Things in life don’t always go your way or have a clear path. The word is also used if you wish for someone to get better when they’re sick, or if you hope they’ll arrive safely from their travels. If you wish for something to happen, or don’t know when something will happen, you can add insha’allah. While it literally means ‘God willing’, it can also be translated as ‘hopefully’, or ‘with God’s help’. If your friend does something really spectacular you may want to tell them ‘ Habit’taaaaayn’! Wo w, that was incredible!’įinally, one of the most important words for living in Qatar (or anywhere in the Middle East really) is insha’ allah! Patience might come from within, but I believe the act of saying inshallah helps us be calm and patient. In Qatar, locals may use it if they’re especially impressed with something. We at ILQ are very ajeeb!Īnother fun word to use is habit’tayn, meaning ‘two meals’. Its origins mean ‘strange’ in Arabic, Urdu, and Hindi, but it’s since become a way of saying ‘amazing’, ‘cool’, or ‘magical’. What will feel natural to you will leave your guests or friends from back home puzzledĪjeeb is a great word. Live long enough in Qatar and you’ll find yourself using the word when a friend or family member is taking their sweet time. Yalla يلّاWhen you live in Qatar, you hear this word a lot! ‘Yalla’ can mean ‘let’s go’, 'come on’, and ‘hurry up’. Af wan may also be used to express ‘excuse me’ when you need to ask for directions for example.ħ. Similarly, if someone thanks you, you can say ‘you’re welcome’ in Arabic. And, if you want to give special thanks, just add ‘jazeelan’ at the end. Expressing one’s thankfulness means twice as much when you’ve made the effort to say it in the receiver’s mother tongue. This is a beautiful way of saying goodbye. Place a ‘t’ at the end to indicate you’re finished with something, whether it’s work or your dinner – ‘khalast!’ When you want something to end like a discussion with a friend, or your son to stop drawing on the walls just say ‘khalas’. When enough is enough, the word khalas is used. In this use, the word mashallah also avoids an impression of envy to the one receiving the compliment. If, for example, you really love your friend’s new shoes, you can add mashallahto your compliment.
It literally means ‘God has willed’, and can be said when you admire something or someone’s achievement. Give a warm welcome to your colleagues at work on Sunday with hala!įormally pronounced ‘Ma sha’ allah’, this word is an expression of joy, appreciation, and thankfulness. ‘Hello!’ ‘Welcome!’ Hala is a more casual way of greeting someone compared to marhaba or salam alaikum. Practice a few and impress your friends and colleagues! Instead ILQ has compiled a Top 10 of the most useful and fun words to know while living in Qatar. While it would be marvelous to be able to understand a song by Fairuz, we’re not going to teach you Arabic in one day.
Case in point – ever heard an Arabic song? Learning a new language is not just a new adventure, but it makes it easier to connect with people whose first language you’re learning, understand the local culture, and have fun with the people you encounter! Arabic has got to be one of the most beautiful, expressive, and poetic languages. Now, speaking the language makes many things easier – even if you can survive with your English skills. But where’s the fun in that?įor many expats, Qatar becomes home. Therefore, you might even be able to go without speaking any Arabic for the entirety of stay in Qatar. In Qatar however, things are a little different! Because of educational opportunities and the country’s incredible diversity, the majority of people speak English. Most of the time, when we move to a different country, we expect to learn the language within a couple of years of living there. Images courtesy of iStock by Getty Images
0 kommentar(er)
