Introducing yourself
Introduce yourself and get to know someone in Algerian Arabic.
You meet an Algerian neighbor for the first time in your building.
Dialogue
A
You
السلام عليكم
Es‑salam 3alikom
Hello (peace be upon you)
B
The neighbor
و عليكم السلام، لاباس عليك؟
W 3alikom es‑salam, labas 3lik?
Hello, how are you?
A
You
الحمد لله لاباس، و نتا؟
El 7amdoulillah labas, w nta?
Fine, thank God, and you?
B
The neighbor
لاباس الحمد لله. أنا اسمي كريم، و نتا؟
Labas el 7amdoulillah. Ana esmi Karim, w nta?
I'm fine. I'm Karim, and you?
A
You
أنا اسمي يوسف، تشرّفنا
Ana esmi Youssef, tcharrafna
My name is Youssef, nice to meet you.
B
The neighbor
تشرّفنا. منين راك؟
Tcharrafna. Mnin rak?
Nice to meet you. Where are you from?
A
You
أنا من فرنسا بصح أصلي من وهران
Ana men Fransa bsa7 asli men Wahran
I'm from France but my origins are from Oran.
B
The neighbor
مرحبا بيك! واش تخدم؟
Mrahba bik! Wach takhdem?
Oh welcome! What do you do for work?
A
You
أنا مهندس، و نتا؟
Ana mohandess, w nta?
I'm an engineer, and you?
B
The neighbor
أنا معلّم في المدرسة. مرحبا بيك في الحومة!
Ana m3allem fel madrasa. Marhba bik fel 7ouma!
I'm a teacher at the school. Welcome to the neighborhood!
A
You
شكرا بزاف، الله يحفظك
Chokran bezzaf, Allah y7afdek
Thank you very much, may God protect you.
Useful Phrases
Se présenter
أنا اسمي...
Ana esmi...
My name is...
أنا من...
Ana men...
I'm from...
أنا عمري... سنة
Ana 3omri... sna
I'm ... years old
أنا متزوّج / أنا عزري
Ana mzawwej / Ana 3azri
I'm married / I'm single
Demander
منين راك؟
Mnin rak?
Where are you from?
واش تخدم؟
Wach takhdem?
What do you do for work?
شحال عمرك؟
ch7al 3amrek?
How old are you?
عندك ولاد؟
3andek wlad?
Do you have children?
Politesse
تشرّفنا
Tcharrafna
Nice to meet you
مرحبا بيك
Marhba bik
Welcome
الله يحفظك
Allah y7afdek
May God protect you
Exercises
1
How do you say 'My name is...' in Algerian?
2
What does 'mnin rak?' mean?
3
How do you say 'Nice to meet you'?
4
Translate to phonetic: 'Welcome' = ?