Al Fosol Al Arbaa
Al Fosol al Arbaa (الفصول الأربعة) is to learning Levantine Arabic what Friends is for learning American English. It’s a Syrian sitcom about an extended family in Damascus in the late 90s and early 2000s. The show is a compelling time capsule of cultural life at the time and provides a useful mix of practical and cultural vocabulary, including plenty of mujamalat. Al Fosol al Arbaa was very popular in Syria and around the MENA/SWANA region making it a useful cultural reference point for millennials and the generations above.
Each episode of Al Fosol Al Arbaa has a main storyline contained within the episode, making it relatively easy to follow along. Overall, the show is complex enough to stay engaging, but simple enough for comprehension by those with at least intermediate Levantine Arabic. Topics include a range of social, financial, and cultural topics of the time, some of them timeless, and others that haven’t aged so well - like a lot of media from this era.
We’ll do a quick character summary for the main cast members then roll out episode summaries, vocabulary lists, and review questions weekly for each episode in season one of Al Fosol Al Arbaa.
Character summaries
Nabila and Karim
Nabila and Karim are the heads of the family and their house is the gathering spot for the families of their five daughters.
Faten’s family
Faten is Nabila and Karim’s eldest daughter. She’s married to Malek, who runs a successful sock business. Faten and Malek have two teenage children together, Maya and Mazen. The family is relatively wealthy, which sometimes causes tension between Faten’s family and Magda’s family, specifically between Malek and Magda’s husband, Najib. However, Maya and Magda’s daughter, Susu are close friends.
Magda’s Family
Magda is married to Najib and together they also have two teenage children, Rami and Susu. The family is middle class and Najib works for the weather service. He is usually grumpy and consistently resents Malek, Faten’s husband, for being more financially successful. Susu has a crush on Mazen and Rami studies something related to computers the university.
Adel and Nara
Adel was married to Layla, one of Nabila and Karim’s daughters. Layla passed away, leaving him a single father to their daughter, Nara. Nara is a pre-teen and the youngest grandchild of the family. Adel is a lawyer and, consequently, the family members often seek his advice on various legal and personal conflicts.
Nadia
Nadia is a journalist. She’s ambitious and a bit quirky. Nadia is not married and she lives with her parents, Nabila and Karim.
Shadia and Barhoom
Shadia is the youngest child of Nabila and Karim. She’s married to Barhoom, who is a poet. The two are very much in love. They do not have any children and finances are often tight for the couple.
Naima
Naima cooks and cleans for the family. She has been working for the family for decades and often participates in family trips and celebrations. She splits her time between Nabila’s house and Faten’s house.
Jamila
Jamila is Karim’s sister who now lives at Karim and Nabila’s house. She does not have children of her own and was either widowed or never married.
We recommend reviewing our family vocabulary list to help keep track of how everyone is related in this show
Episode 1: The Birthday / عيد ميلاد
In the first episode of Al Fosol al Arbaa, we meet the members of Nabila and Karim’s family as they get ready for and then attend Nabila’s birthday celebration. Mild drama ensues between Maya and Naima when Maya comes home wearing torn jeans. Nadia embarks on an investigative journalism story about the life of taxi drivers in Damascus. Magda and Najib bicker about finances.
Vocabulary / مفردات
مظاهر مهترئ/ة
You’re fake
Literal translation: your appearance is worn out
مصاري متل الكذب
A lot of money
Literal translation: money like a lie
بيغار من / غار من
He is jealous of / he was jealous of
غيور/ة
Jealous (adjective)
خارج عن مألوف
Unusual; out of the ordinary
لا تمنن / لا تمنني
Stop reminding or stop telling
Because this is a command, the gender indicator is at the end of the verb, rather than the beginning
شاعِر/ة
Poet
عيد ميلاد
Birthday
Questions / أسألة
شو رأيها نعمة باوعي مايا لما مايا رجعت للبيت ببداية الحلقة؟
كيف العلاقة بين مالك وبين نجيب؟ ليش نجيب بيغار من مالك؟
ليش نبيلة ما كان بدها تاكل اللحمة بالحفلة؟
What does Naima think of Maya's clothes when Maya returns to the house at the beginning of the episode?
How is the relationship between Malek and Najib? Why is Najib jealous of Malek?
Why didn't Nabila eat the meat at the party?
Episode 2: Paranoia / الوسواس
After Nara faints at the birthday party, the family rushes her to the hospital. The doctor diagnoses her with an ear infection and suggests they bring her home and check on her often. Adel, still dealing with the grief of his wife’s death, is irrationally terrified, despite the mild diagnosis.
