Simple questions and answers
Arabic · Key Stage 1 · The School
Asking a name
ما اسْمُكَ؟ (mā ismuka) means "what is your name?", asked to a boy. اسْمي... (ismī...) means "my name is...". Practise the pair together: ask the question, then answer it, back and forth, like a real conversation. Try it with a friend now.
Asking how someone is
كَيْفَ حالُكَ؟ (kayfa ḥāluka) means "how are you?", asked to a boy. بِخَير (bikhayr) means "fine" or "well". A simple exchange: ask كَيْفَ حالُكَ؟, and reply بِخَير. Two short phrases, and you have had a real conversation. That counts as real speaking.
Yes and no
نَعَم (naʿam) means "yes". لا (lā) means "no". These two tiny words are some of the most useful in the whole language. Use them to answer any simple question you are asked, honestly and quickly. Practise saying both clearly.
A full short conversation
Practise this exact exchange with a partner, out loud. Person one: ما اسْمُكَ؟ (what is your name?). Person two: اسْمي أَحْمَد (my name is Ahmad). Person one: كَيْفَ حالُكَ؟ (how are you?). Person two: بِخَير, شُكْراً (fine, thank you). Person one: هَل أَنْتَ طالِب؟ (are you a student?). Person two: نَعَم (yes). Six lines, and you have just had a complete, real conversation in Arabic, using only the words from this lesson.
Speaking sooner than you think
A handful of paired phrases can carry a real exchange much sooner than a long list of single words ever could. Keep practising this short conversation until it feels automatic. Then you are genuinely speaking Arabic, not just reciting vocabulary.