozing from the water jar.
3. min gil-latil kheil shaduu ala il chlaab sruuch.
There are no qualified people, so they accept anybody to do the job.
4. liman shaaf il shurta jat-tii galilhum khal nuglub
When he saw the police arrive, he said : let us jump over the fence and escape .
5. iHna nHib timman u murga lim-man naakil bil beit bas naakil gaS lim-man naakil bil
maTaaaim
We like rice and tomato stew when we eat at home but we eat shaawirma ( grilled around
Fire) when we eat at restaurants.
6. lim-man aku naar, raaH yiHtirig il aku wil maaku
When fire breaks out, it burns everything.
7. lim-man il fluus maSaar ilha qiima, sari l naas ymazquun fluushum gid-damil shurTa w aleiha
Suuratil rayis.
The money has become of no value and people started tearing them in front of the police in
spite of the Presidents picture on them.
8. bil siinama raaH giaid gid-daamii..... wkul shwaya yguum u yugaud w hu-wa Twiil. Faa..
gitla shway-a yit-danna rasa lo: yigaid bgheir bukaan.
In the cinema ... he sat in front of me.. and started every now and then standing and sitting
down..... so, I told him to bend his head a bit so that I can see or he can change his place and
sit somewhere else.
9. maa ainda khulig
He does not feel good.
10. itha maa niHchii raaH ninTag .
If we do not express ourselves, we will burst.
If we hide it, we will psychology hurt ourselves.

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Vowels :
There are two additional vowels in the Iraqi dialect compared with those of classical Arabic:
/e:/ ( ) , and
/o:/ ( ) . They are longer than the classical sounds, though they have the same
written forms.
1. Long /e:/

Iraqi speakers use the diphthong /e:/ to replace the Standard Arabic diphthong /aj/ to show
certain feminine gender, such as /ate:ni/(give me) when the addresser is a female. is
ID.

Imperative verbs
Imperative Differences between Moslawi and Others:
Sample ( khith = to take)
Moslawi
Khitho
Kitheenu

Baghdadi and South

?ikh-tha
?ikh-thee-h

Khitha
Khitheeha

?ikhith-ha
?ikh-thee-ha

( Youmasculine take it-masculine)

(You-feminine take it-masculine)
(You-masculine take it-feminine)
(you-feminine take it- feminine ( or plural inanimate)

Practice:
Sheela, sheelu, sheelha, sheelhum

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Take it-feminine(Moslawi)
Take it-masculine

Vowels Versus Semi-vowels

It is essential to mention that /aj/ diphthong in MSA indicates dual number (which refers to
two people or things as number)in the accusative or genitive case as in the word /muaalim aj n/
, a diphthong which is different from the long plural vowel /i:/ which refers to an accusative and
genitive case of masculine plural such as /muaalim i: n/ .
Standard
dual number
(object )

standard
plural number

/ mua'alim ajn /
two teachers

/ muaalimi:n/
teachers

/mu wa dhifajn /
two employees

/mu wadhifi:n/
employees

The common dual in Iraqi is pronounced as /e:/ or /ei/ and can be represented as

Mualime:n
ID uses /e:/ instead of /aj/ .

/we:n/

/lii wein/

/mne:n/

(where ?)

we:n raayiH ? Where are you going ?

(to where? )

Lii we:n to:Sal ? Where do you reach?

(from Where? )

mne:n jaay ? Where do you come from?

Shame !
/ aeib /
ae:b aale:k . It is shame on you

Keif

( desire) (gladness & happiness)

keifii ija. I am glad.

bkeifak ( up to you , the way you wish)

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36

le:l
Leil ( night)

il le:l bish shitii Taw-wiil . The night in winter is long.

.
Zein ( good,well) ze:n raaH nshuufkum. Well we will see you.
ze:n

The Iraqi dialect dual case /e:n/ :

(two girls)

/bin te:n/

(two boys)

/walade:n/
Shifit binte:n w wala-de:n.

Practice
1. juu-aaa-neen. Khal-le nruuH naa-kil-linna lugma luumtein wnirjaa lil shughul.
We are hungry. Let us go and eat a bit and come back to work
( )...
2. Lbaarha Ha Hajaa-zit bi-Taaqtein thintein mnil internet.

3. aku bas maq-aa-dein thnein bil-wara . itha triid raaH iHjizlak iyaahum.
.

4. Khalee nruuH lil Gahwa nuqaud hnaak. Yimkin nil-abin naa daas daasein azniif
wnirjaa lil beit . laaid shluun yingadhii il wagit?
( ( )

( ) ()
5.RaaH aruuH lil suug ainda shaghla ahaghiltein asawiihum w raajia lihnaa
maratlukh.
Ill go to the market. I have a couple of errands to do and Ill be back here again.
( )

6. RaaH ashtirii-lii ktaabe:n tlaatha mnil mak-taba w ajiik.

I will buy 2 or 3 books and come back to you.
.
2. Long /o:/

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This dialectal vowel /o:/ is longer and more open than the ordinary /o/ that Standard Arabic
language uses. To show its length, the Iraqi educators tend to use the Persian letter as an indicator of
this vowel.

shlo:n
( How ?)
lo:n

( color)

(ho:sh) (cow)

Bo:sh
( empty, in vain, bullying somebody to obey you )
Il mudiir gaam ale: w akhath bo:sha.
The Manager shouted at him and took over.(the other became submissive).

Mo:z

(banana)

Bo: g
(theft, stealing)
Tho:g ( )
( taste)
SaaHib tho:g = ( he has taste)
Ho: sa ( anarchy/ chaos)
Bo:sa

(a kiss)
Lo:

( or) (if)
Lo: muu
if were not for, had not been for
Lo: muu l khaaT-rak maa chinit asaw-wii-ha
Had not been for you, I would have not done it.
( I did this because of you)
.
4.

Long /u:/

We also recognize another long vowel /u:/ in the sounds of the Iraqi dialect . Here are a few
examples

/mu:/
(isnt, arent, dont, doesnt ) to make a negative question?

/ mu: ?intal li: riHit u j e:t /
Arent you the one who left and came back?
( )
/bu:ja/
my dad ( a friendly way to address somebody)

. .
/bu:ja, ?inta ma: tsau wi: i: sh i: . RaaH t

th ib el maktu:b hnaak w tiji

Friend, you are not doing anything. Youll Put the

the letter over there and come.
( )

/ khuuya/

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My brother ( a friendly way to address somebody of your age)

. ( ) ......
Bother .I did not mean you
My brother Never meant you

/ my eyes/
ayuuni ma inta ma da trak-kiz
My eyes, you are not focusing.
....
.

Consonant clusters:
Unlike MSA, the Iraqi dialect has consonant clusters at the beginning of a
word.
MSA

ID (in general)

/ta dam ma rat il a waa ria/

The streets are destroyed

/td m rat l dra: bi:n /

The streets are destroyed

In the careful speech of the Iraqi dialect, a two-consonant cluster is observed at the beginning of the
words.
CC + V

/td/, /mr/, /dr/

If we analyze clusters in the above sentence, we can find a four-consonant cluster across the
boundaries of words. In the Iraqi dialect, you may have the last consonant /t/ at the end of the verb
/tdam rat/ added to the three consonants at the beginning of /ldraabiin/. Casual and fast speech usually
forms these types of clusters in social conversations.
/t d a m r a t l d r
a: b i: n/
cc vccv cccc
v cv c
Arabic speakers who are MSA-oriented have problems in producing clusters that are dialect-oriented,
not being able to avoid schwa / / in between consonants.
MSA-oriented speaker
Dialect-oriented speaker

ta dam marat
was destroyed

tdam mrat

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39

ta-dar-rab-tu
I received training

tdar-ra-bit

li-maatha ta-laa-tham-ta
I stammered

shuuf tlaa-tha-mit

Glottal consonant/?/:
In the Iraqi dialect (ID), the glottal/?/ is retained at the beginning of a word, but it is not
pronounced in the middle or at the end of a word. When it is not pronounced in the middle or end, the
duration of this sound is added to the length of the adjacent short vowel which becomes longer in the
dialect.
MSA

/j i?ti/
[you-f. Singl.] came

ID

/ j e:ti/
[ you-f.singl.] came

/saH ra:?/
desert

/saH ra:/
desert

Practice
some nouns or (present participle ) active adjectives:
gaayim = awake
raayiH = going, leaving
naayim = sleepy, sleeping
shaayif = seeing, is educated and rich , experienced
zaayif = forged, not real

khaayif = afraid

saayiq = driver

naayib = vice , by proxy

jaayif = self-conceited, dry
HaayiT = wall

Haaayir = confused , does not know what to do

Taayir = speedy, flying

Tayaara = plane

Baayia = seller, sailsman

Shaarii = purchaser, buyer

Shii = thing

Saayib = correct
Shaayib = old man with a grey hair
Ghaayib = absent
Saayir = walking ( driving) on his way, (not interfering )
Baayid = old , ex
Baayit = staled , kept over night
aaayif = has left
Taayif = floating, not needed, extra
Maayia = does not follow the social rules and behavior
Shaayia = in vogue, common

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40

Faayit = already gone, passed, past

aaayid = returnee, going back to

There are cases, Iraqi speakers keep (hamza ?

?ib-?
burden

) in words such as

Fuj-?a-tan
suddenly

su-?aal
question

mas-?alla
issue

Note: Shiites in the South of Iraq put a glottal /?/ before almost every verb especially in the past.
You hear it / ?ije:t /
/?intadharit/

/ ?ilbasit/

/ ?itrikit/

I came
I waited
I wore
I left

Other Iraqis drop /?/ from the beginning of each word even when it is part of it in origin, such as
/?intadharit) to make a cluster of 2 consonants at the beginning of each word:

je:t
Ntidharit
lbisit

trikit

In case of the definite the ( al), Iraqis pronounce it ( ?il) whenever it makes the
beginning of an utterance, or if there is a time space in between the words when Iraqis
talk slowly to each other. Sometimes it conveys the meaning as emphasis on the word
if you want to do it for that reason.
Beginning of an utterance:
?il airaaq balad ghanii bnafTa
Iraq is a country rich of oil.
/?il airaaq/ is at the beginning of the speech.
Time space in between:
.. ...
Haatha lamal..?il jabbar.?illi gaam bii
This workthe remarkable onethat he did
The word /?il jabbar/and /?illi/ receive stress to convey emphasis.

Changing /u/ and /a/ into /i/ in the first syllable.

In the Iraqi dialect, the first syllable vowels /u/ or /a/ changes into /i/*. In MSA, the vowel in
the first syllable can be /a/ or /u/as shown in the following examples.
MSA
ID

/tak tu: bi:n/

you (f. singular) are writing.

/tkitbiin/

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41

/juz aidj ni/

/yizaij ni/
(masculine singular thing /person) bothers me

will /ta ta Hat ta mu:/
/tit HaT Tam/
(feminine singular / things ) be destroyed

It is worth mentioning that/i/ is centralized to shwa.

Grammar and Syntax

1. Iraqi dialect has no case ending.
Unlike MSA, the Iraqi dialect does not add a vowel to the end of words, and it does not show
the grammar cases. Words, therefore, end with consonants rather than vowels (Heywood& Nahmad,
1982). There is a tendency that the past tense verb in the Iraqi Arabic dialect starts with a 2- consonant
cluster, affected by the ancient Mesopotamian languages in the area and similar to the Assyrian dialects
of the indigenous people of Iraq.
MSA

/sha rab tu /
I drank.
MSA

/?ish ta rei tu al ki taaba/
I bought the book.
MSA

/thahab tu ?ila l beiti/
I went home.

ID

/shribit/
I drank.
ID

/ sh tre:t l kta:b/
I bought the book.
ID

/riHt lil be:t/
I went home.

Shiites, usually, put /?/ glottal before the verbs specially in the past tense and they keep /?/ if MSA has
it at the beginning of the verbs such as /?intadhart/
2. Dual number and the plural number cases are always in the accusative case.

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42

There is a tendency in all dialects to use the accusative dual case /e:/ for all grammar cases.
MSA
/a:n/

/aindi kita:ba:n/
I have two books.

ID
/e:n/

/aindi kta:be:n/
I have two books.

When the Iraqi people read numbers especially the tens, hundreds, and thousands, they use the
accusative /-i:n/ instead of the nominative / -u:n/ :
MSA
ID
/-u:n/
/-i:n/


/aindi ai ru:na daftaran/
/aindi ai ri:n daftar/
The same thing is true about the regular masculine plural. They use /-i:n/ as accusative instead of the
nominative /-u:n/. You rarely hear /u:n/ as an indicator of plural.
MSA
/u:n/

/Ja?kulu ?almualimuna ?alfitu:ra ?al ?a:n/
The teachers are eating breakfast now.
ID
/i:n/

/lmaalmi:n da: yit-raya-guun/
The teachers are eating breakfast.
The Iraqi dialect uses masculine plural verb form for both masculine and feminine plural but some
tribes use (na) such as rihna to mean (they feminine plural went). I really neglect that usage in here for
simplification.
MSA

/?al ?au la:d jath habu:na/
The boys go
/ja________u:n/* 1

ID

/?illuulaad jirHu:n/
/ iL- wilid yir-Huun /
The boys go
/ji_______u:n/*

In the Iraqi dialect, the vowel /a/ in the first syllable of the verb changes into /i/ in the masculine plural.
In the Standard Arabic,/-u:na/at the end of the verbs refers to the plural masculine.

MSA

/?al ba na:t jath hab na /
/ja__________na /*

ID

/lbana:t ji rHu: n/
/ji_____ u:n/
2* tribal: /yriHna/

Henna yirhan they(girls) go

?intin triHna You (girls) go

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Again for the feminine plural in the Iraqi dialect, /a/ changes into /i/ similar to that of masculine.

*1. In Standard Arabic,/ -na/ at the end refers to the plural feminine.
*2. In southern dialect and nomadic dialect /yirHan/ [they( girls) go] is heard as another pattern for
feminine 3rd person plural..
But for the 2nd person feminine plural, you may hear [(intin) (you girls)] /triHna/ (go).In fact, we
avoid this feminine plural structure and stick to the masculine plural for both genders.
In brief,
/ ji _______ u:n) / is the only discontinuous morpheme of the plural form of verbs for both genders in
the Iraqi general dialect.

_ _ _
3. The future tense :
The Iraqi dialect indicator for future is raaH, which means went. This went-future
particle is inserted before the present tense form of the verb to indicate far future (will).
In MSA, we insert " as a prefix before the present verb for, or we use a word " as a free
morpheme before the verb in the present form.
A:

Far future:
raaH + present tense verb
(conjugated according to the person)
Will + (verb base) - English language
MSA

/ sa ?araaka /
I will see you.

ID

/ra:H ?ash u:fak/

I will see you.

B: Near Future
In the Iraqi dialect, the syntax is :
(is, are + going to + verb base )
(1) raaH +
(2) (y)ruuH - present tense conjugation +
(3) verb in present = yshu:f
The three parts go in that order.
The first part /ra:H/ is always the same.
The second part /jru:H/ changes according to its personal pronoun.
The third part changes according to its personal pronouns similar to the second part.
Here is a complete present form table of the word /jru:H/ with various personal pronouns in the
Iraqi dialect.
MSA

/sa ?adrusu/ or/sawfa ?adrusu/

ID


ra:H ?aru:H ?adrus

I am going to study .
MSA

ID

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44

sanadrusu

sawfa nadrusu
/sa nad russu/
or/sawfa nad rusu/

/ra:H nru:H nidris /

We are going to study .

MSA

ID

Satadrusi:na
sawfa tadrisi:na
/sa tad ru si:na/
/sawfa tadrussi:na/

/ra:H tirHi:n

You (F.singl.)are going to study

MSA

satadrusu
sawfa tadrusu

tdir si:n/

ID

/ ra:H tru:H tid ris

/sa tadrusu/
sawafa tadrusu/
You (M.singl.) are going to study.
MSA
satatrisu:n
sawfa tadrisu:n

ID

/ra:H tirHU:n tdir su:n

You (plural both genders) are going to study. /sa tadrisu:n /sawfa/ /tadrisu:n/
4. Continuous tense:
MSA does not have any verb form or structure to refer to continuous tense by the absence of
the adverbs of time. In MSA, we get the aspect of the present tense from the adverb now /?al ?a:n/
in the sentence when the verb is in the present tense. Here is an example.
MSA

/?ana: ?a:kilu ?al ?a:n/
I am eating now
In the Iraqi dialect, however, the particle /da/ refers to the continuous tense:
* \ \ /da:/ + (verb in present)
I only use the /da:/ particle since /qa (d)/ - Christians / kei / - usage is another option limited to the
northern part of the country whereas /da/ is used all over the country.
MSA


/?ana: ?a:kil ?ag ?a:n/
I eat (now)

/?ana: kuntu ?a:kulu/
I was eating

ID

/?anii da: ?a:kil/

I am eating

/ ?anii ch init da: a:akul/

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45

In MSA, the indicator to the past continuous tense is the verb 'to be' kana" conjugated according
I was.
to the personal pronoun such as /kuntu/
* the Northern dialect uses
/qa da / + (verb in present).

/?ana: qa da:kil/
I am eating.
You may hear it from Christian Moslawi as ( kei daakil) versus to ( qei daakil)

Southern speakers use /jaa/
or /jaay/


Jaa yaakul
He is eating

instead of /da/ of continuing tense:

Jaa yiHchii
He is talking

Ja yiHmil
He is carrying

Ja yHamillin-na minniya
He is doing us a favor.

Exercise
Compare:
Yitray-yag
yitGhad-da
yit-ash-sha
Da
RaaH

(aa-da-tan) (daa-yiman) (mar-raat)

(hassa)
(baachir)

()
)

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46

He takes his breakfast (usually) (always) (sometimes)

He takes his lunch
He takes his supper
Da== is / are taking
RaaH== will + take

his breakfast
his lunch

(now)
(tomorrow)

his supper

5. The Iraqi dialect relative pronoun /elli/

The only relative pronoun in the Iraqi dialect is (elli) ( ) regardless of gender, number,
animacy or inanimacy.
(elli) can also be any relative pronoun: whom, who, which, that. This dialect pronoun /elli/ is contracted
from the MSA pronoun / a l la i / which is used in singular masculine.
MSA

ID

/kitaab ela i qara?tahu/

The book that Ive read.

/kitaab elli qre:t (a) /

The book that Ive read.

/qre:t/ is among the few verbs that keeps the sound/q/ as/q/.
MSA

ID

/?ilsh axs el li sh ifit/

The person whom I met.

/?al axs ?al la i ?iltaqeitu bihi/

The person whom I met.
MSA

ID

( southern tribal)

( Moslawi)

/?al /bana:t ?al lawa:ti ?iltaqe:tu: bihim/

The girls whom I met.

/lbana:t el li iftim/
The girls whom I saw.

MSA

/?al bajt ?al la I ?I tarajtuhu/

ID

/ lbe:t el li tare:t/

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47

The house that I bought.

The house that I bought.

Notes:
Here are three different ways that different dialects treat the singular masculine as an object to the verb:
.....

beit ..shifit

Baghdadi:il- beit lii shifta

(Moslawi:il- beit il-lii shiftu)

( )
Here are three different ways that different dialects treat the singular feminine as an object to the verb:

Drop the pronoun:il- binit illii shift ( looks incomplete but still it works out )
Baghdadi: il-binit illi shifitha

Moslawi:il- binit illi shifta
( drop h
sound )
6. Measure VII (seven) verb in the Iraqi dialect replaces the passive voice pattern.
The pattern of the MSA passive voice is /u/ in the first syllable and /a/ in the second one in the
present tense form such as /juktab/ it will be written. The Iraqi dialect speakers usually use measure
VII(seven) verb to express passivity /jinkitib/ rather than /u/ and/a/ pattern of two syllables. Measure
VII (seven) verb is a transitive verb with the bound morpheme /in / or / n/ added to its beginning.
MSA
ID

/juqtalu/
/jinkitil/ *
He will be killed
He will be killed.

/tuqtal/
you/she will be killed.

/tinkitil/
You/she will be killed.

/juqtaluu/
They will be killed.

/jinkitlu:n/
They will be killed.

*(In the southern dialect /g/or ch is used instead of /k/).

/jinchitil/, tinchitil/, /jinchitlu:n/ in that order.
For the MSA passive voice in the past, the vowels /u/ in the first syllable, /i/ in the second syllable and
/a/ in the third syllable are found in that order. In the Iraqi dialect, the past tense of the measure VII
(seven) is used:
In the southern part of Iraq, the first syllable usually starts with /?in/ whereas in the north they start with
the consonant/n/:
MSA

ID.

/qu ti la/

/?in ki tal/

/ dhu ri ba/

/?inthirab/

be killed
be hit

be killed
be hit

The three readings of (q) :

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48

Mosul,
Inqital,

Baghdad,
*

inkital,

South
inchital

* Usually /g/ changes to /k/ when it neighbors /t/ as an allophone.

Active versus Passive

Active: nihab
Passive :innihab

(he) looted
to be looted

.
.
Nihbau kul il tamaatheel bil matHafil airaaqi
Kul il tamaatheel ?innihbit mnil matHafil araaqi
They looted all the statutes in the Iraqi museum.
All the statues were looted from the Iraqi museum.
Active: qital
Passive: innqital

(he) killed
is killed

.
( ) ( ) .
Lmujrim qital ashir ?ashkhaS
ashir ?ashkhaaS ?inqitlau (?ingitlau) (inchitlau)
Active: farragh
Passive: infiragh

(he) evacuated
is evacuated

.
.
Firghau lmadeena w ?inhIzmau
?infirgHatil madeena mnil naas.
They evacuated the city and fled.
The city is evacuated from people.
Active: fataH
Passive: infitaH

(he) opened
(was) open (ed) , get delighted and happy

.
.
.
?iftataHil mas?uul l mahrajaan
?infataHil mahrajaanb baghdaad l baarHa
Lim-man wiSilit yam-hum, tnaf-fa-hit. (yit-naf-fah = to relax, rejoice)
The official in charge inaugurated the festival in Baghdad.
The festival was inaugurated in Baghdad yesterday
When I get there, I felt happy and relaxed.

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49

The southern dialect (especially Shiites) put glottal /?/ at the beginning of the passive voice verb in the
past (?infilat = he escaped ).

Extra Exercises:
. .1
. .2
. . .3

. (
) .4
. .5
. .6
. .7
. .8

.9

.10
.
.11

1. Infalatil wadhia wSaar kul waaHid yiamal illii yreeda.

2. ?infajaril lughum liman dasitail sayaara.
3.?inkisrtail jaamaat liman ?inqaSafil be:t.
4. ?intiqal il maradh lkulil Haara
5. ?iSab beeda bil shadhiya
6. ?injaraH brijla
7. ?ingiTaa lmay wil Kahraba.
8. Lnaas lii ?inSaabau ?inchatlo aal gaaaa wmaHad gidar ydaaweehum
9. ?intirasil shaaria il airaaqi bil mawaadil lii hiya qachaagh w mamnuuaa wil be:a wil shiraa bsuug
il soda kho Saar aal makshuuf w gidaamil ayuun b baghdaad wghe:r baghdaad bil muHaafadhaat.
10. ?inSirfatil lfluus bil malaayeen w?inhadrat?amwaal il naas winzihgat ?arwaaH il naas almuud
yistatib al ?amin wtaistaqir al ?awdhaaa. wmaa Talaana bnateeja leehasa.
11. min yuum ma jiina lih-na, maa infitHat ale:na

1. The situation is chaotic and people are chaotically doing what they want to do.
2. The mine exploded when the car ran over it.
3. Window glass shattered when the house was bombed.
4. The disease spread everywhere in the neighborhood.
5. He is injured in his hand by shrapnel.
6 He is wounded in his leg.
7. Water and electricity were cut off.
8. People who were wounded fell on the ground and no one was able to treat them.
9.The Iraqi street is full of illegal contrabands and now selling and buying in the black market is done in
public and at the sight of people whether in Baghdad or in districts.
10. Millions are spent , the peoples money dwindled, people are killed to prevail security and stabilize
the situation but till now we have seen no results.
11. Since we came here, we have undergone bad circumstances.

Note: The sound /n/ is assimilated to /m/ in a speedy speech when it neighbors /b/:
Inbihar = imbihar = get delighted , glowed

Inbiaaj = imbiaj = get punctured, burst, blew up
Or
Anbaar = ambaar

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50

Anbaa?= ambaa?

7. The Iraqi dialect keeps the (tamma) ( ya-tim-mu) + verbal noun structure as another formal passive
voice in their high level speech:

The formal passive form with tam-ma /ya-tim-mu+ Verbal noun

+

(1) RaaH ytim inshaa? mu-as-sasat naqil il ruk-kaab bil wi-laaya.

An establishment for the public transportation will be established

(2) Tam naqil khamsiin mudarris barra il mudun

Fifty teacher are transferred (to work) outside cities.
.

