chapter 11
This source provides essential Arabic phrases and vocabulary for navigating various emergency situations, such as requiring help during an incident like a theft or fire, seeking medical assistance, and obtaining legal aid. It explains different Arabic words for "help," including those for severe emergencies, and offers important phrases for calling for the police or a doctor. Furthermore, the text includes vocabulary for discussing body parts and symptoms with a doctor and advises on contacting one's country's consulate or embassy for legal representation if needed abroad.
Shouting Out for Help
When witnessing or experiencing an emergency such as a theft, fire, or heart attack, the first instinct is to yell for help.
Arabic has three words for "help":
musaa’ada [مساعدة] (moo-sah-ah-dah) and mu’aawana [معاونة] (moo-ah-wah-nah) are used interchangeably to ask for help in an emergency. Shouting these words consecutively, such as musaa’ada musaa’ada! [مساعدة مساعدة!] or mu’aawana mu’aawana! [معاونة معاونة!], can attract more attention. These are described as "level 3" words for help.
najda [نجدة] (nah-jeh-dah) is a third word meaning "help," but screaming najda [نجدة] indicates a severe, extremely dangerous, life-and-death situation. This is described as a "level 5" word for help.
For severe situations like a drowning, heart attack, or suicide attempt, you should scream an-najda an-najda! [النجدة النجدة!] (ahn-nah-jeh-dah ahn-nah-jeh-dah; Help help!).
Other important emergency phrases include:
saa’iduunii! [ساعدوني!] (sah-ee-doo-nee; Help me!)
‘aawinuunii! [عاونوني!] (ah-wee-noo-nee; Help me!)
shurTa! [شرطة!] (shoo-reh-tah; Police!)
‘uriidu Tabiib! [أريد طبيب!] (oo-ree-doo tah-beeb; I need a doctor!)
liSS! [لص!] (lehs; Thief!)
naar! [نار!] (nahr; Fire!)
The Verb "To Help"
The word musaa’ada [مساعدة] is derived from the verb saa’ada [ساعد] (sah-ah-dah), meaning "to help".
While shouting musaa’ada [مساعدة] is a crucial first step, being able to formulate a sentence is necessary to get the right kind of help.
The verb saa’ada [ساعد] is used for conjugation in the past tense. Table 11-1 shows the past tense forms:
‘anaa saa’adtu [أنا ساعدت] (I helped)
‘anta saa’adta [أنت ساعدت] (You helped, MS)
‘anti saa’adti [أنتِ ساعدتِ] (You helped, FS)
huwa saa’ada [هو ساعد] (He helped)
hiya saa’adat [هي ساعدت] (She helped)
naHnu saa’adnaa [نحن ساعدنا] (We helped)
‘antum saa’adtum [أنتم ساعدتم] (You helped, MP)
‘antunna saa’adtunna [أنتن ساعدتن] (You helped, FP)
hum saa’aduu [هم ساعدوا] (They helped, MP)
hunna saa’adna [هن ساعدن] (They helped, FP)
antumaa saa’adtumaa [أنتما ساعدتما] (You helped, dual/MP/FP)
humaa saa’adaa [هما ساعدا] (They helped, dual/MP)
humaa saa’adataa [هما ساعدتا] (They helped, dual/FP)
The form yusaa’idu [يُساعد] (yoo-sah-ee-doo) is used for conjugating "to help" in the present tense. In Arabic, the present tense describes both habitual and ongoing actions (e.g., "I help" and "I am helping"). Table 11-2 shows the present tense forms:
‘anaa ‘usaa’idu [أنا أساعد] (I am helping)
‘anta tusaa’idu [أنت تُساعد] (You are helping, MS)
‘anti tusaa’idiina [أنتِ تُساعدين] (You are helping, FS)
huwa yusaa’idu [هو يُساعد] (He is helping)
hiya tusaa’idu [هي تُساعد] (She is helping)
naHnu nusaa’idu [نحن نُساعد] (We are helping)
‘antum tusaa’iduuna [أنتم تُساعدون] (You are helping, MP)
‘antunna tusaa’idna [أنتن تُساعدن] (You are helping, FP)
hum yusaa’iduuna [هم يُساعدون] (They are helping, MP)
hunna yusaa’idna [هن يُساعدن] (They are helping, FP)
antumaa tusaa’idaani [أنتما تُساعدان] (You are helping, dual/MP/FP)
humaa yusaa’idaani [هما يُساعدان] (They are helping, dual/MP)
humaa tusaa’idaani [هما تُساعدان] (They are helping, dual/FP)
While musaa’ada [مساعدة] has the most conjugated verb forms, mu’aawana [معاونة] can also be conjugated using ‘aawana [عاون] (past) and yu’aawinu [يُعاون] (present), but this is less common in everyday Arabic. Najda [نجدة] is a distress code word and does not have a verb equivalent.
