كلمة الملكة

In today's podcast I read the Egyptian Arabic verison of Queen Elizabeth's most recent coronavirus address to the British people. As I could not find the full فصحى version of the speech, I have simply translated the English original straight into مصري - so this time the table below shows English vs Egyptian (as opposed to the usual فصحى vs مصري). I'm also giving you a break from grammar this time, so after the reading I just pick a couple of words and expressions used in the text and give an explanation of these. Enjoy and comment below if anything requires clarification or you have any other comment on the episode! “I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time. أنا بكلمكم في وقت أنا عارفة إن الحياة بتزداد صعوبة يوم بعد يوم. A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all. دي فترة مضطربة في تاريخ بلدنا: اضطراب اتسبب في حزن لبعض الناس، وصعوبات مالية لناس كتيرة، وتغييرات ضخمة في حياتنا اليومية، حياتنا كلنا. I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. أنا عايزة أشكر كل اللي شغالين في خط المواجهة في خدمة الصحة الوطنية وفي مجال الرعاية واللي بيؤدوا أدوار أساسية، اللي مستمرين في تأدية مهامهم اليومية برة بيوتهم عشان يساعدونا كلنا، من غير ما يفكروا في نفسهم. I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times. أنا متأكدة إن الأمة كلها بتشاركني لما بأكد لكم إننا مقدّرين اللي بتعملوه، وأن كل ساعة عمل بتجتهدوا فيها بتقرّبنا من الرجوع لأوقات طبيعية أكتر. I also want to thank those of you who are staying at home, thereby helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones. كمان عايزة أشكر كل الناس اللي قاعدين في البيت، وبكده بيحموا الناس الأكتر عرضة للإصابة، وبيجنّبوا عيلات كتيرة الألم اللي بيشعر بيه بالفعل الناس اللي فقدوا حد عزيز عليهم. Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it. احنا مع بعض بنتصدى للمرض ده، وأنا عايزة أطمّنكم إننا لو فضلنا متحدين وحازمين، هنتغلّب عليه. I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. أتمنى إن في السنين الجاية كل واحد هيقدر يفتخر بطريقة استجابته للتحدي ده. And those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. والناس اللي هييجوا بعدنا هيقولوا إن البريطانيين من الجيل ده كانوا من أقوى ما يمكن، That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country. وإن صفات ضبط النفس والعزيمة الهادية اللطيفة والإحساس بالغير لسة بتميز البلد دي. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and our future. الفخر بهويتنا مش مجرد جزء من ماضينا، ده بيميّز حاضرنا ومستقبلنا. The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit; and it...

Om Podcasten

Bilmasri is a podcast and blog (www.bilmasri.com) dedicated to the Egyptian dialect. It is for learners of Arabic (ideally anywhere between lower intermediate to advanced level) who have so far been focusing on Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), who may or may not have some knowledge of another Arabic dialect, and who would like to understand how the Egyptian dialect works. The starting point of most blog posts and podcast episodes is a text in Modern Standard Arabic – a news story, an excerpt from a work of fiction, or another form of text – which has been adapted into Egyptian Arabic. In the first part of each podcast episode, I will slowly read out the Egyptian version of the text. In the second part, I will take you through (in English) one or more aspects of the language just heard: this could be the pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, idioms, etc., with a particular focus on the differences and similarities between Egyptian and MSA. The blog post will contain both Egyptian Arabic and MSA versions of the text, followed by a brief summary of the podcast discussion. The blog’s tags will help you find any language-related topics you’re looking for, and the episodes they’re discussed in.