8.A Measure II (two) verb in the Iraqi dialect replaces a measure I or IV .

are some examples. ( GEMINATION)

Here

Measure 2 is the verb in which one of the consonants is split into two
The root : h z m in conjugation is / hazzam/ the z is split into 2
/Yuhazzim/ present
/hazzam/ past
defeat
defeated
Measure 4 is the verb in which the first syllable has /u/, the 2nd syllable has /i/ in the
present tense and /a/ with /i/ in the past in the same order.
/yuhzim/ present
/hazima/ past
defeat
defeated
Iraqis use measure 2 instead of measure 4 in the dialect:
MSA

/juhzim/
He defeats

ID *

/jhaz zim/
He defeats

/juhzim ald e: u: ?al aadu wa/
He defeats the enemys army.

/ ?l d e: jhaz zim el aadu /
The army defeats the enemy.

raaH nhazzim l mutamarideen ?in shaaala.
We will defeat the insurgents God willing.

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51

/jub aid/
He makes him stay away

/jbaa aid/
He makes him stay away

raaH nbaa aid l mashaakil min baladna.

We will make our country not fall into troubles.

/jukmil/
He completes

/jkam mil/
He completes

.
raaH nkammil maseeratna bil taHreer wbinaa? Il demoqraaTiya
we will continue our march to liberty and establishing democracy.

/ju Hik/
He makes others laugh

/j aH Hik/
He makes others laugh

raaH ydhiHkuun aleina bhal taSarufaat w bhal mahazil

They will make the world laugh at us because of our behavior and silly deeds
In MSA, the first noun is the subject (it ends with -u). The second noun is the object( it ends with -a). In
ID sentence, we usually put the subject before the verb to avoid ambiguity.

Yuu-qif

ywag-gif

Stop, park, detain, arrest

stop, park, detain, arrest

.
.
Wag-gaf say-yar-ta yam-mil makhfar il shur-Ta . fa-jat-ti il shurta wmaa adri shlo:m Hicha
wiyaahum khshin .wag-gafo:h w-ikhtho:h w chifto: bil sijin. Lii-hassa baada masjuun.

.
He parked his car near the Police Station. The police came and I did not know how he spoke harsh with
them, they detained him and put him in jail. He is still in jail.

yuTaim

ywak-kil

.

hal mashruua bil manta-qa raaH ywak-kilna kulna khubiz w yraf-fih Hayaat-na.
This project in the area will feed us all and prosper our standard of living.
In MSA , the verb that equals is in measure 4 ( yuT-aim).
In the dialect some intransitive verbs are changed to measure 2 as transitive and take objects.

Intransitive

At-ghad-da
I take lunch

transitive

y-ghad-dii-ni
He gives me lunch ( at his expense, or serves me lunch)

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52

It-ray-yag
I take breakfast

yray-tig-ni
He gives me breakfast (at his expense, or serves me breakfast)

Tit-ash-sha
You take supper

yash-shiik
He gives you supper ( at his expense, or serves you supper)

9. Transitive verbs and contraction of the pronouns.

One of the most confusing phenomenon is that the Iraqi dialect has
contractions like English, some letters are lightly pronounced, and the outcome looks
different. Here are examples:
1. asawee il shaghla ilak
asaweeha ilak
asweelak iyaha

. I do the work for you.

I do it (f.) for you
I do it for you (I do for you

it)

lbaarHa ijaani Sadeeq lil beit. wTilab minee shaghla asaw-weeha ila. Faasaweitla-yaaha..saweit-ha chifyaan shar.
. . ) ( . .

Yesterday a friend came to me to do him a favor. I then did it for him. I did it
to avoid his anger.. idiomatic. not to attack me in case I do not do it.
2. nguula ill ii Saar ilhum
We tell what happened to them
nguul il-hum iyaa(h).
we tell them it
raaH ngullilhum iya ) ( we will tell them about it.
we tell it to them
3. asheel jinaT-tak ( chan-Ti-tak) wiyaay
asheelha ilak

asheelaki-iyaha
)(
4. anTee liktaab ilak
anT-Tee ilak lik-ktaab
anTeelak iya ) (

5. aktib ilak risaala. I write (to you) a letter

Aktibha ilak
I write (it) to you
.
Aktiblak-iyaaha I write to you it ( I write it to you)
)(

Practice
1. Aani hwaaya juu-aaan ?

Ma truuH taakul-lak fad lugma w tijii.
I am very hungry?

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53

Why dont you go and have a bite?

2. areed ashrab li fad pipsii.
I d like to drink ( me) a pepsi.

3. yreed yshuufla fad shaghla

He needs to find ( himself) a job.

4. aftaHlee fad bizniz

I open ( me) a business.

5. adruslii shway-ya w ajeek.

I study ( me) a bit and I ll come to you.

11. The speakers of the Iraqi dialect usually keep the long vowels when they give
orders and commands. The language looks more polite with keeping the long
vowels as a social discourse in the imperative.
root

imperative

1. N O m

2. q O m

3. O q f

MSA

IRAQI

nam/ num

naam

gum

guum

qif

Ogaf

()

()

It is necessary to say that orders in the conversations usually come as a

suggestion or an advice, or an instruction to show politeness.
aani tag-baan .

.1

why dont you go and sleep.

-. 2

. 5 . 1
. ...

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54

Vocabulary
The Iraqi dialect uses words that do not exist in Standard Arabic. These words are either
borrowed from other languages, or they are the adapted forms of the classical Arabic ones
(Altoma,1969). These words are of high frequency and are used often in the daily life language of the
society. It is peculiar that you can not find any of these words in any Standard Arabic books
(Holes,1983), on the theory that the speech of the dialect is not considered a language to be written in
notebooks or books. It is only oral speech. This dialectal notion (boycotts measures) taken by the Arab
linguists results in a new language that stands by itself in its lexicon, sound system, and grammar.
These dialectal words can be content words such as full verbs, adjectives, and adverbs; or
functional words such as Wh-question words, prepositions, demonstratives, relative pronouns, and
vocative particles.
Conjugations
One of the problems that faces the MSA learners is not understanding the speech of the Iraqi
people, since the Iraqis use dialect verbs when speaking with each other. These verbs are adapted from
the classical words or borrowed from other languages. Learners have no access whatsoever to these
verbs when learning MSA in courses or schools. These Iraqi dialect verbs are conjugated in the similar
way that we conjugate MSA verbs. Here is a list of some verbs that are often used in conversations.
It is also remarkable to say that we have four patters of verbs in Iraqi dialect to think of as
morphs (the structure changes) .
The first is the three consonants which is saleem (intact) such as zihaq ( got bored) , ziaal
( got mad), rikadh ( ran)
The second pattern consists of two consonants such as daz ( send) , HaT ( put) , thab
(throw), chaT , fak ( untie, loosen, release, open)
The third pattern has a vowel in the middle such as ruuH (( )go), ynaam ( he-sleeps),
ybeea ( he-sells) , yOSal ( he-arrives)
The fourth pattern has a vowel at the end such as yimshee ( he goes) , yid-auu usually is
changed to (ee) yidaeek yidaeek ( he-invites you) or yidaee + lak ( prays for you ).
Because verbs cannot stand on their own without having personal pronouns built-in, we need to know
the personal pronouns as both free morphemes (those who are written on their own) or the bound
morphemes ( those are attached)to other words)

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55

The Present Tense Conjugation Chart

1.
2.

You need to know the three letters as a root

You add prefixes and sometimes suffixes to build up your verb.

You
(single)
Masculine

You (singl. Feminine)

.iin

You (plural)

t ..oon

Root
riid

We

They
He

y oon

She

Personal Pronouns
Subject personal pronouns
First person
I
aani, ana
We
iHna

Second Person
you inta M.
you intii F.
you
intu pl.

( )

Third Person
he
she
they

55

hu-wa
hi- ya
hum-ma

56

The subject verb agreement

I want . aani ariid .
We want . iHna nriid.

You want. Inta t-riid.

( you masculine singular)

You want. Intii t-riid-iin. ( you feminine masculine)
You want . intuu t-riid-uun ( you Plural)

He wants . hu-wa y-riid
She wants . hi-ya t-riid
They want. Hum-ma y-riid-uun

Conjugate the following roots:

These verbs are transitive i.e., you need an object or more.

()
carry

___________________
__________________

()
See

____________________
_____________________
___________________

()
increase

_____________________
____________________
_____________________

(
)
Supply

) (
Benefit
you

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The Past Tense Chart

The good thing about the past tense , the personal additions to the root are all suffixes i.e., they
are added to the end of the verb. The root with a vowel is usually treated differently and that is I
put different patterns to follow for conjugation.

Root
FtH
open

+ t
na
it
tii
tuu

I
WE

* ftaH-it
ftaH-na

you (singular Masculine)

you ( singular Feminine)
you ( plural )

ftaH-it
ftaH-tii
ftaH-tuu

fi-taH

fit-Hat

fit-Huu ( au)

zero He
at
she
uu They

* /a/ is shortened to appear like schwa or /i/ .

1st person & 2nd person has a consonant cluster at the beginning (ft).
You may also hear / ? / at the beginning of the verb
Lim-man ftaH-til baab, gab b il hawa b-wichii.
When I opened the door, the air (breeze) hit me in the face.

There are Transitive verbs that take Indirect object and in this case , we have the attached
personal pronoun to the end of the verb as an object.

Objective pronouns
After transitive verbs
Present
he takes me

ywad-dii-nii

he takes us

ywad-dii-na

he takes you

ywaad-diik

he takes you
he takes you

ywadii-kum

he takes him

ywad-dii-h

he takes her

ywad-dii-ha

he takes them

57

ywad-dii-ch

ywad-dii-hum

58

Past
he took me
he took us

wad-daa-nii
wad-daa-na

he took you
he took you
he took you

wad-da-k
wad-daa-ch
wad-daa-kum

he took him

wad-daa-h

he took her

wad daa-ha

( )

he took them wad-daa-hum

Training on the Attached Pronouns

This attached pronoun is a subject.
Shlo:n

-ak?
Shlo:nak
How are you?
-ich?
Shlon-ich (shlo:nkii Moslawi) How are you ? F.
-kum? Shlo:nkum How are you ? pl.
-a
shlo:na
-ha
shlo:n-ha
-hum shlo:nhum

How is he?
How is she?
How are they?

-ii? Shlo:n da dshuufnii ? How do you see me(doing?)

-na? Shlo:n da dshuufna? How do you see us (doing?)

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Samples of Conjugations
1. A sample of 3 consonants
MSA

ID

got mad

The sign over the consonants

daz-za)

means germination to indicate the consonant splits into two

Present tense

Past tense

1st person

?azal ( I get mad )

zaa-lit

Niz-aal (we get mad )

zialna (we got mad )

( I got mad )

2nd person
tiz-aal (you M singular)

z-ailit ( you M.) got mad

tzia-leen (you F singular)

z ail-tii (you f.) sgot mad

tzia-luun (plural )

z-ail-tu (you plural) got

3rd person
Yiz-aal (he) gets mad

Tiz-aal (she) gets mad

Yzia-luun ( they) get mad

zi-aal (he got mad

zia-lat (she got mad )

zia-lu ( they got mad )

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2. The root of the verb of 2 consonants ( d z )

The sign over the consonants
( daz-za)

( = send)

or with sahd-da

means germination to indicate the consonant splits into two

Present tense

Past tense

1st person

?adiz ( I send )

dazze:t

ndiz (we send)

dazze:na (we sent)

( I sent)

2nd person
tdiz

(you M singular)

tdizeen (you F singular)

tdizuun (plural )

dazze:t ( you M.) sent

dazze:tii (you f.) sent

dazze:tu u (you plural) sent

3rd person
ydiz (he sends )
tdiz (she sends)
ydizuun ( they send)

daz (daaz) (he sent)

dazzat (she sent)

dazzuu ( they sent)

:
. . .
. .
?iHna dazeinalkum aitad w thakheera l baarHa. aishreen sandoq fishak klashinkof w khamseen
rummaana w qaathiftein R.P.G. wraaH ndizilkum baaid lo tirduun. Bas balighona.

.

raaH ndizilkum maay btaala naDiif lil shurib

.

la tshirbu:n l may l?anu: mlawath. ?ighlu: l may w baadein shirbu:

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3. A sample of a hollow verb (with a vowel in the middle) conjugated to persons:

(vowels are : a e o i )
The root of the verb is : (F u t)

( enter / pass)

Present tense

Past tense

1st person
fuut I enter
nfuut we enter

fitit I entered

fitna we entered

2nd person
tfuut you M singular enter
tfuuteen (you F singular)
tfuutuun (plural )

fitit ( you M.) entered

fittii (you f.) entered
fituu (you plural) entered

3rd person
yfuut (he enters )
tfuut (she enters)
yfutuun ( they enter)

faat (he entered)

faatat (she entered)

faatuu ( they entered)

:
.

?inti fittii bil beit, w huwa Tilaa. fa maa shiftii

You entered, he went out. So you did not see him.

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A sample of a defect verb (with a vowel at the end ) conjugation

according to persons:
(vowels are : a e o i )
The root of the verb is: b d a

( start)

Present tense

Past tense

1st person

?abdi ( I start )

bide:t

nibdi (we start)

bide:na (we started)

( I started)

2nd person
tibdii

(you M singular)

bide:t ( you M.) started

tibde:n (you F singular)

bide:tii (you f.) started

tibduun (plural )

bide:tuu (you plural) started

3rd person
yibdii (he starts )
tibdii (she starts)
tibduun ( they start)

bida (he started)

bidat (she started)

biduu ( they started)

.
Limman bade:na niTib lil be:t simiait ?aSwaat ?aqdaam tibdee timshii fogil SaTiH fashake:t ?aku
waaHid ?au ?akthar daa yibduun yitkattaluun hinaak w?iHnaa maa nidrii beehum.
When we entered (started entering) the house, we heard ( started hearing) steps of people walking on
the roof. I suspected that someone is hiding there and we did not know about them.

. ...

Fabade:t ?as?al Saahibil be:t lo ?aku aidhum ?aHad bil SaTiH ?au bil sirdaab.gallii laa. Wbaade:n
Tilaa yikthib ale:na chaan aidhum waaHid yikhtil hnaak bas jamaaaitna zbaaa shafuu gaaaid

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63

btaankii il may fog il SaTiH w chaan mkhabii wiyaa klashinkof w shawajeer koma mkhalleeha b Saffa
whuua gaaaid bil taankii bhal Har.
I started asking the owner of the house if he has someone hiding on the roof or in the basementhe
said, No. Later we discovered that he seemed to be lying to us. The family had one hiding on the
roof of the house; nevertheless, our men are brave and found him sitting inside the water tank on the
roof hiding himself with an Ak 47 and a pile of magazines put aside him while sitting there in this hot
summer.

. .
ala kullin lizimna w ?akhathna wiyaa saaHibil be:t lil qaaaida almuud ysauwuun taHqeeq
wiyaahumlian il rajul illi chaan mkhabii nafsa bil taankii shikla muu airaaqi wSahibil be:t yinkir ?anuu
maa yiarif il rajul walaa yiarif ?anuu mkhabii nafsa bil SaTif yguul ?annu il rajul yimkin mitsalil bile:l
minl StuuH aala be:ta biduun maarifta.
However, we caught the man and took him with the house head to our base for investigation because
the man hiding in the tank was not Iraqi. The owner of the house denied that he knew the man nor that
he was hiding there. The house owner believes that the man has infiltrated at night from other roofs to
the roof of his house without the farmers knowledge.

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Iraqi Common Verbs

(1)

/jataHada u/

speak

/jso:lif/

.
.
.
?inta tsolfinna swaalif atiiga. Maa tghayir shwayya.
You tell us old stories. Change a bit.
(2)

/jiamal/

do or

work

/jsaw wi:/

.
Nsaw wii lii nreeda wil lii ySeer khalli ySeer.
We do what we need to do; and whatever happens, let it happen.
cause a problem

make tea

work

making problem

follow the rules .
He can do a lot for you ( positive / negative)
) (
Beware not to do something wrong. Do not misbehave.
) (
(3)

/ja?xu sa ma:H/ ask for permission

/jitarkhas /

.
Lazim titarkhaS minhum w ticheena w?illa maySeer tijii bala rukhSa
You must get their permission and then come to us, you cannot come without a permit from them.
(4)
/juati:/
(assimilation)

give

/jinTi/

.
RaaH ninTeekum slaah w aitaad w sitrat wiqaaya mnil riSaaS bas tkuunuun ?awfiya ?ilna.
We will give you weapons, ammunition, and the bullet proof jacket provided that you must be loyal to
us.
(5)
/jax rud /

go out

( )
/jiTlaa/

. . )(
raaHniTlaa mnil ghusbsha w naakhuthhum alaa ghafla. Almafruudh ma niTlaa mita?akhreen winkuun
hnaak gabil maa yitrayaguun
We will go out early at dawn and take them by surprise. In fact, we should not be late and be there
before they are having their breakfast.
The verb has a number of uses and meanings, so we have a few extra examples:
go out of the house
.
The sun shines and the moon shines
.

.1
.2

had a dirty trick against me

.3

64

( idiom) .

65

came out chick and tidy

responded well against him as retaliation
came out innocent
is released from prison
all garbage is revealed
nice to see you ( idiom)

. .4
. .5
.6
.7
.8
9

he does no more live with us and rented another house 10

) ( 11
) ( 12

he got an ID card. (measure 2)

he found excuses ( made up) ( measure 2)
he gave us hard time

13
14

( measure2)

we had hard time and underwent hardships

he got fortunate, accidentally he got it, he got the lottery ) ( 15

he accidentally had a thief who robbed him
) ( 16
unexpectedly someone started giving him a hard time

(6)
/jatruk/

let /make

17

/jkhalli/

This verb has several meanings so we have a few more examples to tackle this verb.

.
.
Khaluuna niHchii . ?intuu laazim tkhalluun jinuud il aaduu yiqtirbuu minkum almuud tgidruun
tHawTuuhum w ySeeruun jawwa neeraan ?asliHatkum
Let us talk. You need to allow the enemy soldiers approach closer so that you can surround them and
have them under your weapons fire (range).

.
raaH ?akhalleek tdhuug l mur
I will let you suffer.

. .
.
La tsawwii qaarish waarish. Khalleek saakit.
Do not make any problems. Keep quiet.
Do not annoy or challenge him. Keep silent.

.
Khallii slaaHak aal ?aridh w ?irfaa ?eede:k lii fog w sallim nafsak.
Put your weapon on the ground and raise your hands up and surrender. Leave your weapon where it is
and come forward.

. . . ..
My friendDo step down. Do not delay. This is my job. In fact, I lost my patience.
.
) (

. (
)

. .

65

66

Khallii l Hareem yirHan l fad ghurfa wil rjaal yTilauun mnil Hosh lii barra almuud nfatishil beit. ?ako
aidkum waaHid mkhabii nafsa al SaTiH lo bil sardaab taraa raaH nguum b taHaree l beit fa?itha ?aku
naas mkhabaayeen nreedhum yTilauun wmaansaweelhum shee walawin shaayleen slaaH. Lo yTilauun
barra wmaa yraawuun muqaawama, raaH niafeehum. falii ysallim nafsa hassa gabil maa nTibil beit
raaH nauufa wma naakhtha wiyaana l?ay bukaan.
Let women go to one room. Men come out of the house because we want to search the house. Do you
have anyone hiding on the roof of the house or in the basement. We intend to raid the house so if there
are people hiding we need them to come out and we will not hurt them though having weapons. If they
come out and show that they will not resist we have nothing against them. Any one who surrenders
willingly right now before we enter the house, we will let them free and we do not take them with us to
anywhere.

?alla ykhaleek wein tSeer il maHkama?
Please, where is the court? ( Please, help me ______)
Literally: ?alla ykhaleek = God saves you
This is a way to talk with some you do not know to ask for help.

Khallii l shaajuur bil bundaqiya
Put the magazine in the rifle. (feed your rifle )

Khaleeni ala raaHtii la tliH alay-ya

Leave me alone do not make me waste time

.
Khaleena nruuH min naa
Lets get out of here.
He respected us and did everything for us.
Il rij-jaal maa khal-la qSuur. Gaam bil waajib.
. .
(7)

/jubsiq/

/jitfil/

spit

. .
Razzalta ze:n wtifalit bwicha. Yaa?akhii haatha maa yistiHii.
I berated him and spat on his face. Man, he has no shame.

(8)

/jatakal la mu/

speak

/jiHchi/

. . .
Haatha yiHcheelak Hachii kulla mrattab.tguumil gruun braasak liman tsimaa. w kullha chithib b
chithib.
This man speaks to you with well arranged speech, you are amazed when you hear him. But all is lie.
(9)
/jirmi:/

throw

/ jthib/

. . . .

66

67

Liman Saar il le:l HaSarnaahum bil maqar. Wrame:na ale:hum madaafia haawan. Baaid shwaya.
Thabau slaaHhum aal gaaa wrifau ?eede;hum w sallimau ?anfushum mithil l chlaab hassa Saayreen
karata ( shoehorn) .
When it got dark, we cordoned them in their HQs. We fired mortars at them. After a while, they threw
their weapons on the ground and raised their hands up to surrender like dogs. Now they are very
submissive (like a shoehorn).

(10)
/jamzaHu/

is joking / is kidding

/jitshaqa/

. .
Yaa .akhii al Harb muuu shaqa. abalak ?iHnaa nitshaaqa waiyaakum.
Man, war is not easy. Do you think we are kidding with you?
(11)

/jastahzi?/
deride , mock
make a fool out of

/jqashmir /

hthola shayaaTeen qashmarokum bcham filis w dhayaauu ale:kum il furSa

These are devils. They were able to convince you with a little bit of money (make a fool out of you) ,
and made you lose the opportunity

(12)

/jaqfizu/

jump/ bounce

/jigmiz/ /jinTiz/

.
Saar aaSabee wgaam yigmiz min asabiyitta
He got mad and started jumping when he lost his temper

Muu sahla ?inta tugmuz ( tchiT) mnil sayyara aidma yseerl ramii ale:k winta bil sayaara maashiya bil
ratil
It is not easy to jump from the car when an attack is launched and you are in a car on convoy.
Muu sahla
(13)

/jaHmilu/
carry

/jshiil/

.
Hal peekap ysheel tlath ?aTnaan mithlil ward.
This Pickup(truck) carries 3 tons easily.
(14)
( )
/jastaamilu kalimatan ba i:?a/
ysib, yfash-shir
use bad word (F. words)

. .


. .
Yaa ?akhii kulla kalama fshaar. Haatha fad waaHid mayistaHii yfashir hwaaya. Shgad ?agulla maa
yhimma. Wshgad /arazla ma daa tfeed.
Man, all his words are to curse words he has no shame using F words a lot. Time and time I have told
him but in vain. I even berate him but he makes no change.

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68

(15)
/julHiqu/ join

He joins

/jilhag /

. .
madanlaHig njeebilhumil ?arzaaq timan w shaker w faSuulya wTaheen wma da tfeed wiyaahum. Yaaa
?akhii maa yishbaauun.
Non-stop we bring them rations such as rice, sugar, beans, and flour and it makes no change. Man, they
never stop eating.
(16)
/jara/

He sees

/jshu:f/

.( ) ( )
Bile:l waaHid ma yshuuf ze:n walihaatha yinraad tkuunuun Hathreen min qadhiyat ?annu l
mutamarideen yitsallaluun ale;kum bil le:l w yaakhthuku alla ghafla w yirmuun ale:ku.
At night one cannot see well. Therefore, you need to be aware that insurgents may sneak behind you
and take you by surprise (and shoot at you).

measure 2 is yshaw-wif / ywar-rii = to show

)
(

War-riini shlo:n aSal il maTaar.

Show me how to get to the airport.
(17)
/jaqu:l/

say

/jgu:l /

) ( ) (
Yguuluun ?annu ?ahlil Mosul ( al mawasla) ?ilhum aqliya tijaariya w aiSiyeen w yitamaluun wiyaak
lHadil fils.
It is said that Moslawis have a business brain. They are stingy , and they bargain to a penny.
(18)
Yandhur ila

look at

ybaawia aala

?itha tbaawia ze:n al qaraar ?il le ?izdarituu il lijna , tshuuf bee taHayuz
If you look carefully into the decree issued by the committee, you will find it is bias.

nruuH nbaawia aal shaT ( or nahir)
We will go to see the river .

(19)
Yisriq

steal

ybuug

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69

. .
.
aabaalna khosh walad w nazeeh baade:n shifna ?annu bawaag daraja ?uula. nasaf ?il ?akuu wil maaku
wshalaha. Muu bas haay Tila ?annu maakil komat fluus maltil naas w maakil rashaawi hwaa-ya mnil
deera.
We thought he is a good man and honest, but later we found out that he is a big thief. He stole
everything and fled. It is not only this, he has taken peoples money and took bribes from the town.
(20)
Yialam

know

yidrii

Lyidrii yidrii wil ma yidrii chaffat aadas
If you do not know, why then talk about it!

Maa ?adrii we:n raayiH ?
I do not know where are you going?
(21)

yiltiqiT
pick up (understand)
Yilgif

Shuuf haatha la tshuufa heechi. Haatha yilgaf l shaghla whiya Tayra

Yligfuun l lugma min halgag winta ma diryaan
raaH tligfa il istikhbaaraat fad yo:m.
Do not see him like that. He is very smart. He understands it like that.
They snatch the bite from your mouth ( sneakily) without your knowledge.
One day the intelligence ( usually the military one) will catch him one day.

