Greetings
مرحبا (Marhaba)
MAR-ha-ba
Hello. Arabic is the language of the street, the shop and the school here, and this is the greeting you will use fifty times a day.
أهلاً وسهلاً (Ahlan wa sahlan)
AH-lan wa SAH-lan
Welcome — said warmly and often, and expected in return when someone enters your home or your shop.
شكراً (Shukran)
SHUK-ran
Thank you. The reply is 'afwan' or, more warmly here, 'ahlan'.
شلوم (Shalom)
sha-LOM
Hello in Hebrew. You will not need it in the souq and you will need it at every government counter, bank and hospital reception outside the city.
תודה (Toda)
to-DA
Thank you in Hebrew. 'Bevakasha' covers both please and you're welcome.
Social
يعطيك العافية (Ya'tik al-afye)
yaa-TEEK el-AA-fyeh
Literally 'may He give you health' — said to anyone who is working: the baker, the bus driver, the plumber. Not knowing it marks you as a visitor faster than anything else.
إن شاء الله (Inshallah)
in-SHAA-lah
God willing. Used sincerely, and also as the local way a tradesman says 'probably Tuesday'. Learn to hear which one you are getting.
Daily life
كنيسة البشارة (Kanisat al-Bishara)
ka-NEE-set el-bi-SHAA-ra
The Basilica of the Annunciation — the largest church in the Middle East and the axis the whole old city is arranged around. The commonest landmark in directions.
السوق القديم (as-Souq al-Qadim)
es-SOOK el-ka-DEEM
The Old Market — the covered lanes below the basilica where the spice merchants, bakeries and sweet shops are. Still a working market, not a heritage exhibit.
أرنونا / ארנונה (Arnona)
ar-NO-na
Municipal property tax, billed to whoever occupies the flat, by the square metre and by municipal zone. The same Hebrew word is used in Arabic here.
Food
كنافة (Knafeh)
ke-NAA-feh
Warm cheese pastry under shredded pastry and syrup, sold by weight and eaten standing up. Nazareth argues with Nablus about it and does not intend to concede.
Emergency
النجدة! (An-najda!)
en-NAJ-deh
Help! Israel splits its emergency numbers: 101 for a Magen David Adom ambulance, 100 police, 102 fire, 104 Home Front Command.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.