Forget the commercial guide books and phrase books. They don't know what they're saying. Lol. What we mean is, when you are in Riyadh, you need to immerse yourself in the place. If you're out in the streets, you gotta talk their talk!
Here are some colloquial terms and phrases that will be handy when riding a cab in Riyadh, courtesy of Eyecandy, our official spokesperson when riding taxis:
Here are some colloquial terms and phrases that will be handy when riding a cab in Riyadh, courtesy of Eyecandy, our official spokesperson when riding taxis:
ARABIC - ENGLISH
Inta aref (insert name of place)? or Inta ma'lloum (insert name of place)? - Do you know (insert name of place)?
COMMON PLACES
- Mushtashfa - Hospital
Examples: Mushtashfa Askari - Military Hospital (also known as Riyadh-Al-Kharj Hospital or the Armed Forces Hospital), Mushtashfa Malik Faisal - King Faisal Hospital (KFSH&RC), Mushtashfa Malik Khaled - King Khaled Hospital, etc.
- Tariq - Street or road
Examples: Tariq Malik Abdullah - King Abdullah Road, Tarik Malik Fahad - King Fahad Road, Tariq Olaya - Olaya Street, etc.
- Souk - Market
Examples: Souk Azizia - Azizia Market, Souk Tamimi - Tamimi Market, Souk Euromarche - Euromarche Supermarket)
- Masjid - Mosque
HELPFUL PHRASES
Kam fulus? - How much money?
Aiwa - Yes
La - No
Mumkin - Possibly
Istanee Shaweya - A minute
Mafi Mushkila! - No problem!
Shukran Kateer! - Thank you!
Afwan - Welcome
Aiwa - Yes
La - No
Mumkin - Possibly
Istanee Shaweya - A minute
Mafi Mushkila! - No problem!
Shukran Kateer! - Thank you!
Afwan - Welcome
DIRECTIONS
Yameen - Right
Yassar - Left
Sida'a - Straight
Alatoul - Go
Bas - Stop
Hina - Here
Thani - Next
Ba'd - After
Gareeb - Near
Bid - House
Ba'eed - Far
Yassar - Left
Sida'a - Straight
Alatoul - Go
Bas - Stop
Hina - Here
Thani - Next
Ba'd - After
Gareeb - Near
Bid - House
Ba'eed - Far
OTHERS
Mukhaib - Aircon
Sakr - Close
Ifta - Open
Sadik - Friend
Oku - Brother
Sakr - Close
Ifta - Open
Sadik - Friend
Oku - Brother
Here are the numbers:
Some taxi drivers know how to speak English, but just the basic ones so don't expect to be understood when you launch into a litany of directions and places. Also, ask how much is the fare first before climbing into the cab. Near places (almost walking distance) go for SR 5 but the "basic" fare for other roads or streets is SR10. Surprisingly, even if gasoline prices here are rock bottom, taxi fares are steep. But because we're Filipinos, we're sure eveyone knows how to haggle so haggle! :)
Some taxi drivers know how to speak English, but just the basic ones so don't expect to be understood when you launch into a litany of directions and places. Also, ask how much is the fare first before climbing into the cab. Near places (almost walking distance) go for SR 5 but the "basic" fare for other roads or streets is SR10. Surprisingly, even if gasoline prices here are rock bottom, taxi fares are steep. But because we're Filipinos, we're sure eveyone knows how to haggle so haggle! :)
