Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases — Arabic
© RDNS January 2007 Page 1 of 6 ACHS L1
Guidelines for Use
RDNS is committed to the Multicultural Victoria Act 2004, which informs RDNS' policies to ensure people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds can enjoy access to RDNS' services equally, and are treated with respect and sensitivity.
RDNS' clients originate from 145 countries and speak 74 languages.
Each of RDNS' nursing centres provides services to local CALD communities, which vary markedly from centre to centre. Some centres may have large population groups from single ethnic backgrounds; others may have several groups of varying ethnicity.
RDNS recognises that effective communication is essential to the delivery of high quality services and communicates with people who speak little or no English with the use of accredited interpreters (on-site and telephone), the provision of translated materials, and wherever possible employing staff who can provide services to clients in a language other than English.
In addition, RDNS makes available this information sheet which comprises common words and phrases that might be used when a client from a non-English speaking background is experiencing an episode of care from RDNS.
Whilst this document was originally developed for use by RDNS staff, it may of use to you or people you know and as a result is freely available for download and use.
This document includes information on the following:
Introduction to the languageTopic 1: GreetingsTopic 2: Making / changing appointmentsTopic 3: Medical problemsTopic 4: farewell
RDNS remains committed to providing the best possible care to all of our clients.
Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases — Arabic
© RDNS January 2007 Page 2 of 6 ACHS L1
Introduction to the Arabic Alphabet Arabic is a semitic language written from right to left and the Arabic alphabet consists of 28 letters. It is spoken by over 240 million people throughout the Arab world as the main language with the exception of Somalia and Djibouti although they are members of the Arab League (21 states). It is also spoken in some parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Written classical Arabic is unified throughout the Arab world but spoken Arabic differs considerably from country to country and even from district to district. The Dialects vary to a great extent but they may be grouped in five categories: (1): Levantine (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan), (2) Iraq, (3) The Arabian Peninsula, (4) Egyptian (Egypt and Sudan), (5) North Africa (Libya, Tunis, Algeria and Morocco).
ArabicLetter
Name of Letter
EnglishEquivalent
Closest Pronunciation in English
أ alif ā (ā) as a in dad
ب bã b (b) as in bed
ت tā t (t) as in table
ث thā th (th) as in thin
ج jīm j (j) as in judge
ح hā h’ (h) with the sound of clearing the throat
خ khā kh (ch) as in Scottish loch or German Bachد dāl d (d) as in dim
ذ zhāl zh (th) as in then
ر Rā’ r (r) as in train
ز zāy z (s) as in busy
س sīn s (s) as in sad
ش shīn sh (sh) as in shed
ص sād ś (s) as in sun with more emphasis
ض dād dh (d) as in double with more emphasis
ط Tā’ ţ (t) as in cutظ Zā’ ź (th) as in thus
ع āyn a’ No English equivalent. A fricative sound produced in the throat to give a harsh sound of (aaaah)
غ ghayn gh roughly similar to German (r) or the French (r) with more gargling sound
ف Fā’ f (f) as in fitق qāf q (c) as in column with emphasis from the throat
ك kāf k (k) as in kit
ل lām lām l (l) as in leak
م mīm m (m) as in mint
ن nūn n (n) as in nill
ـه Hā’ h (h) as in hat
و wāw oo, ou, u, w (oo) as in boot, (ou) as in ghoul, (u) as in ruler, (w) as in wet
ي Yā’ ee, i, y (ee) as in feel, (i) as in Afghani, (y) as in yet
The term “hamza” (ء) is a glottal stop like the stop before (a) in above. The English equivalent is (’).
Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases — Arabic
© RDNS January 2007 Page 3 of 6 ACHS L1
Topic 1: GREETINGS
English Arabic Closest Pronunciation in English
Hello مرحبا Marh’aba
Good morning الخير صباح śabāh’ alkhayr
Good evening / night الخير مساء massā’ alkhayr
What is your name? ه اسمك؟ما و (M) ma howa ismak? (F) ma howa ismek?
I am a nurse اإلقليمية التمريض خدمة من ممرضة أنا (M) anā mumaredh(F) anā mumaredhah
My name is هو اسمي ismi howa
Mr / Mrs السيدة/ السيد (M) assayyid (F) assayyidah
I am happy to see you again سعيد أخرى/أنا مرة برؤيتك ة (M to M) anā saa’eed beroa’yatak marratan okhrah
(M to F) anā saa’eed beroa’yateki marratan okhrah
(F to M) anā saa’eedah beroa’yatak marratan okhrah
(F to F) anā saa’eedah beroa’yateki marratan okhrah
No ال lā
Yes نعم Na’am
Good جيد jayyid
Do you understand me? تفهمني تفهميني؟/ هل هل (M & F to M) hal tafhamni? (M & F to F) hal tafhamini?
I understand أفهم أنا anā afham
I don’t understand you أفهمك ال أنا (M & F to M) anā lā afhamak (M & F to F) anā lā afhamuki
Do you need an interpreter? مترجم؟ إلى بحاجة هل hal beh’ajeh ilā motarjim?