(22)
yidhaa

put

yHiT

)
HiTjaayil lampa al .e:z
Put this lamp on the table
?inta askarii laazim tHiTil seedaara aal raasak liman tiTlaa mnil SaTiH
You are military. You must put your cover on when you go out of the building
(23)
Yitjaw wal
Walk wander

yfir
spin/ walk around/ flee

Min wiSalna, bide:na nfir bil madeena bsayaaratna
When we arrived, we started cruising around the city in our car.

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70

W baaid ma tghade:na, aimilnaana farra lilsuug il shaabii

After we took our lunch, we walked to the local popular market
Limman bide:na nirmii ale:hum, tirkauil SaTiH wnizlau w baade:n Saarau yfiruun mnil be:t
When we started shooting at them, they left the roof of the house and went down. From there they
started fleeing from the house.

(24)
Yitmallaq
kiss somebodys ass

ylaw-wig ( put shadda)

Min shaafa, Saar ylaw -wigla
Once he saw him, he started kissing his ass
Yaa ?akhii maaku daaaii tlaw-wigla
Man, you dont have to kiss his ass.
Do not confuse ( yluug-la) with ( ylaw-wig- la)
tluugla il . It fits him.

Tlaw-wig-la . You praise him to get something from him .

(25)
yishTib

erase / take out

ychiz

Yaa ?akhii ?ismii chaan b biTaaqaatil tamween. Minuu raaH w chaz ?ismii whassa dhale:t biduun
?arzaaq.
Man, my name was on the ration cards. I do not know who has erased my name. Now I remain without
rations.
Yaa ?akhee laa tchiz ?ismii mnil qaayima.
Man, do not erase ( take out) my name from the list.
(26)
Yijlib

bring

yjeeb

) (

(27)
Yurii
show

ywarri

Do it if you can. ) (
show us your ID with a picture.

I will show you red eyes. Ill give you a headache.

(28)
Ynaawil

pass on

ynaawish

70

71

.
(29)
Yitmataa

yitannas

enjoy

( )

(30)

Ywabbikh

rebuke

yhich

(31)

Yalliq

pick on

When he saw him he berated and scolded him.

ySachim

(32)
Yintidhir

ytaani

wait for

(33)

Yqabbil

kiss

ybuus

(34)
Yisaw was

decay

(35)
Yfajir

burst

. .....

. (

ykhees

yTig

. ....... ....
waaHid yTig Tug mnil Har
Tugil Tayir w?ana ?asuug ala miya. Wishwayitlukh china ningilib
Limman Taggit l qumbila hazzatil binaaya haz gillna bas hassa la tinzal ale:na
One explodes from heat
The tire punctured while driving 100 miles per hour. The car was about to turn over.
When the bomb exploded, the building shocked heavily to a degree we thought it is about to come
down on us.
(36 )
Yinfijir

explode

yinTag

.
?inTge:t mnil dhiHik limman Hichal qiSSa.

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72

I burst in laughter when he told the story.

(37)
yuheen

yitjaasar aala

step over the line

Limman sa?alnaa minu ?aku aidkum bil bet gaam yitjaasar ale:na bas khale:naa yiHchii bke:fa bas
raaH yijii yom nHasba al lii gala.
When we asked him who was with them in the house, he stepped over the line and shouted at us. We
let him say whatever he wanted to say. There will be a day when we will hold him accountable ( punish
him) for what he said.
(38)

yiHaayal

ysakhit

sucking off

Gam bil fatra l ?akheera ysakh-khit wmaay yrooH lilshughul min wagit.
He recently started goofing off at his job well and not going to his work not on time
(39)

Yudhammid

bandage/ treat

ydaawii

.
?injirHat ?eeda wmaa chaan ?akuu ?ay Tabeeb almuud ydaawii
His hand was injured and there was no doctor to treat him.

. .
Gabil ma daawii il jariH, aqim il makaan ?au ghisla w nadhif makaanil jariH w baade:n khallii aale: il
shaash w baade:n shidda bil lifaaf w sauwii aiqda ala SafHatil jariH. Bas itha kaanil jariH la zaal bii
nazif shid il auqda alal jariH raasan
Before bandaging the wound, use antiseptics or clean the wound, put gauze, and then tie it with bandage
and make a knot to the side of the wound. If the wound is still bleeding, tie the knot directly on the
wound.
(40)
Yatamalab

Play around

yitmalab

Maa ?adhin humma daa ysauwuun khosh shugul, raayHeen hnaak daa yitmashghaluun
I do not think that they are doing a good job, they are there playing around.
(41
Yatamashghal

get make (oneself) busy

yitmashghal

.
raayHeen hnaak yitmashghaluun wma daa yqadimmuun ?ay khidma lil muwaaTineen
They have gone their making themselves busy, and they are not providing any service to citizens
(42)
Yatamaaradh

fake being sick

yitmaarath

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73

Kul yome:n tlatha yitmaaradh w yitmallaS mnil shugul.

Every 2 or 3 days he fakes being sick and avoids going to work.
(43)
Yataqaabal

see each other

yataahaawaf

.
Hassa ?aanii mistaajil raaH ?aruuH bas ?inshaalla raaH nitshaawaf an qareeb
I am in a hurry and must leave, but -God willing- we will see each other soon.
(44)
Yit?aakal

ysuuf

erode , wear out

.
.

Shtire:t tayiraat mnil sharika bas saaafat min wagit w hassa yinradilha maritlukh tabdeel. Tiarif haay
tkalif.
I bought tires from the company but they wore out fast. They must be replaced again. Do you know the
cost.
(45)
Yamla?

Yitris

Fill up / fill out

Tirasil sayyaara lii deenha gaaz limman Taaf aal gaaa.

Taawadna naakul ktheer w ma nogaf limman maa tintiris baTinna
He filled the car too much with gas to a point it overflowed on the ground.
We got used to eating too much . we do not stop until our bellies are full.
(46)
Yatawadh-dha?

have ablution

yitwadh-dha

Laazim titwadha gablil Salaa wtiHdhar lil Salaat winta Taahir
You need to have ablution (body cleaning) to attend your prayer while cleansed (purgated).
(47)
Yraaaii

observe /abide by yimshii wiyya

.
Limman tikhtiliT wiyaal muchtama;aat, laazim timshii wiyya taqaaleedhum wit traaaeeha
When you mix up with the societies you need to abide by their traditions and observe them.
.
ammii, shughlak mash baaid shaku ale:k
Man, you are okay. You fear nothing.
(48)
Yatadhaarab

fight

yitmaalakh wiya

Kul shawayya wtshuufa mitmaalikh wiyya saHba.
Every now and then, you see him have a fight with his friends.
(49)

quarel

73

74

Yataaarak

yiTnaaTaH

.
Tshuufhum yiTnaaTaHuun wahid wiyya laakh almuud ?ashyaa? sakheefa
You see them quarrelling over silly things.

(50)
Yistaghil il furSa

play doubled standards

be opportunist

yilab aal Hable:n

.
Qisim mnil naas yilabuun aal Hable:n . tshuufhum kul yom shikil. Yom wiyya haatha wyom wiyya
thaak.
Some people are opportunists. You see them changing. One day they go with someone, the other day
with someone else.
(51) \
YataHaayal/ yatajawal

go here and there

Play games

yruuH minna w minna

raaH ntaneek. La truuH minna w minna

aidna thiqa beek la tguum truuH minna ?au minna
We will wait for you. Dont go here and there
We trust you so do not play around with us.
(52)
?ay manfath

exit / solution

maakuu minna minna

?iHna waagaeen b warTa chibeera yaanii maaku minna minna .balkit tshuufuunna fad chaara
We are in a big predicament ( quagmire /unpleasant situation). Is there a way you can find a solution for
us?
(53)

yitTaffal

intrude

ySakhmin wich

.
Minnu Sakhman wichchak wgallak tiHchii.
Who told you to interfere and speak?
53)

Yu?am-min
guarantee / insure
ysogir

Huwa maa yogif lim-man maa ysogirha
He never stops doing it until he follows through with what he guaranteed.
54

Yu?thii

cause you problem

ywad-dii bdaahiya

(55)

74

75

Ykir u fir

yidhrib wyIshlaa

hit and run

.
(56)
) (
( )
Yinqilib al ?aridh roll on the ground
yitgarfaz
Scratch the back on the ground

57

\
Yimsak, yiarif
get or understand
yilgif
Catch / bust

.
(58)

( )
yistaHdhir
is about to die

yilgif ?anfaasa

(59)

yikhTa?

( ( )

make a mistake

yChiT

)(

(60)

T?aflas

went bankrupt

giad aal ringaat

(61)

inqashaT (zaala minhu) scratched, chipped injilakh

(62)

Yufsal min
disenroll, kick out yTir
If you cheat, they will dispense you from school.
(63)

yDaayiq

..

harass, bother, nag yitHaarash

(64)

?iqnaahu yatruk convince him to go shayishu

(65)

Yu?akhir

delay, does not do it yaSmiS

75

76

66

Yihraa ilayhi

jump/ dash to it

yichfit alei

(67 )

Yatanaawal il fiTuur take breakfast yiray-yag

(68)

Yatanaa-wal il ghathaa?

Take lunch

yitghad-da

You need to do something to him before he does something wrong to you.

Beat him before he does.
(69)

Yata-naa-wal al ashaa?

Take supper yiash-sha

(70)

yimsaH

erase , take out ychiz

My name was on the list. They took it out.
(71)

Yinzaa take .off

yishlaH

You cannot take off your clothes( in public) in front of the people.
(72)

Tata-Dhaa-?al

reduce

da ychas-sii

The power of the battery is getting weaker.

(73)

Sud-did Hisaabuka

your bill is paid

. . .....
Young men your bill is paid . Do not pay the bill.

(74)

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77

inHallat

is solved

infadh-dhat

Do not worry. We solved it for you.

(75)

ySir insist , nag

yliH

Do not over nag .It is not good.

(76)

Yinzaa

Take off ( clothes, shoes)

Do not take off you shoes. Come in.

(77)

( )

Yitrik SaH-ba leave his friend on purpose somewhere

yizraa

Where is your friend ? Where did you leave him?

(78)

Yij-aal yintidhir

make wait for a long time

yishtil

He made me wait 2 hours here.

(79)

Ydhaa-yiq

annoy, challenge

yit-qaarash
.

Man, do not annoy him he retaliates severely.

( he does not have a friend or a

pal)

(80)

Yilzam

bust

yigfiS ( caged him)

.
The government busted him in his house.

(82)

Yih-fu

make mistakes

yichfiS

He started well, but at the end he meddle it up.

(83)

Yis-bir

probe, see the reaction

yjis il nabadh

The last skirmishes on the border is but to check the reaction.

(84)

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78

yiH-shir nafsa

put himself in, interfere

yitkhash-khash

He interferes into things that they are meaningless.

(85)

He goes everywhere to get information.

(86)

Yit-had-dam

collapse, crumbled down

yitfal-lash
.

The storm hit the house and it collapsed ( crumbled down).

(87)

Yibkii wa yaS-rukh cry and beat their faces

yil-Tim

When he heard the news, he started beating himself.

(88)
( )

()

Ysad-did il de:n

pay off the debts

ypaw-wik il de:n

After he got the money, he started paying off his debts

(89)

yit-ghl-lab ale:-hum

he defeat them (out win) ybaw-wish hum

.

At the end he will defeat them all (out will). He will take the lead.
(90)

Ya-ta-jaw-wal

walk around

yiftar

We walked around to see clothes for him, but we did not find anything to fit him.

Nouns:
In Iraqi dialect, there are hundreds of nouns which are not Arabic. These nouns sometimes are
the only words that people use to refer to the things in their houses. Some other words are authentic
Iraqi ones not used by Arabs in other Arab countries. Here are a number of Iraqi words as nouns:

MSA

ID

/min ada/

table

/me:z/

. .

78

79

/q arjo:la

/sari:r/

bed frame

/qana:dir/

/?aH ija/

shoes

/tS ara:tS if/

sheets

/sh ara:sh if/

/darnafi:s/

screwdriver

/mi fak/

.
.

\
Tilee / Tilyaan
)one sheep/ sheep (plural

Haalal

Ghanam/ ?aghnaam
Sheep

cattle / properties

mawaashi

.

\
chadir

canvas / tent

Mshammaa khae:ma

?ukhmiS

butt stock

Qadamil bunduqiya

)Charchuupa (charchuba

frame

?iTaar

Haayil Suura yinraadilha charchuufa Hilwa

79

80

This picture needs a nice frame.

Tamreen adhalaat

push ups

shnaw

Mnil SibiH ysawwuuna tamreen shnaau waral airdhil SabaaHi
In the early morning we do push ups after the morning formation.

Qiyuud

handcuffs

kalapcha

lshorTa lizmita wkhallul kalapcha beeda w waduu
khallo: il kalapcha biida w chatifo:
the police caught him, handcuffed him, and took him.
They put handcuffs around his wrists and tied him.

Akuu qiyuud ala Harakatil sayr.

Qay-yado: wikh-tho:
Chat-tafo: w-ikh-tho:
There are restrictions on the traffic.
The handcuffed (tied) and took him.
They tied his hands, blindfolded him, and took him.

Shiwak

forks

chaTa-laat

lmaTbakh bii kulshii SHuuna w mawaaaeen widsuuta wiTkhuumat sakakeen w shikaakhaat.
The kitchen has everything plates, porcelain plates, pots, and sets of knives, forks, and spoons.

qadaH

a glass

glass

.
aiTshaan. Bala zaHma ma tjeebli fad glaS maay
Thirsty. Can you please, bring me a glass of water?

Shawirma

lamb meat grilled around fire

gaS

.
L maTaaaim matruusa ma?kuulaat bas l gaS ?abuuhum kulish Tayib
Restaurants are full of dishes but the best is GaS ( grilled lamb meat around fire). It is delicious.

Sheesh laHim

charcoal barbecued lamb meat

tikka

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81

Mialaag mishwii

lamb Lungs barbecuedon charcoal fashafeesh

Kabbab

minced meat on skews

kabbab

.
Lnawaashif tishmil tikka wfashaafeesh wkabaab wiyyaa l khadhraawaat.
The non-rice dishes are barbecued tikka, lungs, and minced meat on skews with vegetables.

Labban

yogurt with cold water

labban Arbil / shineena

Kabaab wiya simaaq wiya basal wiya khubz wiya laban Arbeel akla muHtaramma
Kabbab with simag, onion, bread and Arbil yogurt is a delicious dish.

Samak mishwii fish grilled around fire

mazguuf

?aHsan simach huwa l mazguuf al nahr b shaaria ?abuu Nuas
The best fish is the mazguuf at the river of Tigris in Abu nuwaas street.

maTTaaT

rubber

lasteek

?il laasteek maada mushtaqa min ?al petrol ?il khaam
The elastic material is a crude oil bi- product.

?iSTiwaana / haawiya canister, container

dabbiya/ Dabba

.
Shitsauwii l naas tishtireelha dabba dabte:n ghaaz witkhaleeha bil be:t
People have to buy a canister or two of liquid gas and keep them in their houses.

?inbuub

pipe

buurii

Bawaariil maay aateeka yinraad tabdeelha bbwaarii plasteekiya jideeda almuud nitkhalaS mnil zinjaar.
The water pipes are old and we need to replace them with new plastic pipes to get rid of rust, lead, and
salts which accumulate in them.

Qanawaat Sarf miyaahil qaathuuraat sewage network

bawaarii l majaarii

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Bawaarii l majaarii Sarat ateega tinsad w tinkisir wmayhaa yikhtilit wiya maayil shirib w maHad
yigdar ySaliH-ha almuud tkallif hwaaya wbaade:n maaku mawaad w ghaaliya raaH taSleeh-ha ykallif
il dawla hwaaya
Sewage network pipes are becoming old. They block off and break and its water mixes with the
drinking water and no one can repair them because they cost a lot. In addition, the materials are not
available and are expensive. Repairing them will cost the government a lot.

\ \

rashaH/ zukaam/ bard cold

nashla

Chaanil jaw bil binaaya Haar w limman Tilaait barra chaanit baarda f ?inSaabe:t b nashla
The weather was hot inside and cold outside. when I went out I caught a cold.

Suaal

cough

gaH Ha

.
?akhathit bard wzaadil ?iltihaab w tHawal ?ila thaatil ri?a
I caught a cold and then it progressed into pneumonia.

Malaabis

clothes

hduum

Twasakhat hduumi wraaH ?akhuthhum lilghasil wbaade:m lil makwa
My clothes got dirty. I will take them to a washing machine and then laundry.

mirwaHa

fan

panka

Yinraad tkhalii panka aal sagif almuud ktheer Haara haayil ?oda
You need to put a fan on the ceiling because inside this room is too hot.

Hzaam

\
belt

qaayiish

?inqiTaail qaayeesh w wigaf il maTor wbaaig maa yishtighil.
The belt broke and the motor is no longer running.

Shafraatil mirwaha

propellers/ blades

parwaanaat

Qisim mnil Sawaareekh aidha parwaanaat tidfaaha tTeer lwaHidhamithil ?iTlaaqaatil haawan
mathalan
Some rockets have propellers to push them automatically such as a mortar rocket.

Haawiya min qaSdeer

a box made of tin

tanak

.
Chaan gabil l gaaz yinbaaa bil tanakaat bas hassa Saar bil baraameel.
In the old days propane was sold in tin containers but now is sold in barrels.

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riTil

pound (weight)

Huqqa

Bil araaq ?il ?ashyaa tinbaaa bil Hugga ?illii hiya ?akthar min ke:lowe:n.
In Iraq things are sold in pounds (hugga) which is more than 2 kilos.

Ghish

cheating in school

qopya

.
Cheating is forbidden while you are taking your test. They will punish you and kick you out of school if
they catch you .

?alaaaeeb

play games

jaljaluutiyaat

.
Ma togaf min hal jaljaluutiyaatak wtseer khosh ?aadmi wiyaana
Why dont you stop playing games with us and be good to us.

Khidaa

Tricksters

klaawaat

.
Maa tiabir ale:nah al klawaat.
You cannot play these games with us.

Mushaaghabaat

troubles

qaarish waarish

.
raaH tkuun b?amaan lo ma tsawwii qaarish waarish.
You will be safe if you do not make troubles.

Tareeqa / Tabeeat shakhS

his/her own way

shamra

.
Huwa haay shamirta yaani shin saweela.
This is him. You cannot do anything about it.

aamuud

pillar

dinga

.
Dinag il jisuur muaradha lil nasif walihaatha yinraad muraaqabitha mnil takhreeb
The bridges pillars are vulnerable to be demolished. So, they need to be watched not to be demolished.

Qumbula yadawiya

hand grenade

rummaana

?il rummanat Sarat dhiruuriya lilqiyaam b?ay hijuum ?au mudaahama lilbiyuut wa ?il maqarraat
Grenades became necessary to use in an attack operation on a house or on headquarter raids.

abwa naasifa

explosive device

naasifa

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Lnaasifa yumkin ?an tkuun ?iTlaaqatmadfaa ?au Saaruukh minribTa bi?aslaak da?ira kahrubaa?iya bil
baatriyaat yfajiruuha min baeed btilafuun mutanaqil ?au radio wikhalluha ala Haaafatil Tareeq.
An IED can be any round of artillery or rocket connected with wires to a circuit to detonate from far by
a cellular phone or a radio and they bury them on the roadside.

Qaathifa thaatiyatil Haraka

rocket propeller grenade

R.P.G

l ?aar pee jee silah khafeef yinHimil aal chatif w faaal limman ykuun ala mdda qareeb mnil hadaf
R.P.G. is a light weapon you can carry it on shoulder and is effective when it hits the target.

Mudarraa

armored carrier vehicles

musaffaHa

)
(
L msafaHaat hiya naaqilaat jinuud mudarraa watkuun mudawlabba w ghe:r mujanzara (musarrafa).
Armored vehicles are personnel carriers with wheels and not tracks.

Sitra waaqiya dhidil riSaaS

anti bullet jacket / armor

diria

Diri/a waaqi ?au sitra waaqiya lil riSaS mnil lawaazimil muhimma lil jundii yilbasha.
Body armor or anti bullet vest is a necessity that soldier should wear.

qiTat Hadeed

shrapnel/ fragment

Sachma/

.










.
Limman ?inqaSaf be:tna zirfatil madfaaiya HeeTan Taabiqil thaani wil shadhaaya kassaratil beebaan w
shilat il shabaabeek min mallabinha wtTaayaril jam bil hawa ?amma l mozaayeek fa tfalash wil dhagiT
?illee Saar bil be:t Tayyara bkul bukaan bil Taabiqil ?awwal. bas ?al Hamdulla chinna bil sirdaab w
maHad tawwar beena w Tiliana saalmeen.
When our house was bombed, the artillery rounds penetrated the 2nd floor walls, the shrapnel smashed
the doors, dislocated windows from their frames, and let the broken glass flew in the air. The tiles fell
down, and the high pressure in the house blew their pieces everywhere in the first floor. Thanks God we
were in the cellar (basement) and no one was hurt. So, we left the house safe.

Khasabat tajbeer il kasir

\
plint

jabaayir/ jabeera

.
Limman ?aku ainda kasir brijla yinraad trakkiz al nadhaafatil jariH almuud ?itha ?aku adhim
mudabab Taalia mnil jilid yumkin yitlawwath wyinSaab b Gargareen baade:n shinu l faayida ?tha
tingaS rijla.
When there is a fracture in the leg, you need to pay attention to keep the wound clean because if there is
a bone poking out of the skin, it may get contaminated and be infected with Gargarin. What is the
benefit if later his leg is amputated.

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Rukkaab

passenger

nafaraat

.
Sayaaraatil karwa ysheelon nafaraat min baabil sharji lii baghdadil jideeeda wkul shwayya waaHid
Saaaid waaHid naazil bas rakheeSa w tikhdim il mauaaTineen.
Taxis take passengers from babil sharji (center of Baghdad) to Baghdad il jadeeda and every now and
then one goes down and one comes in; nevertheless, it is cheap and serves citizens.

?infijaar il ?iTaar

puncture

panchar

L sayyaraat titpanchar as /aku pancharchiya bkul bukaan ySalHuun l taayiraat bshakil sareea w
rakheeS.
Cars experience deflated tires, but there are tire repair shops everywhere. They fix tires very
inexpensively and fast

Tafkeer ameeq

sigh

Safna/ daalgha

.
. .
Shbeek dhaarib daalgha. Yamawad g dinya ma tiswa
Shbeek Saafin. Yamawad la deer baal. ?ilha mudabbir.
Why are you sighing. Take it easy.

?ilal jaHeem

Tiz

go to hell

If They cooperate, that is fine. If not , let them go to hell.

aajuuz / auj-jaz

old man

khityariya \ khityaar

. .

khara

shit / shut up/ do not talk shit

qizirqurt

Do not talk shit.

Faqat fi

only in /with

Tirig
.

Killabil ?amaan safety pin

firkeita

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Kllab il malabis
clothes pin shik-kaakha

) ( .

?idhTiraabaat troubles
Tarbaga

MaTaara

water bottle

Zamzamiya

Dhawdhaa? Noise

KhabSa
.

Khashim

nose

?anif

...

duu shaha

Tallia jayid to have good luck

Teer

?ithhab

go

ala mahlak slowly

yawaash

wich

Wajih

face

meat stew qaawirma

Mirag laHim u Tamaata

)(

\
?aamaal shireera bad deeds manjasa / manaajis

Sikhuuna

fever

Harara

cold

nashla

gaH-Ha

rashaH

cough

Suaal

scratch the skin

. ""

86

Khadish jilid

87

alaaj lil tiifu

typhoid treatment
" " .

Waqf

Government land for religious charity aaraSa

Simsaar

broker, real estate agent, car dealer broker dal-lal

( )
mashtal

nursery

mashtal

?akh gheir il shaqeeq

half brother

Buqcha
Any piece of cloth to wrap things in, a package
Dafra
chailaaq
raj-dee
saTra
Box
rakla
muraa-waHa
balwa soda

()

kick while step leg on

a kick

a spank

a heavy spank
a fist

kick with the front of the shoes

stay where you are but move your legs up and down
terrific ( well known for being a -----person)
could mean very good or very bad
outrageous, brings problems, very active

Samuula = washer

burghii = screw

( )

kal-la = to hit with the head

.
He is not here . Do not talk about him.

Qalaafa = huge body

Salaafa = stiffness, being rude
Lab-labii = spicy Gorbanzo soup
Mus-tawa = turnips and reeds soup, level
Taarii = mentioning your name

Zgordii= single , living by himself but married

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....
.

If you do it for me, Ill be thankful to you.

Min-niya = do favor for someone

Tala = the wrong doing

That was a big mistake!

Wagfa = stance

. ( )
We thank you for your stance with us in this situation during the ordeal.

Zeeg / afTa = to pooh somebody

They poohed him

They started making funny noises to mock at him.

your car has a dent

I did not get it ( idiom)

Do not touch.

