khilaal

Audio with Theyab's pronunciation

One evening, I invite Theyab to a concert. His face falls when I tell him it's a performance of Georges Bizet's Carmen.  

"ta3aal, it'll only be for one hour, muu akthar! allaah ykhallii-k! And who knows, maybe you'll enjoy it?"

He gives me the Look of Death. For the most part, maa ta3jib-ah these events but he keeps an open mind. I also know that if he comes equipped with a Nintendo 3DS, iPhone and tablet, kil-ah yikuun zayn.

wi9al-naa at the rather kashkhah venue - Picasso and Miró's old drawing school. As the lights dim, Theyab points to a member of the front row.

"Is that a midget or a kid?" he asks in a whisper, but a Theyab-whisper,

which is actually quite 3aalii.

"Shhhhhh," somebody hisses. 

During the first piece, he looks at his phone. khilaal the next one, I glance sideways and see that he's out-and-out snoring. So much for the open mind. As the third piece begins, suddenly I get a nudge in the ribs. Theyab is awake now, wide-eyed and brimming with excitement.

"No way, they're playing the theme tune from The Aristocrats!"

تعال	ta3aal	Come on (to a male)
مو اكثر	muu akthar	Not more
الله يخليك	allaah ykhallii-k	Pleeeeease!
ما تعجبه	maa ta3jib-ah	He does not like
كلة يكون زين	kil-ah yikuun zayn	Everything will be fine
وصلنا	wi9al-naa	We arrive
عالي	3aalii	Loud
خلال	khilaal	During