Arabic For Dummies

Learn to: Make sense of the Arabic alphabet, pronunciation, and grammar Understand and be understood when dining, shopping, and hanging out with your friends and family Communicate on the phone and in business conversations Real-life conversations included on the bonus CD-ROM The fast and easy way to learn to speak Modern Standard Arabic Taking a straightforward and practical approach to this complex language, Arabic For Dummies, Second Edition is packed with practice dialogues and communication tips that will have you talking the talk in no time. Written by a native Arabic speaker, Arabic For Dummies, Second Edition is just what you need to start making yourself understood in Arabic. Arabic 101 — find an easy-to-follow introduction to the Arabic script, the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet, the difference between consonants and vowels, and a thorough overview of Arabic grammatic and linguistic constructs Out and about — discover the key words and phrases that allow you to interact with Arabic-speaking folks in a variety of different settings (such as in a restaurant, around town, at the office, or at a bank) Hit the road — use your Arabic speaking skills to plan a trip, make a hotel reservation, check in to and out of your hotel, and much more Open the book and find: The scoop on the Arabic alphabet Tips for tackling basic Arabic grammar Basic forms of greetings, words, and phrases How to make small talk and ask for basic info Guidance on planning a trip, finding a place to stay, and getting around How to tell time Ten ways to pick up Arabic quickly Tips for handling emergencies Bonus CD Includes Real-life conversations and practice opportunities See the appendix for details and complete system requirements.

Introduction  1 Part I: Getting Started  7 Chapter 1: The Arabic You Already Know 9 Chapter 2: Taking a Closer Look at the Arabic Alphabet 19 Chapter 3: Tackling Basic Arabic Grammar 31 Chapter 4: Getting Started with Basic Expressions 59 Chapter 5: Getting Your Numbers, Dates, and Measurements Straight 71 Chapter 6: At the Office and Around the House 79 Part II: Arabic in Action 95 Chapter 7: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk 97 Chapter 8: Asking Directions and Finding Your Way 109 Chapter 9: This Is Delicious! Eating In and Dining Out 121 Chapter 10: Going Shopping 141 Chapter 11: Hitting the Town 161 Chapter 12: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunicating 183 Chapter 13: Enjoying Yourself: Recreation, Music, and the Outdoors 197 Part III: Arabic on the Go  209 Chapter 14: Planning a Trip 211 Chapter 15: Dealing with Money in a Foreign Land 229 Chapter 16: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles 245 Chapter 17: Finding a Place to Stay 267 Chapter 18: Handling Emergencies 289 Part IV: The Part of Tens  299 Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Pick Up Arabic Quickly 301 Chapter 20: Ten Favorite Arabic Expressions 305 Chapter 21: Ten Great Arabic Proverbs 311 Part V: Appendixes  315 Appendix A: Minidictionaries 317 Appendix B: Verb Tables 331 Appendix C: Answer Key 343 Appendix D: On the CD 349 Index  351

Amine Bouchentouf, a native Arabic speaker from Morocco, graduated from Middlebury College where he offered a seminar on the Arabic language. He has also taught Arabic at the ABC Language Exchange and the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. He runs the website www. AL-BAAB.com.