Struck me the other day while directing a taxi driver that there were certain phrases that I use in common day to day life in Dubai. However, if I was to use them in London I would certainly get an odd look or two.
Here are my favourites that when uttered can provide the grease to getting by in Dubai.
1. “Come on let’s go. Yallah Habibi” - getting the gang to move
2. “What to do yanni? - often said to no one in particular
3. I’ll do that today itself “- as today really means sometime this week
4. “I will revert soonest”
5. “I will send you my coordinates” -often combined with 3 and 4
6. While calling a removal company – “Are you available for shifting and fixing next weekend?”
7. ”Full tank special please” – I have never had the luxury of full service petrol stations before coming to Dubai
8. (While answering the phone) – “Tell me, mmmm, tell me…”
9. “too much” inserted in all sentences where I should be saying “a lot”
and the classic to the taxi driver:
10. “You come my backside now ?”
I have to admit to having used all of the above, but one I get a lot when speaking in an area with poor mobile reception:
11. “Aaron your voice is breaking” – Crikey I hoped that had happened 20 years ago
How about: “What’s your good name?”
I had never heard that before I arrived here
By: R on October 31, 2009
at 12:03 am
great blog keep it up, love reading it, another thing i hear is yes maaaaaaaam!!!
it drive’s me nutts!!
funny tho!
love dubai it can get a bit crazy here at times, but it is all good fun.
By: kirsty on October 31, 2009
at 1:02 am
I really enjoy reading your blog about Dubai but one issue puzzles me. In one of your earlier blogs you commented that you did not have a head for heights, so how do you cope with living on the 33rd floor? Although having seen the pictures of the view from your flat which could only be described as incredible any fear of heights would be quickly overcome. The pictures of uni halls are very amusing and you obviously enjoyed yourself pleased to see your party spirit remains with you in Dubai.
Thanks for the Spotify invite.
Mat
By: Mat on October 31, 2009
at 6:28 am
@R – yes that is a good one – but I have yet to ask someone what their “Good”name is (yet)
@kirsty – thanks for the kind words. The “Maaaaam” thing makes me smile I am honest. I think it is better than the grunt you get in the UK
@Mat – a pleasure. I didn’t really have much option – I really wanted the particular floor plan when I brought and the only ones they had left were up high. It is fine while I am sitting in the lounge a different matter while I am on the balcony!
By: Aaron on October 31, 2009
at 9:03 am
Have you managed to avoid picking up same-same yet? Or even no-same-same?
By: Paraglider on October 31, 2009
at 4:03 pm
Have to agree with Kirsty – that Maaaam thing used to drive us around the bend! Maybe it’s amusing to you, Aaron, because you’re not on the receiving end – at least, I hope not! ;.) There’s little that they can do to strangulate “sir”!
Another one was when asking for something in a shop, only to be told that it was “not coming in Dubai”!
By: nzm on October 31, 2009
at 4:24 pm
mmmmm, too much phrases
By: Emma on November 1, 2009
at 1:45 am
Aaron, I may have to stop reading your blog because you are killing me. Seriously, I am doubled over, laughing fit to bust.
By: Natalie on November 1, 2009
at 2:28 pm
i know it is all about out there but all good fun realy……..
you come my backside now!!!!!
what man/lady would say that!!!!!
ok
in fact i dont want to know tha answer x
lol
got family coming over for christmas do you know anywere that is grrreat, on christmas day for a fab meal trying to book before the rush!!
not to far from the madanat.
thanks would be greatful for the help.
By: kirsty on November 1, 2009
at 10:55 pm
@Paraglider – I have to admit to saying same-same on occasion though not no-same-same (well not yet anyway!)
@nzm – the not coming in Dubai – I get a lot of that when looking for new gadgets in Dubai!
@emma – too much missing you!
@natalie – awww glad it made you smile! I will keep trying
@kirsty – Glad you can see the funny side! for Christmas dinner the Al Qasr or the Jumeriah Beach Hotel do cracking lunch buffets. For something a little more intimate 360 have a very fancy set menu. Me – I will probably end up at the Grovesnor again. But do book early !
By: Aaron on November 3, 2009
at 9:45 pm
Hi,
it’s really interesting to go thru ur Dubai phrases…
but i found the phrase: “mumkin, mush mumkin” (possible, not possible) is not so common here like in Saudi Arabia.
By: Sadar on November 4, 2009
at 11:56 am
Hi Sadar – yes I haven’t heard that one much at all in Dubai
By: Aaron on November 4, 2009
at 6:17 pm
Yalla Yalla….
By: Steve on November 4, 2009
at 10:25 pm
@steve – absolutely – I am always with the Yalla
By: Aaron on November 4, 2009
at 10:40 pm
they use “yalla” a lot here in egypt and also “same, same.” i am actually moving to dubai in january…whoo hoo! maybe you would like to meet up with my hubby…he’s in the IT biz and is also a gadget geek:).
dont worry, i wont ask you, “where is a good place to live”, “how do i get my license”, etc, etc. we have that stuff figured out already:).
By: ilka on November 6, 2009
at 11:30 pm
Hi ….
See some other common Egyptian phrases:
“ya ammee khalaaaaaaas!” — it’s ok my friend (uncle)
“shaathir” — excellent, smart
GGameeeeeeeel” — beautiful
“Maaaaaaashe” — going on, ok
“Nardha Kuwais” — today nice
“Khalli balak” — be careful
By: Sadar on November 7, 2009
at 12:49 pm
@sadar Nice list!
By: Aaron on November 7, 2009
at 4:30 pm
Try using “MOMTAAZ”
It means excellent
By: sumeet on December 8, 2009
at 9:41 am
I am waiting for the next release of MS-WORD with a ‘Dubai English’ Spelling and Grammar Checker! ‘The Present Continuous Tense’ will be permitted; with such expressions as ‘I am not knowing!’
I am in The Philippines presently, and have discovered a New Pronoun ‘Maamsirrrrrrr!’
One of my favourites is ‘I will be doing one thing!’
Why does everything have to take ‘Fifteen Days?’
I have found that ‘Same-Same’ means ‘The Same,’and ‘Same-Same but Different’ means ‘Similar! There is a small shop on the road from Khor Fakkan to Fujeirah called ‘Same Same but Different!’
By: Bob Morgan on January 1, 2010
at 6:32 am
@Bob Morgan – I like it!
By: Aaron on January 1, 2010
at 7:08 am