Directions in Arabic
Getting directions in Arabic will be much easier after this free audio lesson. The Rocket Arabic team is here to arm you with the Arabic words and phrases you’ll need to find your way around an Arabic-speaking country.
Unfortunately it’s not quite as simple as learning the word for 'where' in Arabic and a few Arabic road signs - as you may have already guessed, understanding the directions you are given can be more challenging than asking the questions!
But don’t worry, a little practice is all you need – listen to the Arabic pronunciation in the audio and say the Arabic words and phrases aloud, as you imagine yourself strolling around Cairo or Alexandria.
Resources for further reading:
Pronunciation help for directions in Arabic
Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
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ممكن تقوللي محطة القطر فين, لو سمحت؟
Momken t2oly ma7atet el 2atr feyn, lao sama7t?
Can you please tell me where the train station is?
اروح محطة القطر ازاي؟
Arou7 ma7atet el 2atr ezay?
How do I get to the train station?
حضرتك تعرف محطة القطر فين؟
7adretak te3raf ma7atet el 2atr feyn?
Do you know where the train station is? (formal)
تعرف محطة القطر فين؟
Te3raf ma7atet el 2atr fen?
Do you know where the train station is? (casual)
Another more complete way of asking for directions is by saying…
بعد اذن حضرتك! ممكن تقوللي فين محطة القطر من فضلك؟
Ba3d ezn 7adretak! Momken t2oly feyn ma7atet el 2atr men fudluk?
Excuse me! Could you please tell me where the train station is? (formal)
ممكن تقوللي فين محطة القطر من فضلك؟
Momken t2oly ma7atet el 2atr fen, men fudluk?
Excuse me please! Could you please tell me where the train station is? (casual)
Here’s a list of some places you might like to go to and places you may pass on the way to getting there.
شركة الطيران
Sherket el tayaran
The travel agency
الشارع
El share3
The street
المول
El mall
The shopping center
المركز التاريخي
El markaz el taree7'y
The historic center
قسم البوليس
2esm el police
The police station
الستشفى
El mostashfa
The hospital
الجنينة
El genena
The park
التاون هول
El town hall
The town hall
الحمامات العمومية
El 7amamat el 3momeya
The public restrooms
وسط البلد
West el balad
The town center
الحي
El 7ay
The suburb
جنينة البيرا
Genenet el beera
The beer garden
الاثار
El 2asar
The monument
البار
El bar
The bar
Here are some words and phrases you might get to hear when asking for directions…
للجنوب
Lelganoob
To the south
جنب
ganb
Next to
قدام
odam
In front of
الكبري
El kobry
The bridge
الناصية
El nasyah
The corner
الشارع اللي بعد الجاي.
El share3 ely ba3d el gayye.
The street after the next.
الشارع اللي جاي على اليمين.
El share3 ely gayye 3la el yemeen.
The next street to the right.
الشارع اللي جاي على الشمال.
El share3 ely gayye 3la el shemal.
The next street to the left.
على الناصية
3la el nasyah
Around the corner
للشرق
Lelshar2
To the east
شمال
Shemal
Left
للشمال
Lelshamal
To the north
للغرب
Lel3'arb
To the west
في اول
Fee awel
At the beginning of
في آخر
Fee a7'er
At the end of
دوغري
Do3'ry
Straight
لليمين
Lelyemeen
To the right
للشمال
Lelshemal
To the left
يمين
Yemeen
Right
When someone gives you directions, they’ll tell you that you need to take such-and-such street; turn left, and then follow another street…
خد
7'od
Take…
عدي
3addy
Cross
اتبع
Etba3
Follow
روح
Rou7
Go
Now, you might want to know whether it is far or not…
هو بعيد اوي؟
Howa be3eed awy?
Is it very far?
هو بعيد.
Howa be3eed.
It's far.
هو مش بعيد.
Howa mesh be3eed.
It's not far.
هو قريب؟
Howa orayeb?
Is it close by?
هو قريب.
Howa orayeb.
It's close by.
هو مش قريب.
Howa mesh orayeb.
It's not close by.
That’s it for this lesson. I hope you enjoyed the lesson!
Here are a few recommended Arabic lessons to try next!
- In case of an emergency in Arabic.
- Talking about your emotions in Arabic is a great way to connect with local people.
- This lesson is all about describing your face in Arabic.
!مع السلامة (Ma3a essalama!) Goodbye!
Amira Zaki: Rocket Arabic
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