DHelm · Formal MSA + Hijazi · Conversation
| Meaning | MSA Arabic | MSA Translit | Hijazi Arabic | Hijazi Translit | Notes | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thank you ش-ك-ر (sh-k-r) · gratitude/thanks |
شكراً | shukran | ·شكراً | same | Both Universal — works in MSA and all dialects | 23 Jun 26 |
| By God / I swear / seriously particle — و (by) + الله (God) |
والله | wallah | ·والله | same | Both Emphasis or sincerity — very common in Hijazi speech | 23 Jun 26 |
| Let's go / come on / hurry interjection — يا (O) + الله (God) |
يلا | yalla | ·يلا | same | Both Universal — urging action or moving forward | 23 Jun 26 |
| Okay / alright / got it MSA: ت-م-م (t-m-m) · completion · Hijazi: م-ش-ي (m-sh-y) · walking/going |
تمام | tamam | ماشي | mashi | Hijazi "Mashi" lit. = walking/going. Hijazi casual agreement | 23 Jun 26 |
| Good / nice / well done MSA: ج-و-د (j-w-d) · goodness · Hijazi: ز-ي-ن (z-y-n) · beauty/adornment |
جيد | jayyid | زين | zayn | Hijazi Gulf & Hijazi praise — "zayn!" = "nice!" or "good job!" | 23 Jun 26 |
| Also / too / as well particle — no single derivational root |
أيضاً | aydan | كمان | kaman | Hijazi "Kaman" is the colloquial — "aydan" is formal writing | 23 Jun 26 |
| Hungry ج-و-ع (j-w-') · hunger · → جاع (ja'a) = he became hungry |
جائع | ja'i' | جوعان | jaw'an | ⚠ mix-up "ja'ik" is a mispronunciation of جائع — ends with glottal stop ('), not k | 23 Jun 26 |
| A little / few MSA: ق-ل-ل (q-l-l) · smallness/fewness · Hijazi: شوية = colloquial (no single root) |
قليل | qalil | شوية | shwayya | ⚠ mix-up "khalil" (خليل) = close friend — ق (qaf) vs خ (kha) are different letters | 23 Jun 26 |
| Friend ص-د-ق (s-d-q) · truth/sincerity · → صدق (sidq) = truth, صادق (sadiq) = truthful, صديق (sadiq) = friend (a sincere one) |
صديق | sadiq | ·صديق | same | Both Everyday word for friend · Feminine: صديقة (sadiqa) · Plural: أصدقاء (asdiqa') · For deep/intimate friend → use خليل (khalil) | 24 Jun 26 |
| Close friend / intimate خ-ل-ل (kh-l-l) · intimate friendship/closeness |
خليل | khalil | ·خليل | same | Both Poetic/deep level — خليل الله (Khalilullah) = close friend of God (Ibrahim a.s.) · Everyday friend → use صديق (sadiq) | 23 Jun 26 |
| Tired ت-ع-ب (t-'-b) · tiredness/fatigue · → تعب (ta'iba) = he got tired |
متعب | muta'ab | تعبان | ta'ban | Hijazi "Ta'ban" is dominant in everyday use even in formal speech | 23 Jun 26 |
| Work / job MSA: ع-م-ل ('-m-l) · action/doing · Hijazi: ش-غ-ل (sh-gh-l) · occupation/busyness |
عمل | 'amal | شغل | shughl | Hijazi "Shughl" is widely used conversationally across dialects | 23 Jun 26 |
| Praise be to God ح-م-د (h-m-d) · praise · → محمد (Muhammad) = the praised one |
الحمد لله | alhamdulillah | ·الحمد لله | same | Both Said after "ana bil khayr" when asked how you are | 23 Jun 26 |
| Yes MSA: ن-ع-م (n-'-m) · blessing/softness · Hijazi: أيوه = colloquial |
نعم | na'am | أيوه | aywa | Hijazi "Aywa" is the everyday colloquial yes — "na'am" is formal/written | 23 Jun 26 |
| Must / need to / have to MSA: و-ج-ب (w-j-b) · obligation · Hijazi: ل-ز-م (l-z-m) · necessity/sticking to |
