Does anyone here read and write Arabic?

Hey...what are you doing still up??? lol...I guess you're already addicted... :)

yes, I do speak and read Arabic...everyone who lives in Lebanon does.

As for saying hello, it's "mar7aba" or marhaba...but you were taught to say "salam alaykom" which is means "peace on you" and which is one way of saying hello too

EDIT

It could differ from place to place, you're right...but I have lived in all over the arab world and your friend might have taught you to say "salam aleik" which is the same as "salam aleykom" but the first one is intendent to greet one person and the second is to greet a group of people.

In Lebanon we usually say "HI" or "marhaba".

Yeah every country speaks Arabic differently. In Egyptian hello is Salaamo Alaykum. In regular Arabic which is what I speak a little Assamaualykum can mean hello or more literally Peace be upon you. Then you reply Walaykumsalaam which means "And peace be upon you." As for written Arabic if you want to learn the correct way to write then get the book "Teach Yourself Arabic" by Jack Smart. It gives you the Arabic alphabet and how to write as well as the numbers and the correct Arabic to say. Really Saudi Arabia has the correct Arabic writing and speaking.

yes, I do. In the Middle East there are 21 different dialects. most of them understand each other except some parts of Africa. Gulf Region which include (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen, and Iraq) speak 8 different but very close dialects. This region is known for rigid language. Levant (which includes Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine) speak very close dialects that is very soft spoken. In Africa, Egyptian is widely spoken and understood by all Arabs. Then (Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Somalia, Mauritania, Moon Islands, Sudan). in this part they understand each other very well but it is too difficult for other Arabs to understand them. Hello has many words in many dialects: salam, marhaba, hala, awafee.

I can, speak, read and write it.

things you need to know:

there are 2 different arabics:

1- The written arabic which is universal to all arab speaking countries.

2- the spoken one with so many different dialects and accents that I'm not sure if they can be counted. in tiny Lebanon you will find people in the north with a distinct accent and some different words to the Capital Beirut or the south etc...

Between countries the difference becomes more obvious. (for example: these poor Egyptians they THINK they speak Arabic)

Are you totally confused now ?

I have been learning Arabic for over 18 months & it is very difficult ....then they toss you the curved balls like putting numbers in words ! lol.

Fortunately we have some good teachers in the category so ask away with your questions & join the confusion !

edit..Nice ID...I wonder how you arrived at that !

Well......it is funny what happens to me..

When I was a kid...I talked arabic (lebanese) as a parrot....looollll..but latelly, for unfortunate circumstances, I forgot it.

Few years ago, I decided to study it in a formal way.

I have done it for 5 years and can write almost correctly.........read it..........hmmmmmmm...I'm as fatma........and talk it.......well....that's the worse, because as I'm adult I'm shy when I mistake, in spite of my family in Lebanon try to help me each time I'm there.

Well, it differs from country to country, just like in USA and England, you both speak english, but with different accents, and sometimes the same word is used for different meanings,

So for your daily use of arabic language, this is the most i use while talking to non-arabs, and they like to greet me in an arab way

Sabaho (good morning)

Kifek (how are you female)

Kifak (how are you male)

yalla bye (ok bye)

hahahah, that's funny word!!! i live in Dubai and know Arabic, hello here is called ( MARHABA ), but seems somebody teach you (SHALOM) which is different language

read, speak, write, babble, gossip, translate.. we can do it all here..

you can ask for help in other languages too.. we know some extras :P but of course, you have the experts and the beginners.. (i'm a beginner in all.. :s ) .. just ask..

im ok i can speak i can also read and write but its a lil rusty though

i think ur trying 2 say "salam alaykoum "