Offering Help
Sometimes you may be in a position to offer help to someone else.
To assess the situation, you can ask questions like:
maadhaa waqa’a? [ماذا وقع؟] (mah-zah wah-qah-ah; What happened?)
hal kul shay’ bikhayr? [هل كل شيء بخير؟] (hal kool shah-yeh bee-kayr; Is everything all right?)
hal turiidu musaa’ada? [هل تريد مساعدة؟] (hal too-ree-doo moo-sah-ah-dah; Do you want help?)
hal yajibu ‘an tadhhab ‘ilaa al-mustashfaa? [هل يجب أن تذهب إلى المستشفى؟] (hal yah-jee-boo ann taz-hab ee-laa al-moos-tash-fah; Do you need to go to the hospital?)
hal turiidu Tabiib? [هل تريد طبيب؟] (hal too-ree-doo tah-beeb; Do you want a doctor?)
If injuries are serious and the person seems disoriented, you should contact the shurTa [شرطة] (police) or other first responders.
To call the police, you can say: ‘aHtaaju bi musaa’ada fawran [أحتاج بمساعدة فوراً] (ah-tah-joo bee moo-sah-ah-dah faw-ran; I need help right away).
An example conversation of offering help is provided:
Lamia: ‘afwan. hal kul shay’ bikhayr? [عَفواً. هل كل شيء بخير؟] (Excuse me. Is everything all right?)
Woman: na’am. kul shay’ bikhayr [نعم. كل شيء بخير]. (Yes. Everything is all right.)
Lamia: maadhaa waqa’a? [ماذا وقع؟] (What happened?)
Woman: laa shay’. laqad saqaTtu [لا شيء. لقد سقطت]. (Nothing. I fell.)
Lamia: hal turiidiina musaa’ada? [هل تريدين مساعدة؟] (Do you need help? - using the female form for "you")
Woman: laa shukran. kul shay’ sayakun bikhayr [لا شكراً. كل شيء سيكون بخير]. (No thank you. I will be all right.)
Getting Medical Help
For medical emergencies, the first stop is typically the mustashfaa [مستشفى] (moos-tash-fah; hospital) to see a Tabiib [طبيب] (tah-beeb; doctor).
For a checkup, you can see a Tabiib ‘aam [طبيب عام] (tah-beeb ahm; general doctor).
Specialist doctors mentioned include:
Tabiib ‘asnaan [طبيب أسنان] (tah-beeb ahs-nan; dentist)
Tabiib ‘aynayn [طبيب عينين] (tah-beeb ah-yeh-nayn; ophthalmologist)
Tabiib rijl [طبيب رجل] (tah-beeb ree-jel; orthopedist)
Tabiib ‘aTfaal [طبيب أطفال] (tah-beeb aht-fal; pediatrician)
To interact with a doctor, you need to identify body parts. Table 11-3 lists major body parts, including:
jasad [جسد] (body)
ra’s [رأس] (head)
qalb [قلب] (heart)
ma’iida [معدة] (stomach)
diraa’ [ذراع] (arm)
yad [يد] (hand)
rijl [رجل] (leg)
qadam [قدم] (foot), among others.
Explaining symptoms is vital for proper treatment. You can describe how mariiD [مريض] (mah-reed; sick) you feel. Table 11-4 includes common symptoms:
maraD [مرض] (sickness)
waja’ [وجع] (ache/ailment)
su’aal [سعال] (cough)
bard [برد] (cold)
SuDaa’ [صداع] (headache)
Haraara [حرارة] (fever)
Harq [حرق] (burn)
raDDa [رضة] (bruise)
waja’ ‘aDHahr [وجع ظهر] (backache)
maraD al-Hasaasiya [مرض الحساسية] (allergy)
A doctor may ask maadha yu’limuka? [ماذا يؤلمك؟] (mah-zah yoo-lee-moo-kah; What hurts you?).
A common response is to name the body part followed by yu’limunii [يؤلمني] (yoo-lee-moo-nee; hurts me). Examples:
ra’sii yu’limunii [رأسي يؤلمني]. (My head hurts me.)
Sadrii yu’limunii [صدري يؤلمني]. (My chest hurts me.)
diraa’ii yu’limunii [ذراعي يؤلمني]. (My arm hurts me.)
After analyzing symptoms, the doctor offers ‘ilaaj [علاج] (ee-laj; treatment). Following the doctor's orders helps you get and remain saliim [سليم] (sah-leem; healthy).
