Jordanian Business Lingo

A Vital Guide to Understanding “Ammani” Business Lingo

Top 100 Phrases to watch out for and learn how to

“read between the lines”

First Edition March 2010

***** IMPORTANT INFORMATION/DISCLAIMER ***** This document should be read only by those with a sense of humor and the ability to laugh at themselves. It is not intended to offend anyone, but if you are offended, then you need to not take yourself so seriously. The phrases expressed in this publication reflect the views of dozens of fellow “Ammani’s” who participated in this collection.

A Vital Guide to Understanding “Ammani” Business Lingo Learn to read between the lines

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Phrase Literal Meaning Actual Meaning

1 "Waaaaaaal" Wow; shock I'm starting the price negotiation 2 "Majnoon Inta?" Are you crazy? You know you're gonna give me a discount 3 "Shoo had???" What's this? I'm in denial about the price 4 "Ba3milha La7aly" I'll do it on my own I'll try throwing ridiculous and insulting threats at

you because I'm still in denial about the price 5 "Ma Dafa3oolak?" They haven't paid you yet? I have no money to pay you so I'm blaming it on

accounting 6 "El Check bas Biddo Tawqee3" The check just needs a signature I still have no money to pay you but I'm buying

some time 7 "Ya Zalameh Ma Fee Beinatna" Man, money won't come between us Forget it, I'm simply not paying 8 "Khally 3alayna" Let me get this Shut up and pay 9 "Sorry Kan fee Azmeh" Sorry, was stuck in traffic It's not my fault that I'm an hour late for our

meeting 10 “bisharafak" Are you serious?! I don't believe a word you're saying 11 "Khalleeha Baynatna" Keep it between us I'll be announcing it to the whole world as soon as

you leave 12 "Bisharafak E7keely" Please tell me Please give me something new to gossip about 13 "Batmannalak El Tawfiq" Wish you all the best I hope you crash and burn 14 “walak wainak… let’s get together" Where have you been… let's get

together? I’m just saying that because I have to

15 "Ballah 7akaitni" Did you really call me? I'm pretending to not have seen your calls 16 "Habibi" Habibi I don't like you 17 "Inta 3ala Rasi" You're on my head Man I REALLY don't like you 18 "Khaleena Ne7ki" Let's talk You bore me, please don't ever call me again 19 "Min dal 3ala etesaal" Let's stay in touch No really, please don't ever call me again 20 "Khallas Saar" Consider it done You'll never hear from me again 21 "100% bil 100%" For sure Over my dead body 22 "Ghallabtak ma3i" Sorry for bothering you You're still worthless to me even though you

helped me 23 "Ba7keek Kaman 5 Da'aye'" I'll call you in 5 minutues Stop calling me. Don't you get that I don't want to

talk to you?



24 "Wayn Hal Ghaybeh" Where have you been? I have no idea who you are 25 "Hala Basha" Hello sir I forgot your name 26 "Leish ma Ultilly?" Why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't have helped you anyway, but I'm trying

to appear important in front of everyone 27 "Walla Yihimmak" Don't worry about it You're screwed because no one is gonna help

you 28 "lissa ma 3amilna el Budget" We haven't done the budget yet Stop trying to sell me something 29 kroooti mish ma3i el youm... I don't have my cards on me I don't want to waste my cards on you 30 "Keefak Tamam…good…tamam…

good?" How are you? Please don't take me literally and answer my

question. I have no interest whatsoever in how you're doing

31 "E7na Jahzeen" We're prepared to help in any way To screw you over 32 "Illy Biddak Yaah" What ever you want I'm going to make this as difficult as possible for

you 33 "emnit7aaka" We'll talk soon It's never gonna happen 34 "7agak" It's your right You're an idiot for having an opinion and fighting

for your rights 35 "Mish farga Ma3i" I don't care My life depends on making everyone think that I'm

important, and the best way to downplay that is if I pretend to not care

36 "Alf Mabrouk" Congratulations You bastard! How did you get that opportunity and not me!

37 "Wallah innak Raheeb" You're amazing Don't ever think you're better or more important than me

38 "Meen huweh Ya3ni?" Who is he anyway? Shit, this guy is more important than me 39 "El umoor Da7leh" Things are moving along We're going out of business 40 "Ib3atly Offer" Send me an offer Send me your pricing so I can share it with my best

friend who is in the same business 41 "Akeed Ba3rafo" For sure I know him I pretend to know everyone but I have no clue

who you're talking about 42 "Eish Ya Wa7sh" Hey big guy You make me feel insecure and small 43 "Fada7tna" You embarassed us I know it's my fault, but I'll blame everything on you

anyway



44 "U'umur bas" Just say what you need Saying that makes me feel more important than you

45 "Ibshir" What ever you want Keep dreaming 46 "Sha3bak Ma byifham" People just don't get it I don't understand what you're talking about but I'll

never admit it 47 "Ana sa7ib El Qarar" I'm the decision maker I have no say in this whatsoever but you'll never

know that 48 "E7ky Ma3al Maktab" Call the office Yes I have an office with a secretary 49 "Ah Mumkin" Yeah possibly You're right but I will never give you the credit 50 "Wallah Emsafer" I'm traveling I have to give the impression that I'm a busy

business person although all I was doing is having coffee with people all the time

51 "Ullo Min Tarrafi" Tell him I referred you I'd like to think that I have connections and am important

52 "I7keeni 3al rakam il tani" Call me on the other line Yes I carry more than one phone as another way to appear important

53 "masmoo7 el tadkheen" Can I smoke in here? You're an idiot if you don't smoke 54 "barja3lak feeeha" I'll get back to you I have no clue 55 "hada karti el gadeem... hat aktublak

emaili" This is my old card, let me write my email on it

I'm too cheap to bother with new cards

56 "sho ensharibko... Amaaneh... Ga7weh?... tab shai"

What would you like to drink? Seriously! … Coffee? Tea?

