Arabic Glossary for Dancers

by Jasmin Jahal, April 2000 (back)

Have you ever wished that you could easily learn Arabic? Most oriental dancers form the West do not speak the Arabic language. We become accustomed to listening to lyrics that we fall in love with simply by their pure sound, rather than by understanding exactly what is being said. They lyrics are usually quite lovely and meaningful. Most often the songs are about some aspect of love and probably the most common word is "Habibi," which is a term of endearment. Lyrics are usually written in the masculine sense, even if a man is singing them.

Understanding lyrics could enhance your dancing and choreographies. All you need to do is find a class that teaches the Arabic language, right? Yet, that’s no simple task. Here is a short glossary of Arabic words to which you, as a dancer, will be exposed. By no means is this list all inclusive, but it can give you some insight. At the end of the glossary, there is a short listing of actual titles of popular songs. In the glossary, the Arabic words are spelled out phonetically and offers the basic word, with no conjugations.

WORDS:

AAYN	Eye
AHLAN	Hello
ALBI	Heart
ALLAH	God
AMAR	Moon
AMIR	Prince
AMIRA	Princess
AMOURA	My love
ANA	I
AOYOON	Eyes
ASSAYA	Stick
AWAY	Yes
AWEE	Very
AZIZA	Beloved
BAKSHEESH	Tip
BEHEBBAK	I love you
BELEDI	Of the country
BINT	Girl
BIT TAMAM	Bravo
BOSA	Kiss
BOSS	Look
DALUNA	Coquettish
ENTE	You
ESHTA	Cream
FAKKAR	Think, remind
FALOOKA	Sailboat
FARRAH	Happy, joy
FELLAH	Farmer
GAMEEL	Lovely, pretty
HAB	Love
HABIBI	My beloved
HALAWAY	Sweet
HAREER	Silk
HASSELL	Honey
HAYA	She, It
HELM	Dream
HELWA	Sweet, beauty
HIZZI	Shoulders
HOWA	He
HYETTI	My life
INSHALLAH	God willing
JAREEDA	Newspaper
KEBEER	Big
KWIYIS	OK
LA	No
LALIBA	Firey
LAY	Why
LAYL	Night
LAZEEZ	Delicious
MAASALAMA	Goodbye
MABROOK	Congratulations
MASR	Egypt
MASRI	Egyptian
MAYA	Water
MISH MISH	Apricot
NAR	Fire
NUJOOM	Stars
RAKASA	Dancer
RAKS	Dance
RAKS SHARKEE	Oriental dance
ROHE	Soul
SAEEDA	Happy
SAGAT	Finger cymbals
SAHARA	Desert
SHAMS	Sun
SHAMEDAN	Candelabra
SHOKRAN	Thank you
SHOOF	See
SHWAYA	Little bit
SHY	Tea
SOKAR	Sugar
TAKT	Orchestra, band
TSHARRAAFNA	Pleased to meet you
WALAD	Boy
WARDA	Flower, rose
YALLA	Let’s go
YA SALLAM	Greetings
ZAHRA	Flower

NUMBERS:

WAHID	1
ITNAYN	2
TALATA	3
ARBAA	4
KHAMSA	5
SITTA	6
SABAA	7
TAMANIA	8
TISSAA	9
ASHARA	10

SONG TITLES:

ALA NAR: On Fire
ANA FINITIZARAK: I’m Waiting For You
BAHLAM BEEK: Dreaming of You
BATWANS BEEK: I Desire You
ENTE OMRI: You’re My Life
FAKAROUNI: Reminding Me
FEIN AMAYEK: Where Did the Days Go?
HABIBI YA AYNI: My Beloved, You’re My Eye
HABIBI YA NUR EL AYN: Beloved, You Are the Light of My Eye
HABABI YA GHABEIN: Beloved, You Are the Light of My Eye
HABINA HABINA: Love Me, Love Me
HARAMT AHEBAK: I Regret Loving You
LAYLET HOB: Night of Love
LISSA FAKAR: You Still Remember
NAR EL GHERA: Fire of Jealousy
WE YLOUMOUNI: Don’t Blame Me
YA SALLAM: Greetings
ZAI EL HOWA: Like the Wind

Literal translations are somewhat difficult and never exact, but at least you have the general meanings. Because the Arabic language is so old, it has become quite complicated. Mabrook, if you have gained some appreciation and a glimmer of insight for the lovely music and lyrics to which you perform Raks Sharki. You, as an artist, will continue to blossom, inshallah! Until our next issue, Maasalama!

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