I need an interpreter مترجم إلى بحاجة أنا ana beh’ajeh ilā motarjim
Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases — Arabic
© RDNS January 2007 Page 4 of 6 ACHS L1
Topic 2: MAKING / CHANGING APPOINTMENTS
English Arabic Closest Pronunciation in English
What day can I visit you?
At what time?
زيارتك؟ أستطيع يوم أي في
وقت؟ أي في
(M & F to M) fee ay yawm astaţeea’ziāratak?
(M & F to F) fee ay yawm astaţeea’ziārateki?
Fee ay waqt?
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
االثنينالثالثاءاألربعاءالخميسالجمعةالسبتاألحد
alithnayn
athulāthā’
alarbiāa’
alkhamees
aljuma’ah
assabt
alah’ad
Morning
Midday Evening / At Night
صباحًاظهرًامساًء
śabah’an
źuhrranmasāan
I need to……
Make a phone call
Speak……
to your doctor
to your family
to your son
to your daughter
to your husband
to your wife
to your brother
to your sister
....أنأريدأتلفنمعأتكلم
يبكبط
عائلتك
ابنك
ابنتك
زوجكزوجتك
أخيك
أختك
aureed an …
autalfinattakallam ma’
(M & F to M) ţabebak(M & F to F) ţabebek
(M & F to M) a’āelatak(M & F to F) a’aāelatek(M & F to M) ibnak (M & F to F) ibnek (M & F to M) ibnatak (M & F to F) ibnatek
zawjek
zawjatak
(M & F to M) akhouk (M & F to F) akhouki
(M & F to M) aukhtak (M & F to F) aukhtek
I need to change our visit time زيارتي وقت تغيير إلى بحاجة أنا anā beh’ajeh ilā taghyeer waqt ziārati
Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases — Arabic
© RDNS January 2007 Page 5 of 6 ACHS L1
Topic 3: MEDICAL PROBLEMS English Arabic Closest Pronunciation in
English
How are you? حالك؟ آيف (M & F to M) kaifa h’alak? (M & F to F) kaifa h’alek?
Where does it hurt? األلم؟ أين Ayna al’alam?
The chemist will bring your tablets this afternoon / tomorrow
بإحضارالصيدليقومس بعددوأي يتكاليوم غدًا؟/ ظهر
(M & F to M) sayaqoum aśśaidhalibeihdhār adwiatak ba’da źohralyawm / ghadan
(M & F to F) sayaqoum aśśaidhalibeihdhār adwiatek ba’da źohralawum / ghadan
Show me the medications that you are taking
ت التي األدوية تأخذينها / أخذهاأرني (M & F to M) areni al’adwiah allati ta’khuzhoha
(M & F to F) areni al’adwiah allati ta’khuzhenaha
I want you to take your medicine تأخذ أن منك دواء/ أريد كتأخذي (M & F to M) aureed menka anta’khuzh dawāa’k
(M & F to F) aureed menki anta’khuzhi dawāa’ek
Can you get yourself some water? ما إحضار يمكنك بنفسك؟هل ء (M & F to M) hal yumkenuka ih’dhar māa’ benafsak?
(M & F to F) hal yumkenuki ih’dhar māa’ benafseki?
I need to…… Check your blood pressure
Take your pulse
Change your dressing
أن ....أريددمك ضغط أقيس
نبضك أقيس
ضمادك أغّير
aureed an …..
(M & F to M) aqees dhaghţ dammak (ِM & F to F) aqees dhaghţ dammeki
(M & F to M) aqesa nabdhak (M & F to F) aqesa nabdheki
(M & F to M) an aughayyer dhammadak
(M & F to F) an Aughayyer dhammadeki
Ambulance إسعاف Isa’āf
Doctor طبيب ţabeeb
Medicine دواء dawāa’
Are you constipated? تعاني اإلمساك؟هل من hal tua’āni min alimsāk?
Do you have diabetes? مصاب أنت ؟بالسكريمصابة / هل (M & F to M) hal anta muśābbea’ssukkari?
(M & F to F) hal anti muśābahbea’ssukkari?
Royal District Nursing Service Workplace words and phrases — Arabic
© RDNS January 2007 Page 6 of 6 ACHS L1
Topic 4: FAREWELL
English Arabic Closest Pronunciation in English
You can ring me on ……. الرقم على بي االتصال ......يمكنك (M & F to M) yumkinuka aliteśālbe a’lā arraqam ….
(M & F to F) yumkinuki aliteśāl be a’lā arraqam ….
Thank you شكرًا shukran
I’m pleased to have met you بمقابلتكتشرفت (M & F to M) tasharrfto bemoqabaltak
(M & F to F) tasharrfto bemoqabalateki
You are welcome عفوًا af’wan
Good - bye وداعًا wadāa’n
Keep well صحتكباعتني/ اعتن (M & F to M) ia’tani beśah’atak(M & F to F) ia’tani beśah’ateki
Take care / All the best / Good luck
أفضل التمنياتمع Ma’ afdhal attamaniāt
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