When you meant( attacked) him in your speech, he retaliated

Takh-kha (damage) (hit)

Functional words:
Functional words have been adapted a lot because they are repeated in sentences with less
stress. Wh-question words, prepositions, demonstratives, conjunctions, relative pronouns are words
that you can not avoid in any sentence. They are usually said lightly and fast in the Iraqi dialect. As a
result, you can hear them in various forms.
Functional words include wh-question words, Connectors, negative particles, prepositions,
demonstratives, adjectives, quantifiers and qualifiers, reflexives, adverbs, vocatives, and possessive
pronouns (objective case):

Wh-question words

) (

1. The wh-question word (what) has gone under many changes. The Iraqi dialect uses / / before any
noun to be asked about, as in the following example:

MSA

ID

/ma/

/shi/

/mas smuki/
What is your name?
(Talking to female))

what ?

/shismich/

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/mas smuka /

shismak

What is your name ? ( talking to male)

Present tense

/maatha tashrab/

+
what do you drink ? sh-tishrab ?

When this wh-question word(sh_ ) is used before a verb to indicate progressive aspect, it takes another
different shape /shda/ or /shit/ . (Ma:tha) is its equivalent in MSA language.

MSA
Continuous tense

ID

/maa tha /

/ shid da/*

+ +

/maatha tashrab al-aan/

what are you drinking now?

/sh-da tishrab (hassa)

* If the verb that follows starts with a voiceless consonant, the form changes into / t/
because
the voiceless consonant has a regressive assimilation to change /d/,a voiced alveolar into /t/, a voiceless
alveolar.
Compare:

+ .1
Shada-ysauwii
What is he doing?

/shit- (t)sauwii/

.2

What are you doing?

.
. .
1.
/Shdatsauwii/
What are you doing?

2. Where?
MSA

/?ajna/

. . .. .

ID

/we:n/

Where?

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3. When

/j imta/ or /shwagit/

?when

/ma ta/

4. Who
) (
?)who (masculine

/minu hua/

/man huwa/

)(
.
)(
?)who (feminine

/mini hija/

/man hija/

) (
) .( ) (

?/ sh lo:n/ How

5. How

/kajfa/

6.Why

/le:sh /
?why

/ lima:tha/

?what for

/alweish/

/limaatha/

. .

/ sh a:ku: ma:ku/

?What is up

/kajfa tasi:r ?al?imu:r/

. ...... .
)7. How (much

/bikam/
/ be:sh/

)8.What is ( the time

?Kam hiya s saaaa

?is saaa beish
?What is the time

1:10
1:20
1:30

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1:40
1:50

Bikam tabeea haathihi il saaaa? b-be:sh tbeea hal saaaa?
How much do you sell this watch for?

be;sh ?is saaaa?

Kam hiya s saaaa?
What time is it?

9. What is wrong with ____?

Maa bika?
shbeek?
What is wrong with you?
10. How many
+

cham + kitaab yom

(... )

Kam

cham saa-aa il Tareeq ?

How many hours is the road?

11. What do you think? ( as an exclamation)

Shifit shsawa beena ? Do you see what he has done to us?
Laaid shaa-balak? (what have you expected then!)
Isnt it

\
( )

Dont you feel shame to do so?

Isnt shame on you that you do so?
In which

In which town did this happen?

In which law is this accepted?

I which mission were you?

Which

\
( )
Which one of them?

Why do you mind?

What is it yours?

. ( ) ...
Leave them alone.. Why do you bother?
How do you know ?



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How do you know he is not here?

How do you know he is not coming?
Why are you afraid?
(idiom)

You are protected by somebody.

Why then you ?

Why are you selected from among them all to go ?

Where from ?

Where are you coming from?

Where are you from?

Where are you heading?

Where are you heading ?

Where do you arrive ?

Connectors
The connectors between phrases and sentences in the Iraqi dialect are different
from those of the Standard language. They are words adapted, contracted, and
combined from the classical Arabic or from other languages. They have different
shapes from what their original words were. Here are some.
Time connectors
Gabil ma

= before + a sentence

Shifta gabil maa mishe:t

I met him before I left.

Baaid ma ( wara ma) ( ) after + a sentence

arifta wara maa Hicha wiyaak.
I recognized him after he spoke with you.

Limman when + a sentence

aidma when + a sentence


Limman dkhilna il be:t, humma ?inhizmau

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When we entered the house, they fled.

Wbaade:n = then later

?awal marra tghade:nabarra bil maTaam w baade:n riHnalhum lilbe:t.
First we had lunch in a restaurant, and then we went to them in their house.

Min

at the time

Min dakhalna il be:t, he got mad.

When we entered the house, he was a bit tensed (unhappy).
( he disliked it.)

Reason connectors
L?an
Li?an (u)
. ) ( ) (
Trakna il akaan li-anu il jaw chaan muu ze:n.
We left the place because the weather was not good.
Aalmuud
Aalmuud maa (laa)
.
.
Ma nreed nTib jauwa almuud ?aku niswaan w banaat bil be;t . ?iHna niHtirim taqaaleedkum walmuud
haay khaleehum ysawwona majaal Hatta nTib wmaa nshuufhum.
We do not want to enter because there are women and girls inside the house. We respect your traditions
and that is why we ask them to give us way to enter without seeing them.
Che:f

ke:f

because
.
He did not go to work because he was sick.

Athaarii

in fact .. because / I find out that. / it turns out that

.
They took me as a roommate because they wanted the rent to be paid by me.
Or they took me as a roommate to make me pay the rent for them. (They pay nothing).

Purpose Connectors
almuud
= to / so that
Hatta

Mbor (Moslawi)
Mishghan (Moslawi)
Min shaan ( borrowed)
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94

. ) (
Je:na hna almuud nfattish il be:t l?anuu jitna ?ikhbaariya ale:kum min
jawaareenkum.
We are here to search the house because we got a call from your neighborhood.
All other connectors can be used the same way to replace almuud

Contrast Connectors
Bas
= but , however, nevertheless
Walaakin
= but
Walawin
= though
Maale:k = regardless
aaad
Kho
Raghim MSA
Wiya
Walau .bas
Fo:g maa

= but, therefore, as a result

= so, therefore
= despite
= in spite of
.... = though
= though, in spite of the fact that

Fttashna lmakaan bas maa shifna shii

We searched the place, but we did not see anything.
aad haatha khosh walid. Maa ysawee heechi
But he is a good guy. He does not do such a thing.
Kho ma biqa aleik dyuun!
!
I hope ( so) no debts are left on you?

Wiya kul lii Saar, ana maa zialaan minnak
Despite all that, I am not angry with you.
Walau huwa zialaan, bas aan aruuH yamhum.
Though he is angry, I still visit them.

Fo:g maa saaadna, gaam yaaadiina.

Though we helped him, he started attacking ( being hostile to) us.
Consequence Connectors
Wilhassabab

for this reason, so, therefore

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Walihaatha

for this, so, therefore

Tiaibit hwaaya walihaatha ?areed ?agaid ?astireeH shwaya
I got tired. So, I want to sit and relax a bit.
Practice:
ID
/tmara it wlhal sabab ma d e:t jam mak/

I got sick and that is why I did not visit you.

MSA
.

/laqad tamar ra tu wa liha: a sabab lam ?azu:raka/

I became sick and for this reason I did not visit you.
ID
.
I asked about you. Then I came to see you.
ID
.
He is good but he never listens to us.
Conditional Connectors
Itha

Itha yisaal anee. Aanii maa maw-juud ) (

The structure is likely to happen and the verb is in the present tense.
In case he asks about me, I am not here.
Itha tidris, tinjaH ( raaH tinjaH)
( )
If you study, you pass (will pass) . Advice rather than conditional.
Lo + past ( hypothetical)
Lo chan aindee flos , chan streit il beit.
Had I had money, I would have bought the house.
If I had had money, I would have bought the house.
Lo + vb ___( polite imperative as suggestion)
Lo tismaH, ghyir il skamlee . haatha maHjuuz.
If you allow me
If you do not mind _________________.
. ... . ....

If you do not mind, change your place (sit on a different chair). This chair is reserved.

Suggestion
.
Lo: tijii wit-shuuf il wadhia bnaf-sak

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I suggest you come and see the situation by yourself.

Blame, advice, hypothetical

Lo: chan je:t wiyaana, hassa chinit Saayir mudar-ris bil maa-had
Had you come with us ( but you refused), you would have been now ( a teacher) teaching in the
institute.

Idiomatic ( hypothetic)
_____________________past
Allah laa yqadir lo + past verb,

______________.

Allah la yqad-dir lo: Sarl lak fad shii, minuu ykhalSak!

God forbid, if something wrong happened to you, who would save you?

Addition-connectors
1. U = and

Yakul wyishrab .
He eats and drinks.

2. ham-meina = also
Yakhith akhuu hameina wiya.
He took his brother also with him.
3. muu bas .hameina

..........

Huwa muu bas nizil , huwa hameina ydabich al SaTiH.

He is not only a guest, he is also walking on the roof.
He is a guest but he is doing wrong things.
3. Chmaala = take/ give /have/ get /lose + extra

Mu bas huwa raaH akhath akhu chmala wiya. ...

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4. aalaa-watan ala = what is worse

,
in addition to all that
.

In addition to all the bad circumstances that he went through, he refused to work.
Negation in Iraqi Dialect

To negate verbs , use / ma:/

such as

/ ma: ri:d/

/ ma: ?ari:d/

I do not need this headache I do not work with you. . . .

He did not let me sleep all night. He was snoring. .
MSA
ID


/ laysa aindi:/
maa aindi:
. .
I do not have anything. I am innocent of all these things.
To negate nouns and adjectives, use /mu:/
such as

/mu: bil be:t/

/mu: najim/

. ( ) . .
Huwa SaaHii . Muu nayim. Bas naadii wiguum
He is awake. He is not sleeping. Call him, and he will wake up.

Haasha

I absolutely deny being a thief.

Laa

He never utters. He never asks permission.

Bala , blay-ya ( biduun)

Maaleik

. ( )

Do not get involved. Do not worry.

Do not worry. Will take care. . ....
Idioms ( to deny as negation)
Haasha! Not me (I deny it)
Hashaak! Not you.

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!

Muu bil Bil He:f ! No. that is shame

Muu ae:b ! isnt shame

Examples:
. . )( .1
. . .2
. .3
. .4
. .5
) ( .6
. )
.7
. .8

. ) ( .9
. . .10
1. walla SiHitu muu zeina ?abadan huwa la Hay wala mayit
2. wahashnaak. ?inta maaku bayaanak min zamaan. Wein chinit yaa rajul
3. maarifit ?inta heechii aiSi w qalis
4. raaH manitnaazal ?ilkum lo shma ySeer
5.ma shifit ?ay haarib ?au mujrim bil mHalla haay
6. maniqbalal ?anfusna ?an nmaliq?ilkum
7. muu juuaaan wala aiTshaan
8. hiya muu mareedha bas matigbal tiji lil dawaam
9. huwa muu hal tayib lii tguul alei . bas shaaTir w fataHluu aiyaada b aab il sharjii
10. lwadhia laa zein wala muu zein yaanii l ?imuur da timshii
1. In fact his health is not good. He is half alive.
2. We missed you. We have not seen you for a long time. Where were you man?
3. I didnt know that you were a miser and stingy.
4. We never conceded what it cost us.
5. I did not see any fugitive or criminal in this neighborhood
6. We will not kiss your ass.
7. I am not thirsty nor hungry
8. She is not sick but she does not come to work.
9. He is not the Dr. you think he is. But he is clever and opened a clinic for himself.
10. The situation is not bad nor good. It is Okay.

Prepositions:

There are also some Iraqi prepositions that their MSA equivalents are
completely different:
MSA

ID

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*
/j au wa/

/taHta/

/maaa/

under or inside

/wij ja/

with

\
/bidu:n/
/bla j ja/

/da:xil/

\
/j au wa/

\
/ba r ra:/

/xa:rid3 /

/ainda/

\
/yam/

/bid iwa:r/

without

inside

outside

at

/bSaf/

next to

Hawl
( )

dor madaayir

Fii muntasaf ( bi-wasaT)

bniS

in the middle of
( )

Bi-doon

blay-ya

Min jaanib

around

( without)

min Traf (from the side of )

fo:g (on , over )

Fauq

Jaanib

Saf-Ha ( side)

Haul

Taari ( around, about)

ID use to replace (in), (on), (at) of MSA

MSA

/fi maktab/

ID

/bil dajra/ (in the office)

.





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/fil be:t

/bil be:t/ ( in the house)

. 




You can use /faj/ to mean (shade) in English.

/wagif bil faj/

.

Bil say-yaara
bilsay-yaara by the car

Bil-sikeena

bil sicheena with a knife

The preposition b

in idioms

RaaH biiha = got in trouble

RaaH biiha maat = he got death / died

Shbiik?
= What is wrong with you?

Maale:k bii.
= You have nothing to do with him

Sh-shaayif bii. = what is wrong about him?

Sh-shaayif bii ze:n = What is it god about him?
Laa minha wala biiha = we have nothing to do with
aindak ( ilak) shii biiha = Do you have anything to do with that ) (
Maa biiha shii = it does not matter, it is not a big deal
Billah ale:k = is that right
Learners of Iraqi dialect face one more problem of prepositions, especially when some pronouns are
attached to them in a phrase or a sentence. It is essential to see and recognize the shape of the
preposition in a sentence. Here are some examples.
Female (you) as an object (-ch) versus male(you) as an object (-k)
Female possessive (your) is (-ich) versus male possessive (your)(-ik)is another issue not to confuse
in while talking.

.1
/da ?aHchi wiyaach/
I am talking to you (f. Singl.).
Wiya:k = masculine

/ ma raaH ?a ru:H blaja: /

I wont go without you out.
blay ya:k = masculine

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.2

101

.3

/xale: el ko:sha d3 au wa: /

Put the small pillow beneath you.
Jaw wa:k = masculine

/ra:H tid jam mi /

She will come to you
Yam mak = masculine

.4

.5

/jam au wad jik ib aale: /

Hes lying to you (feminine you)
aaleik = masculine

Demonstratives:
Demonstratives are very close to the standard words. But they are still confusing to learners
because of their pronunciation. We have two types of demonstratives. Demonstratives that indicate near
objects, and those that indicate far objects. The singular demonstratives are different from the plural
ones too.
Singular Demonstratives

MSA
far

/ a:ka/
that (m.)

/tilka/
that (f.)

ID
near

far

near

/ha: a/
this (m.)

/ a:k/
that (m.)

/ha/
this (m.)

/ha: ihi/
this (f.)

/ i:t /
that (f.)

/ha:j/
that (f.)

This boy (near) that boy (far) -

This girl (near) - that girl (far)
Examples:

-
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Plural Demonstratives
ID
near

/ha th o:la/
)these (m.

\
/ th ani:/
)these (f.

MSA
near

far

/ha:?ula:?/
)these(m.

)(
/th o:la:k /
)those (m.

/ha?ula:?/
)these (f.

/ thani:tS /

far

/?ula:?ika/
)those (m.

/?ula:?ika/
)those (f.

)those (f.

these boys- these soldiers

those boys- those soldiers
-

those girls

these girl-

. These girls are smart. Those are lazy.

These soldiers- those soldiers
These girls Those
)(
This soldier
These soldiers
This girl
These girls
That soldier
) ( Those soldiers
Practice:
.1 .
.2
.3 .
.4 .
.5 .

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Adjectives
The Iraqi dialect speakers use their own adjectives which are adapted from the
Standard Arabic words or are borrowed from other languages. Some linguists do not
consider these words as good Arabic words; therefore, they do not allow students to
use them in the school class discussions since they are not Arabic. Many of them
are taken from the local languages such as Persian, Turkish, Aramaic, Hebrew, and
others. Nevertheless, now they are considered among high frequency vocabulary in the
Iraqi Arabic dialect.
a:

Adjectives after nouns:

MSA

ID

/mad a:ni/

/bala /
. (

/Gajr d ajid/

for free

50 .

/tS irik/

of a bad quality

. .

taalif

khirbaan damaged

aaTil
out of order / faulty

khirbaan

( )

( )

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/d ajid/

/ze:n/

well

. .

/ta:zid /

/ta:za/

/zahi:d/

/ ?axu el bala / very cheap

fresh, delicate

. .
. .

Common Adjectives
dhaayij
Uncomfortable, bored, annoyed

zih-gaan
Restless, upset
social = outgoing

wakeeH = Harik
hyper = moves a lot

nifih nifih = Open and spacious ( place, area)

khanga = stuffy, causes suffocation

Kashkha = chick , tidy

Mlaa ab = playful

Falta or abqari = Genius

baTraan =

irresponsibly lavish, pampered

Past participle adjectives

mitrah-hee confident / with trust
Waathiq

confident . comfortable mitrahee

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When she sings, she does confidently

mashkho:t retarded

miskiin
meek

mraabil unorganized \
Mqap-paT no room is left, full

Mshak-kal combination

Matruus
full, filled

Mafchuukh injured in head

majruuH
injured

Mitaw wir injured

Mustaa-mal used

Mazruua
planted

MaftuuH
open

Maghluuq
closed

Mas-duud
shut

Maf-auuS dented

Adjective + simile
1. Sahil mithlil charaz

2. Yirham bkul shii mithil Tamata
3. Yitalam-h mithil shurbil maay

4. Waadh-Ha widhuuHil shams

5. Abyadh mitlil thalij

6. Baarid abaalak thalij

7. Aswad mithlil faHim

8. Naaais abaalak isfanja

9. qlaba qaasii mithli il sakhara

10. mshk-kal ya lo:z

11. haay zalaTa
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

easy as eating seeds

flexible as tomato juice that goes with every dish ( easy to deal with)
learnable like drinking water ( he knows it well = has become an island)
clear as the sun
white as the fluffy snow
cold as ice
black as charcoal
soft as a sponge
as hard as a rock ( tough)
mixed like almonds with other seeds
this Is Salad = very easy to do

Adjectives implied in the phrase( more than one word)

warda maal allah = he is good
aqla muu braasa = he is busy, he does not focus
rabba Taayir = he is angry and mad

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ainda shikhTa = something wrong in his brain

ainda coils = he is retarded

mdhay-yia aqla = he has lost his mind

falla maal allah = he is very good

mishtiail rab-ba = he is tired

tutna khilSaan= he is very old

galba Tayib = he is a good hearted man

nafsiita Tayba = he has a good character

iida Tweela = he steals

lisaana Tweel = he has a log tongue (speaks a lot)

muu tamaam = he is not okay

maay mijawa il ti-bin = water under hay = he is sneaky

min jawa jawa = he does things secretly

muu raaHa = he moves a lot = makes problems

Taala ruuHa = his soul is out = he is unhappy and annoyed
SiiTa Taalia = has reputation

Syi?il SiiT = infamous

La yHil wala yirbiT = cannot do anything, ineffective


Laa yzay-yid wala ynaq-qiS = it makes no change

La yziid wal yinqaS = stagnant, no improvement

Adjectives implied in a verb and other words

insisting =
teasing, surprising =
disgusting =
Hard to deal with=

shwaya yliH

yTay-yir il aqil

ylaaib ilnafis

yishlail ga-lib

breaks your heart =

yishail il ga-lib
a bit aggressive
= shway-ya yruuH zaayid
careless
=
ma ydiir baal
has diarrhea=
baTna tim shii

tough to deal with =

yTal lia il ruuH

incoherent =
yisHab khaarij
sneaky =
yish-ti-ghil dafin

steamers =
ylaghligh lsaana
not eloquent =
ma yiarif yiHchii
makes mistakes =
ykhar-biT
sneaky=
yiamal min jaw-wa jaw-wa
very beautiful =
ykhab-bil

ineffective =
la yhish wala ynish
ineffective =
la yHil wala yirbiT
complaining , whining =
yitbak bak
vulnerable, easy to remove =
yruuH ashra maay
violates =
ydabich al SaTiH
relaxing=

yiftaHil ga-lib

difficult to deal with, gloomy , unhealthy= yig-Taail nafas

troublesome, asking for trouble =
yitHaarash
Opportunist, a double agent, guarantee it =
ydomin al raa-sein

Dummy = mith lil aTrash bil zaffa =
a deaf in a wedding

B: Adjectives before nouns:

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107

It is interesting to note that some borrowed adjectives are used before nouns, unlike
the Arabic syntax in which adjectives come after nouns. One of the high frequency
adjective is /xo: / . This adjective is taken from Farsi (or Kurdish) language:
This is a good Baqlawa sweet cookies
MSA
.
/ha ihi al baqla:wa d ayida/

ID
.
/ ha:j xo: baqla:wa/

. . . .
...... ...... .
.

Quantifiers & Qualifiers:

Quantifiers are words that Arabic speakers usually place before the adjectives.
Some are quantifiers, and some are adverbs. Most of these adjective antecedents are
adapted from the standard language or borrowed from other languages. Their Standard
equivalents usually come after the adjectives that they modify.
MSA
ID

lil Ga:ja/

/kilish /

( a lot)

hatha al manDar jamiil lil Gaaya

hal manDar kilish jamiil
This view is extremely beautiful.
MSA

/ka th i:ran/

ID *

/hwa:ja/

( a lot)
.
.

MSA

Jamiiaha

ID

kuli-yaat(h)a

/qali:lan/

( a little)

/ sh waj ja min/

Examples:

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108

.

We pronounce /t/ as /shwayit/ when it is an adjective before a noun. Otherwise, it is
/shwaya/ as an adverb such as / nimshee shwaya/ ( we walk a bit).

qaleel

shwayat
.
.

) (
qaleelan min

shwaya min

Examples as Practice:
MSA

/huwa taaba:n qali:lan/

He is a little tired
He (is)tired-he a little

ID

/huwa waja tiaba:n/

He is a little tired.
He (is)a little tired) literal

These words can replace adverbs and they are put before or after their verbs. The dialectal
system prefers these words to be before the verbs. MSA prefers these words to be after the
verbs.

MSA

ID
.

/drasit shwaja w nimit/

I studied a little and slept.

. .

(
= )listen to (
rd
For singular 3 person possessive Dialectal differences:
Moslawi versus Baghdadi and Southern
Comparison:
His and Him pronoun is pronounced differently
e.g., his work , his attention, himself.
Moslawis use /uu/ for his or him
Baghdad and Southerners use /a/ for his or him
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109

shifta
shiftu

Baghdadi and South

Moslawi
his condition
his condition

I saw him

himself
himself

moslawi Example:
)( ( ) (
( . ) ( .

Baghdadi and Southerners:

. .

Reflexives
Iraqis use their own reflexive pronouns in parallel to the standard Arabic:

)Iraqi ( more Moslawi

MSA said in a dialect way

bruuHi
myself
BruuHna ourselves

Bnafsi
B?anfusna

bruuHak
yourself

bruuHich yourself

bruuHkum yourselves

Bnafsak
Bnafsich
B?anfuskum

bruuHa himself

bruuH-ha herself

bruuH-hum themselves

Bnafsa
Bnafsha
B?anfusihum

personally

by + myself
) (
) (

) alone by (myself
) (
) (

) (
) (
) (

) (
) (
) (

) (
) (
) (

) (
) (
) (

Practice:
.1 .
.2 . .
.4 .
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110

.5
. .6
. .7
. .8
.9
Note: Do not confuse (nafas) with ( nafs)

1. la tkhash-khish nafsak bil maw-dhuua

Do not interfere.
2. hal shughul yinraad la nafas Taweel

This work needs patience.

3. sawaaha ala fad nafas.

He did it all in one time (uninterruptedly).

Adverbs of time
Learners often can not recognize the adverbs or (adverbials) of time in the
Iraqi dialect since they are not the ones that they learn in Standard Arabic. Adverbs of
time are important in that they help the speaker to conjugate the verb accordingly.
MSA

ID

/Gadan/

/ba:t ir/ tomorrow

/baaid ba:t ir/

/augba/

/?ams/

/mba:riH/

/?alqa:dim/

/?ald aj/

/?alma: I/

/?al ?a:n/

/tau wan

/ LiHad dil ?a:n /

after tomorrow

yesterday

the next

/?alra:jiH/ , / lfaayit/ last, ago

/ ? lfa:t/ or /lfa:yit / ago , Last

/has sa
\ \
taw wa/ tawi/ istaw-wa

just

/lihas sa/ so far, not yet

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111

/ la zaal / la jazaal / maa zaal

baada is still

Laa ya-zaal

has-sa w ba-aid

Adverbs in sentences:
MSA

ID

Maa zaal

baad + possessives

still , not .yet

.
Baaidnii ma raayiH lil beit. I havent gone home yet.

/ sa?ara:ka Gadan/
I ll see you tomorrow.

/ra?ajtuha ?ams/
I saw her yesterday.

/?ana: ?u a:hid ?al tilivizjo:n/
I watch television

/ra:H ?a u:fak ba:tS ir/
Ill see you tomorrow.

/ ifitha mba:riH/
I saw her yesterday.

