Moroccan Arabic Textbook 18

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1 2 8 • M o r o c c a n A r a b i c  

 A t t h e P o s t O f f i c e

O b j e c t i v e : B y t h e e n d o f t h e c h a p t e r , y o u w i l l b e a b l e t o :

• b u y s t a m p s a n d s e n d l e t t e r s a n d p a r c e l s

• u s e p r e p o s i t i o n s c o r r e c t l y w i t h v e r b s

T h e P o s t O f f i c e

S t a m p s a r e a v a i l a b l e a t t o b a c c o s t o r e s i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e p o s t o f f i c e . I t i s b e s t t o m a i l y o u r l e t t e r s a t t h e

m a i l s l o t o u t s i d e t h e p o s t o f f i c e s i n c e p i c k - u p s c a n b e i n f r e q u e n t a t o t h e r m a i l b o x e s . W h e n s e n d i n g

p a c k a g e s o u t o f t h e c o u n t r y , y o u a r e r e q u i r e d t o f i l l o u t a c u s t o m s d e c l a r a t i o n f o r m . B e s u r e t o l e a v e

t h e p a c k a g e o p e n b e c a u s e a n o f f i c i a l i s r e q u i r e d t o s e e t h e c o n t e n t s b e f o r e i t i s s e a l e d .

V o c a b u l a r y

post office l-b o s t   a   ladrisa

envelope jwa    

addressl- unwan

letter bra

  post card k a r t   p p o s t   al

stamp tanbr

  money order l-m a n d  

a

stamps tnabr   package kulya

registeredletter

bra rikomandi

normal adi  

postman l-faktur

express ixpres

post box b w a t   p p o s t   al

  customs d-diwana

box (for apackage)

k a r t   ona tape s-skotš

glue l s  aq

V e r b s

to send s  i f t       to close / seal šdd

to paste l s  s 

q to receive t w s  s 

l b  

to fill in (a form) mmr  

E x p r e s s i o n s

I want a stamp for the US / Morocco please.

bġ  it waн  d t-tanbr dyal

mirikan / l-mġ  rib afak.

/

 . 

I want to send this letter / thispackage.

bġ  it n- s  i f t   had l-bra /had l-kulya.

/ .  

How much will I pay to sendthis...?

bšн  al ġ  adi n-s  i f t   had... ?

. . .  

How much time will it take for itto arrive to ... ?

šн  al d l-wqt kay- x s  baš

t-w s  l l ... ?  . . .  

Why don’t letters arrive quickly? laš l-brawat  .

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1 3 0 • M o r o c c a n A r a b i c  

U s i n g P r e p o s i t i o n s w i t h P r o n o u n E n d i n g s

& V e r b s

L e a r n i n g h o w t o u s e p r e p o s i t i o n s c o r r e c t l y c a n s o m e t i m e s b e t r i c k y . F i r s t , t h e p r e p o s i t i o n s d o n ’ t

a l w a y s c o r r e s p o n d d i r e c t l y t o E n g l i s h p r e p o s i t i o n s . T h u s , a t d i f f e r e n t t i m e s i n M o r o c c a n A r a b i c w e

w i l l u s e d i f f e r e n t p r e p o s i t i o n s f o r w h a t w o u l d b e t h e s a m e p r e p o s i t i o n i n E n g l i s h . S e c o n d , p r e p o s i t i o n s

s o m e t i m e s c h a n g e i n m e a n i n g d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e v e r b t h e y a r e u s e d w i t h . T h i s i s t r u e i n E n g l i s h , t o o :

S h e s p o k e o n  t h e r i g h t s o f h o m e l e s s p e o p l e . (  o n  m e a n s “ o n t h e s u b j e c t o f ” )

I p u t t h e b o o k o n  t h e t a b l e . (  o n  m e a n s “ o n t o p o f ” )

W i t h t h e s e c h a l l e n g e s , i t m a y t a k e a w h i l e f o r y o u t o b e a m a s t e r o f D a r i j a p r e p o s i t i o n s . B u t w i t h

c o n t i n u e d u s e a n d e x p o s u r e , t h e y w i l l b e c o m e n a t u r a l f o r y o u , j u s t a s g r e e t i n g s a r e n o w n a t u r a l f o r y o u .

I n t h i s s e c t i o n , w e w i l l l o o k a t t w o a s p e c t s o f p r e p o s i t i o n s : 1 . h o w t o c o n n e c t p r e p o s i t i o n s w i t h p r o n o u n

e n d i n g s , a n d 2 . w h i c h v e r b s u s e c e r t a i n p r e p o s i t i o n s .

