Chadian Arabic phrasebook

The Chadian dialect of Arabic (لهجة تشادية‎) is the main language of Chad.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Hello.: Salaam wa alekoum. (Peace be with you ):Wa alekoum salaam. (And also with you) - the response
Hello. (informal): Lalê/marhaban: (phone)- allo: inviting someone inside: fadal (hello/come in)
How are you? (to a female): Inti afé (to a female): Kayfa halk?
How are you? (to a male): Inta afé (to a male): Kayfa haluk?; Intou dol da afé/sah? (to a group); (family) Kayfa haluki?
Fine, thank you.: Ana aafé. ("I am fine"):Anina aafiin ("We are fine")
What is your name?: Inti Ousm-ki yatou ( to ask a girl her name):Inta Ousm-ak yatou? (to ask a boy his name)
My name is ______ .: Ana ousm-i/ismi ________ . ( )
Nice to meet you.: . (mushtageen ): nice to meet you too:(bel aktar)
Please.: Min fadlak. ( )
Thank you.: shukkran. ( )
You're welcome.: Afwan. ( )
Yes.: Ayé/nam. (Yes - people also click their throats to indicate agreement when someone is talking)
No.: La. (No )
Excuse me. (getting attention): . (min isnak/al isnak )
Excuse me. (begging pardon): min isnak/Sahmini
I'm sorry.: Sahmini. ( )
Goodbye: Maa salaam. ( )
Goodbye (informal): maa salamak. ( )
I do not speak Arabic.: [ana ma nakalam arabic] [I dont speak arabic]/ana ma taحkki arabic[I dont talk in arabic]/Ana ma na'arfa na kalam Arab[i dont know how to speak arabic].
Do you speak English?: (to a girl):inti takalam/Inti ta'arfa kalam [Anglais/inglisi]? :(to a boy):inta takalam/Inta t'arfa kalam [Anglais/inglisi]?:*ta'arfa? = do you know?
Is there someone here who speaks English?: hinee fil zol yakalim/bit hadis inglisi/nadum yarfa anglais fi?: *chadians will probably not use "bit hadis", but, if you're a Sudani refugee or Sudani resident of chad you might blend both dialects.
Help!: Saa'id-ni!/awiniinii (younger Chadian speakers will say "awiniinii"/older ones say saaidinii)
Look out!: Fakir!(fakir means think, in certain context such as this one it means be aware: Angara'! (angari is more of a menacing "look out", adults my say this to *gilal adap* kids or misbehaving teens - compare to "walking on thin ice": *Gilal Adap: Gilal Adap is a remark often said to misbehaving juniors or children. Adap means composure or respect, when you tell someone "gilal adap" you tell them to regain and maintain composure- usually, however, this word is said as a whole "Gilaladap" to describe someone who misbehaves rather than chastise them.
Good morning.: Sabah al-kheer.
Good evening.: Gayaltou al-kheer: *this statement is more of a rhetorical question- "gayaltou" is plural as in "(have) you guys (have) spent/lounged" and kheer means good. "have you guys (at least two or more people) spent the evening well/good/ok(?)
Good night.: . (Allah i sabina )
Good night (to sleep): argoud aafé. ( )
I don't understand.: ma nafam(I dont understand)/Ana Ma fihimta(I didn't understand)
Where is the toilet?: hamam/dush da gait wen/wen warabet?: *gait is another filler word- it means "stay" "the(da in this context) restroom(hamam/dush) stays(gait) where(wen)"

Problems

Leave me alone.: Haliinee (leave me alone) 'Khalini bakan wahid (leave me alone in one):*hali means leave it/nee is a conjugated version of me:Go away:amshii
Don't touch me!: ! ( Ma ti lamissini!)
I'll call the police.: ni nadi police
Police!: police
Stop! Thief!: wegufoo sarak da (stop the thief) Akourbou saraak! (grab the thief/hold the thief)
I need your help.: Ni dora ti awinini: Saa'idni
It's an emergency.: . ( hazihee/hazaa/shohol tawaree)
I'm lost.: Ana waddar
I lost my bag.: waaderta Shanta hagi/ma narfa wen sac hagi masha
I lost my wallet.: waaderta juslaan/magbakha/magfada hagi[I lost my wallet]/ma narfa wen portafay hagi masha [I dont know where my wallet went]
I'm sick.: Ana mardaan (male).: Ana mardaané (female).
I've been injured.: .Ana indi jerii [i have an injury] awwara [mark on the body, usually a scar/mole/acne/bug bite]: 'jerii' can both mean injury or running; utilize context
I need a doctor.: ana nidor docteur
Can I use your phone?