Vocabulary / مفردات
عنده وسواس
He is paranoid
التهاب بالاذن الوسطى
Middle ear inflammation or infection
هو خايف عليها
He's worried about her
تحت المراقبة
Under observation
عاصفة ج عواصف
Storm/s
فوبيا فقدان
Fear of loss
عدو ج أعداء
Enemy / enemies
اكل هواء
Eat air
This phrase is often used as an insult to tell someone to shut up but Barhoom uses the phrase literally at 27:50 to mean that they eat nothing, or they eat only air, at home
مستحيل
Impossible
ما بصدق / ما صدقت
I don't believe / I didn't believe
Check out our medical vocabulary list for more hospital and illness related words and phrases
Questions / أسألة
ليش عادل خاف على نارة كتير؟
الكل يلي ساوته شادية ببيت عادل أطيب من الأكل يلي بتسويه ببيتها. ليش؟
شو قال مالك لمازن بالمطار وليش مازن توتر؟
Why was Adel so worried about Nara?
The food that Shadia made at Adel's house was tastier than the food she cooks at her house. Why?
What did Malek say to Mazen at the airport and why is Mazen worried about it?
Episode 3: Passion and Revenge / غرام وانتقام
Gharam, a cousin who has spent most of her life in Kenya, comes to visit for a few days. Initially, most of the women in the family are excited to spend time with her and learn about her life in Kenya, while some of the men in the family feel inconvenienced by her visit. Once Gharam arrives though, the men quickly go out of their way to impress her, while the ladies can’t wait for her to leave.
Vocabulary / مفردات
غرام
Love or passion
Also a first name used for people of all genders
انتقام
Revenge (noun)
بينتقم من / انتقم من
He takes revenge on / he took revenge on
الشام
Damascus and/or greater Syria
كينيا
Kenya
سفاري
Safari
The word “safari” in English comes from the Arabic word, سفر, meaning “travel”
تاجر/ة
Trader (noun)
خريطة ج خرائط
Map/s
بدهم يلفتو انتباها
They want to get her attention or they want to impress her
Questions / أسألة
مين غرام وهي من وين؟
كيف كانت العلاقة بين غرام وبين زوجها؟ وشو كان يشتغل زوجها؟
ليش البنات ما راحوا عالمطار مع غرام والرجال؟
Who is Gharam and where is she from?
How was the relationship between Gharam and her husband? What did her husband do for work?
Why didn’t the women go to the airport with Gharam and the men?
Episode 4: The Women’s Section / حرملك
After the visit from Gharam, the women of the family are annoyed with the men. They all decide to rent a van, go camping, and not tell the men where they are going. The women chat and enjoy the nature, while the men spend the day trying to figure out where they are. As darkness falls, chaos ensues.
Vocabulary / مفردات
التخييم
Camping (noun)
بيخيمو / خيّموا
They camp / they camped
الاحتجاج
Protest or outcry (noun)
بيحتجو / احتجوا
They protest / they protested
بيركبو الباص / ركبوا الباص
They ride the bus / they rode the bus
بيلحقو / لحقوا
They follow or pursue / they followed or pursued
برودة
A cold front or a chill
قفص ج قفاص
Cage/s
واوي
Coyote, wolf, or other howling creature
Questions / أسألة
ليش البنات طلعوا وما خبروا الرجال وين راحوا؟
بمين اتصل نجيب لما كان ببيت كريم؟ شو كان بدو يعرف وليش؟
شو عملوا الرجال بعد ما اكتشفوا وين كانوا البنات؟
Why did the women leave and not tell the men where they were going?
Who did Najib call when he was at Karim's house? What did he want to know and why?
What did the men do when they discovered where the women were?
Episode 5: Old Notebooks / الدفاتر القديمة
Nabila and Karim return from a trip to Turkey with gifts for their children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, the similarities and differences among the gifts bring up a lot of old family drama and grievances that each of their daughters are harboring. The other members of the family don’t understand why this is such a big deal, but Shadia, Magda, and Faten can’t let it go.
Vocabulary / مفردات
دفتر ج دفاتر
Notebook/s
هدية ج هدايا
Gift/s
غرافة ج غرافات
Necktie/s
الفولار ج الفولارات
Scarf / scarves
مو عدل/ة
Not fair
مو محرز/ة
It's not worth it
تقارن / قارنت
She compares / she compared
المفضل/ة
The favorite
Questions / أسألة
ليش زعلانين ماجدة وشادية ؟
ليش فاتن زعلانة؟
شو رأي نبيلة عن الدراما؟
Why are Magda and Shadia upset?
Why is Faten upset?
What is Nabila’s opinion about the drama?
Episode 6: In a Day, In a Month, In a Year / في يوم في شهر في سنة
On the anniversary of the death of singer and superstar, Abdel Halim Hafez, the women of the family watch a television program about his life. They learn new information about the singer that shocks them. When they call each other to discuss the situation, others overhear bits of their conversation and misunderstand who they are talking about. This sets off a chain of gossip in which everyone’s husband seems to be taking a second wife named Souad.