يجب | yajib | لازم | lazim | Hijazi "Lazim" is the natural spoken form — "yajib" sounds formal/stiff in conversation | 23 Jun 26 |
| Later / after ب-ع-د (b-'-d) · distance/separation · → بعد = after, far |
بعد ذلك | ba'da dhalik | بعدين | ba'dayn | Hijazi "Ba'dayn" is short and conversational — "ba'da dhalik" is formal | 23 Jun 26 |
| Okay / good / alright MSA: ح-س-ن (h-s-n) · beauty/goodness · Hijazi: ط-ي-ب (t-y-b) · pleasantness |
حسناً | hasanan | طيب | toyyib | Hijazi Very natural Hijazi filler/acknowledgment — like "okay" or "right then" | 23 Jun 26 |
| Restaurant ط-ع-م (t-'-m) · food/eating/taste · → طعام (ta'am) = food |
مطعم | mata'am | ·مطعم | same | Both Same in MSA and Hijazi. "Fi mata'am" = at a restaurant | 23 Jun 26 |
| Wife ز-و-ج (z-w-j) · pair/coupling · → زوج (zawj) = husband, زوجة (zawja) = wife |
زوجة | zawja | ·زوجة | same | Both Add ي (i) suffix for "my wife" → زوجتي (zawjati) | 23 Jun 26 |
| Excellent / great م-ي-ز (m-y-z) · distinction/excellence · → تميّز (tamayyaz) = to stand out |
ممتاز | mumtaz | ·ممتاز | same | Both Universal praise — "mumtaz!" = excellent! well done! | 23 Jun 26 |
| I rest / will rest ر-و-ح (r-w-h) · rest/soul/spirit · → روح (ruh) = soul, راحة (raha) = comfort |
أرتاح | artah | ·أرتاح | same | Both ⚠ "istirah" (استراح) = he rested (past, 3rd person) — for "I will rest" use artah | 23 Jun 26 |
| Arabic / Arabian ع-ر-ب ('-r-b) · Arab/Arabic · → عرب (arab) = Arabs, عروبة (uruba) = Arabness |
عربي | arabi | ·عربي | same | Both Used for food, language, people: أكل عربي (akl arabi) = Arabic food | 23 Jun 26 |
| Western غ-ر-ب (gh-r-b) · west/sunset · → غروب (ghurub) = sunset, مغرب (maghrib) = Morocco/west |
غربي | gharbi | ·غربي | same | Both أكل غربي (akl gharbi) = Western food. Also: شرقي (sharqi) = Eastern | 23 Jun 26 |
| Malaysian ماليزيا (malaysia) · country name — ي (iy) suffix makes it an adjective |
ماليزي | maliziy | ·ماليزي | same | Both Pattern: country + ي = nationality adjective. ماليزيا → ماليزي, إندونيسيا → إندونيسي | 23 Jun 26 |
| Have / there is (at them) ع-ن-د ('-n-d) · possession/presence · → عند (ind) = have/at, عندي (indi) = I have, عندك (indak) = you have |
عند | 'ind | ·عند | same | Both Arabic possession: عندي (indi) = I have · عندك (indak) = you have · عندهم (indahum) = they have | 23 Jun 26 |
| We MSA: نحن (nahnu) · Hijazi: إحنا (ihna) — same meaning, different register |
نحن | nahnu | إحنا | ihna | Hijazi "Ihna" is what you'll actually say in conversation — "nahnu" sounds formal | 23 Jun 26 |
| We decide / we'll decide ق-ر-ر (q-r-r) · decisiveness · → قرار (qarar) = decision, قرّر (qarrar) = he decided |
نقرر | naqarrir | ·نقرر | same | Both "Ihna ba'dayn naqarrir" = we'll decide later | 23 Jun 26 |
| We'll see / let's see ش-و-ف (sh-w-f) · seeing/looking (Hijazi) · MSA root: ن-ظ-ر (n-z-r) |
ننظر | nanzur | نشوف | nshuf | Hijazi Used like English "we'll see" when undecided. "Ihna ba'dayn nshuf" = we'll see later | 23 Jun 26 |
| Done / finished / that's it خ-ل-ص (kh-l-s) · completion/finishing · → خلص (khalas) = it's done, أخلص (akhlus) = I finish |
انتهى | intaha | خلاص | khalas | Hijazi Extremely common — used to end a topic, confirm something is settled, or say "enough". "Khalas, yalla" = okay, done, let's go | 23 Jun 26 |