nagdar naastamili telephonik [can I use your phone]

*by conjugating the noun telephone to the subject (your) telephone + ik/ak
telephone + ni = my phone

samini ana nidor utilize telephone hanaki [sorry I want to use your phone]

Numbers

1: wâhed ( )
2: itnên/tinên ( )
3: talâta ( )
4: arba'a ( )
5: xamsa ( )
6: sitte ( )
7: saba'a ( )
8: tamâne ( )
9: tis'a ( )
10: ashara ( )
11: hidashar(11)/ ashara wa wahid (10 and 1)
12: atnashar (12)/ashara wa tinên (10 and 2 )
13: talatashar (13)/ashara wa talâta (10 and 3 )
14: arbatashar (14)/ashara wa arba (10 and 4 )
15: qamistashar (15)/ashara wa khamsa (10 and 5 )
16: sittashar (16)/ashara wa sitte (10 and 6 )
17: sabatashar (17)/ashara wa saba'a (10 and 7 )
18: tamantashar (18)/ ashara wa tamâne(10 and 8 )
19: tizaatashar (19)/ashara wa tis'a (10 and 9)
20: ishrinn (20)/itnène (20)
21: wahid ishrinn (1 20 (21)) ishrinn wa wâhed (20 and 1)
22: itneen ishrinn (2 20) (22)) itnène wa tinên (22)
23: itnène wa talâta (23)
30: talatine (30 ):talatine wa wâhed
40: arba-ine (40):arba-ine wa wâhed (41)
50: khamsine (50):khamsine wa wâhed (51)
60: (Sittine )
70: ( Sabaine)
80: Tamianine (80)
90: (Tissine )
100: Miya(100)
200: (Miteen )
300: (Toultoumiya ): 400: ourbumia: 500: qumsoomia: 600: sutumia: 700: soubomia: 800: toomunmia: 900: tuzoomia
1,000: (Alif )
2,000: (Alfène ): 3,000: talaata alif: 4,000: arbaa alif: 5,000: qamsa alif: 6,000: sitte alif: 7,000: sabaa alif: 8,000: tamanye alif: 9,000: teeza alif: 10,000: ashra alif: 100,000: miya alif: 200,000: mitenn alif: 300,000: toultumiya alif: 400,000: ourbumiya alif: 500,000: qumsoomiya alif: 600,000: soutumiya alif: 700,000: soubumiya alif: 800,000: toumunmiya alif: 900,000: touzumiya alif
1,000,000: (millyon )
1,000,000,000: (billyon )
1,000,000,000,000: ( )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): (bus/gare nimbre )
half: (Nouss )
less: (Shiya )
more: ( Kattir)

add

(ziid)

subtract

(nagis/nagiisi)

Time

now: Hassa (now )
later: Bi-den (later):illa bi-den (until later)
before: (Awwal ): after: (baad)
morning: (Fodjour )
afternoon: ( Assour)
evening: ( Ashiyé )
night: ( Fillele)

Clock time

one o'clock AM: (saa wahid fajur)
two o'clock AM: (saa itneen fajur)
noon: ( )
one o'clock PM: ( )
two o'clock PM: ( )
midnight: ( )

Duration

_____ second(s)

(saaniya)

_____ minute(s)

(degiigee)
_____ hour(s): (saa)
_____ day(s): (yom)
_____ week(s): (usbu)
_____ month(s): (shahar)
_____ year(s): (senee)

Days

today: (Alyom )
yesterday: (Amiss )
tomorrow: ( Ambakir): day after tommorow:(baad boukra)
this week: (usbu al hina )
last week: (usbu al faat )
next week: (usbu al jaiye )

Sunday: Yom al ahad (Sunday):Al yom (da) ahad (today is Sunday):*note, you do not have to add "da" Chadians use "da" as a filler word A LOT.
Monday: Yom al itnên (Monday)
Tuesday: Yom al sabaa (Tuesday)
Wednesday: Yom al arba (Wednesday)
Thursday: Yom al khmasa (Thursday)
Friday: Yom al joumla (Friday)
Saturday: Yom al sabat (Saturday)

Months

January: ( )
February: ( )
March: ()
April: ()
May: ()
June: ()
July: ()
August: ( )
September: ( )
October: ( )
November: ( )
December: ( )

Writing time and date

Colors

black: (aswat)
white: (abiyet)
gray: (Akhabash)
red: (aamar )
blue: (azaraq )
yellow: (Asfar )
green: (Akhadar )
orange: (orangé )
purple: ( )
brown: (booni/maron)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: ( )
One ticket to _____, please.: ( )
Where does this train/bus go?: bus da gai yamshe wen
Where is the train/bus to _____?: ( )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: ( )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

