Phrases for Muslim Travellers – Spanish

Spanish Pronunciation Guide
Most letters are similar or same as they are in English, the main exceptions are explained below.

Z is pronounced as ‘th’ – like thin in English, and as ‘s’ in the southern areas of Spain.
C is pronounced like a ‘k’ when it is followed by an a, o or u. So ‘carro’ is pronounced like ‘karro.
C is pronounced like a ‘th’ when followed by an i or an e, and like an ‘s’ in the southern areas of Spain. So ‘cinco’ is pronounced as ‘thinko’ in the north and ‘sinko’ in the south.
CH is pronounced like ‘ch’ in English (as in chicken)
H before a vowel (unless as ch) is never pronounced, it is silent. So ‘hasta’ is pronounced ‘asta’.
J is pronounced like ‘kh’ in Arabic however it may also be pronounced as a ‘h’ and it will be understood.
G is pronounced like ‘kh’ in Arabic when an i or e follow it. So ‘gente’ is pronounced as ‘khente/hente’. However ‘guapo’ is pronounced as ‘gwapo’ with a hard g sound like in English.
LL is pronounced as ‘ly’. So ‘paella’ is pronounced as ‘paelya’. 

PRAYER
(La Oración)

May I pray here?
¿Se puede rezar aquí?

In which direction is the Qiblah?
 ¿En qué sentido es la Qiblah?

What time is Fajr?
¿Cuál es la hora del Faŷr?

AT THE MOSQUE
(La mezquita)

Where is the nearest Masjid?
¿Dónde está la mezquita más cercana?

Where can I make wudhu’?
¿Dónde puedo hacer wudhu’ (La ablución)?

Where is the toilet?
¿Dónde está el baño?

Is there a section for women?
¿Hay una sección para las mujeres?

What is the name of this Masjid?
¿Cuál es el nombre de esta mezquita?

Who is the Imām of this Masjid?
¿Quién es el imán de la mezquita?

May I take photos of the Masjid?
¿Puedo tomar fotos de la mezquita?

MARRIAGE
(Matrimonio)

Are you married?
¿Eres casado? (said to a man)
¿Eres casada? (said to a woman) 

I am (not) married
No estoy casado (for a man)
No estoy casada (for a woman)

How many wives do you have?
Cuántas esposas tienes?

I have 1/2/3/4 wives
Tengo una / dos / tres / cuatro esposa/s

I am looking to get married
Estoy tratando de casarse

I am (not) interested in getting married right now
(No) estoy interesado en casarse pronto

FOOD
(Cocina)

Do you serve Halaal food here?
¿Sirven comida jalál aquí?

Where can I find a place which serves Halaal food?
¿Dónde puedo encontrar un lugar que sirve comida jalál?

Where may I buy Halaal meat?
¿Dónde puedo comprar la carne jalál?

Is this Halaal?
¿Esto es jalál?

No thanks, I’m fasting
No gracias, estoy en ayunas

Where may I buy dates from?
¿Dónde puedo comprar las fechas?

SHOPPING/CLOTHING
(Compras/Vestido)

Where can I buy Islamic clothing?
¿Dónde puedo comprar la ropa islámica?

How much is this?
¿Cuánto cuesta?

Where can I find an Abayah/Thawb
¿Dónde puedo encontrar un Abaya / una Zaub (Ŷalabía)?

If I buy two can you give me a discount?
Si compro dos me puede dar un descuento?

Is there an Islamic Bookstore here?
Hay una tienda de libros islámicos aquí?

Do you have a copy of the Qur’an (in Arabic/English/Spanish)?
Hay una copia del Corán (en árabe / Inglés / Español)?

CONVERSATION
(Conversación)

Yes
Sí

No
No

Excuse me
Con permiso

I’m sorry
Lo siento

Do you speak English/Arabic?
Hablas Inglés / Árabe?

I understand
Entiendo

I don’t understand
No entiendo

I’m sorry, this is against my religion
Lo siento, esto es en contra de mi religión

I’m sorry, I am not accustomed to this
Lo siento, no estoy acostumbrado a este

I prefer not to mingle with the opposite sex
Yo prefiero no se mezcle con el sexo opuesto

I do not make any physical contact with the opposite sex
No puedo hacer ningún contacto físico con el sexo opuesto

What is your religion?
¿Cuál es su religión?

I am Muslim
Soy Musulmán

This is forbidden in Islam
Esto está prohibido en el Islam

There is a difference of opinion about this
Hay una diferencia de opinión sobre este

I do not follow that opinion
No sigo esta opinión

This is kufr!
Esto es una blasfemia!

This is Shirk!
Este es el politeísmo!

