Zanzibar Language Sheet

From Grimmwold

News Blurb: Trial Account Changes, Sept 28th, 2012 The process for Trial Accounts is changing. We will no longer be auto-banning trial accounts at the 2 week mark. Instead those trials will continue to be playable, and we are eliminating the application requirement for a player's first (human) character. There will remain some restrictions on trial accounts, such as not being able to rent a home, but otherwise trial accounts can continue to play their trial human character for as long as they like. We will continue to require applications for non-human and additional characters, or those who wish their trial human slot upgraded to a full slot so they can rent a home.

Overview

• This page is a player's reference for the language of the Zibari, the race of people native to Zanzibai.
• It should be noted that this list of Zibari language is elective. No-one has to learn this and use this in role-play. It is not required to know the language to apply as a Zibari character. The language is posted here for the players who enjoy adding a word here and there for flavor during their role-play. Most Zibari players will do a Hello (Marhaba) and a goodbye (Ma'assalama), maybe a yes (Na'am) or a no (La) and that's the extent of the words they will use. So please, we do not wish anyone to feel pressured or intimidated to know ALL these words. There is no expectation of their use.
• Regarding the name of the race: As Honey, our main lore developer for this race, says "[N]ames aren't too big of a deal... even in game, it's all a dream and we each dream it a bit differently, so if someone is already using the old Zuberi name [old name inherited from our other shards] they can chalk it up to a dialect or whatever you guys dream up. " (sic). Please see thread regarding this here.
• There are a number of customs and sayings in the Zibari culture that are mixed with the language. When they greet someone, they will bow twice and brush the palm of their hand against your own palm. A parting thought is always "May your water bags be never empty" or "May you have always water." By sharing one's water, you become their guest.*

Reference to the Race and as Related to Other References by/towards other Races:

• Dreamer and Native characters of the race recognize themselves as Zibari or Zuberi (or some variation). Non-race peoples may some times call them Zanbari/Zanzibarians, and the Zibari may some times call non-race peoples "the ajami."

Any citizens of any race who -reside- in the city Zanzibar may be referred to as Zanzibarians.

Here are a few sayings of the Zibari:

"More real than the law is the heart."

"A good fight justifies any cause."

"The desert is my mother, and my father."

"By King Alladin's Lamp what is this?!"

"I swear this upon Mustafa's Beard", or "I swear this upon The Prophet's Beard"

"You are the redeemer of my family's honor" -- "Anta al masih sharf a'ilati"

A parting thought is always "May your water bags be never empty" or "May you have always water." By sharing one's water, you become their guest.

The List

Greetings & Common Occasional Words

Hello! -- selam or marhaba(more reserved for friends)

Nice to meet you -- tasharrafna

My name is -- ismy [your name here] / (formal) Ana ismi [name]

What is your name? -- ma ismok?

How old are you? -- kam omroka?

Good Morning -- sabah al-hayri/Sabah alkhair Reply: Sabah alnur

Good Afternoon/Evening -- Masa alkhair Reply: Masa alnur

Good Night -- (group) Leila Sa'eeda / (individuals)Laila Tiaba

How are you? -- kayfa haluk (to a group) Kaif Halak(to an individual)

fine! -- biheyr

Happy Birthday -- Eid Milad Sa'eed

Welcome -- Ahlan wa sahlan Reply: Ahlan bekum

"May every year find you in good health!" -- Kul 'am wa enta bi-khair!

I (am)... -- Ana

I am fine -- Ana bekhair

I am sorry -- Ana asif

I don't know -- Ana la a'arif

Friend -- Sadiq

yes -- na'am / Yes (slang cf na‘am) -- aiwa

no -- la

Strictly no -- La a

not -- laa

Please -- (m): Min fadlak, (f): Min fadlik

Thank you -- shukran!

You are welcome = AFWAN

Goodbye (Go in peace) -- Ma'assalama

Reply: Fi aman Acrab or Ma'assalama

Have a safe journey -- Bissalama

Peace be upon you - Assalamu alaikum Reply: Walaikum assalam

...and mercy -- wa rahmatullahi

...and blessings -- wa barakatuhu

Thanks indeed Shukran Jazilan

Welcome Afwan (answer to Shukran)

You are welcome Ahlan Wa Sahlan

Pardon me Samehni (m) Samehini (f)

Excuse me? (as question) -- Laww Smaht (m) Laww Smahti (female)

Excuse me! (as sorry) -- Afwan

Of God:

God -- Acrab

Acrab willing -- Insha'Acrab

Thank/Praise Acrab -- Acrabmdulillah

Acrab knows best -- Acrab'alim

Acrab's will -- Masha'Acrab

Definition: A common greeting meaning "Peace be with you." Extended forms include "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah" (May the peace and mercy of "Acrab" be with you) and "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" (May the peace, mercy, and blessings of "Acrab" be with you).