When will this train/bus arrive in ____?: ( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: kef ana namchi le _____ ?
...the train station?: ( )
...the bus station?: ( )
...the airport?: (Mataar )
...downtown?: ( )
...the youth hostel?: ( )
...the _____ hotel?: (l'hotel )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ( )
Where are there a lot of...: ( )
...hotels?: ( )
...restaurants?: ( )
...bars?: ( )
...sites to see?: ( )
Can you show me on the map?: (Wassibini fi carté da )
street: (Darib, Shaari )
Turn left.: (Lif bé issré/shemal )
Turn right.: (Lif bé zené/yameen )
left: (Issré/shemal )
right: (Zené/yameen )
straight ahead: (Direk)
towards the _____: ( Alé___)
past the _____: (zamaan faat [time passed] )
before the _____: (naaman liisaa [time is still] )
Watch for the _____.: (shif le... )
intersection: ( )
north: ( )
south: ( )
east: ( )
west: ( )
uphill: ( )
downhill: ( )

Taxi

Taxi!: ( )
Take me to _____, please.: (widinii le (bakan/place) min fadlak)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: ( )
Take me there, please.: (widinii hinak min fadlak )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: (indoukoum chambre hana oudjoura )
How much is a room for one person/two people?: (nadoum wahid/ nasene ti adjourou low/lome b kam)
Does the room come with...: (kurfa da yeji ma/mao )
...bedsheets?: (furash/bajo )
...a bathroom?: (hamam/dush )
...a telephone?: (telephone )
...a TV?: (télé )
May I see the room first?: neh shifa chambre da awal/kobul
Do you have anything quieter?: (indak ayyu shohol samet )
...bigger?: (kabir min )
...cleaner?: (nadif min)
...cheaper?: (raqis min ): "min" can mean from or than
OK, I'll take it.: (ni shila)
I will stay for _____ night(s).: ( ni gohdi le _____ nuits )
Can you suggest another hotel?: ( tarfi hotel ahkhar )
Do you have a safe?: ( )
...lockers?: ( )
Is breakfast/supper included?: ( )
What time is breakfast/supper?: ( )
Please clean my room.: (min fadlak, nedifi kurfa hagi/hanai )
Can you wake me at _____?: (gaymini a _____? )
I want to check out.: (Nador na shifi )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: (inta [M] /inti [F] ta shilee gurush amerikani, canadi, ou/wala gurush Australia? )
Do you accept British pounds?: (inta [M] /inti [F] ta shilee gurush biritania? )
Do you accept euros?: (inta [M] /inti [F] ta shilee gurush urubiun/ooropean? )
Do you accept credit cards?: (inta [M] /inti [F] ta shilee kariit? )
Can you change money for me?: ( )
Where can I get money changed?: ( )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: ( )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: ( )
What is the exchange rate?: ( )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: ( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: (tabule le Wahid narim/tabule le itneen nas, min fadlak )
Can I look at the menu, please?: ( )
Can I look in the kitchen?: (tagdar ta shuf fil nadai da? )
Is there a house specialty?: ( )
Is there a local specialty?: ( )
I'm a vegetarian.: (ana ma nakoul laham/ana ma nakoul haiwan )
I don't eat pork.: ( ma gai nakoul kanzir --- )
I don't eat beef.: (ana ma nakoul baghar )
I only eat kosher food.: (ana nakoul halal bes )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): ( )
fixed-price meal: ( )
a la carte: ( )
breakfast: ( )
lunch: ( )
tea (meal): ( )
supper: ( )
I want _____.: ( ana ni dora _____ )
I want a dish containing _____.: ( )
chicken: (dijaaj )
beef: (bagger/laham baghaar )
fish: (samak )
ham: (…kanzir? )
sausage: ( )
cheese: ( )
eggs: (bayd/giniijirat )
salad: (salata )
(fresh) vegetables: ( )
(fresh) fruit: ( )
bread: (mapa )
toast: ( )
noodles: ( indoumi)
rice: ( ris)
beans: ( )
May I have a glass of _____?: ( )
May I have a cup of _____?: ( )
May I have a bottle of _____?: ( )
coffee: ( shahi)
tea (drink): (shiya )
juice: ( )
(bubbly) water: ( )
(still) water: ( almeh/moya )
beer: ( beer)
red/white wine: (ahmar/abyat Marisa )
May I have some _____?: ( antini --- )
salt: ( )
black pepper: ( )
butter: ( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( )
I'm finished.: ( ana khalas )
It was delicious.: ( )
Please clear the plates.: ( )
The check, please.: ( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: ( indoukoum alcohol ? )
Is there table service?: ( )
A beer/two beers, please.: ( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.: ( )
A pint, please.: ( )
A bottle, please.: ( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: ( )
whiskey: ( )
vodka: ( )
rum: ( )
water: ( almeh )
club soda: ( )
tonic water: ( )
orange juice: ( )
Coke (soda): ( )
Do you have any bar snacks?: ( )
One more, please.: ( )
Another round, please.: ( )
When is closing time ?
Cheers!: ( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: ( )
How much is this?: ( )
That's too expensive.: (ada marawahit kaali )
Would you take _____?: ( )
expensive: (kaali)
cheap: (raqis )
I can't afford it.: ( )
I don't want it.: ( ma ni dora )
You're cheating me.: ( )
I'm not interested.: (..)
OK, I'll take it.: ( ok. ni shilah )
Can I have a bag?: (agar taidinii Shanta? )
Do you ship (overseas)?: ( )
I need...: ( ana ni dora ... )
...toothpaste.: ( )
...a toothbrush.: ( )
...tampons.: . ( )
...soap.: ( )
...shampoo.: ( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ( )
...cold medicine.: ( )
...stomach medicine.: ... ( )
...a razor.: ( )
...an umbrella.: ( )
...sunblock lotion.: ( )
...a postcard.: ( )
...postage stamps.: ( )
...batteries.: ( )
...writing paper.: ( )
...a pen.: ( )
...English-language books.: ( )
...English-language magazines.: ( )
...an English-language newspaper.: ( )
...an English-English dictionary.: ( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.: ( )
Can I get insurance?: ( )
stop (on a street sign): ( )
one way: ( )
yield: ( )
no parking: ( )
speed limit: ( )
gas (petrol) station: ( )
petrol: ( )
diesel: ( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: ( ana ma sawehta shey)
It was a misunderstanding.: ( )
Where are you taking me?: ( mala inti gai ti sheleni ? )
Am I under arrest?: ( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: ( )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: ( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.: ( )
Can I just pay a fine now?: ( )

