I struggle everyday when I ask my porter to go buy vegetables and fruits. He doesn't speak English and I don't speak Arabic - the story of my life! You would've thought that I would have made an effort to learn the language, but I never seem to find a teacher whom I like. Inshallah, we shall overcome one day, oh deep in my heart I do belive ....
In the interim, to help me at least get my groceries right, I managed to get together a list of the names of some of the common fuits and vegetables.
BREAKFAST ITEMS
Bread Aish
Butter ZIBDA
Cheese GIBNA
Jam MIRABBA
Yoghurt ZABAADI
Sugar SUKKAR
Eggs BEID
Beans FOUL
Bean patties TAMEYAH
VEGETABLES
Potato BATAATIS
Onion BASAL
Tomatoes TAMAATIM
Beetroot BANGAR
Cabbage KURUMB
Cauliflower ARNABEET
Carrot GAZAR
Aubergine BITINGAAN
Cucumber KHIYAR
Lettuce KHAAS
Mushrooms AYSHGHURAB
Onion BASAL
Peas BISILLA
Spinach SABAANIKH
Zucchini KOOSA
Garlic TOUM
Leeks KURAT
Asparagus KISHKALMAAZ
String Beans FASULYA
FRUITS
Banana MOOZ
Strawberry FARAWLA
Avacado AVACADO
Melon SHAMAAM
Apricots MISHMISH
Grapes EINAB
Mangoes MANGA
Guava GAWAAFA
Dates BALAH
Pears KUMMITRA
Apples TUFFAAH
Peaches KHOUKH
Now to try my newly acquired knowledge on my porter tomorrow!!
Edited on June 3, 2007: My friend Soumaia corrected some of the words which I had got wrong, these are highlighted in red. Thanks Soumaia.
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3 comments:
some colloquiallisms
akl aish = literally, eating bread, metaphor for livelihood
zibda 3ala 3asal = lit. butter on honey, met. awesome
naharak sokar = lit. your day is sugar, met. have a great day
beid = lit. eggs, met. disgusting or boring or frustrating (vulgar)
fruits
mooza = met. for gorgeous/sexy woman
men generally also use other random fruits to woo women
Hey Q, that's interesting ...thanks so much!
I can imagine how difficult it is for you, because I am almost in the same situation, but with me being an Egyptian in Ireland :D Well, I know many of the names of fruits/vegetables but still don't know the majority of them. That's why I found your post, which seems to be very useful to me too :)
I still don't know if I will ever memorize all the names of different foods, this is too much!
Thanks,
Andrew.
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