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Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Dubai / Middle East Sayings

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Old May 22nd 2017, 3:28 am
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Default Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Some of my favourite Dubai / Middle East Sayings

"Tell me, tell me" When answering the phone.

'What to Do' catch all for when there is a cock up, and don`t blame me.

"Where are you" when you turn up and meet people.

"Inshalla" get out clause for lying.

"Habibi/ Habibti" trying to sound nice when they mean I would steal the sperm from your testacles given half a chance.

"Yannie" I have not got a clue what I want to say but will keep repeating this until I have thought of something.

"Is`nt it" still figuring this one out

"Ma`am Sir" chirrup from the flips

There are more, but I think this will get a list going!!
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Old May 22nd 2017, 3:55 am
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

"System is down" when you're in the middle of an enthralling game of Candy Crush.

"Only in Dubai haha" when you see something dull and mundane that probably happens in every major city on the planet.

"Dining concept" when you're a massive t**t who can't use the word restaurant or cafe.

"Pop-up" when you're a massive t**t who can't use the words market and stall.

"Mind your business" when you are confronted by someone for being a massive t**t.

"Nearest landmark?" every time you try to get some food delivered, even if you live in Burj Khalifa.
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Old May 22nd 2017, 4:06 am
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Bookra ...tomorrow, perhaps
Bad Bookra...day after tomorrow i.e. never
Bad Bookra Inshallah..literally no intention of even trying

Mafi mushkalla..there is no problem, i.e. problems are coming
Fi mushkalla.. there is a problem, and if people are admitting to it then it is equivalent to spotting a fast approaching iceberg on the titanic
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Old May 22nd 2017, 4:32 am
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

The response of 'better opportunity' (more money) when asking why someone wants to leave their role after being there all of five minutes.
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Old May 22nd 2017, 8:18 am
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Monolingual Anglophones in Dubai senselessly mangling one of the few Arabic words I thought pretty much everyone knew (madina=city) by referring to Madinat Jumeirah as the "Maddy-nat".

The t on the end is because there is a word following; it doesn't change the pronunciation. This doesn't seem to be a problem with Madinat Zayed in AD or Madinat Qaboos in Muscat, for example. Why is this aural monstrosity inflicted on us in Dubai (and constantly so on the radio)? Think how excruciating it sounds when Americans try to say Derby and that's only half the level of pain...
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Old May 22nd 2017, 8:29 am
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Originally Posted by Miss Ann Thrope
Monolingual Anglophones in Dubai senselessly mangling one of the few Arabic words I thought pretty much everyone knew (madina=city) by referring to Madinat Jumeirah as the "Maddy-nat".

The t on the end is because there is a word following; it doesn't change the pronunciation. This doesn't seem to be a problem with Madinat Zayed in AD or Madinat Qaboos in Muscat, for example. Why is this aural monstrosity inflicted on us in Dubai (and constantly so on the radio)? Think how excruciating it sounds when Americans try to say Derby and that's only half the level of pain...
Or could it be the Arabic-speaking world which has failed to develop a standardised transcription system? And just because some of us non-polyglots don't know Arabic doesn't automatically make us monoglots.
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Old May 22nd 2017, 9:59 am
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Originally Posted by Miss Ann Thrope
Monolingual Anglophones in Dubai senselessly mangling one of the few Arabic words I thought pretty much everyone knew (madina=city) by referring to Madinat Jumeirah as the "Maddy-nat".

The t on the end is because there is a word following; it doesn't change the pronunciation. This doesn't seem to be a problem with Madinat Zayed in AD or Madinat Qaboos in Muscat, for example. Why is this aural monstrosity inflicted on us in Dubai (and constantly so on the radio)? Think how excruciating it sounds when Americans try to say Derby and that's only half the level of pain...
I do get your point but....It's a bit like any pronunciation, you either go all the way or don't bother.
My name in French sounds very different, but it makes it the French sounding version of my name, rather than how my name actually sounds and how I want it to sound.
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Old May 22nd 2017, 12:07 pm
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Originally Posted by Scamp
I do get your point but....It's a bit like any pronunciation, you either go all the way or don't bother.
My name in French sounds very different, but it makes it the French sounding version of my name, rather than how my name actually sounds and how I want it to sound.
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Old May 22nd 2017, 12:42 pm
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Originally Posted by Scamp
I do get your point but....It's a bit like any pronunciation, you either go all the way or don't bother.
My name in French sounds very different, but it makes it the French sounding version of my name, rather than how my name actually sounds and how I want it to sound.
Sca'mpuh, bof.

No one goes around talkin about Paree (Paris), unless they are un wanker.

And most people here don't get to speak arabic often. I am great with my Salaams, shukrans etc but not much else. I wish this was not the case but the arabic immersion here is tricky to achieve.
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Old May 22nd 2017, 1:05 pm
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Originally Posted by al dente
Sca'mpuh, bof.

No one goes around talkin about Paree (Paris), unless they are un wanker.

And most people here don't get to speak arabic often. I am great with my Salaams, shukrans etc but not much else. I wish this was not the case but the arabic immersion here is tricky to achieve.
What about Barthalona?
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Old May 22nd 2017, 1:07 pm
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Originally Posted by Scamp
What about Barthalona?
Bless you.
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Old May 22nd 2017, 1:13 pm
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Originally Posted by Bahtatboy
Bless you.
Grassy-Arse Senyoor
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Old May 22nd 2017, 2:35 pm
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

start each sentence with 'actually and end it with 'only'
and jiggle your head a bit while doing it
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Old May 22nd 2017, 3:31 pm
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Originally Posted by Scamp
I do get your point but....It's a bit like any pronunciation, you either go all the way or don't bother.
My name in French sounds very different, but it makes it the French sounding version of my name, rather than how my name actually sounds and how I want it to sound.
I thought twat was fairly universal across the languages?
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Old May 22nd 2017, 4:57 pm
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Default Re: Dubai / Middle East Sayings

Originally Posted by Millhouse
I thought twat was fairly universal across the languages?
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