ya3jib-nii

Audio with Theyab's pronunciation

The clock says as-saa3ah 3ashrah bi l-'9hub6. Plenty of time to get things done, I think.

Wrong. Suddenly the doorbell rings. It's khaalah Danah. We greet each other and she asks, "How's your mother?" 

"zainah," I reply. Then I offer her something to drink: "7aar walaa baarrid?"

She asks for saffron milk tea and a piece of cake.

"t7ibiin al-kaikah?" I ask.

"ee," she replies, crumbs flying everywhere.

Then the doorbell rings again. This time it's 3amitii Nourah. My father hasn't spoken to her in years - awkward! Well anyway, she comes in, says hello to khaalah Danah and joins us for tea and cake.

"So dear, ta3jib-ich Barcelona??" she asks me.

"Yes, ta3jib-nii waayid," I reply.

"And ya3jib-ich your husband?" she asks pointedly.

"Only when he's nice to me," I say jokingly. 

We decide to take a photo for Instagram. We look at the result. 3amitii Nourah cowers in shame. "Oh gross, haadhii a9-9uurah maa ta3jib-nii killish!"

So we delete that one. And take another. Then another. Now filters are being applied. And once we have a revved-up, overly saturated, toothy selfie of the three of us, khala9-naa.

Both ladies give their kisses and take their leave.

I check my watch. Is that really the time? Then the phone rings.

"aluu?" I say.

It's rifiijt-ii and she wants to meet for tea and cake at The Avenues. Strangely the repetition isn't unwelcome. In fact, yabiil-ah!

الساعة عشرة بضبط	as-saa3ah 3asharah bi l-'9ub6	10 o’clock on the dot
خالة	khaalah	Maternal aunt
حار ولا بارد؟	7aar walaa baarid?	Would you like a hot or cold drink?
تحبين الكيكة؟	t7ibiin al-kaikah?	Do you (>f) like the cake?
إي	ee	Yes
عمتي	3amitii	Paternal aunt
يعجبچ... ؟ تعجبچ... ؟	ya3jib-ich...? ta3jib-ich...?	Do you like ...(m. subj.) (>f)? Do you like ... (f. subj.)(>f)?
تعجبني وايد	ta3jib-nii waayid	I like it (f) a lot
هاذ الصورة ما تعجبني	haadhi a9-9uurah maa ta3jab-nii killish	I don’t like this photo at all!
خلصنا	khalaS-naa	We finished
الو؟	aluu?	Hello? (when picking up phone)
رفيجي رفيجاتي رفجني رفيجاتي	rafiij-ii rafiijt-ii rifjaa-nii rifiijaat-ii	My (male) friend My (female) friend My (male) friends My (female) friends