S o m e p r e p o s i t i o n s y o u h a v e a l r e a d y l e a r n e d ( s u c h a s dyal) s i m p l y a d d t h e n o r m a l p r o n o u n e n d i n g s

( e x . dyali, dyalk, e t c . ) . T h e f o l l o w i n g p r e p o s i t i o n s , h o w e v e r , c h a n g e s l i g h t l y w h e n p r o n o u n e n d i n g s

a r e a d d e d :

to / for l 

on / about la    

with m a

in / at / about f 

with / by b   

T h e P r e p o s i t i o n “  l

”

T h e p r e p o s i t i o n l (   ) o f t e n m e a n s “ t o ” ( e x . I g a v e s o m e t h i n g t o  y o u ) o r “ f o r ” ( e x . I d i d s o m e t h i n g f o r 

y o u ) . I t m a y a l s o b e u s e d w i t h c e r t a i n v e r b s s i m p l y t o e x p r e s s t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e v e r b ; i n t h e s e c a s e s , i t

d o e s n ’ t t r a n s l a t e i n t o a n y t h i n g i n E n g l i s h . T o a d d t h e p r o n o u n e n d i n g s :

to / for l 

to / for me liya / li /  

to / for you (sing.) lik

to / for him lih / lu /

to / for her liha  

to / for us lina  

to / for you (plur.) likum  

to / for them lihum

S o m e v e r b s t h a t g o w i t h t h i s p r e p o s i t i o n :

excuse smн  l     send (to) s  i f t   (l)

 ) (  

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P e a c e C o r p s / M o r o c c o • 1 3 1

explain (to) fssr (l) ) (   bring (to) jab (l)

 ) (  

say (to) gal (l) ) (   to be possible (for...) ymkn (l)

) (

S o m e e x a m p l e s :

Kristin sent a letter to Chad.Kristin

s  i f t  

at bra

l Chad.

. 

Kristin sent a letter to him. Kristin s  i f t   at bra lih. .  

Thomas bought a present for Jessica on her birthday.

Thomas šra waн 

d l-kadul Jessica f id l-milad

dyalha.

 .  

Thomas bought it for her. Thomas šrah liha.  .  

Excuse me. smн   liya.  .  

Can I (i.e. is it possible for me) talk withyou?

weš ymkn liya n-h d  r

m ak?   

I can’t (i.e. it is not possible for me) go out

now.

ma-ymkn-š liya n-xrj

deba.  .  

A s y o u c a n s e e i n t h e e x a m p l e “ E x c u s e m e ” a b o v e , s o m e t i m e s t h e A r a b i c v e r b r e q u i r e s t h e p r e p o s i t i o n

i n o r d e r t o b e e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e E n g l i s h v e r b . I n t h e s e c a s e s , t h e E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n d o e s n ’ t h a v e a

p r e p o s i t i o n , b u t t h e A r a b i c s t i l l r e q u i r e s i t .

T h e P r e p o s i t i o n “  la

”

T h e p r e p o s i t i o n la i s u s e d w i t h m a n y v e r b s a n d e x p r e s s i o n s , a n d a s a r e s u l t i t t r a n s l a t e s i n t o m a n y

E n g l i s h p r e p o s i t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g : “ o n , ” “ a b o u t , ” “ t o , ” “ a t , ” a n d o t h e r s . W i t h p r o n o u n e n d i n g s :

on (and others) la  

on me liya  

on you (sing.) lik  

on him lih  

on her liha    

on us lina    

on you (plur.) likum    

on them lihum  

S o m e v e r b s t h a t g o w i t h t h i s p r e p o s i t i o n :

defend daf la   lie (to) kdb ( la)

)  (  

look/search(for)

qllb ( la) )  (   laugh (at) d  н  k ( la)

 )  (  

speak (about) tkllm ( la) )  (

 to love (i.e. tobe dying for)

mat ( la) )  (

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1 3 2 • M o r o c c a n A r a b i c  

I n t h e f i r s t v e r b , “ d e f e n d , ” t h e p r e p o s i t i o n la d o e s n o t h a v e a n E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n s i n c e i t i s r e q u i r e d

i n o r d e r t o t r a n s l a t e t h e A r a b i c v e r b i n t o “ d e f e n d . ” I n t h e s e c o n d v e r b , “ l o o k / s e a r c h , ” h o w e v e r , t h e

p r e p o s i t i o n la i s b a s i c a l l y e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e E n g l i s h “ f o r . ” S o m e e x a m p l e s :

Did we talk about the role ofPeace Corps in Morocco?

weš tkllmna la d-dawr

dyal hay'at s-salam f

l-mġ  rib?

Yes, we talked about it. iyeh, tkllmna lih. .  

Are you looking for a house torent?

weš kat-qllb la d 

ar l

l-kra?   

Yes, I’m looking for one. iyeh, kan-qllb liha. .

I love (am dying for) pizza. kan-mut la l-pitza. .

I love it. kan-mut liha   

Don’t lie to me. ma-tkdb-š liya. .  

He’s laughing at me. kay- d  н  k liya. .  