Where are --- feyn?

Where? -- Ain?

Where is...? -- Ayna...?

What? -- 'eyh?

What's that? -- 'eyh da?

When? -- imta?

Why? -- leyh?

Why not? -- leyh la?

How? -- keyf?

Who? -- meen?

How many? -- kam?

Give me -- A'tinee, Haat

What do you want? -- Matha tureed?

Addressing Others:

Prince -- Amir

Princess -- Amira

Lady -- Jadira

Gentelman -- Jadir

Mu'allim -- Master

Mu'allima -- Mistress

Non-Zibari –- Ajami

Slave -- Zafra

Sand Walkers –- Shaula

City Dwellers ---Jabbah

Religious Devotees -- al'Aqrab

He -- Huwwa

She -- Hiyya

They -- Humma

You... -- Inta (pl): Intu

We -- Nahono

Student -- Talib

Saieda - Lady

Saied - Gent

Bin - X bin Y - Son of

Bint - X bint Y - Daughter of

Zawjet - X zawjet Y - Wife of

devil - jinn

Lord Horn - Lord Shams

Lady Ivory - Lady Gamaar

Patchwork King - Piecemeal Devil

Brocade Queen - Woven Princes

Family:

Rashieka/Rashiqa (ruh-SHIH-kah) = descended from Royalty

Old Man -- rajul qadiim

Elder -- sheikh

Grandfather -- jed

Grandmother -- jeddah

Wife -- zawja

Husband -- zawj

Spouse -- Zauj

woman -- nisaa

Sister -- Akht

Father -- Ab, casual baba

Mother -- Umek, casual umi

Daughter (of) -- Bint

Son (of) -- Ibn

Daughter -- Bina

Brother -- Akh

Boy -- Walad

Girl -- Bint

Professions:

Poet -- sha'ir

Judge -- kady

Chemist -- saydaliyy

Musician -- mossikiyy

Teacher -- ostath

Singer -- moghannin

Pilot (could be used as a ships captain?) -- mallah

Fisher -- sammak

Guard -- haris

Actor -- momattil

Carpenter -- najjar

Dancer -- rakisa

slaughter or butcher -- jazara

Doctor -- Tabeeb

A Surgeon -- garraah

Farmer -- Fellah

Of the home:

Kala/Cala (if pronounced cha-lah) -- fortress, castle

Home -- manzil

Chair -- korsiyy

Table -- ttawila

Door -- bab

Key -- miftah

Bed -- sareer

Balcony -- shorfa

Curtains -- sata'ir

Candle -- sham'a

Candelabra -- Shamedan

Sofa -- sofa

Broom -- miknasa

Window -- shobbak

glass -- cubeia

two glasses -- cubeitin

more than three glass - cubeijat

Bowl or Dish -- Niara

Mortar -- Hawan

Foodstuffs:

Bread -- Khubz

Coffee -- gahwa

Coffee grounds -- Buun

Spiced Honey Mead -- paga

Food -- Akl

Milk -- Halib

Money -- Nuquud

Water -- Maa'

Breakfast -- Iftar

Lunch -- Gadaa

Dinner -- Ashaa

Fish -- Samak

Tea -- Shaay

Juice -- Aaseer

Fire -- nar

Cream -- eshta

Colors:

White -- Abyad

Yellow -- Asfar

Red -- Ahmar

Purple -- Urjuwani

Violet -- Banafsaji

Orange -- Burdukali

Black -- Aswad

Blue -- Azrak

Brown -- Jauzi, Buni

Green -- Akhdar

Grey -- Ramadi

Numbers:

Zero -- Sifr

One -- Wahed

Two -- Ithnayn

Three -- Thalatha

Four -- Arbaa

Five -- Khamsa

Six -- Sitta

Seven -- Sabaa

Eight -- Thamania

Nine -- Tiss'a

Ten -- Ashara

Twenty -- Eshreen

Thirty -- Thalatheen

Forty -- Arba'aeen

Fifty -- Khamseen

Sixty -- Setteen

Seventy -- Sab'aeen

Eighty -- Thamaneen

Ninety -- Tes'aeen

One Hundred -- Meyya

One Thousand -- Alf

Places:

Shop, Store -- Maha'al

Market -- Souk

School -- Madrassa

Library -- Maktaba

Museum -- Matihaf

Restaurant -- Mat'am

Hospital -- Mustashfa

Toilet / W.C./Bath house -- Hammam

Battle & War:

Battle armor- Durra al-Maarka

Sword -- sayf

Sheild -- dura

Bow -- quwis

Magic -- sahr

Winner -- Fa'iz-

Warrior -- Muharb

Champion -- BaTal

You are the redeemer of my family's honor -- Anta al masih sharf a'ilati

Ritualistic:

A terra-cotta cube for holding incense -- Qauqa

small ritual drinking bowl -- Kaptha

Ritual Shirt -- Sadra

Drawers, Leggings -- Sharwala

Priest Signet Ring -- Skandola

A scroll on which a protective charm is written -- Zrazta

marraige -- nikah, which is also called “aqd” meaning binding in a knot.

engagement -- erusin

divorce -- talaq, which means being freed from the knot.

Emotions:

Heart -- Albi

Love -- hab

I love you -- behebbak

My Love -- amoura

Beloved -- Aziza

Passion -- Ta'ziya (literally Consolation)

Deciet -- kufr (covering up)

Dreaming of You -- BAHLAM BEEK

I Desire You -- BATWANS BEEK

You’re My Life -- ENTE OMRI

My Beloved, You’re My Eye -- HABIBI YA AYNI

Beloved, You Are the Light of My Eye -- HABIBI YA NUR EL AYN

Beloved, You Are the Light of My Eye -- HABABI YA GHABEIN

Love Me, Love Me -- HABINA HABINA

I Regret Loving You -- HARAMT AHEBAK

Night of Love -- LAYLET HOB

You Still Remember -- LISSA FAKAR

Fire of Jealousy -- NAR EL GHERA

Don’t Blame Me -- WE YLOUMOUNI

Other Stuff:

Go away -- Emshi

I want -- Biddi

We want -- Bidna

Do you want? -- Beddak (m) Beddek (f)

How much? -- Bekam? - Addesh?

This -- Hada

That -- Hadak

These -- Hadol

How much is this? -- Bekam Hada? - Addesh Hada?

What is this? -- Sho Hada?

Expensive -- Ghali

Too Much -- Kteer

Beautiful -- Jameel - Helow

Nice -- Lateef

Help me -- Sa'adni (m) Sa'adini (f)

Wait -- Istanna

Hurry up -- Besora'a

Right -- Yameen

Left -- Shemal

Straight -- Doghree

Yaktub- to write

Maktib- office

Kateb- writer

Kitab- book

Anaa akun Zibari[I am Zibari]

Where is/ are --- feyn?

What? --- 'eyh?

What's that? --- 'eyh da?

When? --- imta?

Why? --- leyh?

Why not? --- leyh la?

How? --- keyf?

Who? --- meen?

How many? --- kam?

Right or Truth, the ritual clasp of a right hand -- Kushta

I want -- Ana haiss

Expensive -- schweia

Slowly -- kuajes

Now -- al ahn

Much more -- ketier

Yesterday -- ams

pure and unadulterated -- Aahel (example Pure Water: Aahel Maa')

Hope -- Amal

and -- wa

good -- jude

Gift -- Hadiyya

Unmarried Women who are sinful -- Nisai

Animal Nature, barbaric -- Jahiliyyah

The state of being evil; foul; unmoral, lewd or sinful -- fahisha

Grief & Sorrow -- Karbala

Huda -- Call to Prayer

Jessenia (Arabic) -- flower

Najma/Najmah (NAJ-mah) (Arabic) -- Star

Razi (Arabic) -- my secret

Sadiya/Sadya/Sa'diyya (Arabic) -- lucky, good fortune

Big -- (m): Kebir, (f): Kebira

Cold -- (m): Barid, (f): Baridah

Hot -- Harr

Day -- Yom

Small -- (m): Sagheer, (f): Sagheerah

Today -- Al Youm

Tourist -- (m): Sa'ih, (f): Sa'iha

come on! -- yalla!

