Photography

1. فيني آخد صورة هون؟

   Fīni ākhod ṣūra hōn?

   May I take photos here?

   Usage

   Ask permission before taking a photo.

   Grammar Note

   "Fīni" + bare verb = "may I ..."; "ākhod ṣūra" is "take a photo".

2. فيني آخد صورة لإلك؟

   Fīni ākhod ṣūra lilak?

   Can I take your photo?

   Usage

   Always ask before photographing a person. To a woman say "lilek" (same spelling). Do not photograph women without consent, or officials and soldiers.

   Grammar Note

   "Li-" + "ilak" gives "for you"; "ṣūra lilak" is a photo of you. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

3. فيك تاخد صورة لإلنا؟

   Fīk tākhod ṣūra lilna?

   Could you take a photo of us?

   Usage

   Hand your camera to a passer-by. To a woman: "tākhdi".

   Grammar Note

   "Fīk" asks the listener; "tākhod" is for a man, "tākhdi" for a woman. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

4. ممنوع التصوير هون

   Mamnūʿ et-taṣwīr hōn

   Photography is not allowed here

   Usage

   Heard on signs and from staff. Never photograph military sites, checkpoints or airports.

   Grammar Note

   "Mamnūʿ" + noun means "... is forbidden". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

5. الضو حلو كتير هون للتصوير!

   Eḍ-ḍō ḥelo ktīr hōn lit-taṣwīr!

   The light is perfect for photos here!

   Usage

   Say it when you like the light.

   Grammar Note

   "Li-" + "et-taṣwīr" = "for photography"; "eḍ-ḍō" is masculine, so "ḥelo". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

6. فيك تتحرك شوي عاليسار؟

   Fīk titḥarrak shwayy ʿal-yasār?

   Can you move a bit to the left?

   Usage

   Asks a subject to shift. For right, replace the last word with "ʿal-yamīn".

   Grammar Note

   Left is "ʿal-yasār", right is "ʿal-yamīn". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

7. وين أحسن مكان للتصوير؟

   Wēn aḥsan makān lit-taṣwīr?

   Where is the best spot to take photos?

   Usage

   Asks for the best photo spot at a sight.

   Grammar Note

   "Aḥsan" (best) comes before the noun. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

8. بطارية الكاميرا فاضية، وين فيني اشحنها؟

   Baṭṭāriyyet el-kāmīra fāḍye, wēn fīni ashḥanha?

   My camera battery is dead. Where can I charge it?

   Usage

   Use it in a shop or café. "Fāḍye" literally means empty.

   Grammar Note

   The suffix "-ha" refers back to the feminine "baṭṭāriyye". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

9. عم دور على بطاقة ذاكرة

   ʿAm dawwer ʿala biṭāʾet dākira

   I’m looking for a memory card

   Usage

   Use it in an electronics shop. "ʿAm" marks an action in progress.

   Grammar Note

   "ʿAm" + verb is the progressive; "dawwer ʿala" means "look for". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

10. هالمنظر حلو كتير، لازم آخد صورة!

    Hal-manẓar ḥelo ktīr, lāzem ākhod ṣūra!

    This view is lovely, I have to take a photo!

    Usage

    Also works as a remark to yourself.

    Grammar Note

    "Lāzem" + bare verb = "must ...". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

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