T h e P r e p o s i t i o n “   m a

”

T h e p r e p o s i t i o n  m a a l m o s t a l w a y s t r a n s l a t e s i n t o t h e E n g l i s h “ w i t h . ” W i t h p r o n o u n s :

with m a

with me m aya  

with you (sing.) m ak  

with him m ah  

with her m aha

with us m ana  

with you (plur.) m akum

with them m ahum  

S o m e v e r b s t h a t g o w i t h t h i s p r e p o s i t i o n :

laugh (with) d  н 

k (m a)  ) (

  meet (with) tlaqa (m a) ) (

be helpful(with)

t awn (m a) ) (

  stay (with) bqa (m a) ) (

shake hands(with) tsalm (m a)

)

(

  argue (with)t x a s  

m (m a)

)

(

S o m e e x a m p l e s :

I met (with) Samir in the postoffice.

tlaqit m a Samir f

l-b o s t   a. .  

I met (with) him in the postoffice.

tlaqit m ah f l-b o s t   a. .  

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P e a c e C o r p s / M o r o c c o • 1 3 3

I’m just kidding! (with you) ġ  ir kan-d  н  k m ak!  !  

Would you like to come to themovies with me?

bġ  iti t-mši l s-sinima m aya?

T h e P r e p o s i t i o n “  f ”

L i k e la, t h e p r e p o s i t i o n f h a s m a n y d i f f e r e n t E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g : “ i n , ” “ a b o u t , ” “ a t , ” “ o n , ”

a n d o t h e r s . W h e n u s e d w i t h p r o n o u n s :

in f 

in me fiya  

in you (sing.) fik  

in him fih  

in her fiha  

in us fina

in you (plur.) fikum

in them fihum

S o m e v e r b s t h a t g o w i t h t h i s p r e p o s i t i o n :

ask (about) suwl (f)  ) ( participate (in) šark (f)

 ) (

think (about) fkkr (f) ) (   take care (of) thlla (f)

) (  

talk (about) aperson

h d  r (f) ) (

  trust (in) taq (f) ) (

S o m e e x a m p l e s :

I came over (asked about you)yesterday, but I didn’t find you.

suwlt fik l-barн  ,

welakin ma-lqitk-š.  .

We trusted (in) him, but hebetrayed us.

tqna fih, u ġ  dr bina. .  

Take care of yourself. thlla f rask.  .

T h i s p r e p o s i t i o n , w i t h p r o n o u n s , c a n a l s o h a v e t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e v e r b “ t o b e . ”

I am hungry. fiya j-ju . .  

I am thirsty. fiya l- t  š. .  

He has a fever. fih s-sxana. .  

A n d s o m e t i m e s i t t a k e s t h e m e a n i n g o f “ t o h a v e ” i n t h e e x p r e s s i o n “ t o h a v e i n i t / t h e m . ”

This house has five rooms.had d  -d  ar fiha xmsa dl-byut.

.  

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1 3 4 • M o r o c c a n A r a b i c  

T h e P r e p o s i t i o n “  b

”

T h e p r e p o s i t i o n b u s u a l l y h a s t h e m e a n i n g o f “ w i t h ” ( I e a t w i t h   m y h a n d s ) , b u t c a n a l s o b e u s e d f o r :

“ b y , ” “ i n , ” “ a b o u t , ” “ f o r , ” a n d o t h e r s . W i t h p r o n o u n s :

with b 

with me biya  

with you (sing.) bik

with him bih  

with her biha

with us bina  

with you (plur.) bikum  

with them bihum  

S o m e v e r b s t h a t g o w i t h t h i s p r e p o s i t i o n :

believe (in) amn (b) ) ( marry (with) tzuwj (b)

) ( 

dream (about) н  lm (b)  ) (

  welcome rн н  b b  

be responsible(for)

tkllf (b) ) (  

want to be sepa-rated (from)

sxa (b)  ) (  

S o m e e x a m p l e s :

She married (with) him last year. tzuwjat bih l- am l-li fat. .

They welcomed me into their house. rн н  bu biya f d  arhum.  .  

I dreamed about him. н 

lmt bih.  .  

E x e r c i s e : R e p l a c e t h e u n d e r l i n e d n o u n s w i t h t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g

p r o n o u n s . S o m e t i m e s y o u w i l l n e e d t o u s e a p r e p o s i t i o n a n d

p r o n o u n t o g e t h e r .

Example: l-q t  kla l- н  ut. 

l-q t  klah.

1. Tony šrb l-н  lib.. . 1

2. Ahmed šrat 

umubil.. . 2 

3. l-m u t a t   awwi in mšau l s-suq.. . 3 

4. L a t  ifa ddat d-drari l l-mdrasa.. . 4 

5. weš nsiti l-magana f d  - d  ar? . 5 

6. Greg t  a l-flus l Amy.. . 6 

7. d-drari safru m a s  н  abhum.. . 7 

8. Sara ma-kat-akul-š l-l н  m.. . 8 

9. sllm la mwalin d  -d  ar.. . 9 

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P e a c e C o r p s / M o r o c c o • 1 3 5

10. Jerry kay-xaf mn Tom.. . 1 0 

E x e r c i s e : M a k e a l l o f t h e a b o v e v e r b f o r m s n e g a t i v e .