Sightseeing

1. فين الاماكن السياحية؟

   Fēn il-amākin is-siyāḥiyya?

   Where are the tourist attractions?

   Usage

   اماكن is the plural of "place".

   Grammar Note

   An adjective for a plural of things takes the feminine singular.

2. ممكن آخد صورة هنا؟

   Mumkin ākhud ṣūra hina?

   May I take a photo here?

   Usage

   Photography inside temples or museums may be banned or charged, so ask first.

   Grammar Note

   "Take a photo" is literally "take a picture" (خد صورة).

3. الزيارة بتاخد كام ساعة؟

   Iz-ziyāra bi-tākhud kām sāʿa?

   How many hours does the visit take?

   Usage

   A composed sentence built from regular parts.

   Grammar Note

   "Takes (time)" is expressed with "take"; بتاخد is 3rd feminine for the feminine subject.

4. فيه مرشد سياحي؟

   Fīh murshid siyāḥi?

   Is there a tour guide?

   Usage

   A female guide is مرشدة سياحية.

   Grammar Note

   The adjective follows the noun.

5. بيفتح الساعة كام؟

   Bi-yiftaḥ is-sāʿa kām?

   What time does it open?

   Usage

   A question about opening time; the closing time is the next card.

   Grammar Note

   bi- + verb is the habitual present.

6. بيقفل الساعة كام؟

   Bi-yiʾfil is-sāʿa kām?

   What time does it close?

   Usage

   Works for sights and shops.

   Grammar Note

   Root ق-ف-ل; the ق is pronounced [ʔ].

7. تذكرة الدخول بكام؟

   Tazkarit id-dukhūl bi-kām?

   How much is the entrance ticket?

   Usage

   Foreigners often pay a different price from Egyptians.

   Grammar Note

   A possessive chain; تذكرة becomes tazkarit when linked.

8. عايز خريطة للمدينة لو سمحت

   ʿĀyiz kharīṭa lil-madīna law samaḥt

   I would like a city map

   Usage

   A woman says عايزة.

   Grammar Note

   ل "for/of" + ال + مدينة contracts to للمدينة.

9. الجامع ده مفتوح للسياح؟

   Il-gāmiʿ da maftūḥ lis-suyyāḥ?

   Is this mosque open to tourists?

   Usage

   Take off your shoes and cover up before going in. Visits may be closed during prayer times.

   Grammar Note

   الجامع is the colloquial word for a mosque; ج is pronounced g.

10. المكان ده حلو أوي!

    Il-makān da ḥilw awi!

    What a beautiful place!

    Usage

    For a feminine noun say حلوة.

    Grammar Note

    The demonstrative follows the noun (المكان ده).

11. فيه متحف قريب؟

    Fīh matḥaf ʾarīb?

    Is there a museum nearby?

    Usage

    قريب means "near".

    Grammar Note

    قريب is placed after the noun as an adverb.

12. ممكن تاخد لنا صورة؟

    Mumkin tākhud lina ṣūra?

    Could you take a photo of us?

    Usage

    To a woman say ممكن تاخدي لنا صورة.

    Grammar Note

    A composed sentence built from regular parts.

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