This is (not) Haraam
Este (no) es Jarám

ISLAMIC PHRASES
(Frases Islámica)

Jazākum ‘Allāhu Khayran
Que Dios te recompensa con buena

Wa Iyyākum
Y también a usted

Bārak ‘Allāhu Fīkum
Que Dios te bendiga

Sallallāhu `Alayhi wa Sallam
Que la paz y las bendiciones de Dios sobre él

Inshā’ Allāh
Si Dios quiere

Phrases for Muslim Travellers – Shāmi Arabic (Lebanese)

PRAYER
(es-solēt)

–

May I pray here?
Fīni solli hōn?

–

In which direction is the Qiblah?
Wayn il-‘ibleh?

–

What time is Fajr?

be-‘esh saʿa solēt is-subeh?

–

AT THE MOSQUE
(bej-jēmiʿ)

–

Where is the nearest Masjid?
wayn ij-jēmiʿ el-a’reb?

–

Where can I make wudhu’?

wayn fīni it·wade’?

–

Where is the toilet?
wayn il-ḥammāmāt?

–

Is there a section for women?
Fī ‘is·m / makēn lel-mar’ōt?

–

What is the name of this Masjid?

sh’ismu haydi jēmiʿ?

Who is the Imaam of this Masjid?
mīn l-imēm hōn?

–

May I take photos of the Masjid?
Fīni sawwir ij-jēmiʿ?
–
MARRIAGE
(ez-zwej)

Are you married?
ente mutezawwej?
enti mutezawjeh?

I am (not) married
Ane (mish) mutezawwej
Ane (mish) mutezawjeh

How many wives do you have?
Kam zawjēt ma’ak?

–

I have 1 wife
ʿEndi bas waḥde

–

I have 2/3/4 wives
ʿEndi itnēn/tlati/arbāʿ zawjēt

–

I am looking to get married
biddu atazawwaj

–

I am (not) interested in getting married right now
ma biddu atazawwaj ḥalla

–

FOOD
(el-akal)

–

Do you serve Halaal food here?
Fī l-akal ḥalēl hōn?

Where may I buy Halaal meat?
wayn fīni shtari l-laḥme ḥalēl?

–

Is this Halaal?
hayde ḥalēl?

–

No thanks, I’m fasting
lā shukran, eni sō’im

–

Where may I buy dates from?
min wayn fini shtare it-tamr?

SHOPPING/CLOTHING
(it-tasū’/il-mlēbis)

Where can I buy Islamic clothing?
min wayn fini shtare il-mlēbis il-islēmī?

How much is this?
kam haydi? / addīsh ha”u?

Where can I find an Abayah/Thawb
wayn l-ʿabeyēt?

If I buy two can you give me a discount?
Iza bashteri itnēn, yumkin taʿtīnē bel-khasm?

Is there an Islamic Bookstore here?
Fī maktabe islēmi hōn?

Do you have a copy of the Qur’an (in Arabic/English/)?
Fī qur’ēn (mus-ḥaf) bil-ʿAraba/Inglīza?

CONVERSATION
(el-hadīs)

Yes
Naʿam / Ēh

No
Lā’

Excuse me
ʿAfwan

I’m sorry
‘Āsif (m)
‘Āsfe (f)

Do you speak English/Arabic?
btaḥkī l-inglize?

I understand
fahemet

I don’t understand
mā fahemet

I’m sorry, this is against my religion
ʿAfwan, bas haydi ḥarām bi dīni

I’m sorry, I am not accustomed to this
ʿAfwan, bas ene mish mu’tēdeh ʿā hayde

I prefer not to mingle with the opposite sex
Aḥsen lī en lā akhelit bej-jins el-ēkhir

I do not make any physical contact with the opposite sex
Lā batnawel bej-jins el-ēkhir

What is your religion?
Shu dīnek? (m)
Shu dīnik? (f)

I am Muslim
Ana Muslim (m)
Ana Muslimeh (f)

This is forbidden in Islam
Haydi ḥarām / mamnūʿ bel-Islēm

There is a difference of opinion about this
Fī khtilēf bi-haydi

I do not follow that opinion
Ma b·tfekir en haydi yajūz

This is kufr!
haydi kuf·r!

This is Shirk!
Haydi shirk!

This is (not) Haraam
Haydi (mish) Ḥarām

ISLAMIC PHRASES
(el-hadīs il-islēmi)
–
Jazākum ‘Allāhu Khayran
Yejzīkum ‘Allah bi-kheyr
–
Wa Iyyaakum
U entum kamēn
–
Bārak ‘Allāhu Fīkum
Bērak ‘Allah Fīkum

Phrases for Muslim Travellers – Italian

PRAYER
(L’Orazione)

May I pray here?
Posso pregare qui?

In which direction is the Qiblah?
In quale direzione è la Qiblah?

