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🇪🇬 Egyptian Arabic · Fluency Level 2

PART 1 · LESSON 1 OF 30 · 30 MINUTES Free

The Story Club

Leo's first Thursday at a story club in a Zamalek library: the notice on the door in Standard Arabic, who he is and what brings him, Grandma's proverb that the one who lives long sees a lot, and the words every Egyptian tale opens with.

Audio instruction: English

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Lesson 1 · The Story Club

Egyptian Arabic · 30 minutes

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THE STORY

The reading room of a library in Zamalek, a Thursday evening at seven. Madame Soad, who runs the club, and Mr. Adel, its oldest member, say the plain you to Leo by his name; Leo says the polite you to them.

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Words and phrases

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لَيْلَةُ الحِكَايَاتِ كُلَّ خَمِيسٍ.LAY-la-tul 7i-ka-YAA-ti KUL-la kha-MEE-sin.Story evening every Thursday.
أَهْلاً بِالوِشّ الجِدِيد!AH-lan bil-WISHSH ig-gi-DEED!Welcome to the new face!
مِين مَعَانَا النَّهَارْدَه?meen ma-3AA-na in-na-HAR-da?Who's with us tonight?
لِيُو, مُهَنْدِس, بَقَى لِي تَمَان سِنِين.LI-yu, mu-HAN-dis, BA-'a li ta-MAAN si-NEEN.Leo, an architect, eight years here now.
وِإِيه اللِّي جَاب مُهَنْدِس هِنَا?wi-EEH IL-li gaab mu-HAN-dis HI-na?And what brings an architect here?
اللِّي يْعِيش يَامَا يْشُوف.IL-li y-3EESH YAA-ma y-SHOOF.The one who lives long sees a lot.
عَارِف الحِكَايَة بِتِبْدَا إِزَّاي?3AA-rif il-7i-KAA-ya bi-TIB-da iz-ZAAY?Do you know how a story starts?
كَان يَا مَا كَان.kaan ya ma KAANthere was, oh what there was
كَان يَا مَا كَان, فِي قَدِيم الزَّمَان.kaan ya ma KAAN, fi 'a-DEEM iz-za-MAAN.There was, oh what there was, in olden times.
وِيَوْم مِن الأَيَّام.wi-YOOM min il-ay-YAAM.And one day among the days.
الخَمِيس الجَايّ جُحَا, حِكِي مِش قِرَايَة.il-kha-MEES ig-GAYY GU-7a, 7I-ki mish 'i-RAA-ya.Next Thursday Goha, told, not read.