How to Talk to a Taxi Driver in Algerian Arabic
Do you want to use a taxi to visit places in Algeria, but you don’t know what to say to a taxi driver in Algerian Arabic? Then this lesson is for you!
You will learn in this lesson some useful basic words and expressions for beginners. Also and most importantly, you will listen to a sample conversation between a taxidriver and a passenger. Then, you will have a role play practice activity where you will implement what you learned.
Greetings
/essala:mo 3ali:kom/ السّلام عليكم
/wa 3ali:kom essala:m/ و عليكم السّلام
good morning /sba:7 lkhi:r/ صْباح لخير
good afternoon/evening /sba:7 lkhi:r/ مِسْلخير
Destination
/wi:n khouya/khti/madam/l7aj/ وين {خويا/ختي/مدام/لحاج}؟
Your destination (“brother/sister/madam/l7aj”)?
/wi:n rayi7/ray7a/ وين رايح/رايحة؟
Where do you want to go? (male/female)
get in /etfaddal / etla3/ اتفضل / اطلع
/ma3li:ch / maka:ch mochkil/ معليش / مكاش مشكل
Ok / no problem
Understanding the Passenger
Where is it exactly? /wi:n hada:/ وين هذا؟
I didn’t understand /mafhamtch/ مافهمتش
Repeat /3a:wid/ عاود
No Service
No, sorry /la:la: isme7li:/ لالا اسمحلي
That’s really far /b3i:da bezza:f/ بعيدة بزاف
/ma:nakhdamch hadi: lji:ha/ مانخدمش هذي لجيهة
That is out of my boudaries
Special Instructions/Requests
/di:r sentoura/essebta/ دير السنتورة / السبتة
Put on your seatbelt
/ma3li:ch taghleq lba:b mli:7/ معليش تغلق الباب مليح
Can you close the door again, please?
/ma3li:ch nefta7 etta:qa/ معليش نفتح التاقة؟
Do you mind if I open the window?
/3andi: bagaj/ عندي bagage
I’ve got a luggage
/ma3li:ch tefta7/teghleq lakli:m/ معليش تفتح/تغلق لاكليم؟
Can you switch on/off AC?
/neqder na:kol/nochrob/netkeyyef/ نقدر ناكل/نشرب/نتكيّف؟
Can I eat/drink/smoke in the car?
Small Talk
/nta mni:n/ انت منين؟
Where are you from?
/lyoum skha:na/ berd/ ليوم سخانة/برد
The weather today is hot/cold
/ka:yin serka:la lyoum/ كاين سركالة ليوم
There’s a lot of traffic today
/mziya maka:ch serka:la lyoum/ مزية مكاش سركالة ليوم
There’s no traffic today thankfully
Fees
How much? /ch7a:l/ شحال؟
Do you have change? /3andik essarf/ عندك الصّرف؟
Take please /etfaddal ha:k/ اتفضّل/هاك
Goodbye
Thank you /ya3ti:k essa7a/ يعطيك الصحّة
You’re welcome /bla: mziya/ بلا مزية
Goodbye /bisla:ma/ بالسلامة
السلام عليكم
(we can use this expression also when we leave a place)
Conversation Sample and Practice
Check the video below at timestamps to listen to the conversation sample and perform the role play activity.
