Visiting a library in an Arabic-speaking country can be a rich and rewarding experience, offering access to a wealth of knowledge and culture.Navigating this space and effectively communicating your needs requires familiarity with specific Arabic vocabulary. This blog post serves as your essential guide, equipping you with the key words and phrases you’ll need to confidently interact in an Arabic library or bookstore. Whether you’re a student, a researcher, or simply an avid reader, mastering this vocabulary will enhance your visit and open doors to a deeper engagement with Arabic literature
Essential Vocabulary for Your Library Visit
Let’s delve into the crucial Arabic terms you’ll encounter:
- Library/Bookstore in Arabic: مكتبة (maktabah) – Context is key as this can mean both.
- Book in Arabic: كتاب (kitaab) – Plural: كتب (kutub).
- Example: I want a book about history. – أريد كتابًا عن التاريخ. (ʾureedu kitaaban ʿan at-taareekh.)
- Library card in Arabic: بطاقة مكتبة (bitaaqat maktabah)
- Example: Do you have a library card? – هل لديك بطاقة مكتبة؟ (hal ladayka bitaaqat maktabah?)
- Shelf in Arabic: رف (raff) – Plural: رفوف (rufoof).
- Example: Where can I find fiction books? (literally: novels books) – أين أجد كتب الروايات؟ (ʾayna ʾajidu kutub ar-riwaayaat?)
- Section/Department: قسم (qism)
- Example: I’m looking for the science books section. – أبحث عن قسم الكتب العلمية. (ʾabḥathu ʿan qism al-kutub al-ʿilmiyyah.)
- Novel/Fiction book: رواية (riwaayah)
- Non-fiction book: كتاب غير خيالي (kitaab ghayr khayaali)
- Textbook: كتاب مدرسي (kitaab madrasii)
- Picture book: كتاب مصور (kitaab muṣawwar)
- Dictionary in Arabic: قاموس (qaamuus)
- Magazine in Arabic: مجلة (majallah)
- Newspaper in Arabic: جريدة (jariidah)
- Author: مؤلف (muʾallif) / كاتب (kaatib)
- Publisher: ناشر (naashir)
- Title: عنوان (ʿunwaan)
- Page: صفحة (ṣafḥah) – Plural: صفحات (ṣafaḥaat).
- Borrowing: استعارة (istiʿaarah)
- Example: How many books can I borrow? – كم كتاب أستطيع أن أستعير؟ (kam kitaab ʾastaṭeeʿu ʾan ʾastaʿeer?)
- Renewing a borrowed item: تجديد الاستعارة (tajdeed al-istiʿaarah)
- Example: May I renew this book? – هل يمكنني تجديد استعارة هذا الكتاب؟ (hal yumkinunee tajdeed ʾistiʿaarat haadha al-kitaab?)
- Borrowing period/Loan period: مدة الاستعارة (muddat al-istiʿaarah)
- Example: How long can I borrow this book? – كم مدة استعارة هذا الكتاب؟ (kam muddat ʾistiʿaarat haadha al-kitaab?)
- Late/Overdue: متأخر (mutaʾakhkhir)
- Example: I owe a fine for the overdue books. – أنا مدين بغرامة على الكتب المتأخرة. (ʾanaa madeenun bi gharaamatin ʿala al-kutub al-mutaʾakhkhirah.)
- Search/Research: بحث (baḥth)
- Example: I am doing research on… – أقوم ببحث عن… (ʾaqoomu bi baḥthin ʿan…)
- Catalog/Index: فهرس (fihris)
- Librarian’s desk: مكتب أمين المكتبة (maktab ʾameen al-maktabah)
- Forbidden/Not allowed: ممنوع (mamnuuʿ)
- Quiet: هادئ (haadiʾ)
Useful Phrases for Interacting at the Library
Here are some practical phrases you can use:
- I want to apply for a library card. – أريد أن أقدم لبطاقة المكتبة. (ʾureedu ʾan ʾuqaddima li bitaaqat al-maktabah.)
- Where can I find…? – أين يمكنني أن أجد…؟ (ʾayna yumkinunee ʾan ʾajida…?)
- Is this book available? – هل هذا الكتاب متوفر؟ (hal haadha al-kitaab mutawaffir?)
- Can I borrow… books? – هل يمكنني استعارة… كتب؟ (hal yumkinunee ʾistiʿaarat… kutub?)
- When do I have to return this book? – متى يجب أن أعيد هذا الكتاب؟ (mataa yajibu ʾan ʾuʿeeda haadha al-kitaab?)
- I am looking for a book titled… – أبحث عن كتاب بعنوان… (ʾabḥathu ʿan kitaabin biʿunwaan…)
- Do you have books about…? – هل لديكم كتب عن…؟ (hal ladaykum kutubun ʿan…?)
- Thank you very much. – شكرًا جزيلاً. (shukran jazeelan.)
- Please in Arabic. – من فضلك. (min faḍlik / min fadhlika – to a female / male)
- Excuse me in Arabic . – معذرةً. (maʿdhiratan.)
Mastering this Arabic vocabulary will enhance your library and bookstore experiences. Ready to expand your Arabic skills? Download the Kaleela app for comprehensive lessons and start learning today!