Attractions in Jordan (Updated)

Raqwet al-Arab:

One of my favorite restaurants in Amman, was a lively little cafe located in Al-Weibdeh. If you want to visit it, just ask a taxi driver to take you to Al-Weibdeh, and it's a stone's throw from the traffic circle. The cafe is known as a place frequented by writers and poets as well as locals and a few tourists. It's a great place to experience authentic Jordanian food and culture. Inside the cafe you will find comfortable armchairs and sofas with low coffee tables and displays of old Arabic books and artifacts. For more information, click on the link below:

http://www.mealadvisors.com/jordan/amman/rakwet-arab-cafe/branch/1743/Al+Weibdeh+%26+Al+Abdali

Levantine Arabic: Jordanian Colloquialisms (Updated Again)

Everyday Sayings:

I though I would update this section again to talk about a few commonplace sayings in Jordan, the Levant, and other Arabic nations.

First, "يعطيك العافية" or "y'altik el'afiya" is a common phrase that can be used as a greeting or a farewell. It literally means "may you be given strength."

Second, "الله معك" or "Allah m'ak" is a common farewell, which literally means "God be with you."

Third, "يسلمو إيديك" or "yeselmu eedaik" is a common expression of gratitude usually said to some one who has given you food or refreshment. It literally means, "bless your hands."

Finally, "معلش" or "m'alesh" and "مافي شي" or "mafi shi" are ways to say "it's okay," "no problem," or "don't worry about it."

Knowing these common sayings and others like them will enable you to pick up the meaning of conversations much more quickly.

Levantine Arabic: Jordanian Colloquialisms (Updated)

Jordanian Colloquialisms Continued:

I mentioned a few aspects about Jordanian Arabic in a previous post. I'm going to build a little more that by pointing out a few more distinctions. First, Arabic-speakers in the Levant add a subtle "b" sound before all present tense verbs. So, the formal verb "to tell" which is "أحكي" or "eHki" becomes "بأحكي" or beHki."

Secondly, Jordanians add "raH" before verbs to indicate future tense istead of the formal "sa" or "souf." So, the future tense of the verb to study changes from "سأدرس" or "sa'adrus" to "raH'adrus." Notice that the subtle "b" sound from the present tense is dropped and replaced with "raH."

In Jordan, "raH" is the most common indicator of future tense. However, speakers in other Levantine countries, such as Lebanon and Syria, will simply use "Ha."