كبير
Kabīr
Big
Usage
Describes the size of something. For a feminine noun use "كبيرة"
Grammar Note
An adjective follows its noun ("شنطة كبيرة" is "a big bag")
صغير
Ṣaghayir
Small
Usage
Describes small size. For a feminine noun use "صغيرة"
Grammar Note
An adjective follows its noun
تقيل
Tagīl
Heavy
Usage
Describes the weight of luggage. For a feminine noun use "تقيلة"
Grammar Note
Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "ق" is pronounced "g". It is the spoken form of standard "ثقيل"
خفيف
Khafīf
Light (weight)
Usage
Describes light luggage. For a feminine noun use "خفيفة"
Grammar Note
Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated
غالي
Ghāli
Expensive
Usage
Says a price is high. For a feminine noun use "غالية"
Grammar Note
Often the opening of a bargaining exchange
رخيص
Rakhīṣ
Cheap
Usage
Says a price is low. For a feminine noun use "رخيصة"
Grammar Note
Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated
سخن
Sakhan
Hot (to the touch)
Usage
Says tea or food is hot. For a feminine noun use "سخنة"
Grammar Note
Vowels in the romanization are estimated. For things hot to touch. Weather heat uses "حر"
بارد
Bārid
Cold (to the touch)
Usage
Says a drink is cold. For a feminine noun use "باردة"
Grammar Note
Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated
جديد
Jadīd
New
Usage
Describes a new item. For a feminine noun use "جديدة"
Grammar Note
An adjective follows its noun
قديم
Gadīm
Old (thing)
Usage
Describes old things or buildings. For a feminine noun use "قديمة"
Grammar Note
Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "ق" is pronounced "g". It is not used for a person's age
عجوز
ʿAjūz
Old (person)
Usage
Refers to an elderly person, for example when offering a seat
Grammar Note
Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. Said straight to the person it can be rude
نضيف
Naḍīf
Clean
Usage
Says a room or dish is clean. For a feminine noun use "نضيفة"
Grammar Note
Vowels in the romanization are estimated. The spoken form of standard "نظيف"
وسخان
Wasakhān
Dirty
Usage
Says a room or dish is dirty. For a feminine noun use "وسخانة"
Grammar Note
Thinly attested word; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. The same stem "وسخ" is the noun "dirt"
كويس
Kuwayyis
Good
Usage
The basic word for good things, people or situations. For a woman or a feminine noun use "كويسة"
Grammar Note
"سمح" also means good or beautiful, mostly about looks
بطال
Baṭṭāl
Bad
Usage
Says something is bad. The plural is "بطالين"
Grammar Note
It is also used about character, so it can sound strong
قريب
Garīb
Near
Usage
Says a place is near, as in "قريب من هنا" (near here)
Grammar Note
Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "ق" is pronounced "g". "من" gives the reference point
بعيد
Baʿīd
Far
Usage
Says a place is far; "بعيد؟" asks "is it far?"
Grammar Note
It works as an adjective and as a predicate without change
بدري
Badri
Early
Usage
Says it is early, as in "لسه بدري" (it is still early)
Grammar Note
"لسه" means "still". It is also written "لسع"
متاخر
Mitakhkhir
Late
Usage
Says you or a vehicle is late. A woman says "متاخرة"
Grammar Note
Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "اتاخرت" is "I was late"
كتير
Katīr
A lot / many
Usage
Says the amount or number is large. "كتير شديد" emphasises it
Grammar Note
It can go before or after the noun
شوية
Shuwayya
A few / a little
Usage
Means a small amount, or softens a request
Grammar Note
Used for both time and quantity
الجو حر
Il-jaw ḥarr
Hot (weather)
Usage
Says the weather is hot. Add "شديد" for "very hot"
Grammar Note
Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "الجو" means "weather, air". "حر" is the noun for heat
الجو بارد
Il-jaw bārid
Cold (weather)
Usage
Says the weather is cold
Grammar Note
Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "بارد" is used for both cold to the touch and cold weather
حلو
Ḥilu
Cute
Usage
Praises a child or a small thing. For a feminine noun use "حلوة"
Grammar Note
Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "حلو" also means "sweet", "tasty" and "lovely"
رائع
Rāʾiʿ
Cool / awesome
Usage
Praises a view, a person or an event
Grammar Note
Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated
طعمو حلو شديد
Ṭaʿmu ḥilu shadīd
It tastes very good
Usage
Praises a meal. It reads as thanks to the cook
Grammar Note
Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "-و" means "its". "شديد" means "very" and follows the adjective
سمح شديد!
Samiḥ shadīd!
Amazing!
Usage
Said when moved by a view or an event
Grammar Note
Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "سمح" means "good, beautiful" in this dialect. It is a different word from "سمحت" in "لو سمحت"
كمان
Kamān
More
Usage
Asks for more, as in "كمان شوية" (a bit more)
Grammar Note
"كمان" means "more, also". An adverb that adds quantity
شوية بس
Shuwayya bas
Just a little
Usage
Asks for a smaller amount
Grammar Note
Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "بس" means "only, that's all"
نص
Nuṣṣ
Half
Usage
Means half an amount. It also gives "half past" in time
Grammar Note
Vowels in the romanization are estimated. The spoken form of standard "نصف"
كلو
Kullu
All of it
Usage
Said when buying everything or finishing a meal
Grammar Note
"-و" means "of it". For plural things "كلها" is used
كفاية
Kifāya
That is enough
Usage
Tells someone you have had enough, for example when being served food
Grammar Note
Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated
طوالي
Ṭawwāli
Right now
Usage
Asks for speed, as in "تعال طوالي" (come right away)
Grammar Note
"طوالي" is an adverb meaning "right away, straight"
زول واحد
Zōl wāḥid
One person
Usage
An answer when asked how many people at a restaurant
Grammar Note
Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. "زول" means "person". The number follows the noun
نحنا اتنين
Niḥna itnēn
There are two of us
Usage
Gives the party size at a restaurant or hotel
Grammar Note
Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "نحنا" is "we", not the Egyptian "احنا"
نحنا تلاتة
Niḥna talāta
There are three of us
Usage
Gives the party size at a restaurant or hotel
Grammar Note
Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "ث" is pronounced and written "ت" in speech, giving "تلاتة"
More Sudanese Arabic phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences