Getting around
تاكسي
وين رايح؟
Where to?
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
How the language is used
Jordanian Arabic is everyday speech. English is used in many businesses.
In this city
- Language
- Arabic
- Also heard
- English
- A local word
- شاي بالنعناع — Mint tea.
- Writing
- the Arabic script
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
Food
مقهى
شاي بالنعناع.
Mint tea.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
شارع
صباح الخير.
Good morning.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The counter
دكان
قديش؟
How much is it?
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The language through the day
Jordanian Arabic is everyday speech. You also hear English in many businesses.
Around Downtown, Jabal Amman, Abdoun, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Amman can run on four lines: “وين رايح؟”, “شاي بالنعناع.”, “صباح الخير.”, and “قديش؟”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Arabic script.
- A greeting comes before the order. A polite request adds a word for please.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Amman, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: شاي بالنعناع. It means Mint tea..
Places you can see
- Citadel — A hilltop with Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad remains.
- Roman Theatre — A steep theatre cut into the downtown hillside.
- Rainbow Street — A walking street in Jabal Amman, with cafés and bookshops.
Food
Mansaf, lamb with fermented dried yogurt, is the dish of a big gathering. Falafel is everyday.
Getting around
Hills separate the neighbourhoods, so you rely on taxis and buses more than on walking.
Daily life
Friday is the family day. Shop signs often pair Arabic with English.
A few everyday phrases
Arabic
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| مرحبًا | Marḥaban | Hello |
| شكرًا | Shukran | Thank you |
| صباح الخير | Ṣabāḥ al-khayr | Good morning |
| اسمي… | Ismī… | My name is… |
