The Chadian dialect of Arabic (لهجة تشادية) is the main language of Chad.
Common signs
; OPEN : ; CLOSED : ; ENTRANCE : ; EXIT : ; PUSH : ; PULL : ; TOILET : ; MEN : ; WOMEN : ; FORBIDDEN :
; Hello. :Salaam wa alekoum. (Peace be with you__):Wa alekoum salaam. (And also with you) - the response ; Hello. (informal) : Lalê. (__) ; How are you? (to a female) : Inti afé (to a female) ; How are you? (to a male) : Inta afé (to a male)
Intou afé (to a group) ; Fine, thank you. :Ana aafé. ("I am fine"):Anina aafiin ("We are fine") ; What is your name? :Inti Ousm-ki yatou (to ask a girl her name):Inta Ousm-ak yatou? (to ask a boy his name) ; My name is ______ . :Ana ousm-i ________ . () ; Nice to meet you. : . () ; Please. :Min fadlak. () ; Thank you. :Chukkran. () ; You're welcome. :Afwan. () ; Yes. :Ayé. (Yes - people also click their throats to indicate agreement when someone is talking) ; No. :La. (No ),An an ; Excuse me. (getting attention) : . () ; Excuse me. (begging pardon) :Sahmini. () ; I'm sorry. : Sahmini. () ; Goodbye : Maa salaam. () ; Goodbye (informal) : maa salamak. () ; I do not speak Arabic. :[Ana ma na'arfa kalam Arab]. () ; Do you speak English? :(to a girl):Inti ta'arfa kalam [Anglais]? :(to a boy):Inta t'arfa kalam [Anglais]? ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : nadum yarfa anglais fi ? ; Help! :Saa'id-ni! ; Look out! : Fakir!: Angara'! ; Good morning. : Sabah al-kheer. ; Good evening. : Gayaltou al-kheer ; Good night. : . (Allah i sabina) ; Good night (to sleep) : argoud aafé. (__) ; I don't understand. : Ana Ma fihimta ; Where is the toilet? : wen warabet?
; Leave me alone. :. ('Khalini bakan wahid ; Don't touch me! : ! (Ma ti lamissini!) ; I'll call the police. :ni nadi police ; Police! :police ; Stop! Thief! :Akourbou saraak! ; I need your help. : Ni dora ti awinini: Saa'idni ; It's an emergency. : . (.) ; I'm lost. : Ana_waddar_ ; I lost my bag. :ma narfa wen sac hagi masha ; I lost my wallet. :ma narfa wen portafay hagi masha ; I'm sick. : Ana mardaan (male).: Ana mardaané (female). ; I've been injured. : .Ana indi awwara. ; I need a doctor. :ana nidor docteur ; Can I use your phone? :samini ana nidor utilize telephone hanaki
; 1 : wâhed () ; 2 : tinên () ; 3 : talâta () ; 4 : arba'a () ; 5 : xamsa () ; 6 : sitte () ; 7 : saba'a () ; 8 : tamâne () ; 9 : tis'a () ; 10 : ashara () ; 11 :ashara wa wahid (11) ; 12 :ashara wa tinên (12__) ; 13 :ashara wa talâta (13__) ; 14 :ashara wa arba (14__) ; 15 :ashara wa khamsa (15__) ; 16 :ashara wa sitte (16__) ; 17 :ashara wa saba'a (17__) ; 18 :ashara wa tamâne(18__) ; 19 :ashara wa tis'a (19__) ; 20 :itnène (20) ; 21 :itnène wa wâhed (21) ; 22 :itnène wa tinên (22) ; 23 :itnène wa talâta (23) ; 30 :talatine (30__):talatine wa wâhed ; 40 :arba-ine (40):arba-ine wa wâhed (41) ; 50 :khamsine (50):khamsine wa wâhed (51) ; 60 : (Sittine__) ; 70 : (Sabaine) ; 80 :Tamianine (80) ; 90 : (Tissine__) ; 100 :Miya(100) ; 200 : (Miteen__) ; 300 : (Toultoumiya__) ; 1,000 : (Alif__) ; 2,000 : (Alfène__) ; 1,000,000 : () ; 1,000,000,000 : () ; 1,000,000,000,000 : () ; number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : () ; half : (Nouss__) ; less : (Shiya__) ; more : (Kattir)
; now :Hassa (now__) ; later :Bi-den (later):illa bi-den (until later) ; before : (Awwal__) ; morning : (Fodjour__) ; afternoon : (Assour) ; evening : (__ Ashiyé) ; night : (Fillele)
; one o'clock AM : () ; two o'clock AM : () ; noon : () ; one o'clock PM : () ; two o'clock PM : () ; midnight : ()
; _____ minute(s) : () ; _____ hour(s) : () ; _____ day(s) : () ; _____ week(s) : () ; _____ month(s) : () ; _____ year(s) : ()
; today : (Alyom__) ; yesterday : (Amiss__) ; tomorrow : (Ambakir) ; this week : () ; last week : () ; next week : (__)
; Sunday :Yom al ahad (Sunday):Al yom al ahad (today is Sunday) ; Monday :Yom al itnên (Monday) ; Tuesday :Yom al sabaa (Tuesday) ; Wednesday :Yom al arba (Wednesday) ; Thursday :Yom al khmasa (Thursday) ; Friday :Yom al joumla (Friday) ; Saturday :Yom al sabat (Saturday)