/da: ba:wia aal tilivizjo:n/
I am watching television

Practice
. .1

. . .2

. . .3
. .4

. . .5

. .. .6
. .7
. ... .8

Adverbials of Manner
He will do it for you__________________ .
secretly

silently

forcefully

coercively

in a sneaky way

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112

too much hassle

easily

right and clean

nothing spent on

silently

not seriously
all at once
directly
little by little

continuously without any stop

too many times (he goes back and forth)

Vocative Particles
In the Iraqi dialect speech people usually address each other by using the first
name of the addressee. In Standard Arabic, the vocative particle (Yaa)/ja:/ is used
before any name or names to be addressed, without any consideration to number or
gender. The Iraqi dialect uses (Yaa) /ja:/ for other purposes, however,(1)showing the
inferiority of the addressee, or (2) advising or blaming somebody for something s/he
has done. Here are examples.
Addressing each other

The Iraqi dialect has a different system of addressing people. If the name of
the addressee is known, you call him or her by his or her name when the person is
your age. If you know the profession or call him or her as you someone(man),
(woman).
MSA

ID

/ja: ?aHmad/

/ ?aHmad/

You ?ahmad, You someone(man), You teacher.

If the addressee is older, the speaker can use the neutral words (paternal- uncle),
(maternal-aunt) to call anybody in the street. Also for endearment, old people address
children by ammo to talk to.
This can be used by people of the opposite gender too.
.

/aammi:/
Paternal uncle.

/xa:li:/
maternal aunt

/aam/
Paternal uncle

/xalo/
maternal uncle

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Somebody of your age:

If you know the name, use the name.

..
If you know the sons name then use Abu + sons name.
Ahmeds dad (father)
..
If the name is not known, the speaker can use the neutral words (brother), or (sister) to
call anybody of his /her age.
Us the word brother or sister:

/ja: ?axi/ , / ?ax/

Oh, brother. Brother.

Oh, sister. Sister.

..

Blaming somebody:
. .. ...
People younger than you:
Younger : abu il shabaab

Teens and younger:

Hab-baab
Hab-baaba

In the southern part of Iraq and Baghdad province, a religious masculine word
Haajias masculine or feminine Hajiiya are used for unknown people over your
age.
.

Haaji, Where is "Bab al Sharji" located?

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( How can I get to "Bab al Sharji")?

Haajiya, what do you need to buy?
( How can I help you?)
What do you want to buy?
Other Practices:
The MSA use of /ja:/ has some social implications in the Iraqi dialect to :
(1) address an inferior:
.

/taa:la lihna ja: walad/

Some use ( wilak) for male and ( wilich) for female to mean (Hay)
.
.
wilak(m.) versus wilich(f.) \

. . .... ..
Wilak ma tijii ma tsallim aleina .. gullii inta ma tistiHii ala nafsak. Tmir minna
wma tsallim
Manwhy didnt you show up and say hi to us arent you ashamed of what you
doyou pass by and do not say Hi to us.
. .. ...
Wilich ma tijein.. matiHchein.. gulliili ma tistaHein ala nafsich
You lady.. why didnt you show up and say hi to us arent you ashamed of what you
doyou pass by and do not say hi to us.
(2) baaba :
Baaba shda dguul ?inta.. madaaftihim aleik
. ..
Man.. what are you saying.. I do not understand you.
yamawwad.. taaal li hna wla tdiir baal
. . ..
Man, come here and do not pay any attention (do not worry)

Possessive Pronouns (objective case):

The noun masculine (possessed)

The noun feminine (possessed)

1st person : ( possessor)

Maalee ( Baghdadi- ma:lee)
Maalna ( Baghdadi-ma:lna)

maalti/ maalaati (Baghdadi- ma:lti)

maalitna/ maalaatna ( Baghdadi-ma:latna)

\
- )
( \

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2nd person. ( possessor)

Maal-ak
Maal-ich
Mal-kum

maaltak/ maalaatak
maaltich/ maalaatich
maalaatkum

3rd person: (possessor)

Maa-la (Moslawi-maaltu)
mal-ha
maal-hum

maalaata (Moslawi- maaltu/ maalaatu)

maalaatha
maalaathum( Southern- maalaathin)

( \

\ \

Practice:
hay il sayarta maltii . thiich maltak
.
This car is mine. That is yours.
thola malaati. Thaniich malaatku (m)(m.)
. .
These (m.) are mine. Those(m.) are yours(plural)
hay muu maaltii, maltak

This or these (f.) are not mine. They are yours(singular. M.)
lbunduqiya haay malti jidiida w nathiifa hassa .
jaayibha
This is my rifle it- is new . I have just bought it.
. .
Ma ?aqbal ashtarii sayaartak. Tiarif l sayaara maltak rayHa biiha l makiina.
I do not agree to buy your car . The engine in it is too old to work.
haay lgharadh muu maalaatna, haay maalatkum .
These things are not ours(plural. Plural). These are yours(plural.plural)

High Frequency Colloquial Iraqi

There are words and expressions which are very conversational, and learners
of the Iraqi dialect should learn them to establish social ties with the Iraqi members of
the society:
MSA

ID

/?asria/

/jal la:/

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116

hurry up

hurry up

yallah .. ya ikhwaan ma tijon .

You guys.. why dont you come?

/jumkin/
might be

/balka t/
might be

balkit allah .. ninjaH . .

Might be .. we succeed
MSA

ID

/?inti/ , /?inta/
You F. You M.

/ ?wilitS/ , wilak/
You F. You M.
* do not use these
with somebody you
do not know.

. .. ...
Wilak inta ma tistaHii.. ma tikhjal.. leish tiHchi alaya min wara Dhahrii
Arent you ashamed. Dont be shy. Why would you back stab me?
MSA

/ka?anaki/, /ka?anaki/
as if you were

ID

/ch an ich /, /ch an nik/

as if you were

. .
Channak ma tidrii shdaa ySiir . inta naayim wrijleik bish shamis
As if you did not know what is going on . You are sleeping and your legs are in the
sun.

/tu:d ad/, /ju:d ad/
there is (are)

/?aku:/
there is (are)

gulli aku findaq aw maTaam bhal diira .

Can you tell me if there is any hotel or restaurant in this area?

/la tu:d ad /, /la ju:d ad/
there is (are)not

/ma:ku/
there is (are)not

Gulli maaku chaara lhal maraDh .

Is there any treatment (cure) for this disease?

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117

/ma:th a jad3 ri/

What is going on?

/sh a:ku: w ma:ku:/

What is up ?

maa niarif shaaku maaku bhal balad. .

Lnaas saakta ma tiHchii
We do not know what is going on in this town. People are silent (not talking).

/lim ma ha: a/
why are you doing this?

/ daawa/
What for?

. . ..
Yaaba .. shadaawa ma tkhaabirna liman ija ammak. Shuuf azamtuu kulil naas wma
daaeituuna lil aziima
Man .. why didnt you call us when your uncle (from fathers side) . You have invited every body for
the meal but not us.


/ma: a Hada a laka/
Are you O.K.!

/ha:j bi:k/
What is wrong with you?

Haay shbiik.. janeit.. shSaarlak . . ..

What is wrong with you are you crazy.. what happens to you?



/hal faqad ta sawa:baka/
Are you crazy ?

/txab ba:lit/
Are you crazy?

Gulli tkhabbalit
.
To express surprise

alweish ma jeit !
Why dont you come! ( a friendly blame)

Each / everybody
( )
Kulman (kilman) yHuud il naar l gurSta
Everybody directs fire to his loave to bake.
People are selfish. Everybody want things for himself/ herself
shabaalak . iHna filis filsein..
. .
What do you think? Are we cheap (one penny or two pennies) ?
To express underestimation
shSaayir aleikum shuuf matbaynuun . .
What has become of you. We do not see you? (blame)
Billa aleik .haay mamaqbuula minkum. . . .

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118

Tmiruun wma tijon yamna.

Smallah aleik .Kaaf ma shaayifni gabil . . .

Why are you staring at me . Havent you seen me before!
Express change of attitude

akhii Suuchi muu Suuchak .

It is my fault not yours
Blame oneself

lshaghla Saayra matinjiria
.
It is becoming too hard / it sucks
Inconvenient

inta maakhithha chata .

You are just not doing it as it should be

Not following the rules

hosa b hosa

It is a commotion
Chaotic

mnein jatiina hat Tirgaaa

Where did this crisis come from?
Crisis

Tilaa fashuushi
It (m.) comes out ineffective/ weak
Ineffective/ weak

ma bii kheir
Nothing comes out of it. It is fruitless
Useless

Tilaa bawaag

He was a thief
Embezzler, stealer

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haatha tazwiir
This is fake, counterfeit, forgery
Forgery

shaghlat qachaghchiya

This is a work of smugglers

Illegality

maa tiabir aleina l lklaawaat

We are aware of your tricks

khaliiha alaHsaabii

I will pay , leave it at my expensive
zihgaan ruuHi Taala hal yom.

too upset today

khaliiha ala laah
God will solve it
baaid wagit

It is early
maalha lizuum
You neednt do that
aaash min shaafak
The one who sees you lives
we missed you
waHHa-shitna

We did not see for so long

Nice to see you back
aieib aleik
Shame on you
qaabil ghishma
Are we naive?

minuu abul baachir

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120

Future is unpredictable. ( idiom)

laa tfakkir ilha mudabir
Dont worry

thaabha aal SaTuur

He does not care, you are risky
min hassa w raayiH
From now on

ala fikra

By the way
maashil Haal

Everything is fine
daa tingadhi

Not too bad

qaabil farhuud

You need to be serious, you are responsible.
shighlak SigaT
Sloppy not right

aindii Hasaasiya mnil beiDh

I am allergic to eggs
?aani Haas
I feel
?aani Hasaas
I am sensitive

raaH asisakil SubiH

I will wake you up in the morning
laa tHasisni l SubiH maa raayiH lil shughul

Do not wake me up , I am not going to work tomorrow.

hal aifTi laa dTSadga

Do not trust this jerk

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121

kul maania kheir

Whatever happens is to your good.
kheirha bgheirha
Do not get upset, youll find a better one (chance).
Be hopeful.
latraawisha ( )
Do not justify that/ Do not straighten it up
When you greet somebody working
allah ysaaadak

Reply
allah ysaadak.. shluunkum

To inform that somebody passed away

allah nTaak aumra .
(something) Unexpected to happen
la al baal wala aal khaal
.
It just happened.
Cannot be compared/ mismatching
inta wein w huwa wein
!
incomparable.
Somebody completely off track
larab wein wil Tanbuura wein
When the boss is disloyal to his job and he embezzles
Hameeha Harameeha
.
Compromise / no extremes
laa hiich wlaa hiich
no other choice
min laa chaara

Dont mess up (with the computer)

(Do not finger it)

laa tbaabiSil Kumpyuuter ( )
He is elusive( He does and runs)

ysaw wi wyishlaaha

He is mute but dangerous

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saakit wSanTa ma yiHchii

As it is (with its defects)
ala zgaaTha
Run, the police are here

jattiil shurTa ?ishlaa

Things are deteriorating

alimuur daach cha

Ill put you in trouble

tara awad-diik bdaahiya

Two sided / double standard

wichu w gifa

Extra/ additional
awaaza

It has twofold benefits

ham naan w ham darman

Chest medicine ( a type of juice like chamomiles, or boiled turnips)

darmaan il Sadir
Do not take extremes

la sheesh wla kabaab

I lost my patience

waaSla lii khashmi

It has reached the tip of my nose

Good for him \ he is fortunate

aawaafi li yjiib duu shaha

Go slowly and do it step by step

yawaash yawaash ala mahlak wiyaana

Go to hell

diruuH shamrat mardi

It cannot be

diruuH muut

Lives luxuriously/ not tight

haatha baTraan

He thinks he is too much, self- conceited

shaayif nafsa

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Generous

mardaana
Childish/ work of kids

shighil mazaTa( zaaaTiiT)

( )

Too hungry

hilkaan juaan

Too tired / exhausted

taabaanii halkaaniin

Too much hungry

juaaniin rabna Taayir

God never forgives them ( they did not do anything good for us yet)

minallah yTiiH Hadh-aa

( )

Yet, until now

liiHassa

liihassa ma Tilaa shii zein minhum ilna

Coming back to where (they, he , she) used to do / people hardly change

Haliima rijaat laadatiha al qadiima

You were doing good why do you now mess up
muu chinit zein alweish hassa gimmit tkharbiT

This is missing up
haay kharaabiiT
idiots
mashkhuuT/ mashaakhiiT

It was good to deal with smart people, how will it be with the crazies?
yallah yallah wiyal aiqaal, hassa wiyal makhaabiil

They are relaxed and talk with confidence

mitrahaayiin
the one who never follows rules and obey the law
mistah-tir
Not because they like us / it is for their interests
muu ala sawwad ayuunna

You are selling very expensively ... a double price

intuu dbiiauun ghaaliilqaaT qaaTein
.

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You look neat in your suit

Taalia Hulu bil qaaT ( )
Tabuur
column, line, convoy
fad waaHid ybiyidhil wajih
someone that whitens faces
He is a good man and talented
Min allah ySakh-khim wicha

God blacken his face

He does wrong things
Da yilab shaaTi baaTi
He is doing what he wants

raaH tiqbal ghazban an khashmak

( )

You will, willy nilly, accept it

Tiarif ?iHna Ma msayabiin
You know, we are not left alone
We have people supporting us

Yistikhdim wdhiifta lmaSaaliH-ha il shakhSiya

He is using his position for his personal interests

Shamrat mardi
Go to hell

Shamrat aSa
Not far
_____________
______( )
?aani mitwaazi __________
ala ?ahar mnil jamir ___
I am excited to_____

Tuul Tuul il nakhla, aqil aqilil Sakhla (Sakhra)
Tall as a palm tree, mind as a goat
tall, but dum

Saafya Daafya
It is clear and cozy
It makes no money

Il shaghla mbayita
It is deliberate (already schemed)
.
Saayra farhuud. Kul waaHid bkeifa.
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125

It is anarchy (chaos) No law. Everybody is doing what he likes.

maH-Suur da riid aruuH lil maraafiq.
I am very uncomfortable ( squeezed). I need to go to the restroom (to piss).

Ariid agdhi Hajtii w ajii.

I need to finish my need and come to you.
I want to go to the restroom and come back. ( this is a big one)

Waagfa minnak tguul hiichi. ( idiom)

It is inappropriate that you said so.

. .1

The car is parked

The ship is anchored

. .2
. .3

I am standing .

. .4

it is slow

the engine does not work .5

Expressing Sorrow
Yaa Husaafa
Haraam ale:k

= Alas
= You need not (do that)

Haraamaat
He:f (in) ale:

= It is a waste
= You feel sorry for (to) losing

RaaH hadir

= not used wisely, is wasted, went unused wisely

IDIOMS
Idiomatic expression
Jild = skin

Jilida yruuH lil dab-baagh

His skin will be taken to a tannery
He will be severely punished (will be tortured as a punishment).
They will give him hard time.

arabaana = cart, carriage

Jir arabantak minna w ruuH ) (

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126

take your carriage from here and go

Please, leave me alone ( usually you say it in a sarcastic way.)
aeib = shame

Haatha aeib
Do not do that.
Rijileih = his legs
iideih = his hands
Ija iideih aTwal min rijleih
He visits us and with nothing in his hands.
When you visit with empty hands ( you take nothing to the hosts family)
Kubuz = bread

Ma ywakil khubuz
It does not feed bread
It is not worth it.
Timshii = it walks
ma da timsheii il shaghla.
It does not work.
Bismaar = nail
Daa ydig basaamiir ) (
He is hammering nails
He is ironic
Yithrim = cut into small pieces / mince
Da yithrim thuum ( buSal ) braasna ) (
He is mincing garlic ( onion) on our head.
He is saying nothing new.
Diin = religion
Biya deen haay tSiir.
Which law justifies that (it)?
Yinjiria = dose it
Ma yinjiria
You cannot dose it.
I cannot accept ( him).
I cannot deal with him.
Nabadh = pulse/ beatings of the heart
Da yjis sil nabadh

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He is measuring the pulse

He wants to see the reaction.
Watar = string
Da ydig aal watar il hassaas. ( )
He is touching hot issues.
Yaa leil = oh night
Raah tSiiH ya leil
You will shout ya leil
You will suffer
ayaaT = cry, scream
raaH tisma il ayaaT taalii bil leil
At the end they will mess up with each other.
Dag-ga = knock ( )

Haay muu khosh dagga minak

This is a dirty trick from you.
Raas = head

HaayiT = wall
RuuH idhrib raasak bil HaayiT
You go and hit ( hammer) your head with the wall
Dag
Rijl
Gaaa

Dag rijla bilgaaa wgaal il-la ________

He insists (ed) that he ___________________
Dabash = ( sticky molasses)
raaH agbidh dabash ) (
I will get back nothing .
Yinsilig (k) = be boiled

( )

raaH yinsilig abu abuuna

Our father will be boiled.

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128

We will have hard time.

Warid = flower
raaH asawii-ha mithlil warid.
I can do it very professionally and clean.
Shakuu
aleik
Shaku ale:k am-mii
Note : You can find other idioms under various headings as messages rather than
words and expressions in the next sections of the book.
Khalig ( khalag) = mere , only , lowly

Hu-wa khalig niSraanii

He is only (mere) a Christian. ( He is not that important guy that you think .)

Kulug :
Maa ilii khulgak .

I do not have the patience to bear you.

I do not want to dialogue with you.

Fugur = poverty, jinx

Inta kullak fugur.

You are a jinx . You bring the bad luck.
giS-Sa = forehead
giS-Sitak kheir

GiSitak kheir .
You bring the good luck
Rijil = leg

Rijlak khe:r
Your leg is grace.
You bring a good luck.
ayuun = eyes
Min ayuun ____Matti _________.
... ....
From the eyes of __Matti ___________.
I promise a good luck by mentioning you.

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Khayaal = shadow

minkhayaala
He is afraid of his shadow
He lacks courage to do things.
He does not try to innovate on his own
maHbas = ring

Mithil il maHbas beidha = he is like a ring in her hand

He has no character ( personality)
Po:T = dignity, pride

Yiksir po:Ta = to break his pride ( morale)

Maal aisht = does not want to spend a penny, he only thanks you
Haatha maalil aisht = youll spend on him

HaaSil FaaSil = all in all

Yakhuthha HaaSil FaaSil = he monopolizes the situation
Tawakhit-ha
You over do it . It is too much . I lost the patience.
Nizal = went down

Hadir = steep
Nizal biihum Hadir ze:n = he criticized them severely .
Tala = uphill
Tilaa Tal-a kullish qa-wiya = He said something that no body dares to say.

Saarat = became

hariisa = too much boiled

Saarat hariisa = it is over rehearsed and repeated

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Social Discourse
Notional & Functional Expressions mixed with Discourse:
People can communicate through language forms to express certain concepts , thoughts, and
notions. Some linguists think that learning those forms, enables learners to use them for a range of
social purposes such as how to welcome people, to apologize, to ask for permission, to agree, to refuse,
to promise.etc. They need only to discover when to use them and for what. I tried my best in here to
put them together for that purpose.
In culture, the tone, intonation, body language, language portions, and turns of language
exchanges go under sociolinguistic studies, a study that one day will make them easier to learn through
contexts captured in videos.

1. Greeting Somebody
Religious expressions
assalaamu aleikum

Reply:
() .
aleikumul salaam. waraHmatul laahi wabarakaatuhu

More Neutral
marHaba (n)
Reply:
ahlan wasahlan .

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Greeting Acccording to time

Sabahul khaeir

Reply

.
sabaHul nuur. Ahlan wasahlan
(from early morning 1 p.m.)

Masaa?il kheir
Reply
.
Masaa?il nuur . ahlan wasahlan
(from 1-p.m. to time you sleep)

When somebody goes to sit . people will wait for him to sit. Then everybody will
say:

Allah bil kheir
Literal : God in Grace = You are welcome
He answers the same. This is found only among men.
Reply

.... ....

Allh bilk heir ..Aghaati . shukran

2. Greet people as visitors
.. .1
. Halabiikum
1.Welcome

... .. ) ( .2
Yaa miit hala wmiit marHaba biikum
2. hundred times greetings and hundred times welcome
Glad to see you

... ( ) .... .. .3
....

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Hala ayuuni .. sharaftuuna

tshar-rafna
3. Welcome .. my eyesour honor to have you
It is honor to have you

...... .4
Ilna sh sharaf intuu wiyaana
4. We have the honor of you being with us

... .5
Hala bijaytak.hala bjay yatkum
5.Welcome to your visit
It is nice of you to drop by

..... .6
Ilna sh sharaf bshofatkum
6. It is our honor seeing you

..... .7
Ilna sh sharaf bmaarifatkum
7. We have the honor to know you

.... ( ) ( ) .8
firSa saaiida bshofatkum (bmaarifatkum) (bziyaaratkum)
8. It is a good opportunity to see you(know you)(drop by)
It is nice to see you.

3. Leave taking Expressions

A Good bye expressions
1. femanilla or themanilla
\ .1
Good by in safety of God
2. allah wiyaak(um) maasalaama
. .2
Good by God be with you
3. lo Taabak aawid
if you like, come back

. 3
.4

4. ?insha?allah raaH natashaawaf

If God wish we will meet
Ill see you later
.5
5. RaaH ?ajiik an qariib
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Ill drop by soon

Ill see you soon

4. Thank you expressions

(Gratitude)
( )
mamnuun minnak
I am grateful to you

ashkurak yaa ?akhee

Thank you

maaku beinaatna shakliyaat

No formalities between us

iHna aa?ila wiHda

We are one family

maaku ay fariq beinaatna

We are one. no difference between us
You are at home

________________
aashatil ?ayaadi__________
long live the hands
Thank you for what you did

5. Congratulation Expression

mabruuk (aleik)
( )
mabruuk zawaajak(wedding)
( )
mabruuk sayaartak (car)

mabruuk takharujak( graduation)

mabruuk beitak il jaded (new house)
Tahaaniina ala ______ najaaHak (success)
( )
l fawz (win)
( )
l nataa?ij illi jibitha (results achieved) ()
we congratulate you of your success.
salamtak ___________ Tiliait mnil mustashfa
coming out of hospital
salaamaat __________
rijuuaak mnil jaysh

133

.


Coming back from military duty

134

(shifnaak) ( jeit) --------bil salaaama

Coming back safely

. )( )(

FiriHna kthiir _________________ (b shoftak) .

glad to see you

6. Titles to show respect

.... .1
1. Hdhrat til (daktuur, ?ustaath)
Mr. ( doctor , teacher)

\ .2
2. saaadatil qaa?immaqaam
His Excellency (man dEstate - City s mayor/ Director of the town towns
mayor)

\ \ \ .3
3. siyaadatil qaadhi / ?alwaziir/ ?al ra?iis
Mr. (Judge, Minister, President)

\ \ .4
4. ?al ?ab / ?al ?ustaath/ ?al faadhil
Father, Rabbi, teacher, reverened

\ \ .5
5. fakhaamat ik malik / jalaalat il malik/ wali- yil aahd
His Majesty King __/ His Majesty King ___ The Crowned Prince

( ).6
6. samaaHat il im-maam ( alshe:kh) _________
The reverent Imam or she:kh ________________

7. Introducing people
_______ .1
1. ?aqad-dimlak Hadhrat il __________
May I introduce Mr. ___________

___________ .2
2. ?aqadim-lak nafsi____________
May I introduce myself __________

.3
3. yumkin janaabak tqad-dim ilna nafsak?
Can you, sir, introduce yourself?

. ___________ .4
4. ?al-?ustath ___________ghani anil taariif

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Mr. ______________ is well known

. .5
5. raaHil ?ustaath baad shway-ya yqadim ilkum nafsa
Dr. will, after a while, introduce himself to you

.6
6. minu Hadhritak ?
Can you introduce yourself, please?

8.Permission:
You can ask for permission by using these forms:
1. bala zahma ?agdar_______________
Would you please, _______________

. ______________ )(
Blaya zaHma ?agdar ______________

inTiina thaaka l kursii

naawishnii cham Taabia mnish-shubaach
.
Ishtariina shwayat ghradhiyaat bTariiqak winta raajia mnil shughil
Gulee agdar ____________________ .15
Can I _______ ?

.__________________

aTlaa lii barra mnil dars aindii shaghla wiyal mudiir

?aakhithlii shwayat gharaadh w?akhaliihum bsayaartak

?aTlaa shwaya min wagit mnil dars
ismaHlee___________________________ .16
Allow me _________.
_______________

( )

?achii wiyaak shwayya bhal mawdhuua
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136

?aakhithlii fad daftar min-naak

.
?ana raayiH fad khamis daqaayiq w jay
Gulleemumkin .17
May_______ ?
Is it possible _____?

__________________
\ \

tinTeeni/ ?aakhith / ?aTlib kitaabak

nzuuril sajiin
?ashuuf haliktaab
?aakhith hal kursii

9. Apology
There are certain ways in which you can apologize:
1.?aani mitassif aal _______
I am sorry ____ .
____________________ .1
. .
lii Saaril baariH . machinist mitqaSSid.. hiya Saarat
2. Ana zialaan aal
I regret _______ .
___________________
.
Il-lii gilta ilak mbaariH w?arjuu l maathira
Arju l maathira ____________ .18
I apologize for ____ .
_______________
.
Li gilta ?ana l baarHa wlaazimma chinit ?aguulha
La Ydil bKhaTrak .19
Do not worry.
Please.
. .
Lo maa bayanit aidkum lil aiid

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137

.
Lo maa khaabartak
Do not feel offended if I do not call you.
iHna mistaHeen aan (aal) ____________ .20
We feel guilty ______ .
______________ ( )
. .
.
Illii saar l barHa. Taarif akhoy mkharbaT wlaazim la twaakhthu .huwa chaan
hwaaya sikraan maa yiarif shii yguul
Ma chaan QaSdi hatha .21

.
Maa chinit ?aanii haatha bkalaami .
?ana maa mitqaSid biiha

jat-tii afawiya wmaa qiSadit biiha shii .

7. wallahee ma mitamid beeha

walla-hii maa miamid biiha . jat-tii hiichi . .
8. haay jat-ti qadha w qadar
qadha w qadar. Yaani shitsaw-wi lim-man ySiir.

Consoling people

...

.22

?inTaak aumra

He died (passed away)

wallah inqaharit hwaaya limman simiait il khabar
I became sad when I heard the news
taaaziina
Our sympathize the death of your beloved
lbaqiya b Hayaatkum
Rest in peace
nqadim ilkum taaaziina lil marHuum
We send you our condolence for the deceased
wallah gluubna wiyaakum

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Our heart goes with you

wallah Saar baalna yamkum
We think about you
baalna yamkum
We think about you
buqa baalna yamkum
We think about you
ziailna chthir al lii Sar
We felt sad to what happened
gluubna wiyaakum
Our hearts go with you
gluubna maakum
Our hearts go with you
.
Our lives are in the hands of God. We praise and thank Him

L ?insaan jay mnil trab w yruuH lil trab
Man comes from dirt and goes to it
.. ... ..
Hassafa .khisirnaahraaH wkhallan Hiich mbahdiliin
Alas.we lost him.he left us .unorganized
(leaving the community to somewhere else and not being dead)

Kulna aala hal Tareeq
We all are on our way to it

?iNshaa ?alla haatha huwa ?aakhir il Ahzaan
We hope this is the last sadness.

11. Questioning a point:

1. billah aleik _______ (safar..) Tiarif leish________?
_____ ) ! (

.1
2. billah aleich_____?
( ___ )


.2
3. shmadriik______________?
( ____ ) .3
4. Muu balla haatha zein_______?

.4
_______ .5

5. haa Abu ______________ winta shid-guul?

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What do you think Mr. ______?

_____________ .6
6. Shim-arif-nii _______________
How do I know ____________________.

12. Polite Requests

1. Rijaa?an _______________?
wein il maktaba
?agdar ?adkhul

__________________
.1

Directions to a place
2. min fadhlak____________
daliini ala ?aqrab baanziinkhaana
aTiini shwayat maay
Please, _________ .
3. tfadh-dhal _________

. __________________ .2

. ______________________ .23
kithil kura

(ikhithil) ktaab (shiite glottals)

Would you please, __________.

4. gulli aindak ________________. _________________ .24
Taabia ziyaada

shwayat miliH

Do you have _________?
5. Tigdar ____________
. _____________________ .25
tdaliini shlon ?aSal lil jaamia

tshawifni shlon ?arat-tib ?awraaqi
Can you show me _______ ?
6. Maa aarif _____ tigdar traawiini shlon ____
_________ ______________ .6
I do not know how ________ . Can you show me how _____?
(
)
(
)

?asha-ghil ha
?ashagh-il haayil maakna(makiina)

13. Obligation

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140

________ 1. Laazim

.1 ______________.
tijii, truuH, titaawan

1. You need to
________________________________
____________aleik
.2 __________________
(
.

)
tijii mnil ghubsha wmaa tit?akh-khar

___________________________________ 2. You must

.26 __________________.
.

____________3.lmafruudh

Chinit hnaa mniS SibiH . bas shinsawiilak

_______________ )3. You were supposed to (be here

)implied = (but you did not
14. Necessity
.1 ____________

_________________________ 1. It is necessary to
check your stuff and then go
________________
.
.
.
.
_________________________________ 28. You need
them
us
her
me
27.

) (

contraction

) ( ........
) ( ..........
) .( .........
.3 ________________

______________________ 3.We need to

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Prepare our lessons well

Go early
Make ourselves ready from now

15. Unnecessary, no need to do something:

. .1
Maa ilha lzuum
1.You do not need to __________________
maaku daaee
2.You neednt _________________

.2

Maa majbuur
.______________
.
Go there
30. It is not a must ___________________
29.

You mustnt ________________________________

Ma tiHtaaj
._________________
.
4. You do not need to ___________________________
go there
31.

winta shillak
.________________ .5

.
5. It is not yours to (interfere)___________
It is not your business

16. Promise
. .1
By God , by God, and by God
. ) ( .2
I swear by God
. ___________

.3

I swear by God that I was not there
. .4

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I swear by God three times

. .5
I swear three times Divorce
Culturally, if somebody shouted three times divorce. Then Divorce is legally forced
on the sayer.
( )
Take it granted. It is done.
Take it from my moustaches

32.

. . .7
I give you my word. It is guaranteed
Take it from me. It is secure.
. .8
Do not worry. It is done.
I tell you go .Do not worry.
. . .9
I am your brother. Do not be afraid.
. . .10
Take it finished. Do not worry.
. . .11
Feel secureyou are welcome
. .12
Believe me it is already done for you
________________ .13
God and God and God ___________

17. Wish and Hope:

__________________ .1

33.

He hopes to ___________
pass (succeed), see you
__________ ______________

(Wish which is no longer to happen )

34.

35.

There was hope that we ______________ but _________

return
never happens
__________________ _________ .3

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3. We wish that we ____________ but __________

were back
it is impossible ( never happens)
.________ __________ .4

36. He wishes to ____________ but _________

come
never happens
.

____________ .5
\

5. balkit allah______________________ fad yom.

Yistaqiril wadhia \ nirjaa

18. Possibility
___________ .1
yjuuz____ .37
Probably ________
_________ .2
maa Yjiiz__________ .38
It cannot be ______________
____________ .3
rub-bamma_________ .39
perhaps_______________
_________ .4
larub-bamma_______ .40
might be
_________ .5
hnaak ?iHtimaal________ .41
There is a possibility____________
____________ .6
hnaak ?iHtimaal dha?iil_________ .42
There is a little hope_________
__________ .7
mumkin_____________ .43
Probably _______
___________ .8
maa mumkin __________ .44
It is impossible ___________
___________ .9
9. aalwaa____________
I wish __________
_______________ .10
10. aasa walaallahum___________

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It might be _________
________( ) .11
11. may ySiir__________
It cannot be ____________
_____________ .12
12. yaanii_____________
To an extent ___________
____________ .13
13. balkit_______________
might be ____________

19. Broach/ Tackle a subject

__________ .1
1. bikh SuuS hal mawdhuua_________
Regarding this subject_____________
______________ .2
2. hal qadhiya Saarilha zamaan maTruuHa______________
This issue has been raised long ago __________________
_____________________ .3
3. hal maw-dhuua ?ila jithuura__________
This subject has its roots (reasons) __________________
__________________ .4
4. hal maw-dhuua ma tigdar titjaawaza__________________
You cannot avoid this subject ________________
_____________ ) ( .5
5. tigdar tiT-Taraq lhal mawdhuua min zawaaya( jawaanib) mukhtilfa __________
You can talk about this subject from different angles__________________
___ _____________ . .6
6. hal mawdhuua ?ila ?akthar min shaq. ?ish-shaqil ?aw-wal _____
wil shaqil thaani ________________
____________________ .7
7. ilHaqiiqa hal mawdhuua muhim jiddan wmaa mumkin tafaadiih___________
This subject is indeed very important and inevitable ________________
_____________________ .8
8. hal maw-dhuua jadiir bil-?ihtimam__________________________
This subject is needs to be considered___________________________
________ .... .9
9.hal mawdhuua muu bas muhim bin-nisba ilna.hal mawdhuua hamein hassas___
This subject is not only important but also sensitive ________________

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20.Twist, add, or contradict to argue a topic

......... ..... .1
Haay min jiha_____wmi jihat lukh ____________________
.45
on one hand _____________on the other hand ___________________
......... ........ .2
muu bas haay _____ laazim hamein_________ .46
not only _________ but also ____________
........... .3
bil munaasaba __________________________ .47
by the way ____________________
.... .4
shuuf ?aku hamein ?ashyaa ma tTariqtimuuha___________________ .48
There are things you did not discuss ___________________________
........... .5
bas la tinsa ?annu___________________________ .49
You should not forget that___________________
......... .6
bas ?aku ?ashyaa? maH-Had tTaraqla ?abadan ________________ .50
But there are things no body talked about ________________
....... .7
Ili gilta mumtaaz, bas /aku ra?ii ?aakhar .51
yguul___________________________
What you said is excellent, but there are other opinions which say that __________
........... . .8
?adhin ?iHna mit-tifqiin, lkhlaaf huwa bas b__________________ .52
We are in agreement, the only difference is in ___________________
.9
9.?adhin iHna da nguul nafsil sahay bas bi Tariiqa mughaayra
I think we are saying the same but in a different way
. . .10
l mawdhuua huwa huwa bas daa yingaal bSiigha tlukh .53
The subject is the same but said differently
............. . .11
Wallah muu hiichi. lHaqiiqa hiya ?anuu______ .54
In fact the case is not so. It is that_________________
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.12
triidil Sudug , hal maudhuua muu SaHiiH bish-shakl il lii ngaal .55
To say the fact, this subject is not right in the way it is presented(said)_______
_________________ 



.13
illi da dguula ?aSlan muu SaHiiH________________ .56
What you are saying is not right from its start________________
_______________ 






.14
illi da dguula maa ainda asaas mnil SiH-Ha_________________
.57
What you are telling us is totally not right ___________
____________________ .15
15.illi gilta maa ainda ?ay waaqia__________________
What you said has no basis (reality)______________
____________________________ .16
ghariiba__________________________ .58
It is strange_________________
_______________ ( ) .17
17. maa ?aSad-dig illi samiata_____________________________
I do not believe what I hear because _____________________________
.18
yaani ?aku majaal wijhaat nadhar ?ukhra gheir haay ili maT-ruuHa .59
Is there any chance of discussing views other than the ones raised here.
.19
wijhat nadhari gheir shii tikhtilif min wijhat nadharak.
My point of view is different from yours in that__________
60.

21. Ask politely to interrupt somebody

__________________ .1
1. duun muqaaTaa, ?agdar ______________________
I do not mean to interrupt you, can I ________________?
___________________ .2
2. laHdha min fadhlak, ?agdar___________________
Please, one minute, can I _________________________?
____________________________ ( ) .3
3. lo tismaH ( samaHit) ________________________
If you allow me _________________.
Would you please_____________?
. _______________________ .4
4. ?ismaHli walaw lilaHdha ___________________

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Can I have a minute _______________________?

____________________________ .5
5.min fadhlak __________________________________________
Would you please, _____________________?
22. Ask somebody not to interrupt
___________________ ( )( ) .1
1. maa-dkhallina niHchii (?aHchi).
Let us (me)talk
____________________ .2
2. gulli ?inta ma tigdar ma tQaaTiail waaHid.
Hey, you cannot interrupt others.
Somebody gets mad
______________________________ .3
3. Ma tkhallina naakil tibin.
Let us speak eat hay
_____________________ "" .4
4. Yaa ?akhii matkhallina naakil khara niHchii.
Man, let us speak eat pooh
________________ . .5
5.min fadhlak maa tqaaTiani. Khal-liini ?akam-mil kalaami.
Please, do not interrupt me. Let me talk.
________________ .6
6. bas-khl-liini ?akam-mil jumaltii fad daqiiqa min fadhlak.
Only let me ,one moment please, finish my sentence
___________________ .7
7. khal-liini ?akhliS w baadein gul illi triida.
Let me finish and then say what you want to say .
____________ .8
8. yaa ?akhii ma tkhl-liini ?alghi wbaadein gul illi triida.
Man, let me talk and then say yours.
.9
9. la tigmiz w tiHchi min aindak
do not jump in the middle and speak
do not interrupt
.10
10. la taakhithna HaaSil faaSil
Give us a break

23. Show Empathy

. .1
1. Shuaurrna shiaurkum
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Our feelings are yours. We feel the same.

.






.2
2. maaku ?ithnein ma mittifqiin ala illi daa dguula.
There are not two who disagree upon what you have said.
. . .3
3. ?adrii bidh-dhabit ?inta sh-da dguul. ?ana fah-mak shraayid!
I know exactly what you are saying. I understand what you want.
. .4
4. ?ana ?abaadilak hal shuauur
I share the same sentiment with you
. .5
5. shuuf haay qadhiya ?insaaniya maa yinraaadilha tafsiir
This is a humanitarian case and it does not need any other clarification
. . .6
6. haay ma yinraadilha ruuHil qaadhi. Waadh-Ha mithlil shams
This does not need to go to the judge. It is very clear
. .7
7. ?afham wijhatil nadhar
I understand your point of view
..... ... .8
8. ?adrii mnein jay.. bas
I know from where you are coming ____________
. .9
9. haay hiya ma?saatna
This is our dilemma
. .10
10. maa nidrii mnein jatiina haay l tirgaaa
We do not from where this crisis befell upon us
. .11
11. ?inshighal baalna biikim
We were thinking about you
. .12
12. Buqaa baalna biikum
We were thinking about you
. . .13
13. kulna niarif Hajmil muaanaat. W aishnaaha
We all went through this ( suffering) and lived through it
.14
14. ?iHna daa naiish ma?saatkum wnitHammal muaanaatkum il yaw miya
We are living this catastrophe and endure the daily forbearance
... .15
15. inshalla khe:r . raaH tSiir zein
We hope it will be good
... .16
16. alla bao:nkum baalna yamkum
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God helps you ..you are in our thoughts

24. Disappointment/ pessimism

.1
1. maaku minha chaara
No other choice
There is no alternative
It is inevitable
.___________ . .2
2. ma minha chaara. laazim _________________.
There is no alternative . (we) must _____________.
. .3
3. ?ashaur bkhaybat amal min hal shaghla
I am disappointed about it
. .4
4. hal shaghla may?uus minha
It is hopeless
. .5
5. maa yghayir minha shii
It makes no difference
. .6
6. tiiti tiiti mithil ma riHtii jiiti
tiiti tiiti you come back to where we were
We are in a vicious circle
You left and came back the way you were
. .7
7. aadat Haliima ila aadatiha il qadiima
Haliima ( ladys name) goes back to where she starts from
You cannot do anything about it
. .8
8. khaluu theil lil kalb bil qaalib sabia sanaawat w liman Tallaauuh chaan ?aawaj
Dogs tail was put 7 years in a mold, but it never straightened
You cannot change somebody
You cannot do anything about it
. .9
9. hal shaghla tkhir may
This issue drips water
This issue is hopeless
. .10
10. hal shaghla ma biiha kheir
This issue brings no good
It is fruitless
.11
11. Haawalna wiyaa bilaeini wil ?aaghati w ma daa yfiid wiyaa
We tried with him peacefully, but it does not work
He is not cooperative and never changes

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.12
12. kalib ?aswad ?aw ?abyadh ma ifriq
whether a dog is black or white makes no difference
Dogs are dogs regardless of color
Enemy is enemy regardless of its appearance.
.13
13.shii la bud-da minna
it is inevitable
.14

14 nafsil taS wnafsi l Hammaam

nothing is changed
the same pan and the same tub

25. Praise/ hail / success/ optimism

.1
1. ziyaaritkum ?il yom sharaf kbiir ilna
We have the honor to have you here with us
.2
2. wijuudkum beinna daliil ihtimamkum biina
being with us is an indication of your concern about us

.3

3. dimtum thukhran lana

You are there for us
.4
4. tshiidik umma b?injaazaatkumil adhiima
Our nation hails your great achievements for us
.5
5. la yasaani ?illa wa ?uqaddim shukri li siyaa-da-tikum
I cannot but thank you
.6
6. yaaiish shaabunna l ?abiiyi il kariim
long live our brave and generous people
\ \ .7
7. mumtaaz, raa?ia, adhiim
excellent, wonderful, great
( ).8
8. ?aSlan maaku minna (mithla)
There is nothing like it , has no resemblance, unprecedented
( ) .9
9. fad shii ?aayri (fariid min nawaa)
it is something unique
) ( .10
10. ma Saayir gabil hassa mthla ?abadan
Something unprecedented
Something we have never seen happen before
.11
11. haay saabiqa makuu mathiilha ?abadan
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this is unprecedented
... ... .12
12. wallah ammi afya aleik
Good for you
.. .13
13. aashat ?iideik
long live your hands
A good job
. .14
14. tafaa?alu bilkhaeir tajiduuhu
be optimistic, youll get it
be positive / optimistic
. .15
15. il amal maashii ala qadamin wa saaq
the work is going on a hand and a leg
everything is going well
 .. .16
16. il dunya bkeir wil Hamdulla
The world is good. Thanks God
Everything is promising

. .17

17. siiro quduman wa naHnu min waraa?ikum

you walk forward, we follow you
We support you
.18
18. khayru khalafin li khayri salafin
a good successor for a good predecessor


 .19
19. ?al ?immur mashiya wil hamdu lil laah
the matters are going on thanks to God
Everything is going well
. .20
20.shuayat Sabir wil ?imuur maashiya
a little of patience and everything will be OK
be patient and wait
. .21
21. win niaim
You did great. We are proud of you.

26. Condemnation
.1
1. nistankir
we denounce

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.2
2. nudiin
we condemn
.3
3. nushjib
we denounce
.4
4. YasquT il nidhaam
down with the regime
.5

5. ?iHna ma niqbal haay

we do not accept this
6. haatha amal mushiin ma maqbuul bii
This is heinous and not acceptable

.6
.7

7.hatha fad aa-mal yindib ilha il ja-biin

this is an atrocious action that people dislike ( the forehead frowns at)
27. Cooperation/ support
.1
1. nuqad-dim musanadatana lil
we support you in
.2
2. nudaim mawqifkum il shariif haatha
we support this honorable stand of yours
.3
3. niTlib il tansiiq wiyaakum
We ask for coordination with you
.4
4. nqad-dim ta?azurna wiyaakum
We support you
.5
5. ni?mal taaawunkum wiyaana
We hope that you cooperate with us
.6
6. nriid kasb wud w ta?yiidil naas ?akthar min ?ay shii ?aakhar
We need to gain the love and support of the people
( ) .7
7. siiruu w iHn a warakum
You keep going and we support you

28. Expectation/ contrasts

.... ( ) ..... .1

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1. bwidna bas (laakit)......

we intend to . But ..
... ( ).... ( ) .2
2. tawaqaana ( chaan mitwaqia) . Bas (laakit) ..
We expected ( it was expected ) but ..
. ....... .3
3. ridnaaha bshikil bas maal ?asaf Tilaat bgheir shakil
We wanted something ..but unfortunately I came out something else
....... .4
4. chaan mnil muqar-rar yijii bas
It was scheduled that he will come but .
______ .5
5. kaan ?amalna _________
We hoped that ________

.
. .6
6.maa mitwaqaiiha. Fuj?atan jatti hiichi ala ghafla
We did not expect that. It suddenly took place.
___________ .7
7. ala ghafla ____________
Unexpectedly__________
All of a sudden ______________

29. Convincing/ Persuasion

________ .1
1. maa riid ?an ?uaaaridh wijhat nadharak bas tara ______________
I do not want to contradict your point of view but you know _____________
____________ . .2
2. lshaghla tiHtaaj tihtaaj lil taraw-wi wil tafkiir. Wilhal sabab_______
This issue needs our thoughts and consideration; therefore, _________
____________________ .3
3. khal-liini ?agullak fad shii ________________
let me tell you one thing __________
______________________ .4
4. beini w beinak , tara _____________
between you and me, there is ___________
_________________ .5
5. hal shaghla tistawjib il Sabr__________________
This issue requires patience
_________________ .6

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6. ?aku ?ashya laazim ma ninsaaha _______________

There are things we must not forget___________
_____________ .7
7. laazim nkhal-li haatha bnadharil ?iatibaar wahwa ?annu__________
We need to put this into consideration__________
. .8
8. shuuf ?il qanaaaa kanz
Let me tell you that satisfaction is treasure

30. Hypothesizing
__________ .1
1. shtitwaq-qaa lo _____________
What do you expect if ________________
____________ ) ( .2
2. If we hypothesize that _____________
_________________ .3
3. If we take as an example ____________
. _______ ______________ .4
4.We were supposedly _______________ but __________did not happen
____________ .5
5. I thought ___________but it werent .

31. Suspect somebody

.1
1. ?ashuuf hal ?ayaam muu ala baa-dha. Ma dgulli shinuu l saalfa?
He does not look Okay, is there anything going on ?
.2
2.?shbiih haatha shuuf huwa mithil gabil, his behavior these days is strange.
What is wrong with him. He is not like before. His behavior these days is
strange.
.3
3. hal ?ayaam ?ashuufa Saafin, ?aku shii Saayir?
I see him sighing these days. Is there anything wrong going on?
. .4
4.haatha l walad ?abadan maa ?artaaHla, ?ashuufa kul-lish munTawi ala nafsa.
I do not feel comfortable about this man, He is too much of an introvert
- .5
5. daa shuufa bhal ?ayaam il ?akhiira- daa yitHar-rak hwaaya, ;ainda shii?

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.6
6. daa yiamal min jaw-wa lii jaw-wa, wmaHad yiarif bii shda y-saw-wi
He is secretly working and no one knows what he is doing.
. .7
7. ?shuuf taSaruufaata ghariiba w madaa tiajibni
I see his behavior is strange, and I do not like it.
. .8
8. haatha shaayif nafsa kthiir w madaa yitaaawan
He is conceited and never cooperates.
. .9
9. haatha Hay ya yildigh min jaw wa jaw-wa
He is a snake that secretly bites
. . .10
10. haatha ma yit ?amman. Hirik.
He is someone you do not trust. He is active.
.11
11. ?ashik b walla? Hal shakhiS ?ilna
I suspect that he is loyal to us
. .12
12. haatha waaHid maa yiatimid alei
He is unreliable.
.13
13. hal walad mashbuuh w laazim nkuun Hathriin minna
This man is suspicious and we must be watchful.
.14
14. ainda ailaaqaat mashbuuha w?isma bqaa?ima l soda
He has dubious relations and his name is on the black list
.15
15.huwa minil mushtabah bihim
He is among suspects
huwa minil maghdhuub
aleihum
He is among those not wanted ( kidding to a friend)

.16

16. haatha minal maghdhuubi aleihim

He is among the names on the black list
.17
17. haatha minil maTluubiin li wajhil adaala
He is wanted by the government (justice)
.18
18. fugitive, deserted
.19
19. wanted, deserted, fugitive

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32. Conclusive transitories

.1
1. wabil khitaam _________
finally ______________
in conclusion___________
_______________ .2
2. nigdar nlakh-khis maa gilnaa bii faqara ?akhiira wahiya ?anna ___________
I can conclude in one last paragraph that _______________
________________ .3
3. yumkin ?an nukhlis lil qawl wahwa ?anu _______________
We can summarize that by saying ____________
In sum, ___________________
________________________ .4
4. wabil nihaaya________
Finally, ____________
In the end, ________________
.5
5.?alhiiran walaysa ?aakhiran
it is the last but not the least

33.Etiquettes
1. When somebody has a new hairdo, has finished shaving, has finished taking
shower, you must say naaiiman
.1

a nice hairdo / shaving

( )
a nice shower
( )
Reply:
The answer usually is : naa am allah aleik. Shukran
. .
2. After finishing eating or drinking and say thank you. The answer is bilafiya or
aawaafi.
.2
( )
( )
Reply:
The answer usually is : allah yaafiik . shukran
. .

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......

