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🇪🇬 Egyptian Arabic · Fluency Level 1

PART 3 · LESSON 27 OF 30 · 30 MINUTES

She Said It to Me

Friday lunch at Grandma's in al-Darb al-Ahmar: the plate is empty and Layla says her first word, all gone; the family's bets are lost and Grandma takes it as a compliment to her cooking.

Audio instruction: English

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THE STORY

Grandma's table in the old house in al-Darb al-Ahmar on a Friday in March, Layla in her high chair over an empty plate. Grandma speaks plainly to everyone and Leo gives her the polite forms; Uncle Mahmoud calls him Leo; Salma and Leo speak plainly.

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Words and phrases

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قَالِتْلِي بَحّ.'a-LIT-li ba77she said to me, one word, then the baby word for all gone
قَالِتْهَا! قَالِتْلِي بَحّ.'a-LIT-ha 'a-LIT-li ba77.She said it! She said all gone to me.
رَاهَنْت عَلَى بَابَا, وِقَالِت بَحّ.ra-HANT 3A-la BAA-ba wi-'AA-lit ba77.I bet on Daddy, and she said all gone.
قَالِتْلِنَا كُلِّنَا, وَلَّا لِلْطَّبَق?'a-lit-LI-na kul-LI-na WAL-la lit-TA-ba'?Did she say it to all of us, or to the plate?
لِلْطَّبَق, وِبَعْدِين تِتْكَلِّم.lit-TA-ba' wi-ba3-DEEN tit-KAL-lim.To the plate, and then she speaks.
وِإِنْتَ قُلْتِلْهَا إِيه يَا لِيُو?wi-IN-ta 'ul-TIL-ha eeh ya LI-yu?And what did you say to her, Leo?
قُلْتِلْهَا كَمَان? وِقَالِتْهَا تَانِي.'ul-TIL-ha ka-MAAN wi-'a-LIT-ha TAA-ni.I said to her, more? And she said it again.
مَا شَاء الله, اِسْم الله عَلِيهَا.ma shaa' al-LAAH ism al-LAAH 3a-LEE-ha.Bless her, God's name upon her.
قُلْتِلْكُم, مَامَا مِش الأُولَى.'ul-TIL-kum MAA-ma mish il-'OO-la.I told you, Mama isn't the first.
قَالِتْهَا لِلْعَدْس يَا سَلْمَى.'a-LIT-ha lil-3ADS ya SAL-ma.She said it to the lentils, Salma.