; January : () ; February : () ; March : () ; April : () ; May : () ; June : () ; July : () ; August : () ; September : () ; October : () ; November : () ; December : ()
; black : (azaraq) ; white : (abiyet) ; gray : (Akhabash) ; red : (aamar__) ; blue : () ; yellow : (Asfar) ; green : (Akhadar__) ; orange : () ; purple : () ; brown : (maron)
; How much is a ticket to ___? : () ; One ticket to ___, please. : () ; Where does this train/bus go? :bus da gai yamshe wen ; Where is the train/bus to ___? : () ; Does this train/bus stop in _? : () ; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? ; ; When will this train/bus arrive in ____? : ()
; How do I get to _____ ? :kikef namchi _____ ? ; ...the train station? : () ; ...the bus station? : () ; ...the airport? : (Mataar__) ; ...downtown? : () ; ...the youth hostel? : () ; ...the _____ hotel? : () ; ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : () ; Where are there a lot of... : () ; ...hotels? : () ; ...restaurants? : () ; ...bars? : () ; ...sites to see? : () ; Can you show me on the map? : (Wassibini fi carté da) ; street : (Darib, Shaari__) ; Turn left. : (Lif bé issré__) ; Turn right. : (Lif bé zené__) ; left : (Issré__) ; right : (Zené__) ; straight ahead : (Direk) ; towards the _____ : (Alé___) ; past the _____ : () ; before the _____ : () ; Watch for the _. : () ; intersection : () ; north : () ; south : () ; east : () ; west : () ; uphill : () ; downhill : ()
; Taxi! : (__) ; Take me to ___, please. : () ; How much does it cost to get to _? : () ; Take me there, please. : ()
; Do you have any rooms available? : (indoukou chambre hana oudjoura) ; How much is a room for one person/two people? : (nadoum wahid/ nasene ti adjourou low/lome b kam) ; Does the room come with... : () ; ...bedsheets? : () ; ...a bathroom? : () ; ...a telephone? : () ; ...a TV? : () ; May I see the room first? :neh shifa chambre da kobul ; Do you have anything quieter? : () ; ...bigger? : () ; ...cleaner? : () ; ...cheaper? : () ; OK, I'll take it. : (ni shila) ; I will stay for _____ night(s). :(ni gohdi _____ nuits) ; Can you suggest another hotel? :( tarfi hotel ahhar) ; Do you have a safe? : () ; ...lockers? : () ; Is breakfast/supper included? : () ; What time is breakfast/supper? : () ; Please clean my room. : (__) ; Can you wake me at _____? :(gaymini a _____? ) ; I want to check out. : ()
; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : () ; Do you accept British pounds? : () ; Do you accept euros? : () ; Do you accept credit cards? : () ; Can you change money for me? : () ; Where can I get money changed? : () ; Can you change a traveler's check for me? : () ; Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : () ; What is the exchange rate? : () ; Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ()
; A table for one person/two people, please. : () ; Can I look at the menu, please? : () ; Can I look in the kitchen? : () ; Is there a house specialty? : () ; Is there a local specialty? : () ; I'm a vegetarian. : () ; I don't eat pork. :(ma gai nakoul ---) ; I don't eat beef. : () ; I only eat kosher food. : () ; Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : () ; fixed-price meal : () ; a la carte : () ; breakfast : () ; lunch : () ; tea (meal) : () ; supper : () ; I want _. :( ana ni dora _____ ) ; I want a dish containing _. : () ; chicken : () ; beef : () ; fish : () ; ham : () ; sausage : () ; cheese : () ; eggs : () ; salad : () ; (fresh) vegetables : () ; (fresh) fruit : () ; bread : () ; toast : () ; noodles :(indoumi) ; rice :(ris) ; beans : () ; May I have a glass of _? : () ; May I have a cup of _? : () ; May I have a bottle of _? : () ; coffee :(shahi) ; tea (drink) : () ; juice : () ; (bubbly) water :( ) ; (still) water :( almeh) ; beer :(beer) ; red/white wine : () ; May I have some _? :(antini ---) ; salt : () ; black pepper : () ; butter : () ; Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): () ; I'm finished. :( ana khalas ) ; It was delicious. : () ; Please clear the plates. : () ; The check, please. : ()
