Practical guides
ARAB-BERBER GLOSSARY
Allah, Alwatan , Al malik …. God, Homeland, King. It is the slogan of Morocco.
For the pronunciation
r : is always openly rolled, as in Spanish or in Italian.
gh : pronounces as r with a strongly guttural pronunciation, produced by vibration at the bottom of the throat, as when we make gargles.
kh : like the Spanish jota or the ch in German in the word « Achtung » ;
We produce it by scraping the back of the throat.
h : is strongly expired, as in English or in German ; the breath comes directly from the breast, without meeting an obstacle at the level of the throat.
q : look like k pronounced with a strong relaxation of the palate; is emitted by a deaf explosion at the bottom of the throat. Represents a sound emitted of the deepest of the throat.
From Arabic to English :
Haram : what’s prohibited
Halal : what’s allowed
WORDS TO SAY IT...
| Civilities | The nature in the mountains , the desert or the city | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Berber | English | Berber | English |
| Bismillah | (" In the name of God ") systematically when you receive something | Adrar ou Djebel | (mountain) |
| Sahit | (Thank you in berber) | Afella | (summit) |
| Choukrane | (Thank you in arabic) | Aït | ("The" to design the members of a family or a tribe!) |
| La oho | (No) (in berber) |
Eghbalou | (source) |
| La choukrane ala wajib | (No thanks you for a duty) | Agadir | (attic) |
| Ouara | (Yes, All right) | Agwdal | (paturage) |
| Labes ? Labes amdullah ou Labes amdulillah | (How are you ?) (I am fine) (response) I am fine, thanks God |
Aghoulid | (cliff or rock) |
| Isaque ihla wawal | (Are you OK ?) | Almou | (meadow) |
| Salam aleikoum | (Hello, peace on you) | Aqqa | (Deeply embanked torrent) |
| Oualeikoum salam | (And on you too) (response) | Araras | (road) |
| Sabah el Kheir | (Good Morning in arabic) | Assif ou oued | (River, torrent) |
| M'slama Lahanik (s) lahanikoum (p) | (Good by) (Good by in berber) |
Azaghar | (Plateau, table-land) |
| Gnatas g'lman | (Good night in) | Lazib | (Sheepfolds) |
| B'sahtk | (Cheers !) | Douar | (village) |
| Bassahtkoum | (Cheers !) | Ifri | (Cave, grotto) |
| Araska | (See you tomorrow) | Igherm | (Strengthened attic) |
| Arimik | (See you later) | Ighil | (arm) |
| Arad | (give) | Ighir | (shoulder) |
| Adoud | (come) | Ighzer | (ravine) |
| Hak | (hold) | Imi | (mouth) |
| T'ch | (eat) | Kerkour | caïrn) |
| Ya lahat oualou | (Let’s go) (We have nothing) |
Lâzib | (High irriguable valley) |
| Is tgant mazyan | (Did you sleep well?) | Taddart | (house) |
| Yari Laze | (I am hungry) | Tafoukt | (sun) |
| sflid | (listen) | Taghbalout | (Small source, well) |
| chouia | A little | Taghia | (gorge) |
| bzaf | many | Talat | (Ravine, valley) |
| bislama | Good by | Tamda | (Lake) |
| makain mouchkil | No problem | Tizi | (pass) |
| Aouitnan | (Be careful) | Trga (pluriel tirggwin) | (Irrigation channel) |
| Balek ! | Be careful In souks, when the salesmen pass with their cart! | mzien ou zouin | That’s beautiful |
| min fadlek ou aafak | Please | chems ou tafouyit | sun |
| bessahha | Cheers, at the beginning of the meal | qamar ou ayour | moon |
| Naâm | Yes | sahra | desert |
| Leïla Saïda | Good night | Afroukh | Palm tree |
| Walou | nothing | medina | (city - rather a former city) |
| Saafi | It’s enough | madrassa | school |
| Wagha | All right | dar | house |
| Aïd el Khbir | Big festival, or holiday, the so called holiday of the sheep | bab | door |
| Aïd Moubarak | Happy Name’s day | flouss | money |
| Sana Saïda | Happy new year | ||
| In the kitchen or at table | The persons, the clothes and the animals | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Berber | English | Berber | English |
| Batata | (potatoes) | Sidi | (Sir) |
| Zitoun | (olives) | Lala | (Madam) |
| Zit zitoun | (Olive oil) | Walidin | (Parents) |
| Kawa | (coffee) | Drari | (Children) |
| Skar | (sugar) | Arba | (Little boy) |
| Maticha | (tomato) | Tarba | (Little girl) |
| Nanâ | (mint) | Tbib ou adbib | (doctor) |
| Atay | (tea) | ||
| Aman | (water) | Djellaba | (Traditional long garment with sleeves and hood) |
| Askif | (soup) | Gandoura | (Other traditional long garment but without hood) |
| Khobz ou Aghroum | (bread) | ||
| Limoun | (orange) | Oulli | (sheep) |
| Zebda | (butter) | Tighatten | (goats) |
| lmouss | (knife) | Kelb ou Aydi | (dog) |
| Forchetta | (fork) | Jmal ou Alghoum | (dromedary) |
| Laafia ou afa | (fire) | Asserdoun (pl. isserdane | (mules) |
