Photography

1. ممكن اصور هنا؟

   Mumkin aṣawwar hina?

   May I take photos here?

   Usage

   Always ask before photographing people or places.

   Grammar Note

   صور means "to photograph / film". After ممكن the verb is subjunctive. A composed sentence with regular grammar.

2. ممكن اصورك؟

   Mumkin aṣawwarak?

   Can I take your photo?

   Usage

   Ask permission before photographing a local. To a woman it is spelled the same but pronounced aṣawwarik.

   Grammar Note

   The suffix ـك "you" is spelled the same for both genders: -ak (m.), -ik (f.).

3. ممكن تصورنا؟

   Mumkin tiṣawwarna?

   Could you take a photo of us?

   Usage

   To ask a passer-by. To a woman, say tiṣawwarīna.

   Grammar Note

   The suffix ـنا "us" attaches to the verb. A composed sentence with regular grammar.

4. ممنوع التصوير هنا

   Mamnūʿ it-taṣwīr hina

   Photography is not allowed here

   Usage

   What a guard says or a sign shows. Follow it.

   Grammar Note

   ممنوع + noun means "... is forbidden".

5. النور هنا تمام للتصوير!

   In-nūr hina tamām lit-taṣwīr!

   The light is perfect for photos here!

   Usage

   A casual exclamation. تمام means "perfect / just right".

   Grammar Note

   A verbless sentence. ل + التصوير is written للتصوير. A composed sentence with regular grammar.

6. ممكن تتحرك شوية ناحية الشمال / اليمين؟

   Mumkin titḥarrak shuwayya nāḥyit ish-shimāl / il-yimīn?

   Can you move a bit to the left / right?

   Usage

   For framing a shot. To a woman, say titḥarraki.

   Grammar Note

   ناحية means "toward". The colloquial left is شمال and right is يمين. A composed sentence with regular grammar.

7. فين احسن مكان اصور منه الاهرامات؟

   Fēn aḥsan makān aṣawwar minnu l-ahrāmāt?

   Where is the best spot to photograph the Pyramids?

   Usage

   A common question at Giza. منه means "from it / from there".

   Grammar Note

   احسن مكان is superlative + noun. The relative clause follows with no connector: اصور منه. A composed sentence with regular grammar.

8. المنظر ده روعة — لازم اصوره!

   Il-manẓar da rōʿa — lāzim aṣawwaruh!

   This view is breathtaking — I must take a photo!

   Usage

   An enthusiastic exclamation. روعة means "wonderful".

   Grammar Note

   لازم + subjunctive. The suffix ـه "it" attaches to the verb. A composed sentence with regular grammar.

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