; Do you serve alcohol? :(indoukoum alcohol ?) ; Is there table service? : () ; A beer/two beers, please. : () ; A glass of red/white wine, please. : () ; A pint, please. : () ; A bottle, please. : () ; _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : () ; whiskey : () ; vodka : () ; rum : () ; water :( almeh ) ; club soda : () ; tonic water : () ; orange juice : () ; Coke (soda) : () ; Do you have any bar snacks? : () ; One more, please. : () ; Another round, please. : () ; When is closing time ? ; Cheers! : ()
; Do you have this in my size? : () ; How much is this? : () ; That's too expensive. : () ; Would you take _? : () ; expensive : () ; cheap : () ; I can't afford it. : () ; I don't want it. :(ma ni dora) ; You're cheating me. : () ; I'm not interested. : (..) ; OK, I'll take it. :(ok. ni shilah) ; Can I have a bag? : () ; Do you ship (overseas)? : () ; I need... :( ana ni dora ... ) ; ...toothpaste. : () ; ...a toothbrush. : () ; ...tampons. : . () ; ...soap. : () ; ...shampoo. : () ; ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : () ; ...cold medicine. : () ; ...stomach medicine. : ... () ; ...a razor. : () ; ...an umbrella. : () ; ...sunblock lotion. : () ; ...a postcard. : () ; ...postage stamps. : () ; ...batteries. : () ; ...writing paper. : () ; ...a pen. : () ; ...English-language books. : () ; ...English-language magazines. : () ; ...an English-language newspaper. : () ; ...an English-English dictionary. : (__)
; I want to rent a car. : () ; Can I get insurance? : () ; stop (on a street sign) : () ; one way : () ; yield : () ; no parking : () ; speed limit : () ; gas (petrol) station : () ; petrol : () ; diesel : ()
; I haven't done anything wrong. :(ana ma sawehta shey) ; It was a misunderstanding. : () ; Where are you taking me? :( mala inti gai ti sheleni ? ) ; Am I under arrest? : () ; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : () ; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : () ; I want to talk to a lawyer. : () ; Can I just pay a fine now? : (__)
Entries that might not conform to the guidelines at Wikivoyage:Phrasebook article template.
Here are some basic Chadian Arabic phrases to get you started on the road to interacting with Chadians.
; Ahlan wa sahlan : Welcome! (to our place, shop, home) ; _Salâm alek, ______ : greeting to an adult man, or boy (formal) ; Keif-ak? : How are you? ; Hamdulillah, kwayyis. : Thank God, I'm fine. ; Inta, keif halak? : And how are you? ; Hamdulillah, wa nass beitak? : Thank God. And your family? ; Kullum kwaysin : They are all fine. ; Ma salaam. : Goodbye
Salâm aleki - greeting to an adult woman, or girl (formal)
Wa alêk al-salâm - response to the greeting (formal)
Lalê - hello (familiar, peer to peer greeting)
Inta (m)/inti (f) âfé? - are you well? (note the difference between addressing a man and a woman)
(anâ) âfé - I am well. (response to above; first word is optional)
agod âfé - you (sing.) stay well (I am leaving, a leave-taking phrase when addressing one person)
agodu âfé - you (plural) stay well (when addressing more than one person)
amshi âfé - you (sing.) go well (leave-taking, when you are the one who is staying)
amshu âfé - you (plural) go well (when addressing more than one person)
ma salamak - Goodbye
wên al daktor? - Where is the doctor?
wên al labtan? - Where is the hospital?
antini almi hana churâb - Give me water to drink (In such phrases, "please" is not necessary)
antini Coka hana churâb - Give me a Coca-Cola to drink
antini mapa - Give me a baguette (French bread)
bêkam al kitab da? - How much does that book cost?
shunu al kitab da? - What is that book there?
mâla? - Why?
êsh wa mulah - boule (millet paste, staple food of Chad) and sauce
usumak shunu? - What is your name?
wên inta? - Where are you from?
shukran - Thank you
afwân - You are welcome (response to "shukran")
Al hamdu l'llah! - Praise God
ma' anata... - What does... mean?"
Da shunu? - What is this?
Kikef tigul ... - How do you say...?
Kikef tigul be fransawi? - How do you say in French?
Kikef tigul be arabi? - How do you say in Arabic?
Kikef tigul be inglezi? - How do you say In English?