Yes I have a coffee boy. Watch me order him around

57 "Kont be Amerka!" I was in America Yes I'm important because I travel to the USA 58 "3endi ejtima3, lazem agoom" I have to go to another meeting I have to make you people feel like I have more

important things to do 59 "7ada Sa'el?" No one cares I thought I was important till nobody helped me 60 "Ma hada kullo min 3nna" This was all from us anyway We actually had nothing to do with this, but I like

to pretend that I'm a part of the elite business community

61 "Zooroona bil Mazra3a" Visit us at the farm Yes, I have a farm which indicates that I'm rich and am important

62 "Inshallah" God willing No let's not do that. It'll take way too much effort 63 "3ala Toul" Right away Give me a month



64 "Khaleeha La Bukra" Can we delay until tomorrow? I could do it right now but I need to go home and take a nap

65 "Ibta3raf, El Dinya Ramadan" You know, it's Ramadan I actually have a God given excuse to be lazy 66 "Ma Khilsat el Sanne" The year is over anyway Since we were'nt productive all year, why should

we start now? 67 “fookak min kol hal 7aki” What do you want with all this hassle

anyway Good idea. I'm gonna steal it from you

68 "musta7eel tuzbut" It'll never work I really like that idea 69 "Ya zalameh leish etta3ib 7alak" Why bother yourself? I just feel like shooting people down all the time

because I have nothing better to do 70 "Ya Zalameh...." Man… This usually comes before any type of complaint

(e.g. Ya zalameh shoo hal shaghleh", Ya zalameh shoo hal ...)

71 "mash-shi 7al-lak" Try and make the best of it You're really screwed now, and I don't plan to make you feel any better

72 "Sadi'ni ya zalameh" Believe me man If you believe me, you have no idea how bad I'm gonna screw you over

73 "Minshoofkom Bil…" We'll see you at… Oh you weren't invited to the big event tonight??? 74 "Ya Zalameh Byishtighlu la7alhom

hadol" Man, they're working alone on this Shit, these guys know what they're doing

75 "Zamaan 3anak" It's been a long time I need you for something now, so let's connect 76 "Ishta'tillak Man" I missed you man I need a huge favor 77 "Bidha A3deh" We need to talk I'm not interested, so I'll escape any commitment

using this delay tactic 78 "Shoo Ra'yak?" What do you think? Do all the thinking for me and come up with the

ideas so I can use them without having to pay you 79 "Ma etghallib 7alak" Don't bother You're an idiot if you don't help me 80 "Min El Akhir" What's your final answer? Give it to me for free 81 "Min Hon La Hon" Any more you can do with the price? I'm just shopping around 82 "Madaaam haik... beddak

etra3eena" In that case, you have to give us a discount

Now that you were nice enough to give me an initial discount, I'm gonna really take advantage of you now

83 "Daroori Bidna yaah El Yawm" It's important. We need it today It's not really due today, but I'm rushing you because I feel like it



84 "Halla' ba7keelak ma3o" I'll call him for you now I'm doing you such a huge favor and you should kiss my feet now

85 "Mish Gultillak" Didn't I tell you? I know I never actually told you anything, but I feel like putting you down

86 "Ra7at 3alayk" You missed your chance You're an idiot 87 "Ana 3omri gassaret Ma3ak" Have I ever not helped you? I want a favor that is really gonna cost you 88 "3ash Meen Sime3 Sotak" Good to hear your voice I need a favor 89 "Khallas Itafa'ana?" Are we in agreement? I don't want you to make any profit from this deal 90 "Bidi Astasheerak ibshaghleh" I'd like to get your advice on

something I want to milk you for valuable information and then never talk to you again once I get it

91 "Wa7ad akhra min el tany" One is worse than the other This is a good way to deflect attention off of my self so people don't keep talking about how I got this position because my dad is best friends with the owner.

92 "Meen Sa7eb el Ma7al?" Who owns this place? How can I take advantage of this person? 93 "Mat Khaf" Don't be afraid I'm glad you showed me your weakness 94 "3an Jad 3am ba7ki" I'm being serious I'm trying to figure out how I can best manipulate

you 95 "Wallak min Emta?" Since when? I'm gonna ruin you 96 "Ma Bateego" I can't stand him He is so much more successful and important than

me 97 "Khod Nasee7ti" Take my advice You need me for this, and if you do it alone I will

ruin you 98 "Ibn Fulan" Son of so and so (usually someone

important) I can get something out of him

99 "Shu Bigrablak..." How is so and so related to you? Are you of any importance to me? 100 "Min wayn..?" Where are you from? It's the fastest way for me to figure out everything

about you

Entertainment & Humor

Jordanian Business Lingo