A challenge
a compliment for doing something good
15. Good for you if you can make(do) it.
jibitha
arifitha
aSalitha

_____
awaafi aleik ?itha

Good for you if you can bring it

Good for you if you know that
Good for you if you obtain that

awaafi il li yjiib naqish
Good for you if you make it.
If somebody sneezes. You say : bis siHa
.
biS-SiHa
with health
Reply:
.
Shukran
Thanks
If somebody burps. You say: bil afiya

Bilaafya
With grace
Reply:
.
Shukran
Thanks

34. If something is fantastic or Somebody is smart.

You say mashallah to avoid an evil eye
Keep cross fingers
mashalla
(

) .
dig al khashab

aein allah aleik

Reply

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.
shukran
Thanks

35. Expressions to mean start

. .. .1
1. Yalla yallah
. ... .2
2. Yallah ?ibdii
.3
_____________

3. ma tiblish _________
tirsim
_____________ .4

4. ma tibdii _______
tiamal
__________ .5

5. ?isria____
sajjil ?ismak
_____________ .6
16. baadak ma baadi _________
tiamal

36. Criticism
.1
1. yaanii hiy-ya shway-ya waagfa
It is a bit weird ( bazar)
.2
2. yaani tSad-ga ?
Do you believe him?
Do you trust him?
____________ .3
3. muu maaquula huwa_____________
It is irrational
.4
4. haay mahzala waaHid maa ySad-digha
This is ridiculous and incredible
.5
5. muu bil Heif
Do not believe it
.6

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6. raaH ykuun l Hisaab aasiir

the price will be costly
( ) .7
7. ghawgha?(taSriiHaat wa shiaaraat ghawghaa?iy-ya)
demagogic statements and mottos (slogans)
.8
8. Diaaya mughridha
bad rumor against
.9
9.?itaahaamaat mulaf-faqa wa mufabraka
falsified and fabricated accusations
.10
10. ?it-tihaamaat mukhtalaqa
invented and made up accusations
.11
11. maHdh huraa? Wa kathib
only idle talk
.12
12. sakhiif wa bala maana
absurd
( adj ).13
13. tafaaha ( taafih)
silliness ( silly)
\ .14
14. zaayfa
false /counterfeit
( \ ) .15
15. baaTila
invalid / baseless
! ... .. .16
16. ShuuSaayir Hijilkum thqiil azimnaakum w maabayintuu!
your anklet has become heavywe invited you but you did not show up
You did not show up when we invited you.
.17
17. diguul ya allah w khalli nruuH
Make your decision ( say yes,) and let us go.

....
.18
18. di Saf-fii galbak wi-yaana ..winal il shayTaan wguul ?ii
Make your heart pure with us .. condemn Satan and say yes
Trust us and just say yes.

Concepts, Notions, Messages

Behind
Vernacular Words and Phrases

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Colloquial and or vernacular language is live and vital in a society. The expressions
are effective and have impact on the natives more than the same formulas used in the
school language. As a result of that I collected these words and or phrases for the
same cultural reason.

1. Shallow minded
Tartuur
stupid

TaraaTeer

dhaHil
Not educated
Muu shi
Nothing

Muu halgad
Not that one
Faash shuushi
Not capable / weak
saTHee ( )
Superficial
muu halgad yiftihim
not very knowledgeable
maeidi ( among friends)
(Use it at the absence of the person)
nave, primitive, people of the south who live in marshes
ajamei ( among friends)
(use it at the absence of the person)
not an Arab (idiot)
mTab bag
Cannot think
Maa yiarif al kuua min buua
Cannot distinguish between an elbow and his arm
Not able to know a part from the hole
Ghasheem
Nave
shalau lau
not focused

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MazaTa
Childish
Qashmar
Joker, silly, has no personality
ZaaTuuT
Childish
Baada Katkuut w ma yiarif halgad
inexperienced
Athwal
Not smart, stupid, oblivious
Mithilil ?aTrash bil zaffa
Like a deaf in a wedding
Somebody who does not know what is going on
Ablah
Imbecile
ainda koilaat
insane

( Moslawi)

zmaal / zmaayil \
donkey =stupid
Hmaar mTab-baq ( )
Too stupid
Khirfaan
Oblivious
Marbil

Not organized
Mkharbat
Not organized

2. Disliked one(s)
Nijis Nijseen
Nigis
nigseen
Dirty, unclean

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Faasiq
Lewd, depraved

faasqeen

Jaban / Jubanaa \
Coward
Sarimpaara
Playboy, mobster (negative)
Jainkii

Quarrelsome, he likes to fight people

Shaqii

Bandit, he does illegal things

Safiih

Unrestrained, silly
Mlaab
( )
Wanton (f.) , cunning
Miftiree
slanderer, backstabber
Fat taan
Trouble maker
Fad waaHid zinkh
Rancid, indecent

Taaal la tmaSikh nafsak bee

Do not degrade yourself to his ( that) level
Fad waaHid ma yistaHee
A shameless guy
Mgaddee w ma shaayif
Behaves like a peddler with little experience
Yoslak lil may wyrajak aaTshaan
He takes you to water but brings you back thirsty
Maa yilchi ala dhahra maay
Someone snakes others
Dammu thaqeel (thajeel)
He has a heavy blood
not liked by people

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makharbaT

not focused, disorganized

3. Liked ones
?aadami ibin ?awaadim )(
son of persons
A good person
shakhs muHtaram
respectful man/ men

naas muHtarameen

min aa?ila Tayba

He is of a good family
?aaadami maaruuf ? awaadim maaruufeen
a known person/ well known people
Khosh walad w Tayib
A nice person
Khosh u wlaad u Taybeen
Good folks and nice
Nice people
Abul Hamuula
father of goodness
A purple heart man
nashmee w akhu khayta
courageous and brother of his sister
good friend and loyal
ahil lil nakhwa wil shajaaa
One who has dignity and courage
He is a man of ethics and bravery
sakhee w aeina milyaana
He is generous and his eyes full
Generous and wealthy
hathola shaayfeen
These people have seen
They are rich and experienced
walla rifat raas
He is someone that you are Proud of

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Nashmii w akhu khayta

he is brave and the bother of his sister
He is honest and brave

4. Revenge /Attack
allah kareem beinee w beinak
God is generous between you and me
I promise you will have it from me
wallah ma nkhaleel kum iyaa
By God we will not let it for you
well revenge
wallahi ma nkhalleeha bkeeskum
we do not leave it for you
Well revenge

(Moslawi)

hay ma raah truuh (lkum) b balaash ) (

this will not go for free
You will be punished for that
You will never get away with it
Hay maraaH ?afawitlak yaaha
I will never let it go
you will never evade my wrath
I will never forgive you
raaH tiTlaa min khashimkum
it will come out of your nose
You will pay for that
raaH ?aTalia aeinteinak
we will take out your eyes
We will punish you
rigaaa braajdi wkhalee yruuH
spank him and let him go
kick him out of here

)(

Yam aw wad, ?idhriba bchillaaq

Man, kick him with your foot
kick him out of here

nkhaleehum yakluun il mur

we let them eat the bitter
164

Moslawi

165

let them suffer from us

Dagga b dagga
One for one
wiHda b wiHda
one for one

il aein bil aein wil sin bil sin

an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
equal punishment or revenge
gaSa b gaSa
one for one

daghdigha shwaya ( Moslawi)

tickle him a bit
attack skillfully, lure in
al-sin-nu bis-sin wal aynu bil ayn
tooth for tooth and eye for eye
equal revenge
Inbish abu abuu
exhume his grandfather
attack him
?aani ?ilak ?
I am here for you
raaH takilha minni

You ll get it from me.
raaH ?akuun waraak waraak
I will chase you.

5. Sneaky Guys
Min jawa lee jaw wa
secretly
Maay min jaw wa tibin

Like a water under the hay

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166

Haya
Snake
agrab ()
Scorpion
Yildigh
He bites
Theeb
Wolf ( symbol of violence)
Deensiz tough , no religion
He has no ethics
Hitlee
Cares not
Hay yaal

Cheater/ tricky
?aawaj w maa yitad dal

crooked
fad nathil
vile
la?iim
mean
nammam

Backbite
Bil wichih mraaya wbil Gifa silaaya
Hypocrite

Mithlil Hay ya yildigh w ydhim

Like a snake bites and hides

Maala rad-daad wala Sad-daad

Mahad yrid da
He is doing everything the way he likes
He is over the law

Kaawaliya

Very primitive / gypsy style

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167

6. Talkative
Tharthaar
Talkative
Laghwachi

Speaks nonsense
Di w waay
Talks too much
leish yiarif yogaf ( )
he does not stop talking
liman yiHchi . ma yiarif yogaf
he speaks and never stops
mihthaar
talkative

makiina
a machine
Talkative / eats a lot
Dar-raasa

A thresher
Non stop talking or eating

7. Questioning a point?
shaleik

what is it to you?
This has nothing to do with you.
alweish
why?

Shilak alei
What is that you have done for him?
Shilak bii
What do you do with it?
What for?

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Winta maalak
What is it yours? Why interfere?
Yaahu beek
Why do you get involved?
Billah aleik ?

Is that right?
Are you kidding me ?

8. Rebuke

raz zal ta razaala min hal tiswa

I admonished him
I criticized him severely by talking to him
I admonished him
sabbaHta sibiH

I washed him well

I criticized him
Nagaata tnangeeaa
I drenched him with water to a point he never forgets it in his life
I rebuked him severely
hacheita
criticized him severely
Yit jaa waz Had da
Goes beyond the limits

Yitadda il marHala
Stepped over the line
Ma tiamal . Min duun waaHid yrazlak
You do not work unless somebody criticizes you severely
Wabbakha taw beekh

Reprimand him
Yikfeek min hal jal jaluutiyaat maltak
Enough using your own empty tricks
Ma tuskut w tushkur rabbak daa tishtughul
Keep silent, Praise god you are working

ma tuskut . Gulee shgad tilghee .

silent. You talk too much

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169

gullee ma tistaHee ala nafasak

arent you ashamed of yourself?
mat truuH twalee
Leave here.
This cannot be.
inqilia minna
Go away from here.
Khalleeni b waHdee w ruuH
Leave me alone. You go.
Ma tin chap tuskut.
Why dont you shut up!
inchap
Shut up/ Go out of sight
wala kilma
I do not want to hear another word
ruuH min gidam aeinee )(
Go out of sight
abadan mareed ashufak
I do not want to see you at all
walee min gidaam aeinee ) (
Disappear/ Go out of sight / vanish
Kharra bhal shaarib
pooh on your moustache
shut up you coward
aab hal shakil

fie upon you youre an ugly face
yTiba Tob
ignore him, let him go to blazes

9. Complaining
Allah yiHfatha. ma yinjiria
You cannot get along with him
Fad taafih. MaHad yitHamala ..
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170

He is silly no one can bear him

Fad najis. Maa reed ashuufa ..
He is rancid. I do not want to see him.
Shid gulla l haatha 








What can you say to him!

you cannot get along with him.
I do not know how to deal with him
Lii atab aaleik
I put the blame on you
Latab aleik
The blame is on you
?il lom aleik
the blame is on you
Hay l kheesa raaH tiTlaa
One day all this shit will be revealed
Muu nsalag ?abuuna
) (
We are suffering a lot
Tallaau mayna
they take water out of us
they gave us hard time
Muu hilkona halik
They exhausted us
Maa khallo Haal biina
never let conditions for us
they treat us badly
Hirgaw abu abuuna ) (
Nibshaw ?abu ?abuuna
they exhumed the father of our father
they gave us a hard time
Liabaw biina shaaTi baaTi
They hassled us
Mashghuliin manigdar nHuk raasna
We are busy. We cannot itch our heads.
We are too busy
Wallah maa aidna wagit

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171

In fact, we do not have time.

Haqiiqatan, hay muu khosh Haala
In fact, we are in a bad condition
Shinii hay l bahdala

What is this misery?
Why do you bear these inconveniences?
Naas takil dijaaj w naas titlaga il ajaaj
) (
Life is not fair
Some people eat chicken, whereas others receive sand twisters
...
Shaindak rayiH jay .. khiree miree
Why are you going (coming) back and forth?

10.Ploys and Tricks

Klaawaat
These are hats
These are tricks
La tbeea l klaawaat aleina
do not sell hats for us
Do not play tricks

Labasa klaawaat
put hats on him
He played tricks on him
Mlaa ab

wanton
He plays games
churug

useless/ fruitless
Haay manjasa :
This is bad (a dirty game)
Ma tutruk hay manaajisak
You do not stop your dirty games
Tirgaaa souda

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172

calamity
Taw wakhitha

You are overdoing it

La tqashmirna bklaawaatak
Do not fool us with your tricks
hatha fad waaHid maaku takka
He is the worst
haay khuzaabulaat
These are ploys.

Shini haayil jaljaluutiyaat?

What are these tricks?

Haaykhida
This is a trick
tadhliil
Allusion, misleading

10. Warning
La tzaghil

Do not play tricks

La tsakh-khit

Do not play games

bala fayda
in vain

ma yistaHi
shameless
ma duus aal takhta chirga
do not tread the bad rung
Dont do something wrong to irritate others
Maakhith il shaghla gotra
He does what he likes
Maakhithha haya yallah

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Not serious
Makhithha chata
No rules
La tiksir il jarra

Do not break the jar
do not violate the rules
Dont offend people
la tthakhinha hwaaya
dont over do it
maakhithha shaaTi baaTi
you have not taken it seriously
kaafi tiamal qaarish warish
enough playing tricks
hallis nafsak
save yourself
kulmin yTal-lia Hmaara mnil waHil
every one saves his donkey from mud.
Save your butt
lamlim jaly-yilak wiTlaa min ana
collect your clothes and leave
Please, take your ass from here and leave
Heck with you get out

12.Refusing
matruuH mina
Go away from here
Do not suggest so.
Shda tiHchi
What are you saying?
Do not say so. I do not accept.
Da yithrim thuum braasna
he is cutting garlic on our heads
he is only showing off
Da ykhar-rif

He is incoherent

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174

Da yihthii
Hallucinated
Kalaam kuluu mizaTa
Nonsense speech
La tiSTiniT . Kuluu chithib ( )
Do not listen to it is all lie
Haay saaba tSiir
This can not happen
La tliH haatha mustaHiil
Do not insist. This is impossible.
Wdaati wdaatak haatha ma ySiir
I promise you. This will not happen.
?aani wyaak nitshaarat haatha maa mumin ySiir. ...
Let me tell you this wont happen.
Taal nitshaaraT. Haatha mustaHiil ySiir
I tell you this wont happen
?aani maa muaafiq (mwaafij) ala illi tguula
I do not agree on what you just said
Haay kharaabiiT laa tSadga
These are ramblings that you do not trust
Yaani sh?a -sawiilak
What can I do?

13. Ignoring
shgad tilbas
what size of shoes do you wear
do not listen to him
la tiSTiniT alei
Do not listen to him
La tsimtimia ?ila a khalli ywalli
Do not listen to him. Neglect him.
Ma aleik minna
Do not listen to him.
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175

Leave him alone

Do not do what he tells you to do
?ihmilla
Neglect him. Forget about him.
?insaa
Forget about him.
auufa khal-li yawl-li
.....
Neglect him. Let him go.

14.Advice
il li faat maat
what had passed is dead
forget about the past
iftaH SafHa jidiida
open a new page
Maaku daaaee
You do not need that
auudein nshuuf? )(
well see later.
Iamalha wala yhimmmak

Just do it
Hay naHaasa
evil
Sawwa hal dagga wiyaana

He mistreated us
la tluuSha aleina
do not mess things up for us
do not confuse us
ala mahlak shwaya shwaya
slow down a bit
little by little
yawash yawaash ala mahlak
do not hurry. slow down

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bil ajala al nadaama

high speed bring about regret
la tliH hwaaya
do not insist too much
shwaya lajuuj
You are a bit enthusiastic
?oSii b?an laa____________
I recommend that _________________
naSiiHatii ?ilak _____________
my advice to you ______________
?aqtariH _________________
I suggest ____________________
minal ?afdhal _____________
youd better ________________
?aHsanlak ______________
youd rather _______________
aeib aleik tiamalha
shame on you to do that

khalliik saakit hassa

wait . be calm. Silence
?iTwi il SafHa
Turn the page. Forget about it.
latliH hwaaya
Do not insist too much
?inta muu maal waaHid yinSaHak
!
It is better not to advise you. You do not listen.
Ymaw- wad maa tbaTil min hal salfaatak
You should stop playing games.

La tmid rijlak (?eedak) ?akthar min Had-dak

Do not stretch your leg(hand) more than your limit

)(

15. Play Truancy

shilaa ha

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177

he ran
ishlaa
Run
The whole stake (gambling)
idhrib w ishlaa
hit and run
sakhtachi

Not dependable
Yithribha chata w yruuh mnil shugil
To play truant

Gaam ysakhit

Plays games
Seibandi
Cunning
?inhizam w saabil ___________ __________
he ran and left _____________________
shakhS inhizaamin
He is irresponsible

Bal-laaf
He bluffs people
?intihaaazi
opportunists
munaafiq
Hypocrite
?aawaj
Crooked
La tawil alei
Do not depend on him.
Ya khaayis
you rotten
harmful
saafil

low person, scum

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178

16. Bravery and Courage

sabia

A lion = brave
faHil
Manly = bold
al makshuuf
does not hide things = open and brave
may ykhaaf
fearless
nashmee w ?akhu khayta
brave and loyal
SaaHib nakhwa w shahaama
Man of dignity

Rijaal
Brave, manly
Mayinkhaaf aleik
Dependable
?inta mgad ha
you deserve it (compliment)
You are qualified
?inta mgadha w zaayid
You are over qualified

win-niaim

you are competent
waaHid yiatimid alei
waaHid yiatimid alei
yumkin taw-wil alei
he is dependable

huwa shawka bayuun il Haaqidiin

He is a thorn in the eyes of the envious people
he is a thrust in their eyes

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17. Offering Gifts

Igbal ha ( )
take (it-feminine),
accept(it-feminine)
Bil aurtha
Have it
Hay hadiya minee ilak
This is a gift from me to you
RuuH fidwa ilak
I sacrifice it for you
Have it / take
Do not worry about losing it
Yamawad Khaleeha truuH L khaTir ayuunak
let it go as a sacrifice for your eyes
Do not worry about losing it
Ghaali wil talab rakhiiS
expensive and the demand is cheap
Have it. Take it.
I offer it to you.
You are valuable and what you ask for is cheap.

18. Promise
Khithha min hal shaarbein ( )
take it from my moustache
I promise to do it for you
Khitha min hal shaarib
take it from this moustache
I will do it for you
Khith ha min aindee
take it from me
I promise I will do it for you
bil quraan bit Talaaq
By Qurran by Divorce
I swear I do it for you.
bith thalaatha
In three
Religious swear
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khith ha min hay l aeintein

take it from both eyes
Okay. I do it.
min ayuuni
from my eyes
Yes.
I do it for you.
maani abu (flaan) itha maa saweit lakiya ) (
I am not the father of ____if I do not do it for you.
I will do my best to make it happen.
maa ibin abuuy itha ma saweelak iya
I am not the son of my father if I do not fulfill it.
I interfere to make it happen
?ana maa ismee _____ itha maa saweelak ya ____
my name is not _____if I do not fulfill that
I personally interfere to make it happen
Khuthha mi hal aeintein
Take it from my two eyes
You are welcome

19. Humiliation
inta wqundartee
you are my shoes
raaH ?akhaliik jaw wa qundartee
I will put you under my shoes

inta wil qundra . shitreed dsawee saw wee .... ..

you are my shape do whatever you can
inta w yamanee ( )
You are my shoes-sandals
RaaH ?athribak bil ?eimani tiarif. ..
I will beat you with my shoesyou know.
dhibba

control (him)
Lak dhibba

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Man. You need to control him

itfil bwicha

spit on his face
Sach-cham (harass using words)
Make negative comments
khirag ____ . not important
old cloth
not important man, weak
huwa khirgat ______. (he is only a ___ )
He is insignificant

....... ( )

Khara bhal shaarib

pooh on your moustache
you coward
Tiz aleek w ala li jaabak
Shame on you

This can be found in phrases as curse:

tkhasa :
shame on you.
Timaami: yTImmak =

(Moslawi)

Shame on you
9amma:

whoops!

Shame on you
9uuda:

Go from here evil

auuda .hal chahratil zifr
Shame on you

....

Skhuuna iTtimmak w Tim kul aar mithlak

Khazeituuna
( Moslawi)
You shamed us
Fash-shaltuuna ( Moslawi)
You fail us
Hiya dhraT biDh-raaT

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it is fart by fart
It is unimportant
No one takes it seriously
Malaa-aiin
Cunning people
Ham aajba il thibaan yfasi
A fly also likes to fart
Someone who shows that he is important whereas he is not.

20. Match or Mismatch

tluug
Match
mat luug
Mismatch
Laayig
Appropriate

()

mu laayig
Inappropriate
tirham
Match/ fit
Ma tirham
mismatch/ unfitting
Nashaaz
Dissonance
taSlakh
Does not match, ugly
waagfa ( )
standing
inappropriate

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183

ma timshee
contradicts
is not Okay
timshee
Is Okay
Is appropriate
tiSlaH
Appropriate
matiSlaH
Inappropriate
Hay-ya w nianaaa
snake and mint
two enemies
bazzuuna w faar
cat and mouse
two enemies
TamaaTa
( )
Tomatoes
He fits everywhere
Adjustable
Nashaaz = does not fit , dissonance
It does not fit. No conformity.

21. Trust / Distrust

ma tit ?amman shaghla
insecure
?ana ma?aSaddig lee daa yguula
I do not believe what he is saying
ma ?idhin hatha SaHeeH
I do not think this true (correct)
haay warTa
this is a predicament
jaay yqashmiruuna
they mislead us

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184

daa ydhiHkuun aleina

they laugh at us
)
l shaghla tkhir may (
this issue drips water
do not trust it
Sidik chithib
I cannot believe it.
Yaanee da t Sadga
Do you believe him
Haay madruusa
This is deliberate
Haay beeha ?in
this has if
I suspect it

"
"

Ballah hatha SaHeeH ?

Is that right?
Min yuguul hatha SaHeeH?
Who says it is right.
Haay klaawaat la TSadigha
These are lies do not trust
Maa miqtinia b hal Hachi ldaa yguula
I am not convinced with what he is telling us
Kulla KhariT kalaam
It is only rhetoric
La tSadughum. hthula Teezein b fad l baas
do not believe these two . They have 2 buttocks in one pant
Do not trust both. They are close friends.
Hay Hiila
This is a trick
Khuzaabulaat
Ploys, tricks
ashik haay mu?aamara alay-ya
This is a conspiracy against me

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22. Being Nosy

Inlizig bTeeza
he sticks to my ass
he intends not to leave me
La tkhalee yiflit
Do not let him escape
Keep being with him
Ma yfik yaakha minee
he never releases my collar
He sticks to me
Leish yiarif yfik yaakha mnil naas. Lazga.
he does not know to leave people (negative attitude)
He interferes a lot
Lazgat jonson
Jonsons stick
he is an intruder
Samigh yinlizig ( )
gum that sticks
he intrudes a lot
yliH hwaaya
he insists a lot
mutaTafil
intruder/ parasitic

maa yiarif yogaf

he does not know how to stop
he is very hyper ( negative)
very talkative
active
alik w ma tinfak ) (
gum that is never removed
intruder
Shinuu sawaad wich-chak
what is it of your black face
Why do you interfere?

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186

Matgulli shgad tid-dakh-khal!

Why do you interfere?

23. Balance
laa sheesh w la kabaab
not skewer nor Kabab
Do not take extremes
laa heech wa la heech
Not this nor that
raawisha
balance it
Hal wasat
Compromise
taTar-ruf
extremity
shee mugaabil shee
trade something for something else
maaku she bbalaash
there is nothing for free
lbalsh ma yinHaash
what is free is not liked
mit-tizin

Balanced (behavior)
Gheir mit-tizin
Imbalanced
Mutawaazin
Balanced
Gheir mutawaazin
imbalanced
nafsil Taas w nafsil hammam
nothing is changed
bein il chakuuch wil sindaan
no alternative, cannot do anything about it
I am between the hammer and the anvil

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187

24. Exaggeration
Habba yiamal minha kubbaaya

changes a grain into a Kubba
Explanation: to make one Kubba you need thousands of grains
He is exaggerating a lot
Nafaakh
Balogne

GaSaaS
cutter
Balogne
Ygis shalmaanat
cuts steel beams
Balogne

mTayirchee
makes things flying wings
bologna

allah yikhrib beitak ala hal kithba

God demolishes your house for this lie
that is a big lie
haay mubaalagha
This is exaggeration
Min hijam beita ala hal Tala mubaalagha
God destroy your house for what you did
you did something unexpected
what you did was exaggerated
hwaaya day dhar-rit
He is farting
He is exaggerating too much
Daa yizmiT
He is exaggerating

25. Disgust
muqrif
Disgusting

187

( )

188

Yqazizi
Disgust

Najaasa
Dirty action
naHaassa
Makes others unhappy
Razaala
Humiliation, suffering
Nathaala
Meanness, nastiness
Sakhaafa
silliness
Tafaaha
Nonsense
Yguum ilha il shair
disgusting
sawaad wich
intrusion
aar
Disgrace, shame

26. Too late

Faat il wagit ()
Baaid kharaabil basrah
aiish ya jaHiish lim man yijiik il Hashiish
Saaraw btalfaatit dunya
It is very far
Saar bkhabar kana
It becomes past
no longer exists

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189

Faat aleiha l qiTaar

You missed the train
you cannot catch up
haay Tilaat Hizora .
it is a puzzle / riddle

wbaaid lhabil al jarrar

the rope is still in the tractor
This will continue
You expect worse
Laa zaal il qiTar aal sicha ()
the train is still on rails
It has not been finished yet
We have not yet reached the destination (goal)
Ila mata yabqa l baaiiru alalal talli
til when the camel stays on the hill
How much longer are you going to wait?
Haay matikhlaS . maal(h)a nihaaya .
This has no end.
Muu Tageina
Muu Tageina
We are bursting
we cannot wait any longer
we are suffering
lii yamta
until when?
when
How long?
Mit?akh-khir
Late, delayed
faatil ?awaan
time passed us
we are late
khallan ?il qiTaar
train left us
we are behind

dan nraawiH hna

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190

halting here
staying where we are (behind)
not showing progress
baaid kulshi may yfeed il mas/ala mintahiya ..
It is too late. Nothing will come out.
Nothing is usefulthe story is ended
kulshi ama hal yom
it is a bad day. Nothing works.