Other

Entries that might not conform to the guidelines at Wikivoyage:Phrasebook article template.

Here are some basic Chadian Arabic phrases to get you started on the road to interacting with Chadians.

Typical More Formal Greeting Conversation

Ahlan wa sahlan: Welcome! (to our place, shop, home)
Salâm alek, _____: greeting to an adult man, or boy (formal)
Keif-ak?: How are you?
Hamdulillah, kwayyis.: Thank God, I'm fine.
Inta, keif halak?: And how are you?
Hamdulillah, wa nass beitak?: Thank God. And your family?
Kullum kwaysin: They are all fine.
Ma salaam.: Goodbye

Other Greetings

Salâm aleki - greeting to an adult woman, or girl (formal)

Wa alêk al-salâm - response to the greeting (formal)

Lalê - hello (familiar, peer to peer greeting)

Inta (m)/inti (f) âfé? - are you well? (note the difference between addressing a man and a woman)

(anâ) âfé - I am well. (response to above; first word is optional)

agod âfé - you (sing.) stay well (I am leaving, a leave-taking phrase when addressing one person)

agodu âfé - you (plural) stay well (when addressing more than one person)

amshi âfé - you (sing.) go well (leave-taking, when you are the one who is staying)

amshu âfé - you (plural) go well (when addressing more than one person)

ma salamak - Goodbye

Medical

wên al daktor? - Where is the doctor?

wên al labtan? - Where is the hospital?

Ordering Something

antini almi hana churâb - Give me water to drink (In such phrases, "please" is not necessary)

antini Coka hana churâb - Give me a Coca-Cola to drink

antini mapa - Give me a baguette (French bread)

bêkam al kitab da? - How much does that book cost?

shunu al kitab da? - What is that book there?

mâla? - Why?

êsh wa mulah - boule (millet paste, staple food of Chad) and sauce

General

usumak shunu? - What is your name?

wên inta? - Where are you from?

shukran - Thank you

afwân - You are welcome (response to "shukran")

Al hamdu l'llah! - Praise God

How To Learn New Words

ma' anata... - What does... mean?"

Da shunu? - What is this?

Kikef tigul ... - How do you say...?

Kikef tigul be fransawi? - How do you say in French?

Kikef tigul be arabi? - How do you say in Arabic?

Kikef tigul be inglezi? - How do you say In English?

This Chadian Arabic phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!