Saudi Arabic for daily life
In daily life Saudis speak their own dialect, not the standard Arabic of books. These are phrases you will hear every day at work, in shops and in taxis. Where standard Arabic is different, it is shown too.
What sounds different
- Many Saudis say ق like a hard g: قهوة (coffee) sounds like “gahwa”.
- In Riyadh and the Eastern Province “I want” is أبي (abi); in Jeddah and Makkah it is أبغى (abgha).
- These phrases are for speaking to a man. Speaking to a woman the ending changes too: كيفك becomes “keefik” or “keefich”, depending on the region.
Greetings and polite words
هلا واللهhala wallaahHello! (a warm welcome) · Standard Arabic: أهلًا وسهلًا
وش لونك؟wish loonak?How are you? (to a man) · Standard Arabic: كيف حالك؟
كيفك؟keefak?How are you? (to a man) · Standard Arabic: كيف حالك؟
الحمد لله، تمامal-ḥamdu lillaah, tamaamFine, thank God · Standard Arabic: الحمد لله، بخير
يعطيك العافيةyaʿṭiik al-ʿaafyaThanks for your effort (lit. God give you health)
الله يعافيكallaah yʿaafiikAnd you too (the reply)
مشكورmashkuurThanks · Standard Arabic: شكرًا
العفوal-ʿafwYou’re welcome · Standard Arabic: عفوًا
تفضلtfaḍḍalPlease, go ahead / here you are
أبشرabshirSure, consider it done
معليشmaʿleeshSorry / never mind · Standard Arabic: عذرًا
مع السلامةmaʿa s-salaamaGoodbye
Questions
وش؟wish?What? · Standard Arabic: ماذا؟
وين؟wayn?Where? · Standard Arabic: أين؟
متى؟mita?When?
ليش؟leesh?Why? · Standard Arabic: لماذا؟
كم؟kam?How much? How many?
مين؟miin?Who? · Standard Arabic: من؟
وش اسمك؟wish ismak?What’s your name? (to a man) · Standard Arabic: ما اسمك؟
تبي شي؟tibi shay?Do you want anything? (to a man) · Standard Arabic: هل تريد شيئًا؟
Taxi and directions
ودني … لو سمحتwaddinii … law samaḥtTake me to … please · Standard Arabic: خذني إلى … من فضلك
يمينyamiinRight
يسارyasaarLeft
على طولʿala ṭuulStraight on · Standard Arabic: إلى الأمام
وقف هناwagif hinaStop here · Standard Arabic: قف هنا
بكم المشوار؟bikam al-mishwaar?How much is the ride? · Standard Arabic: كم الأجرة؟
قريبgariibNear
بعيدbaʿiidFar
الإشارةal-ishaaraThe traffic light
Shopping
بكم هذا؟bikam haadha?How much is this?
غاليghaaliExpensive
فيه خصم؟fiih khaṣm?Is there a discount? · Standard Arabic: هل يوجد خصم؟
أبي هذاabi haadhaI want this · Standard Arabic: أريد هذا
عندك …؟ʿindak …?Do you have …? (to a man) · Standard Arabic: هل عندك …؟
كاش ولا شبكة؟kaash walla shabaka?Cash or card? · Standard Arabic: نقدًا أم بالبطاقة؟
الفاتورة لو سمحتal-faatuura law samaḥtThe receipt, please
At work
الدوامad-dawaamWorking hours, the work shift
متى يبدأ الدوام؟mita yibda ad-dawaam?When does work start?
عندنا اجتماعʿindana jtimaaʿWe have a meeting
إجازةijaazaLeave, holiday
الراتبar-raatibThe salary
المديرal-mudiirThe manager
خلصت؟khallaṣt?Have you finished? (to a man) · Standard Arabic: هل انتهيت؟
الحينal-ḥiinNow · Standard Arabic: الآن
بكرةbukraTomorrow · Standard Arabic: غدًا
Food and coffee
قهوة عربيةgahwa ʿarabiyyaArabic coffee
شاهيshaahiTea · Standard Arabic: شاي
بدون سكرbiduun sukkarWithout sugar
الحساب لو سمحتal-ḥisaab law samaḥtThe bill, please
At the doctor
تعبانtaʿbaanI’m tired / unwell (said by a man) · Standard Arabic: أنا متعب
عندي صداعʿindi ṣudaaʿI have a headache
وين الصيدلية؟wayn aṣ-ṣaydaliyya?Where is the pharmacy? · Standard Arabic: أين الصيدلية؟
أبي موعدabi mawʿidI want an appointment · Standard Arabic: أريد موعدًا
Want a solid base first? See everyday phrases in standard Arabic →