  

What time is Fajr?
A che ora è Fajr?

 

 

AT THE MOSQUE
(Alla Moschea)

Where is the nearest Masjid?
Dov’è la moschea più vicina?

Where can I make wudhu’?
Dove posso fare il wudhu?

Where is the toilet?
Dove si trova il gabinetto?

Is there a section for women?
C’è una sezione per le donne?

What is the name of this Masjid?
Come si chiama questa moschea?

Who is the Imām of this Masjid?
Chi è l’imam della moschea?

May I take photos of the Masjid?
Posso prendere le foto della moschea?

MARRIAGE
(Matrimonio)

Are you married?
Sei sposato? (m)
Sei sposata? (f)

I am (not) married
Non sono sposato (m)
Non sono sposata (f)

How many wives do you have?
Quante mogli hai?

I have 1/2/3/4 wives
Ho uno/due/tre/quattro mogli

I am looking to get married
Sto cercando di sposarsi

I am (not) interested in getting married right now
Non sono interessato a sposarsi subito

FOOD
(Cibo)

Do you serve Halaal food here?
Avete cibo halal qui?

Where can I find a place which serves Halaal food?
Dove posso trovare un posto che serve cibo halal?

Where may I buy Halaal meat?
Dove posso comprare carne halal?

Is this Halaal?
Questo è halal?

No thanks, I’m fasting
No grazie, sto digiunando

Where may I buy dates from?
Dove posso comprare i datteri?

SHOPPING/CLOTHING
(Shopping/Abbigliamento)

Where can I buy Islamic clothing?
Dove posso comprare capi di abbigliamento islamico?

How much is this?
Quanto costa?

Where can I find an Abayah/Thawb
Dove posso trovare un’abaya/una gialabia?

If I buy two can you give me a discount?
Se compro due, mi puoi dare uno sconto?

Is there an Islamic Bookstore here?
C’è un negozio di libri islamici qui?

Do you have a copy of the Qur’an (in Arabic/English/Italian)?
C’è una copia del Corano (in arabo/inglese/italiano)?

CONVERSATION
(Conversazione)

Yes
Sì

No
No

Excuse me
Mi scusi

I’m sorry
Mi dispiace

Do you speak English/Arabic?
Lei parla l’inglese/l’arabo?

I understand
Ho capito

I don’t understand
Non ho capito

I’m sorry, this is against my religion
Mi dispiace, questo è contro la mia religione

I’m sorry, I am not accustomed to this
Mi dispiace, non sono abituato a questo

I prefer not to mingle with the opposite sex
Preferisco di non mescolare con il sesso opposto

I do not make any physical contact with the opposite sex
Non posso fare qualsiasi contatto fisico con il sesso opposto

What is your religion?
Qual è la tua religione?

I am Muslim
Sono Musulmano (m)
Sono Musulmana (f)

This is forbidden in Islam
Questo è proibito nell’Islam

There is a difference of opinion about this
C’è una differenza di opinione su questo

I do not follow that opinion
Non seguo questo parere

This is kufr!
Questo è bestemmia!

This is Shirk!
Si tratta di politeismo!

This is (not) Haraam
Questo (non) è Haram

ISLAMIC PHRASES
(Frasi Islamici)

Jazākum ‘Allāhu Khayran
Che Dio ti ricompensi con buona (singular)
Che Dio vi ricompensi con buona (plural)

Wa Iyyākum
E anche a te (singular)
E anche a voi (plural)

Bārak ‘Allāhu Fīkum
Che Dio ti benedica (singular)
Che Dio vi benedica (plural)

Sallallāhu `Alayhi wa Sallam
Che la pace e benedizioni di Dio su di lui

Inshā’ Allāh
Se Dio vuole

Phrases for Muslim Travellers

As part of my book collection, I have about 15 of Lonely Planet’s ever so useful phrasebooks. For anybody travelling to another country, these books are very useful. Of course all phrasebooks are relatively useful you might wonder, but the Lonely Planet books really are something amazing due to the fact that they actually contain phrases that you are likely to find yourself using, not just the standard phrases found in most phrasebooks. Whilst some of the books have phrases such as ‘Do you serve Halal food here?’, for the most part a Muslim will struggle in being understood when wanting to ask ‘Islamic’ questions such as ‘If we travel to this village will I be able to join my prayers according to the Shafi’i madh-hab?’.
Now as a Muslim traveller you can have the chance to learn some phrases to use on your travels. Inshaa’Allaah I will continue to update this section and improve the pages on each country/language in time.

If you have any suggestions or would like to help in adding a new language feel free to contact me at abuaisha [at] hotmail.com

Languages available:

Italian

Shāmi Arabic (Lebanese)

Tagalog (Filipino)

Tausug (spoken in southern Philippines)