Schedule & Booking

1. بتفتحو الساعة كم؟

   Bitiftaḥu is-sāʿa kam?

   What time do you open?

   Usage

   Use it to check before visiting a shop or office. In hot places some close in the afternoon, so also ask the closing time

   Grammar Note

   Ask the time with "is-sāʿa kam". The verb is plural because it addresses the staff as a group. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. بتقفلو الساعة كم؟

   Bitagfilu is-sāʿa kam?

   What time do you close?

   Usage

   Ask it to make sure you finish before closing. Some places close for prayer or a break

   Grammar Note

   The letter qāf is read g, so "bitagfilu". The vowels are inferred. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. ممكن احجز؟

   Mumkin aḥjiz?

   Can I make a booking?

   Usage

   Use it to book a table, room or ride. Follow with the date, time and number of people

   Grammar Note

   "Mumkin" + subjunctive asks for permission. The vowels of "aḥjiz" are inferred. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. المتحف مفتوح يوم الجمعة؟

   Il-matḥaf maftūḥ yōm il-jumʿa?

   Is the museum open on Friday?

   Usage

   Friday is a weekly day off in Sudan, so many sights and shops are closed. Check beforehand

   Grammar Note

   "Museum" and "Friday" have the same form as in Standard Arabic. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. أنا متاخر شوية

   Ana mitakhkhir shuwayya

   I am a little late

   Usage

   Tell someone you are running late for a meeting, then add roughly when you will arrive

   Grammar Note

   A woman says "mitakhkhira". The vowels are inferred. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. ممكن تستنى شوية؟

   Mumkin tistanna shuwayya?

   Can you wait a little?

   Usage

   Ask someone to wait a short while. The verb ending changes when you speak to a woman

   Grammar Note

   To a woman say "tistanni". The vowels are inferred. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. المطعم بفتح متين؟

   Il-maṭʿam biftaḥ mitēn?

   When does the restaurant open?

   Usage

   Use it when planning a meal. During the fasting month many places open around sunset

   Grammar Note

   "Bi-" + verb forms the present tense. "Restaurant" has the same form as in Standard Arabic. The vowels are inferred. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. برنامج الرحلة اليوم شنو؟

   Barnāmaj ir-riḥla il-yōm shinu?

   What is the plan for the trip today?

   Usage

   Ask a guide or host for the day's plan, together with the departure time and meeting place

   Grammar Note

   The question word "shinu" (what) can come at the end. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. الساعة كم هسي؟

   Is-sāʿa kam hassi?

   What time is it now?

   Usage

   The basic way to ask the time. The word for "now" varies in spelling and pronunciation, and some people say "hassa"

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. بكرة الساعة تسعة

    Bukra is-sāʿa tisʿa

    Tomorrow at nine

    Usage

    A simple way to fix a meeting or booking time. Just put the time after "tomorrow"

    Grammar Note

    "Is-sāʿa" + number means "at … o'clock". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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