Treatment-related words include:
dawaa’ [دواء] (dah-wah; medicine)
SayDaliiyya [صيدلية] (sah-yeh-dah-lee-yah; pharmacy)
‘iyaada [عيادة] (ee-yah-dah; clinic)
Words to know regarding medical issues include:
mariiD [مريض] (sick)
‘ilaaj [علاج] (treatment)
saliim [سليم] (healthy)
sharaab su’aal [شراب سعال] (cough medicine)
Suurat ‘ashi’a [صورة أشعة] (X-ray)
‘asbiriin [أسبرين] (aspirin)
A sample conversation between a doctor and patient demonstrates this:
Doctor: maadha yu’limuka? [ماذا يؤلمك؟] (What hurts you?)
Omar: ra’sii yu’limunii [رأسي يؤلمني]. (My head hurts.)
Doctor: shay’ ‘aakhar? [شيء آخر؟] (Anything else?)
Omar: na’am. ‘indii Haraara [نعم. عندي حرارة]. (Yes. I have a fever.)
Doctor: khudh haadhaa ‘asbiriin wa satakuun bikhayr [خذ هذا أسبرين وستكون بخير]. (Take this aspirin, and you will be all right.)
Acquiring Legal Help
If you have a run-in with the law and are charged with a mujrima [مجريمة] (mooj-ree-mah; crime), you may need a muHaamiiy [محامي] (moo-hah-mee; lawyer). A lawyer understands the qaanuun [قانون] (qah-noon; law).
In a foreign country, the best route for legal representation is often to contact your country’s qunSuliyya [قنصلية] (koon-soo-lee-yah; consulate) and speak to the qunSul [قنصل] (koon-sool; consul). Consular officers have a good understanding of the host country's laws and can be very helpful, especially if you might go to maHkama [محكمة] (mah-kah-mah; court) and face a qaadiiy [قاضي] (qah-dee; judge).
For a very serious situation, you might also call your country’s sifaara [سفارة] (see-fah-rah; embassy). While you might not speak directly to the safiir [سفير] (sah-feer; ambassador), the embassy can take steps to provide assistance.
| English Word | Standard Arabic | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Water | ماء | maa' |
| 2. Sun | شمس | shams |
| 3. Moon | قمر | qamar |
| 4. Tree | شجرة | shajarah |
| 5. Book | كتاب | kitaab |
| 6. House | بيت | bayt |
| 7. Car | سيارة | sayyaarah |
| 8. Friend | صديق | sadeeq |
| 9. Teacher | معلم | mu'allim |
| 10. Student | طالب | taalib |
| 11. Food | طعام | ta'aam |
| 12. Drink | شراب | sharaab |
| 13. Country | بلد | balad |
| 14. Language | لغة | lughah |
| 15. Day | يوم | yawm |
| 16. Night | ليل | layl |
| 17. Big | كبير | kabeer |
| 18. Small | صغير | sagheer |
| 19. Happy | سعيد | sa'eed |
| 20. Sad | حزين | hazeen |
| 21. Beautiful | جميل | jameel |
| 22. Old | قديم | qadeem |
| 23. New | جديد | jadeed |
| 24. Work | عمل | 'amal |
| 25. Money | مال | maal |
| 26. Question | سؤال | su'aal |
| 27. Answer | جواب | jawaab |
| 28. Name | اسم | ism |
| 29. City | مدينة | madeenah |
| 30. World | عالم | 'aalim |
* English: The cat is sleeping.
Arabic: القطة نائمة.
Transliteration: Al-qittatu naa'imah.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Al-qittatu [The cat] naa'imah [sleeping].)
* English: I drink tea in the morning.
Arabic: أشرب الشاي في الصباح.
Transliteration: 'Ashrabu al-shaaya fee al-sabaah.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): ('Ashrabu [I drink] al-shaaya [the tea] fee [in] al-sabaah [the morning].)
* English: He works in a bank.
Arabic: هو يعمل في بنك.
Transliteration: Huwa ya'malu fee bank.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Huwa [He] ya'malu [works] fee [in] bank [a bank].)
* English: We like to travel.
Arabic: نحن نحب السفر.
Transliteration: Nahnu nuhibbu al-safar.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Nahnu [We] nuhibbu [like] al-safar [the travel].)
* English: They are studying for an exam.
Arabic: هم يدرسون للامتحان.
Transliteration: Hum yadrusoona lil-imtihaan.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Hum [They] yadrusoona [study] lil-imtihaan [for the exam].)
* English: The weather is cold tonight.
Arabic: الجو بارد الليلة.
Transliteration: Al-jawwu baaridun al-laylah.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Al-jawwu [The weather] baaridun [cold] al-laylah [the night].)
* English: I need to buy bread.
Arabic: أحتاج أن أشتري خبزاً.
Transliteration: 'Ahtaaju 'an 'ashtaree khubzan.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): ('Ahtaaju [I need] 'an [to] 'ashtaree [buy] khubzan [bread].)
* English: She is a student.
Arabic: هي طالبة.
Transliteration: Hiya taalibah.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Hiya [She] taalibah [a student].)
* English: This is my car.
Arabic: هذه سيارتي.
