Talk on the Phone Like an Algerian
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to talk on the phone in a casual, natural way — just like Algerians do!
We’ll go through two short phone call conversations: one between a mom and her daughter, and another between two friends. You’ll learn the real phrases Algerians use to check in, chat, and say goodbye effortlessly. Ready? Let’s dive in!
Conversation 1
Daughter:
ألو صباح الخير وشراكي يمّا؟
/alo s’ba:7elkhi:r wachra:ki: yimma:/
Mother:
/laba:s 7amdoullah winti liwla:d/ لباس حمدلله وانت ؟ لولاد؟
Daughter:
/laba:s 7amdoullah/ لباس حمدلله
Mother:
/wa:ch wachra:ki: di:ri:/ واش ؟ وشراكي تديري؟
Daughter:
هذاوين كملت الشغل تع الدار.أيا قلت نعيطلك
/hada:wi:n kammalt echghol ta3 edda:r aya: golt n’3ayyatlik/
وانت وين راكي؟ راكي برّا؟
/w n’ti wi:n ra:ki: ra:ki: barra:/
Mother:
ايه خرجت رايحة نقضي ومبعد
/i:h kh’rajt ra:y7a neqdi: w m’ba3d/
نفوت عند اختك نشرب عندها قهوة
/n’fout 3and kh’tik nochrob 3andha: qahwa/
Daughter:
صحا مالا منطولش عليك سلمي عليها
/sa7a ma:la: mantawwalch 3’lik selmi: 3’li:ha:/
Mother:
/y’sallim 3’lik elkhi:r/ يسلّم عليك الخير
Daughter:
/tibqa:y 3la khi:r/ تبقاي على خير
Mother:
/bisla:ma/ بالسلامة
English Translation
Daughter: Hello, good morning! How are you Mom?
Mother: I'm good, thank God. And you? How are the kids?
Daughter: We’re fine, thank God.
Mother: So, what’s up? What are you doing?
Daughter: I just finished the housework, so I thought I’d give you a call.
Where are you? Are you out?
Mother: Yeah, I went out to run some errands.
Then I’ll stop by your sister’s place to have some coffee.
Daughter: Nice! I won’t keep you then. Say hi to her for me.
Mother: She sends her greetings.
Daughter: Take care!
Mother: Bye-bye.
Conversation 2
(two male friends)
Person 1:
/alo miselkhi:r wachra:k/ ألو مسالخير وشراك؟
Person 2:
/laba:s 7amdoullah eswa:l 3’li:k/ لباس حمد لله السوال عليك
Person 1:
/7amdoullah da:rkom laba:s/ حمدلله. داركم لباس؟
Person 2:
في نعمة.واش؟ واش راك داير فيها؟
/fi ni3ma wa:ch wa:ch ra:k da:yir fi:ha:/
Person 1:
والو. هذاوين كملت الخدمة. دخلت للدار وعيطتلك
/wa:lou hada:wi:n kamalt khidma d’khalt lidda:r w 3ayyatlik/
وانت واش راك داير فيها؟
/w inta wa:ch ra:k da:yir fi:ha:/
Person 2:
راني برا خرجت نصلّي ونفوت كشما نقضي
/ra:ni: barra: kh’rajt n’salli: w n’fout kachma: neqdi:/
Person 1:
مليح مالا كي تكون قاعد نزيدو نقسرو
/m’li:7 ma:la: ki: t’koun ga:3id n’zidou n’gasrou/
اتهلا في روحك
/ethalla: fi: rou7ik/
Person 2:
صحا بالسلامة
/sa7a: bisla:ma/
English Translation
Person 1: Hello, good evening! How are you?
Person 2: I’m fine, thank God. How about you?
Person 1: Thank God. How's everyone?
Person 2: We’re doing well. So, what’s up? What have you been doing?
Person 1: Nothing much. I just finished work, got home, and called you.
What about you? What are you up to?
Person 2: I’m outside — went to pray and then I’ll run a few errands.
Person 1: Nice! When you’re free, we’ll chill a bit. Take care of yourself.
Person 2: Alright, take care!
Conversations Takeaways
In short casual conversations on the phone, after answering with “alo,” we usually :
Greet the person
Ask how the person is doing and about the people around them (like the kids if it’s a mom).
We use expressions like:
_ /wa:ch 7’wa:lik/ واش أحوالك؟ _ /wachra:k/ وشراك؟
/eswa:l 3lik/ السوال عليك؟
It’s an expression we usually use as a reply to someone who greeted you. They all mean
How are you?
Ask where they are or what they’re doing.
End with warm goodbyes and kind wishes, like:
/bisla:ma/ بالسلامة _ /sa:7a:/ صحا
/tibqa 3la khi:r/ تبقى على خير
Goodbye
/t’halla: fi rou7ik/ تهلا في روحك
Take care
/selmi: 3’li:h/ 3’li:ha/ سلمي عليه/ عليها
Say hi to him/her for me
/y’salim 3lik elkhi:r/ يسلم عليك الخير
He/She sends his/her greetingsNow you know how Algerians talk on the phone. Keep practicing these phrases, and soon you’ll sound just like a local!