| Dinner / supper ع-ش-و (or ع-ش-ي) ('-sh-w/y) · evening/night · → عشاء (asha) = dinner, عشية (ashiyya) = evening time |
عشاء | asha | ·عشاء | same | Both "Istamti' bil-asha" = enjoy the dinner. The 3 meals: فطور (futur) breakfast · غداء (ghada) lunch · عشاء (asha) dinner | 23 Jun 26 |
| Enjoy! (command) م-ت-ع (m-t-') · enjoyment/pleasure · → متعة (mut'a) = pleasure, ممتع (mumti') = enjoyable |
استمتع | istamti' | ·استمتع | same | Both "Istamti' bil-asha ma' zawjatik" = enjoy dinner with your wife | 23 Jun 26 |
| And particle — و (wa) prefixed directly to the next word, no space needed |
و | wa | ·و | same | Both Written attached to the next word: وغربي (wa-gharbi). Universal connector | 23 Jun 26 |
| Near / close ق-ر-ب (q-r-b) · nearness/closeness · → قريب (qarib) = near, أقارب (aqarib) = relatives |
قريب | qarib | ·قريب | same | Both "Qarib min al-bayt" = near the house. ⚠ "fi al-bayt" = in the house — not nearby | 23 Jun 26 |
| Next to / beside / right near ج-ن-ب (j-n-b) · side/flank · → جانب (janib) = side, بجانب = beside |
بجانب | bi-janib | جنب | janb | Hijazi "Janb al-bayt" = right next to the house — more casual and natural than qarib in conversation | 23 Jun 26 |
| Going (plural) MSA: ذ-ه-ب (dh-h-b) · to go/move · Hijazi: ر-و-ح (r-w-h) · to depart/go — same root as "rest"! |
ذاهبون | dhahibun | رايحين | ray'heen | Hijazi Use before an action: "ray'heen na'kul" = going to eat. ⚠ Don't use "ila" before a verb | 23 Jun 26 |
| Morning ص-ب-ح (s-b-h) · morning/becoming · → صباح (sabah) = morning, أصبح (asbaha) = he became/it became morning |
صباح | sabah | ·صباح | same | Both صباح الخير (sabah al-khayr) = good morning · الصباح (al-sabah) = the morning | 24 Jun 26 |
| Now آ-ن (a-n) · time marker · → الآن (al-an) = now |
الآن | al-an | ·الآن | same | Both Used by DHelm: عندي شغل الآن (indi shughl al-an) = I have work now | 24 Jun 26 |
| Day ي-و-م (y-w-m) · day/time · → يوم (yawm) = day, أيام (ayyam) = days, يومي (yawmi) = daily |
يوم | yawm | ·يوم | same | Both Plural: أيام (ayyam) = days · "kull yawm" = every day · "al-yawm" = today | 24 Jun 26 |
| Without preposition · no single derivational root |
بدون | bidun | بلا | bila | Hijazi "Bila" is casual Hijazi · "Bidun" is more formal. "Bila nashat" = without activity | 24 Jun 26 |
| New ج-د-د (j-d-d) · newness/renewal · → جديد (jadid) = new, تجديد (tajdid) = renewal |
جديد | jadid | ·جديد | same | Both Feminine: جديدة (jadida) · "ميزات جديدة" = new features · "shay' jadid" = something new | 24 Jun 26 |
| Here location marker · هنا (huna) = here, هناك (hunak) = there |
هنا | huna | ·هنا | same | Both Opposite: هناك (hunak) = there · "ana huna" = I am here | 24 Jun 26 |
| Ready ج-ه-ز (j-h-z) · preparation/equipment · → جهاز (jihaz) = device, جاهز (jahiz) = ready (one who is equipped) |
جاهز | jahiz | ·جاهز | same | Both "Ana jahiz" = I'm ready · Feminine: جاهزة (jahiza) · Same root as جهاز (device — something prepared) | 24 Jun 26 |
| Go ahead / Please / Be my guest ف-ض-ل (f-d-l) · virtue/grace/favour · → فضل (fadl) = grace, تفضّل (tafaddal) = please/go ahead |
تفضّل | tafaddal | ·تفضّل | same | Both Invitation to proceed, enter, sit, eat, or speak — very common polite phrase across all Arabic dialects | 24 Jun 26 |
| Suggestion / Proposal ق-ر-ح (q-r-h) · proposing · → اقتراح (iqtirah) = suggestion, اقترح (iqtaraha) = he suggested |
اقتراح | iqtirah | ·اقتراح | same | MSA Formal written word. Hijazi conversation often uses فكرة (fikra) = idea instead | 24 Jun 26 |
| Where أ-ي-ن (a-y-n) · location question marker |
أين | ayna | وين | wayn | Hijazi "Wayn" is everyday Hijazi — "ayna" is formal/written. "Wayn inta?" = where are you? | 24 Jun 26 |
| When (conjunction) Hijazi: ل-م-ا (l-m-a) · MSA: عندما = عند (ind=at) + ما (ma=what/when) |
عندما | indama | لما | lamma | Hijazi "Lamma nkhallas" = when we finish · Don't confuse with متى (mata) = when? (question only) | 24 Jun 26 |
| When? (question only) م-ت-ي (m-t-y) · time question marker |
متى | mata | ·متى | same | Both "Mata nruh?" = when do we go? · Question form only — "when we do X" → use لما (lamma) | 24 Jun 26 |
| Add / to add ض-ي-ف (d-y-f) · adding/hosting · → ضيف (dayf) = guest! Same root — "adding someone to your home" |
يضيف | yudif | ·يضيف | same | Both أضف (adif) = add! (command) · نضيف (nudif) = we add · نضيفهم (nudifhum) = we add them | 24 Jun 26 |
| Continue / carry on MSA: م-ر-ر (m-r-r) · passing/continuing · → استمر (istamarra) · Hijazi: كمّل from ك-م-ل (k-m-l) · completion |
استمر | istamirr | كمّل | kammal | Hijazi "Yalla kammal" = come on, continue · تابع (tabi') = proceed/follow up (both registers) | 24 Jun 26 |
| Tea شاي (shai) · borrowed from Chinese via Persian — same word across most languages |
شاي | shai | ·شاي | same | Both Dual: شايين (shayain) = two teas · "uridu shai" = I want tea | 24 Jun 26 |
| Chicken د-ج-ج (d-j-j) · poultry · → دجاج (dajaj) = chicken, دجاجة (dajaja) = one chicken |
دجاج | dajaj | ·دجاج | same | Both One chicken = دجاجة (dajaja) · whole chicken = دجاجة كاملة (dajaja kamila) | 24 Jun 26 |
| Meat ل-ح-م (l-h-m) · flesh/meat · → لحم (lahm) = meat, ملحمة (malahma) = butcher shop |
لحم | lahm | ·لحم | same | Both لحم بقر (lahm baqar) = beef · لحم غنم (lahm ghanam) = lamb · لحم دجاج (lahm dajaj) = chicken meat | 24 Jun 26 |
| Cow / beef ب-ق-ر (b-q-r) · cattle · → بقر (baqar) = cow/cattle, بقرة (baqara) = one cow |
بقر | baqar | ·بقر | same | Both لحم بقر (lahm baqar) = beef · سورة البقرة (surat al-baqara) = The Cow chapter in Quran | 24 Jun 26 |
| Big / large ك-ب-ر (k-b-r) · greatness/size · → كبير (kabir) = big, أكبر (akbar) = bigger/greatest — as in الله أكبر |
كبير | kabir | ·كبير | same | Both Feminine: كبيرة (kabira) · Opposite: صغير (saghir) = small · الله أكبر = God is greatest (same root!) | 24 Jun 26 |
| Correct / right ص-ح-ح (s-h-h) · correctness/health · → صح (sah) = correct, صحة (sihha) = health — same root! |
صحيح | sahih | صح | sah | Hijazi "Sah!" = correct/right — quick confirmation · صحة (sihha) = health is same root! | 24 Jun 26 |
| This (masculine) demonstrative pronoun · هذا (hadha) = this [m] · هذه (hadhihi) = this [f] · ذلك (dhalik) = that |
هذا | hadha | ·هذا | same | Both Feminine: هذه (hadhihi) · "hadha sah?" = is this correct? · "hadhihi tawilatukum" = this is your table | 24 Jun 26 |
| Fast / quick س-ر-ع (s-r-') · speed/haste · → سريع (sari') = fast, سرعة (sur'a) = speed, بسرعة (bi-sur'a) = quickly |
سريع | sari' | ·سريع | same | Both بسرعة (bi-sur'a) = quickly · "jay bi-sur'a" = coming quickly · Opposite: بطيء (bati') = slow | 24 Jun 26 |
| Happy س-ع-د (s-'-d) · happiness/fortune · → سعيد (sa'id) = happy [m], سعيدة (sa'ida) = happy [f], سعادة (sa'ada) = happiness |
سعيد | sa'id | ·سعيد | same | Both Feminine: سعيدة (sa'ida) · Plural feminine: سعيدات (sa'idat) · Also a common name: سعيد = Sa'id | 24 Jun 26 |
| Learn / learning ع-ل-م ('-l-m) · knowledge — one of the biggest roots in Arabic! → علم ('ilm) = knowledge, عالم ('alim) = scholar/world, معلم (mu'allim) = teacher, تعليم (ta'lim) = education |
يتعلّم | yata'allam | ·يتعلّم | same | Both تعلّم (ta'allam) = learn! (command) · تعلّم (ta'allum) = learning (noun) · أتعلّم (ata'allam) = I learn · نتعلّم (nata'allam) = we learn | 24 Jun 26 |
| To / towards إ-ل-ى (i-l-a) · direction/destination · → إلى (ila) = to/towards, أهلاً وسهلاً بك إليّ = welcome to me |
إلى | ila | ·إلى | same | Both "Yudif ila al-library" = he adds to the library · Don't use before a verb — ⚠ "ila na'kul" is wrong, use "ray'heen na'kul" | 24 Jun 26 |
| From م-ن (m-n) · preposition of origin/source |
من | min | ·من | same | Both "Ana min Maliziya" = I'm from Malaysia · "Min wayn anta?" = where are you from? · Also means "who" in questions: من هذا؟ (min hadha?) = who is this? | 24 Jun 26 |
| For / to (purpose) ل (li) · preposition of purpose/belonging · لل (lil) = for the [with definite noun] |
لـ | li / lil | ·لـ | same | Both li + shughl = لشغل (li-shughl) · lil + akl = للأكل (lil-akl) = for the food · "Ana huna lil-shughl" = I'm here for work | 24 Jun 26 |
| Beautiful ج-م-ل (j-m-l) · beauty · → جميل (jamil) = beautiful, جمال (jamal) = beauty — also a common name |
جميل | jamil | ·جميل | same | Both Feminine: جميلة (jamila) · "Kuala Lumpur jamil jiddan" = KL is very beautiful · Also a common name: جمال (Jamal) | 24 Jun 26 |
| Very / a lot ك-ث-ر (k-th-r) · abundance · → كثير (kathir) = much/many, كثيراً (kathiran) = very much, أكثر (akthar) = more |
كثيراً | kathiran | وايد | wayd | Hijazi "Kathiran" is MSA · "Wayd" is Gulf/Hijazi casual · Also: جداً (jiddan) = very (formal) · "uhibbu kathiran" = I like a lot | 24 Jun 26 |
| Very (intensifier) ج-د-د (j-d-d) · seriousness/earnestness · → جد (jidd) = seriousness, جداً (jiddan) = very/seriously |
جداً | jiddan | ·جداً | same | Both Placed after the adjective: جميل جداً (jamil jiddan) = very beautiful · كبير جداً (kabir jiddan) = very big | 24 Jun 26 |
| Before / ago ق-ب-ل (q-b-l) · precedence/before · → قبل (qabl) = before, قبل كده (qabl kidah) = before this/previously |
قبل | qabl | ·قبل | same | Both "Zurt Maliziya qabl" = I visited Malaysia before · Opposite: بعد (ba'd) = after — you already know ba'dayn! | 24 Jun 26 |
| Year س-ن-و (s-n-w) · year/time passing · → سنة (sana) = year, سنوات (sanawat) = years |
سنة | sana | ·سنة | same | Both "Kuntu hunak sana 2019" = I was there in 2019 · Plural: سنوات (sanawat) = years · كل سنة (kull sana) = every year | 24 Jun 26 |