""

27. Stinginess
Khisses
Mall khasees yruuH bil faTees
Bala wijadaan
khaaf________.
bala dhameer
he has no conscience
YiaSi l Khirga wyishrab mayha
squeezes a cloth, and drinks its water
very miser
ma yhimma. ygiS thadi umma wyashribHaleebminna .

He does not care. He cuts his moms breast and drinks its milk.
Nijis
Dirty
qarach
Gypsy = solicitor
Magaddi
Beggar, soliciter
Keiwaliya
Gypsies asking for money
Ma ybuul ala ?iid majruuH

Stingy
He never pisses on the hand of an injured

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191

Kulman yHuud il naar il gurs-ta

everybody directs fire to his loave
Everybody looks for his interest.

28. Threatening
ichfita bSalee

hit him with an automatic

shoot him
Idhriba b Talqa khalee ma yishrab may
Lak irmee Talia ruuHa

?imhii
khalee ynaam bil mustashfa
idhriba liman yitzawaaa

khaleek min hal jaljalutiyaat

Salkha salikh
?itha khallet la yak ya . ?ana maa ibin abuy ...
lo khaleina lha lhum. ?iHna ?awlaad l nghuula
raaH aksir rugubtak
raaH nshawifl kum ilee ma yinshaaf

Lyom ?ahriq il dunya ala r?uuskum wala r?uus il lii khallafuukum
?alla yTayiH Hadhak
God takes your luck
youre an idiot / stupid

?abiSTa basta min hay ?akh l ?akhuu

I will beat him severely
Kulshi bas la yidhribuuna bil buuri
Anything but not touching our ass as abuse
Everything but not hitting us with a pipe

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192

29. Suffix (-siz) means without

Damaaghsiz
Adabsiz

Akhlaqsiz
aar siz

Thauq siz
Deen siz
Gheerasiz
Bichimsiz
Mifless
Bankrupt, broke

30. Prefix (bala) = (un/ or without)

Bala adab

impolite

Bala naamuus

Bala Haya

Bala tarbiya

bala akhlaaq

bala fluus

bala qiyam

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31. Suffix (-chee) means (-er, -or as doer)

Doshmachee
Mushkilchee
Sakrachi
Klawchi

Chaychi
arzuHaalchi

qmaarchi
mTayirchi
kabaabchi
qundarchi
arabanchi

32. suffix ------khaana = a place

banziinkhaana

chaykhaana
?adabkhaana
maykhaana
Saraachkhaana ( )
Zorkhaana
hard work
maykhaana
night club

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194

33- Allah (SibHaanahu wa taaala )- SWT

azza wajal
A: allah _______
Allah bilk heir
In Gods grace
You are welcome
( you say it to someone who comes in, says hi to you and you see him sit)
allah ysaaadak
How are you?
God helps you.
(when you greet somebody who is doing something working)
allah yshaafeek
Wish you a recovery
allah ykhaleek,__________
Please, ___________
(when you ask someone to do you a favor)
Allah ykhaliik.
Thank you.
(When somebody did a favor to you)
allah yiHmiik
God protects you.
allah ykuun baonak
God helps you.
allah yHifdhak mnil bala
God keeps you from problems
allah wiyaak (maak) ( )
God be with you
Good bye
B: _______allah
mashaa allah
aein allah aleik
alal allah

al Hamdullah



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billah
Wallah
wallah wa billah wa tilla = promise (
)
?inshallla = if God will

C: Mohammed _______________
Mohammed Amin

You can put the name of the Prophet Mohammed at the beginning of any name that is among the
hundred beautiful adjectives or names of Allah SWT (Al-Asmaa? il Husna).

Proper Names:
Abid = slave
1. Abid il_______________
Abdullah
2. _____________________allah
Waadallah
3. Mohammed abdul _________________
Mohammed abdul rahim
4. Abu as Iraqi traditional names
a: Abuuna = Christian use our father to mean a "priest "
b: Abu jasim = mohammed =
c: Abu khalil = a soldier
=
d: Abu Ismael = a policeman =
e: Abul waleed = Khalid
=
f: Abu Saabir = donkey
=
g: Abu il ana = the one who claims it =
the man of ego
i: Abu ghayib= somebody who has no children yet
j: Abul klaawaat = someone who makes tricks

34. Pejorative adjectives

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fugir

( )

ibnil fugir
Palashtee

jerk

Shalaati

Saaqit
Immoral

Lajuuj

Mbahdal
Hosa

()

Hosa b hosa

Hmaar ma yiftihim
Dacha dabang damaaghsis
Ghasheem

\ \

inlaaSat
khisees
Kheesa
Khyaasaat
Idhriba bil eimani ( )
Saratil l lakha
Slikha braajdee
Mraabil
Saqeea

Miftree slander
Jaayif
Khaayis
\

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La tsharbitha
qabba

Dacha
Daacha
Nashnish shwaya
Oh, qurbaanak

revive

Zifit
khirbanda
too old

Faahee
Silly / insipid / not liked
adhim thaqeel ( )
Hraamiya
Nheibiya
Nafash nafsa

Tarasiya
Bawaageen

Dhoja

Dokha

Dokhat raas
Qarabaligh

ama aleik
ila- jahanama wa bi?sal maSiir
Go to hell
Miqirbaaz
Naive
amiil

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Agent
Khaayin
Traitor

Sayir Chafjeer il balad

He is everywhere
You see him everywhere

35. Harassing women

Umil zruur
mother of buttocks
a woman who has big buttocks
?umil dyuus
mother of breast
a woman who has big breasts
Khosh gufa aleiha
good hips on you
a woman with a big ass
Fidwa l hal Sadir
die for this chest
I like your breasts
Haay shlon rashaaqa
What kind of slender build is this?
Youre in shape.
Fidwa l hal ayuun l zurug
die for these blue eyes
You have beautiful blue eyes
amuut ala hal ayuun il soda
I die for these black eyes
You have very beautiful black eyes
Haatha shlon khiSir
What kind of waist is this?
You have a good waist
Fidwa lhal Tuul
die for this height
you have a beautiful body

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Fidwa l hal jamaal

die for this beauty
You are gorgeous
Amuut aleich
die for you
I love you
Fad bosa
One kiss
Can I kiss you?
Fedwa l hal shafaayif il raqeeqa(rageega) ( )
Die for these thin lips
You have charming thin lips
Haay wein mkhabiya hal Jamaal
where have you been hiding this beauty
You are very gorgeous
Fedwa lhal bashara il raqiiqa il beidha
die for this soft, white skin
you are white and beautiful
Fedwa lhal samaar
die for this bronze(tan) skin
you have tan skin and beautiful

36. Flirting Women

Intee hwaaya Hilwa
You are very sweet
you are beautiful
Intee rasheeqa w habaaba
You are fit and cute
Wajhich Hulu w bashuush
Your face is sweet and smiling
Shaarich Hulu
Your hair is beautiful
ayuun il maha (ghizlaan) ( )

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your eyes are of the gazelle

aein allah aleich ya Hleiwa
Gods eyes on you . You the beauty
aein allah aala hal Jamaal
Gods eyes on you. You the beauty
You are very beautiful
?Slan ayuunich t khab bil
in fact, your eyes make me crazy
I love your eyes
wajhil gumar ( )
moony face
jamalij saaHir
your beauty is magic

37. Expressing chaos

hossa

Tarbaga
qarabaligh
Saarat farhuud

) (

L kalib maa yiarif SaaHba

Fawdha

Maaku qaanuun
Lhikuuma maaku
Lnidhaam maaku

Maaku ?istiqraar
L waaHid ma yidri shii ysaw wii
L?immur mlakhbaTa

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Haay kharabiiT

Tarbaga
Falataan
dhraT bi dhraT
Fart in fart
no one cares

Msayaaba
No control
Biiha tasay-yub
People do not abide by rules
maHad yirham bHal ?ahad
No one is merciful
People are selfish

Shliila w dhaayia raas-ha

A reel of string with a lost end
It is difficult to find a solution for it
Haarat kul min ?eedu ?ilu

Neighborhood in which everybody can do whatever he/she likes
no rules are valid
Sirna la minna wla minna

we became neither from here, nor from there.
We are stuck in between
We got lost in between
haay tirneeni . baaid wein l tirnaana baaqiya

We expect the worse
kaaka wklumba wkalbil maay
All three are a gang whom work together

tisa may waaHid laban

nine water in one yogurt
It is adulterated

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38. Euphemism
There are certain words or phrases that people do not mention in the formal
occasions or in public. They tend to use different nice words to replace them.
Ykharee = v. shit, defecate

AruuH lii bar-ra w jaay .

I go outside and come back.
Abuul = v. piss

Shway-ya ashukh w ajii

People avoid all and they say :

MaHSuur (iin) = adj. ( )
I am squeezed ( I need to go to the restroom)
RaaH Agdhi Hajti w raajia =
I do my need and come back.
Ill go to the restroom and be back.
Tikram (uun) aruuH lil maraafiq w aji

Forgive me for my words, I will go to the latrine and back.
Haasha il sam-aiin ________________ (huwa Hmaar)

Apology to ( excluding) the hearers ___________ ( he is a donkey)
Apologize me for my words he is stupid
Baaiid minkum ( mihna) maat " "
Far from you he died
I do not mean to make you sad he died
( the same does not happen to you. Be safe.)
Baiid min hna inTaakum aumra
Far from you he gave you his life
I do not want to make you sad he died

Wise Sayings
lbaab lee yijeek mina l reeH sidu wistareeH
If the wind comes through a door, close it
stay away from the problem

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raaH truuH w intal mamnuun

you will walk on your feet with gratitude
you will, one day, accept what you do not accept now.
liman SaHbak Hilu la takla kula
( )( ) ...
If your friend is very sweet do not eat him
Do not take advantage
Kalaam il leil yimHee il nahaar

the speech at night is removed by light of the day
I do not go by what I have already promised
Akalnaaha .wi?iHna ma makleen wala shaarbeen

We had it and did not drink nor eat
We had nothing to do with it. But we got involved
la baagi wa la mTallag
( )
not hanging, nor released
We do not know what to do.
Ma ilna beeha . laa naaqa wala jamal

We do not have in this case a female camel, nor a male one.
It is not of our interests
Hassan kocha , kocha Hassan
) ( ) (
Replacement of an adjective makes no difference
It does not matter how you say it.
maH-Had yguul labani Haamidh

no one says my yogurt is sour
no one criticizes himself or herself
no one advertises against his or her commodities
gaal abu l mathal .eesh b bakhit wguum b bakhit magruud yaa lmaa aindak
HaDh w bakhit
. . .
live in luck and raise in luck. Pity the one who has no luck
Some people are lucky, but others are not
L yaiish bil Hiila ymuut bil figir

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One who lives on tricks dies poor
tricks never prevail
Day Siid bil maayil aakir

He is fishing in murky water
Make use of the environment for his own benefits
He is doing something wrong

Maa yinfaa
is useless

Laa bil aiirib wala bil nafiir
In all good or bad circumstances
In peace or war
He is nothing
Kul shii yziid min Had da , yigilib Dhid-da
whatever goes over the limit, it goes against
Plus is like minus

giTnaaya wtalliaha min ithnak

a piece of cotton and throw it from your ear
do not listen to.this is impossible

il maa ynuush il ainab yguul Haidh

When you cannot get grapes, you say they are unripe (bitter)
when you cannot get something, you rumor about it being bad
min shaf aSHaaba, nisa aSHaba
when he sees his lovers, he forgets about friends
when he is among relatives, he forgets to call his friends
aiSfuurbil eed, ?aHsan min ashra aal shajar

a bird in hand is better than ten on a tree

like what you get .

A number of Iraqi Proverbs

Proverbs are comprised of images that are produced by the mentality of the members
of the society from thoughts and culture. Therefore I collected a number of these
proverbs so that we can get an idea in which situation they are appropriately used to
be effective in conveying the message. Here are some:
. .1

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Min barra halla halla, wmin jawwa yialam ?alla.

1. From outside is nice looking, but inside God knows.
Message:
You do not know the hidden things.
. .2
huwa naayim, w rijleih bil shamis.
2. Sleeping but his legs are in sun.
Message:
He is not aware of what is going on around him
. 3
Sabia Sanaayia, wil bakhit dhaayia
3. Seven jobs but no fortune
Message:
The man is not lucky.
.4
yigtil il mayit , w yimshi: bjana:ztu
5. He kills the victim, and attends his funeral.
Message:
He is crooked.
. .5
Lmbal lil ma ykhaaf mnil maTar
6. The soaked do not fear rain.
Message:
He/she is challenging.
. ( ) .6
lGa:yib Hijitu wiiyaa (maauu)
6.Any absence has a reason.
Message:
Do not blame him/her for being late or not showing up. Ask him or her when
he/she will be back
.7
Lbaab illi yijiik mina lriiH, sida w istariiH
7. Close the window that the wind comes through
Message:
Do not get involved. Stay away from problems.
Do not talk about sensitive issues that bring about problems.
. ( .8
Illi yidrii yidrii Wilma yidrii (chafat) gadhbat aadas
8. Those who know the fact, they know it. Others think about owning a handful of
lentils.
Message
You are not aware of what is essential. You do not understand what the circumstances
are.
.9
Illi faat maat
9. The thing that has passed is dead.

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Message
Forget about it. Do not look backward.
.10
?ija ?iidei ?atwal min rijleih
10. He came his hands longer than his legs
He brings nothing with him
.11
11. il shaara ?allati qasamat dhahril baaiir
it is the hair that breaks the back of the camel
the real unnoticed reason of somebodys fall
.12
12. maa ?ilna biiha laa naaqa wala jamal
we do not have a male or female camel
It is not of our interests
.13
13. L aadhi-ta Hay-ya , ykhaaf mnil Habil
someone who is bitten by a snake fears a rope
Someone who becomes phobic
( ). .14
14. Maadgulli ?ilman ja tiHchi.jay
tunfukh b Qurba manguuba
No one is listening to you
You are wasting efforts
.15
15. ?aani w ?akhoo aala bni aammi, waani w ?ibn aammi alal ghariib
me and my brother against my cousins, me and my cousins against a foreigner
support your relatives against others
. 16
16. hwaaya laa tfag-gir ?ilha mudab-bir
Do not think too much about it. It has a caretaker, God
17. Kalaam il leil yimHii il nahaar
The issue is different now
Day erases whatever was said at night

.17
.18

18. ?Il maala ?awal maala taali

the one who is not loyal from the beginning, cannot be loyal now
.19
19. Min tinkisir il shuusha baaidha maa tinjibir
Once the glass is broken, it cannot be repaired
.20
20. Teach your son before the jar is broken
Teach your son before the damage is done. It is too late.

Parables( myth) from the Iraqi History

" " .21
21. Sarat mithil qamiis authman
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do not put Othomans shirt on me

Do not unjustly accuse me of somebodys murder.
" " .22
22. Shaarat muaaawiya
Muayias hair
Diplomacy to achieve victory over your enemy
" " .23
23. ?aama w chal-lap b shubach ab-bas
Abbass window
Do not hold on me tightly to be saved
.24
24. maa yipchi aal Hussein , yipchi aal hariisa
he does not weep for hussin , he weeps to get hariisa (the food be served for the
occasion) .
His goal is personal .
.25
25. ya min tiab wyaa min shiga, wyaa min alal Haadhir liga
Some people worked hard but a few others got the credit
... .26
26. ?eed il li matigdar taithha.... busha
The hand that you cannot bite, kiss it
If you cannot challenge someone befriend him
.27
27. ?igaid ?awaj w?iHchil SaHeeH
sit on your side but speak the right thing
even when you do not like it, say it right
( )( ) .28
28. ma tiarif Kheira liman ma tjarrib gheira
you do not know his benefit unless you try someone else
.29
29. malil khasees yruuH bil fates
money of the miser serves no body
.30
30. min barra khaam wmin jawwa skhaam
from outside is ore but inside is soot
it is mere appearance
.31
31. yom ilak wyom aleik
one day is for you and another is on you
consider the ups and downs of life
.32
32. illee ma yiarif tadaabeera, HinTita taakil shiaeera
the one who does not know how to organize, His wheat eats his barely
You should be smart
.33
(
)
33. wakkil il fam, tistaHee il aein

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feed the mouth, the eye gets shy

If you are generous to people, people will respect you
Bribe somebody, he will do it for you ( culture notion)
.... .34
34. hiya jattee. Allah jabha
it comes by itself.Gods brought it
I was fortunate
winning by fluke
.35
35. yl hazema thilthil marjala
running is 3 quarters of valor
to run is to win ( in certain occasions)
.36
36. lo l qaadhi raadhi, il miftee shinu dakhla
If the judge agrees, why does almiftee interfere?
why do others interfere if there is a consensual agreement between two people
.37
37. mid rijleik ala qad lHaafak
stretch your legs to the length of your cover
Do what you can do and not more
.... .38
38. minu ainda. asaata w abaata
who has .. his walking stick and his cloak
alone, single, living by himself, not responsible for dependents, easy to travel

Pan Arabic Idioms/ figures of speech

.1
1. akala aleihi il dahru wa sharib
Time has eaten and drunk on it
it is too old

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.2
2. sharrul baliyati maa yudh-Hik
the worst of it is laughable
You do not know what to say
.3
3. afula nijmuh
his star faded away
his celebrity declines
.4
4. ?uTliqa l ainaan anhu
uncurbed
.5
5. ?adrakathu il maniya
the fate befell him
died
.6
6.waqaa fii Haysa baysa
He fell in trouble
does not know what to do
.7
7. ?ikhTalata l Haabil bil naabil
Things are mixed up
It turned chaotic






.8
8. la Hawla wala quwata illa billah
You are powerless without Gods power
let me be patient and avoid using violence and evil.
.9
9. ta?atii ir-ryaahu bima laa tashthiihi ilsufunu
winds come opposite to the ships direction
Things do not come the way you like them to be
.10
10. ahil maaka ?adra bi shiaabiha
Meccas people know its terrain better
Indigenous people are more aware of their problems than others
.11
11. waafaqa shannun Tabaqa
Shan (boy) agrees with Tabaqa(girl)
The two have many things in common.
.12
12. HiSaan Tarwaada
Toledo Horse
.13
13. mikhlabil qiT
cats Paw
.14
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14. HiS_Satil asad

the lions share
.15
15. rajaa bikhuffay Hunayn
He came back with light sandals
he was a failure
.16
16. rajaa Sifril yadein
He came back with yellow hands
He did not get anything out of it
.17
17.taquum il dunya wala taqaud
the world stands and never sits
They made much fuss about it
.18
18. min kuli baydarin Habba
from each harvest ground a grain
a flower from each garden
.
.19
19. jaa?a kulun man habba wa dab
no restrictions . everybody comes in (interferes)
.20
20. ?itha hadhura l maa?u baTulla l tayam-mumu
if water comes, the toilet paper is out
water for ablution is preferable
The presence of the manager, for instance, is preferred to a substitute
.21
21. yaarifu min ?ayna tu?kalil katifu
he knows from where to eat the shoulder
He goes to the right person to achieve what he wants
He knows how to take the opportunity for his personal benefits
He/she is experienced enough to establish relations with the effective people
.22
22. Hiya mujarad thir il rimaad alal ayuun
it is just adding ash to the eyes
only to show that they are doing it.
.23
23. Itaqi shar-ra man AHsanta Ilayhi
Avoid the wickedness of the one whom you helped
.24
24. Il Arab Itafquu ?alla ?an maa yitifguun
Arabs are in an agreement not to agree
.25
25. your tongue is your horse if you keep him, he keeps you
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If you do not talk shit, no body will hurt you

.26
26. If speech is silver, silence is gold
Do not talk too much.
Listen and do not talk
.27
27. Dharabni w baka wsabaqni wishtaka
He beat me but cried , he then went before me and complained
in fact, he is guilty though complaining
.28
28. al ailm fil Sighar, kalnaqsh alal Hajar
learning in childhood is like engraving on a stone
what you learn in your childhood, you do not forget
.29
29. anda l ?imtiHaan, yukram ul mr?u, ?aw yuhaanu
on the test, someone is praised or humiliated
when you take a test, you either pass or fail
.30
30. al authr ?aqbaHu min al thanb
the excuse was worse than the guilt
you failed to find a plausible excuse
.31
31. ailim bila amal, kalshajar bila thamar
knowledge without work is like a tree without fruit
If you know but do not apply it, it is fruitless
.32
32. khuthik l ?aSeel walau alal HaSeer
take the pure blooded individuals, even though on the straw mattress
marry a lady of a good family though she is poor
befriend a loyal guy though he is poor

Parts of the body

Raas
Rijil
?iid
chaaib

head

leg

hand

heel, ankle ( )

Halig
aikis

mouth
elbow

( )

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khashim nose

Sabuuna (rikba) knee

Ragaba neck ( )
Chaf

palm

( )

Wich

face

()

gufa
hip(s), back (( ) )
siiqaan
legs ( usually women)
nugrati chatif the front shoulder bone ( ( )
aein
eye(s)
?ithin
ear(s)
dilia , ?adlaaa
rib, ribs
?izbia, ?asaabia finger, fingers
risigh
wrist

Months of the Year

Kanuun il thaani (1)
shibaaT(2)
?aathaar(3)
niisaan(4)
maayis, Ayaar (5)
Hziiraan(6)
Tamuuz(7)
?aab(8)
?ayluul (9)

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September
kanntishriinil awal (10)
tishriin il thaani(11)
kaanuunil ?awal (12)

October

November
December

Conclusion
In sum, I can say that the Iraqi dialect has phonology, grammar, syntax,
vocabulary, and social discourse different from that of the MSA taught in schools. The
Iraqi sound system has more consonants and vowels than are found in the classical
Arabic, which lends itself to form consonant clusters in the first syllable of its words
or within the boundaries or phrases. The grammar is more explicit in terms of aspects
and time. It also avoids the traditional passive voice pattern of Classical Arabic and

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213

uses Measure VII (seven) with bound morpheme before the first core consonant of the
root to indicate passivity. This text gives a general view of the differences between the
two languages Modern standard Arabic (MSA) and the Iraqi dialect (ID), but it still
needs further investigation of the discourse at the social level by studying the
exchanges taken from the daily speech of people.
Matti Phillips Khoshaba Al-bazi
2008

References:
1. Abd-el-Jawad, H. (1987) Cross-dialectal variation in Arabic:
Competing prestigious forms. Language in society,16,
(3), pp. 359-368.
2. Abu-Haidar, F. (1989) Are Iraqi women more prestige conscious
than men? Sex differentiation in Baghdadi Arabic.
Language in society, 18, (4), pp. 471-481.

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214

3. Holes, C. (1983) pattern of communal language variation in

Bahrain. Language in society, 12, (4), pp. 433-457.
4. Altoma,S. (1969) The problem of diglossia in Arabic:
A comparative study of classical and Iraqi Arabic.
Stephen Austin and Sons, LTD., Hertford, Herts.
Oxford University Press. London.
5. Haywood, J. & Nahmad, H. (1982) A new Arabic grammar of the
written language. Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Harvard University Press.
6. Zaydan, J. (1969) Language philosophy and its words.
Alhilaal Printing shop House, Cairo University.
7. Wilkins, D. (1983) Notional Syllabuses. Oxford University press, Hong Kong
8. Krahnke, K. (1987) Approaches to Syllabus Design for foreign language Teaching.
Printice-hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
9. Wolfson, N. (1989) Perspectives Sociolinguistics and TESOL.
Cambridge University Press
10. Mackay, S & Horenberger, N. (1996) Sociolinguistics and Language teaching.
Cambridge University Press.

214

Iraqi Dialect versus Standard Arabic

Matti Philips Khoshaba Al- Bazi 2006
(MATFL)

I can say that the Iraqi dialect has phonology, grammar, syntax, vocabulary,
and social discourse different from that of the Modern standard Arabic (MSA)
taught in schools. The Iraqi sound system has more consonants and vowels
than are found in the Classical Arabic, which lends itself to form consonant
clusters in the first syllable of its words or within the boundaries or phrases.
The grammar is more explicit in terms of aspects and time. It also avoids the
traditional passive voice pattern of the Classical Arabic and uses the Measure
VII (seven) bound morpheme as a prefix (in-) at the beginning of the transitive
verbs to indicate passivity. This text gives a general view of the differences
between the two languages Modern Standard Arabic(MSA) and the Iraqi
dialect (ID) in English, but the Iraqi dialect still needs further investigation of
the discourse at the social level by studying exchanges taken from the daily
speech of people. This text book is different from all the other books on Arabic
in that the last part contains all forms and formulas that you can express
yourself easily in various situations, and they are designed according to the
notional functional style of speech exchanges in the daily life of the Iraqi
people.

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