Transliteration: Haadhihi sayyaaratee.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Haadhihi [This] sayyaaratee [my car].)
* English: Where is the post office?
Arabic: أين مكتب البريد؟
Transliteration: 'Ayna maktab al-bareed?
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): ('Ayna [Where] maktab [office of] al-bareed [the post]?)
* English: Can you speak slowly?
Arabic: هل يمكنك التحدث ببطء؟
Transliteration: Hal yumkinuka al-tahadduth bi-but'in?
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Hal [Question particle] yumkinuka [is it possible for you] al-tahadduth [the speaking] bi-but'in [with slowness]?)
* English: The door is open.
Arabic: الباب مفتوح.
Transliteration: Al-baabu maftooh.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Al-baabu [The door] maftooh [open].)
* English: We live near the sea.
Arabic: نحن نعيش بالقرب من البحر.
Transliteration: Nahnu na'eeshu bil-qurbi min al-bahr.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Nahnu [We] na'eeshu [live] bil-qurbi [in the vicinity] min [of] al-bahr [the sea].)
* English: He is sad.
Arabic: هو حزين.
Transliteration: Huwa hazeen.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Huwa [He] hazeen [sad].)
* English: They are watching television.
Arabic: هم يشاهدون التلفزيون.
Transliteration: Hum yushaahidoona al-tilfizioon.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Hum [They] yushaahidoona [watch] al-tilfizioon [the television].)
* English: I am happy. (female)
Arabic: أنا سعيدة.
Transliteration: 'Ana sa'eedah.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): ('Ana [I] sa'eedah [happy].)
* English: Do you understand? (to a male)
Arabic: هل تفهم؟
Transliteration: Hal tafham?
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Hal [Question particle] tafham [you understand]?)
* English: My job is interesting.
Arabic: عملي ممتع.
Transliteration: 'Amalee mumti'.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): ('Amalee [My work/job] mumti' [interesting].)
* English: The child is playing. (male)
Arabic: الطفل يلعب.
Transliteration: Al-tiflu yal'abu.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Al-tiflu [The child] yal'abu [plays].)
* English: We visited our family.
Arabic: زرنا عائلتنا.
Transliteration: Zurnaa 'aa'ilatinaa.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Zurnaa [We visited] 'aa'ilatinaa [our family].)
* English: She is listening to music.
Arabic: هي تستمع إلى الموسيقى.
Transliteration: Hiya tastami'u 'ilaa al-mooseeqaa.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Hiya [She] tastami'u [listens] 'ilaa [to] al-mooseeqaa [the music].)
* English: They are eating lunch.
Arabic: هم يأكلون الغداء.
Transliteration: Hum ya'kuloona al-ghadaa'.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Hum [They] ya'kuloona [eat] al-ghadaa' [the lunch].)
* English: The sky is blue.
Arabic: السماء زرقاء.
Transliteration: Al-samaa'u zarqaa'.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Al-samaa'u [The sky] zarqaa' [blue].)
* English: I want to learn Arabic.
Arabic: أريد أن أتعلم العربية.
Transliteration: 'Ureedu 'an 'ata'allama al-'arabiyyah.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): ('Ureedu [I want] 'an [to] 'ata'allama [learn] al-'arabiyyah [the Arabic].)
* English: He writes books.
Arabic: هو يكتب كتباً.
Transliteration: Huwa yaktubu kutuban.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Huwa [He] yaktubu [writes] kutuban [books].)
* English: This is an important question.
Arabic: هذا سؤال مهم.
Transliteration: Haadhaa su'aalun muhimm.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Haadhaa [This] su'aalun [a question] muhimm [important].)
* English: We will go to the beach.
Arabic: سوف نذهب إلى الشاطئ.
Transliteration: Sawfa nadhhabu 'ilaa al-shaati'.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Sawfa [Will] nadhhabu [we go] 'ilaa [to] al-shaati' [the beach].)
* English: She likes to cook.
Arabic: هي تحب أن تطبخ.
Transliteration: Hiya tuhibbu 'an tatbukha.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Hiya [She] tuhibbu [likes] 'an [to] tatbukha [cook].)
* English: They sold their old house.
Arabic: هم باعوا بيتهم القديم.
Transliteration: Hum baa'oo baytahum al-qadeem.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): (Hum [They] baa'oo [sold] baytahum [their house] al-qadeem [the old].)
* English: I am reading a magazine.
Arabic: أقرأ مجلة.
Transliteration: 'Aqra'u majallah.
Arabic Transliteration (word-for-word): ('Aqra'u [I read] majallah [a magazine].)
Practice the phrases you learned so far or any new phrases, you can use the AI chatbot or translator provided/تدرب على العبارات التي تعلمتها حتى الآن أو أي عبارات جديدة، يمكنك استخدام روبوت الدردشة أو المترجم المتوفر