People -- nas

Boat -- karib

River -- nahr

Alchemy -- al kimia

Passionate Love -- ishq

Dance / dancing= raqS

Folk Dance -- raqS beledi

A long Staff -- tahtib, A long staff. Used in upper Egypt (as said) by men in a martial style dance. Women's version is raqS assaya

A reed hut with a pent roof-- Jemali

Hut -- Kukh

Reed Hut -- Sarifa

To be in Charge -- waliya

Guardianship -- Al-walayah

Succession -- Al-wala

To Turn away -- Tawalla

Excommunicate -- al-baraah

Reservation -- al-wuquf

Saddle Blanket -- Al-waliyah

ALA NAR: On Fire

I’m Waiting For You -- ANA FINITIZARAK

FAKAROUNI: Reminding Me

FEIN AMAYEK: Where Did the Days Go?

YA SALLAM: Greetings

ZAI EL HOWA: Like the Wind

Sebaack - race

Malik - King

Al-Sebaak Al-Maliki - The Royal Horse Race

Hesan - horse

Khail - horses

Sebaack el khail -- horse race

Moon [refers to full moon] -- Gaamar

Moonlight -- Noor al Gaamar

Starlight -- Noor al Nujuum

Sunlight -- Noor al Shaams

Rain -- Maatar

Wind -- Rieah

Snow -- Thalij

Ice -- same as snow Thalij

Sand -- Ramel

Sandstorm -- Aseifa ramlia

Desert -- Sah’ra

Flower -- Zahra

Rose -- Warda

North -- Shamal

South -- Junub

East -- Sharaq

West -- Garab

Heart -- albi

I -- Ana

Stick -- Assaya

Very -- Awee

Beloved -- Aziza

Tip -- baksheesh

Of the Country -- beledi

Bravo! -- Bit Tamam

Kiss -- Bosa

Look -- boss

Coquettish -- daluna

You -- Ente

Think, remind -- fakkar

Sailboat -- falooka

Happy, Joy -- farrah

Lovely, Pretty -- Gameel

Sweet -- halaway

Silk -- hareer

Honey -- hassell

She, it -- Haya

Dream -- helm

Sweet, beauty -- helwa

He -- Howa

My Life -- Hyetti

Ok -- kyiyis

Stars -- nujoom

Dancer -- rakasa

Dance -- Raks

Firey -- laliba

Delicious -- lazeez

Soul -- rohe

Happy -- saeeda

Finger Cymbols -- Sagat

Sun - shams

See -- shoof

Little bit -- shwaya

Time of Day:

Morning -- Sabah

Noon -- Dhohor

Afternoon -- Aser

Evening -- Masa

Night -- Lail

Light -- Fateh

Dark -- Ghameq

Sunrise -- Shurug

Sunset -- Gurub

Understanding Family & Naming:

If you so choose, here are guidelines for creating an Arabic-inspired name (note:you do not have to go by these guidelines!)

1. The ism is the birth name, what we would call a "first name." This can be an Arabic version of a biblical name, such as Haroun (Aaron) or Maryam (Mary); a purely Arabic name, like Ali, Ahmad, or Fatimah; a name of Turkish or other origin, such as Timur, etc.

Often, men will have a compound name made up of the syllable 'Abd, meaning "slave of," which is usually paired with one of the 99 names of Allah. Thus the name Abd-Allah or Abdullah means "God's slave," and Abd al-Rashid means "the slave of the righteous." Note that Abd CANNOT be separated from the rest of the name - it is not a title, so that if you're talking about someone like Abd al-Qadir, you can't abbreviate by calling him "al-Qadir."

2. The nasab refers to one's parentage: ibn: means "son of." Abbreviated b., as in Ali b. Abu-Talib. bint: means "daughter of." Also abbreviated b., as in A'ishah b. Abu-Bakr.

3. The kunya, referring to one's offspring: abu: means "father of," as in Abu-Sufyan. umm: means "mother of." In some Arabic cultures, a woman drops her own name when she bears a child and instead becomes Umm plus the name of her child, as in Umm Habibah or Umm Kulthum. Some personal names, especially those involving abu or ibn, become formalized and fossilized over time and do not imply direct ancestry, just as "Peterson" as a last name does not imply that the person's father is named Peter.

4. A laqab is an title bestowed as an honor or as a descriptor, often using al-Din (religion), al-Mulk (kingdom) or some other reference to power. A laqab can also be a nickname, such as al-Atrash (the deaf).

5. A nisbah can include profession, geographic origin, residence or place of birth, as in al-Qudsi (from Jerusalem), al-Jilani (from Jilan), al-Sayrafi (the money changer).