Questions & Answers about اختي هلا بالمطار.
Why is there no word for is in this sentence?
In Levantine Arabic, the verb to be is usually not said in the present tense.
So:
- اختي = my sister
- هلا = now
- بالمطار = at the airport
Arabic simply puts these parts together, and the meaning my sister is now at the airport is understood.
This is very normal in spoken Arabic.
If you wanted the past or future, then Arabic would use a verb:
- اختي كانت بالمطار = My sister was at the airport
- اختي رح تكون بالمطار = My sister will be at the airport
What does اختي mean exactly, and how is it built?
اختي means my sister.
It is made from:
- أخت / اخت = sister
- ـي = my
So:
- أختي / اختي = my sister
In everyday Levantine writing, people often leave out some formal spelling details, so you may see اختي instead of the more formal أختي. Both refer to the same word.
How do I pronounce اختي in Levantine?
A common Levantine pronunciation is roughly: