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...
Berber | English |
---|---|
Bismillah | (" In the name of God ") systematically when you receive something |
Sahit | (Thank you in berber) |
Choukrane | (Thank you in arabic) |
La oho | (No) (in berber) |
La choukrane ala wajib | (No thanks you for a duty) |
Ouara | (Yes, All right) |
Labes ? Labes amdullah ou Labes amdulillah | (How are you ?) (I am fine) (response) I am fine, thanks God |
Isaque ihla wawal | (Are you OK ?) |
Salam aleikoum | (Hello, peace on you) |
Oualeikoum salam | (And on you too) (response) |
Sabah el Kheir | (Good Morning in arabic) |
M'slama Lahanik (s) lahanikoum (p) | (Good by) (Good by in berber) |
Gnatas g'lman | (Good night in) |
B'sahtk | (Cheers !) |
Bassahtkoum | (Cheers !) |
Araska | (See you tomorrow) |
Arimik | (See you later) |
Arad | (give) |
Adoud | (come) |
Hak | (hold) |
T'ch | (eat) |
Ya lahat oualou | (Let’s go) (We have nothing) |
Is tgant mazyan | (Did you sleep well?) |
Yari Laze | (I am hungry) |
sflid | (listen) |
chouia | A little |
bzaf | many |
bislama | Good by |
makain mouchkil | No problem |
Aouitnan | (Be careful) |
Balek ! | Be careful In souks, when the salesmen pass with their cart! |
min fadlek ou aafak | Please |
bessahha | Cheers, at the beginning of the meal |
Naâm | Yes |
Leïla Saïda | Good night |
Walou | nothing |
Saafi | It’s enough |
Wagha | All right |
Aïd el Khbir | Big festival, or holiday, the so called holiday of the sheep |
Aïd Moubarak | Happy Name’s day |
Sana Saïda | Happy new year |
Berber | English |
---|---|
Adrar ou Djebel | (mountain) |
Afella | (summit) |
Aït | ("The" to design the members of a family or a tribe!) |
Eghbalou | (source) |
Agadir | (attic) |
Agwdal | (paturage) |
Aghoulid | (cliff or rock) |
Almou | (meadow) |
Aqqa | (Deeply embanked torrent) |
Araras | (road) |
Assif ou oued | (River, torrent) |
Azaghar | (Plateau, table-land) |
Lazib | (Sheepfolds) |
Douar | (village) |
Ifri | (Cave, grotto) |
Igherm | (Strengthened attic) |
Ighil | (arm) |
Ighir | (shoulder) |
Ighzer | (ravine) |
Imi | (mouth) |
Kerkour | caïrn) |
Lâzib | (High irriguable valley) |
Taddart | (house) |
Tafoukt | (sun) |
Taghbalout | (Small source, well) |
Taghia | (gorge) |
Talat | (Ravine, valley) |
Tamda | (Lake) |
Tizi | (pass) |
Trga (pluriel tirggwin) | (Irrigation channel) |
mzien ou zouin | That’s beautiful |
chems ou tafouyit | sun |
qamar ou ayour | moon |
sahra | desert |
Afroukh | Palm tree |
medina | (city - rather a former city) |
madrassa | school |
dar | house |
bab | door |
flouss | money |
Berber | English |
---|---|
Batata | (potatoes) |
Zitoun | (olives) |
Zit zitoun | (Olive oil) |
Kawa | (coffee) |
Skar | (sugar) |
Maticha | (tomato) |
Nanâ | (mint) |
Atay | (tea) |
Aman | (water) |
Askif | (soup) |
Khobz ou Aghroum | (bread) |
Limoun | (orange) |
Zebda | (butter) |
lmouss | (knife) |
Forchetta | (fork) |
Laafia ou afa | (fire) |
Berber | English |
---|---|
Sidi | (Sir) |
Lala | (Madam) |
Walidin | (Parents) |
Drari | (Children) |
Arba | (Little boy) |
Tarba | (Little girl) |
Tbib ou adbib | (doctor) |
Djellaba | (Traditional long garment with sleeves and hood) |
Gandoura | (Other traditional long garment but without hood) |
Oulli | (sheep) |
Tighatten | (goats) |
Kelb ou Aydi | (dog) |
Jmal ou Alghoum | (dromedary) |
Asserdoun (pl. isserdane | (mules) |