| Alone / by myself/yourself و-ح-د (w-h-d) · oneness/solitude · → وحيد (wahid) = alone [adj], وحدي (wahdi) = by myself |
وحدي | wahdi | ·وحدي | same | Both وحدي (wahdi) = by myself · وحدك (wahdak) = by yourself · وحده (wahdah) = by himself · ⚠ wahid (واحد) = one (number) — not the same as alone | 24 Jun 26 |
| Going [singular m] ر-و-ح (r-w-h) · departing · → رايح (ray'ih) = going [m], رايحة (ray'ha) = going [f], رايحين (ray'heen) = going [plural] |
ذاهب | dhahib | رايح | ray'ih | Hijazi Singular forms: رايح (ray'ih) [m] · رايحة (ray'ha) [f] · رايحين (ray'heen) [plural] — already in library · "Anta ray'ih wahdak?" = are you going alone? | 24 Jun 26 |
| Three ث-ل-ث (th-l-th) · threeness · → ثلاثة (thalatha) = three, ثلاثاء (thulatha') = Tuesday (lit. the third day) |
ثلاثة | thalatha | ·ثلاثة | same | Both "Thalatha ashkhas" = three people · Same root as الثلاثاء (al-thulatha') = Tuesday — the third day of the week! | 24 Jun 26 |
| Arabic | Transliteration | Word-by-word | Meaning | Register | Notes | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| صباح الخير | sabah al-khayr | sabah (morning) + al (the) + khayr (goodness) | Good morning | Both | Reply: صباح النور (sabah al-nur) — "morning of light" | 23 Jun 26 |
| كيف حالك | kef halak / kayfa halak | kef/kayfa (how) + hal (condition) + ak (your) | How are you? | Hijazi MSA | Hijazi says "kef" — MSA says "kayfa". Both understood everywhere | 23 Jun 26 |
| أنا بالخير | ana bil khayr | ana (I) + bi (in/with) + al-khayr (goodness) | I am well / I'm good | Both | Standard response to "kef halak". Follow with "alhamdulillah" | 23 Jun 26 |
| إيش اسمك | eish ismik | eish (what) + ism (name) + ik (your) | What is your name? | Hijazi | "Eish" = what in Hijazi. MSA: ما اسمك (ma ismuk) | 23 Jun 26 |
| أنا جايك | ana jayik | ana (I) + jay (coming) + ik (to you) | I'm coming to you | Hijazi | Colloquial. MSA: أنا قادم إليك (ana qadim ilayk) | 23 Jun 26 |
| أريد آكل | uridu akul | uridu (I want) + akul (to eat) | I want to eat | Both | ⚠ "akalt" (أكلت) = I ate (past) — drop the t → "akul". Formal: أريد أن آكل (uridu an akula) | 23 Jun 26 |
| أنا جوعان | ana jaw'an / ana ja'i' | ana (I) + jaw'an/ja'i' (hungry) | I am hungry | Hijazi MSA | "Jaw'an" = Hijazi · "Ja'i'" = MSA formal. Both correct | 23 Jun 26 |
| أنا في البيت الآن | ana fi al-bayt al-an | ana (I) + fi (in/at) + al-bayt (the house) + al-an (now) | I am at home now | MSA | Arabic drops "am/is/are" in present tense — no verb needed | 23 Jun 26 |
| أنا أتكلم عربي شوية | ana atakallam arabi shwayya | ana (I) + atakallam (speak) + arabi (Arabic) + shwayya (a little) | I speak a little Arabic | Hijazi | Natural Hijazi way to express limited proficiency | 23 Jun 26 |
| أهلاً وسهلاً | ahlan wa sahlan | ahlan (family/welcome) + wa (and) + sahlan (easy/plain) | Welcome / Hello (warm) | Both | Lit. "you are family and the path is easy." Reply: أهلاً بك (ahlan bik) = welcome to you | 24 Jun 26 |
| عندي شغل الآن | indi shughl al-an | indi (I have) + shughl (work) + al-an (now) | I have work now / I'm busy now | Hijazi | DHelm's own sentence! Variation: عندي اجتماع الآن (indi ijtima' al-an) = I have a meeting now | 24 Jun 26 |