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Today's phrase literally translates as "happy chance."
Probably not what Hamlet was thinking when he was getting acquainted with a skull, but for most, a first-time meeting is ripe with potential. furSah sa:iidah, nice to meet you.
While shaking hands (with members of the opposite sex) or sharing cheek kisses (with members of the same sex), you may wonder if this encounter could mean a new beginning. Or possibly just a barrage of slightly muz:ij questions:
1. Who is your father?
2. Did you answer my first question?
3. maanii mSaddig, you still don't speak Arabic?
4. Where are :yaal-kum?
5. How many :yaal do you have ... bi l-kaamil?
I exaggerate (but only slightly). More likely than not, an encounter with someone will begin with asking your ism: "shism-ik?" if speaking to a male or "shism-ich?" to a female. You may be asked where you live, in which case you can answer using the verb saakin if you're a guy, saaknah if you're girl, followed by the place. And if meeting with someone you know already, it'll likely prompt a question about family, such as how is al-ahl?
And usually, kulu-hum zayniin.
So after your furSah sa:iidah, seal the linguistic deal by thanking your host for what is always spectacular hospitality in Kuwait: aakrum-kum aallah.
What you learned today:
ساكن
|
saakin | I live (m), he lives | |
Verbs
|
ساكنة
|
saaknah | I live (f), she lives |
ساكنين
|
saakniin | We live, they live | |
معقد
|
mu:aqad | Complicated | |
Adjectives
|
مزعج
|
muz:ij | Annoying |
زين \ زينة \ زينين
|
zayn / zaynah / zayniin | Well (m / f / pl) | |
الاهل
|
al-ahl | The family | |
Nouns
|
عيال
|
:yaal-kum | Your children |
اسم
|
ism | Name | |
بالكامل
|
bi l-kaamil | In total | |
Phrases
|
ماني مو صدق
|
maanii mSaddig | I don’t believe it |
كلهم زينين
|
kulu-hum zayniin | Everyone's fine |
