AN ARABIC - ENGLISH VOCABULARY - For the Use of English Students of Modern Egyptian Arabic

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa

An Arabic–English vocabulary compiled for English students of modern Egyptian Arabic, intended to build a practical grasp of essential words and roots. The compiler describes a structured method: extracting verbal roots from Freytag, enriching them by line-by-line study of Egyptian legal codes, then expanding through reading official manuscripts and public materials. The revised draft was checked with native clerks and court colleagues, and the book is presented as a concise, coherent synopsis of vocabulary used daily by Egyptian government officials, with guidance for study and cross-reference use.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages348

Reading Time8 h 56 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Compilation plan

Study guidance and study method

Cross-references and examples

Dresenteo toTbe Líbrarpof tbeaniversitp of Toronto Hugh So Robertson Esq. e x.. # ANARABIC-ENGLISH VOCABULARY. / 山≥Arab.DC18252AN # ARABIC-ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR THE USE OF ENGLISH STUDENTS OFMODERN EGYPTIAN ARABIC : COMPILED BY D.A.CAMERON ONE OF THE ENGLISH JUDGES OF THE NATIVE EGYPTIAN cOURT OF APPEAL,CAIRO;FORMERLY STUDENT INTERPRETER,AND ONE OF HER MAJESTY's coNSULSIN EGYPT AND IN TRIPOLI. LONDON BERNARD QUARITCH,15 PICCADILLY1892 LONDON! PRINTED BY GILBERTASD RTVTNGTON,LD.,ST.joHx's HOUSE,CLERKENWELL ROAD,E.C. # PREFA CE. THIS Vocabulary was originally compiled for my private use in orderto retain a grasp on what,after ten years'practical experience,I con-sidered to be the most necessary words of the Arabic language.Itis now published,after two years'careful revision. The following plan has been adopted in its compilation:一 1st.Taking Freytag’s“Arabic-Latin Lexicon”as a guide,I wentthrough the volume,selected what I wanted,and drew up a skeletonlist of the most important verbal roots and their derivatives. 2nd.I then read carefully through the Arabic text of the Egyptiancodes of law,line by line,adding words with their modern meaningsto the skeleton list.This task supplied me with hundreds of termsrelating not merely to law,but also to public and social life,government,commerce,crime,&c.;moreover,it showed how the bestEgyptian authorities translate good French into good modern Arabie.The phraseology of a code forms a high standard of the commonlanguage of educated natives;it is unpedantic,simple,accurate andconcise. 3rd.I collected numerous words by a systematic course of readingof official MSS.,decrees,circulars,annual budgets,reports andjournals.I also added some colloquialisms,and a few military andscientific terms. The entire draft was then revised with the aid of native clerks.Iwould read ont an Arabic word,and ask them to explain it;I wouldthen translate my own explanation,and thus verify or correct it.The MS.was then submitted to the scrutiny of my native colleaguesof the Court of Appeal,and it is to their never-failing kindness andassistance that I am most deeply indebted for all that is of value inthis book.While,therefore,I alone am responsible for any defectsor shorteomings,the student may feel confident that this is a serious professional attempt to furnish lhim with a concise abridgment,acoherent synopsis,of the vocabulary which is daily used by nativeofficials of the Egyptian Government. I would advise him to master this book almost in its entirety;to read carefully two or more pages up to ten or twenty a day,according to the time at his disposal;to select and note down ina blank book two or three words from every page;and to try to beaccurute in lis Arubic spelling.If he will take the trouble to gothrough this Vocabulary in the manner suggested,I am confidentthat in the course of a few months he will have gained a soundknowledge of modern Egyptian Arabic.His notes will have formeda short vocabulary of his own selection,and in addition to what hemay remember,he will be better able to guess the root of aderived form,and to find it in this or any larger dictionary. The cross-references should also be examined for synonyms,or forcontrasts in meaning or in spelling.For example,ils talifa,"it perished,"[see ⑤Jn].Reference to ⑤ halula,givesus one or two more useful words for“ruin,”“danger;”andlaalalka and talifu should be connoted in the student's memory.Again, tanr,means“a dry date,”but ytamar,means"fruit." As a specimen lesson in the use of this book,let the student takethe three roots Lj:'arafa“he knew,”上c’alina,“he knew,”and 1labar“neus.”They unite in the mnin idea of"knowledge,"but each differs from the others in its derived forms.This connotation of allied roots,by contrast and comparison,is thebest way to attain accuracy in Arabie.If he will then look forarafa and 'alina in a large dictionary such as Kazimirski orSteingass,he will see how this vo

FAQs

What is the purpose of this Arabic-English vocabulary?

It is designed to help English students retain and master the most necessary words of modern Egyptian Arabic, focusing on vocabulary used daily by native government officials.

How was the vocabulary compiled?

The compiler selected key verbal roots from Freytag, added words with modern meanings by studying Egyptian legal codes, and further expanded the list through reading official manuscripts, decrees, budgets, reports, and journals.

How does the book suggest studying using this vocabulary?

The recommendation is to read several pages daily, note a few words from each page, practice accurate Arabic spelling, and examine cross-references for synonyms, contrasts, and related forms.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa