Hello! This is Aida with a new episode of Learn Arabic with Ease for pre-intermediate learners of colloquial Arabic. In this series, I will be speaking about a different topic every time, suitable for this specific level, and obviously at a slower pace than normal to make it easier for you to understand the content.

The purpose is to provide you with the necessary vocabulary on a wide range of topics, such as family, hobbies, studying, travelling and so on.

 

 

Today I’ll be talking about an important topic in the Arabic world: Family and Friends.

 

Family plays an important role in Arab society. Family members are considered the closest people to us. When we speak of family, we don’t only refer to the closest members of our family, such as the parents, sisters, and brothers, but also to extended family members, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins. In many families, extended family members may also play a role in raising and educating our children. Grandparents often help in taking care of their grandchildren. Nowadays, many mothers choose to work to support their husbands due to difficult economic conditions. If the grandparents are willing, they leave their children with them, rather than enrolling them in nurseries.

 

Taking part in family occasions, such as celebrations, or sad events -such as the passing away of a family member -is a must. By attending these events, we show our respect and compassion for each other. But family business does not only involve being present on special occasions; it also means regular visiting of our own family and of in-laws.

 

Family members also do their best to help each other when they face difficulties. Older siblings might help to support their younger siblings financially until they finish their studies. Younger siblings are expected to show respect for their older siblings and help them in carrying out errands.

 

Friends also carry weight in the Arab culture. Friendships are often so close that the closest friends become part of the family circle. It is not uncommon to consider your cousins among your closest friends. If a problem arises between two friends, often family members or other friends will try to help solve the problem. Later on in life, both family members and friends play an important factor in securing good job opportunities through extended contacts.

 

Now let me give you an example of what people might say in reply to questions related to family and friends.

 

 

My family consists of 5 members. I have one brother and one sister. I have many maternal aunts and one paternal aunt. I only have 3 uncles in total. My maternal grandparents are still with us, but my paternal grandparents have passed away. I have many cousins, but most of them live abroad. My parents and sister are my biggest supporters. Their presence in my life is really important to me. I have also been fortunate to have some very close friends. I trust my friends and enjoy spending time with them. My fondest memories are my childhood memories of all the fun I had with my cousins and friends.

 

 

Now try and answer the following questions in colloquial Arabic: how big is your family? Do you spend a lot of time with them?

 

So, that’s all for today’s episode. I hope you have found it useful. If you liked it, remember that listening to the same episode more than once is very helpful in remembering the new vocabulary you have learnt. It was great having you with me. I’d appreciate you leaving me a like and would love it if you could join me for more episodes.

 

This is Aida from Learn Arabic with Ease! Bye Bye!