Vocabulary / مفردات
صوتك مو على بعده
You don't sound like yourself
طلع متزوّج / طلعت متزوجة
He got married / she got married
مخدوع/ة
Deceived
مغني/ة
Singer
ذكرة سنوية
Anniversary
مشوش/ة
Confused
يسمعو / سمعوا
They listen / they listened
بيفرجو / فرجوا
They watch / they watched
When this verb is used to mean “to watch,” refers specifically to watching screens. It can also mean “to show”, for example, “فرجيني الصورة” show me (fem. command) the picture.
برنامج ج برامج
Program/s
مرة تانية
Another time; a second time
Questions / أسألة
مين سُعاد و مين طلع متزوّجتها؟
ليش هاد اليوم (بالحلقة) يوم خاصة وليش زعلانين البنات؟
ليش رامي و مازن كانوا مخربطين؟ شو فكروا انه كان عم بيصير؟
Who is Souad and who married her?
What is special about this day (in the episode)? And why are the women sad?
Why were Rami and Mazen upset? What did they think was happening?
Episode 7: Remote Sensing / استشعار عن بعد
Najib receives a phone call in which a strange but somewhat familiar voice asks him a question about his favorite topic - the weather. When he answers correctly, he learns that he has won a free trip to France! He and Magda begin preparing for their international trip, but Najib struggles to get in touch with the people who offered him the prize. As time goes on, Najib and Magda go from excited to stressed and one of their relatives starts to act a bit strange.
Vocabulary / مفردات
الاستثناء ج الاستثناءات
The exception/s
الاستشعار عن بعد
Remote sensing or radar
قمر صناعي ج أقمار صناعية
Satellite/s
عنده/ها حس الدعابة
He/she has a sense of humor
يفوز / فاز
Confused
بيسافرو / سافروا
They travel / they traveled
Questions / أسألة
نجيب شو فكر انه فاز و من مين الجائزة؟
مين يلي كذب الكذبة و ليش كذبها؟
شو لازم عملوا نجيب و ماجدة قبل ما يسافرو الى فرانسا؟
What did Najib he had won and who was the prize from?
What did Najib and Magda need to do before traveling to France?
Who pulled the prank on Najib and why did they do it?
Episode 8: The Widow / الأرملة
This is one of the strangest episodes of the series. A widow woman comes to Adel’s office. She tells him about her relationship with her late husband and asks Adel to put her in prison. Adel responds that he cannot put her in prison if she has not committed a crime. So she begins harassing Adel, eventually escalating to the point that he calls the police.
This episode includes some allusions to abuse . If that is a difficult topic for you, you may want to skip this episode.
Vocabulary / مفردات
الأرمل/ة
The widow
الأرامل
The widows
سكّر بوجهي
He hung up on me
فدحتني / فدحتيني
You (masc.) scandalized me / you (fem.) scandalized me
يتيم ج ايتام
Orphan/s
عقيم
A man who is infertile
عاقر
A woman who is infertile
تخّرب / خربت
She destroys / she destroyed
عنده مشاكل نفسيه
He has psychological problems
قررنا نصير اصدقاء
We decided to be friends
Questions / أسألة
ليش الأرملة ما بدها تتزوّج مرة تانية؟
شو بدها الأرملة من عادل؟
شو القصة يلي حكيتها الأرملة عن عادل قدام عيلته؟ صحيحة القصة؟
Why does the widow woman not want to get remarried?
What does the widow woman want from Adel and why?
What does she tell the family about Adel? Is it true?
Episode 9: Myself, My Daughter, and Love / أنا وابنتي والحب
Adel and Nara have always had a close and relatively open father/daughter relationship. Nara is approaching the teen years now though and is starting to keep some secrets from her father. Adel reacts with frustration and suspicion, wondering who Nara is spending her time with at school and what she’s writing in her diary. Tensions rise when Nara wants to go to a concert with her friends and doesn’t want Adel to come along.
Vocabulary / مفردات
هي عم تكبر / كبرت
She’s growing up / she grew up
كبران/ة
He’s grown or she’s grown
على وجهها ضو
She’s attractive
This phrase is not usually used to describe boys or men
طفل/ة ج اطفال
Child / children
عندها سرّ ج عندها اسرار
She has a secret / she has secrets
لا تخّيب لي أملي / لا تخيبي لي أملي
Don’t let me down or don’t disappoint me (masc. command / fem. command)
حفلة موسيقية ج حفلات موسيقية
Concert/s
فوضوي/ة
Chaotic; lawless; defiant
When this verb is used to mean “to watch,” refers specifically to watching screens. It
Questions / أسألة
شو قال لعادل الرخّال بمكتب عادل؟ شو المشكلة بين هاد الرجّال وبين بنته؟
ليش راح عادل لمدرسة نارة؟
ليش عادل خايف بعد ما لقى رسالة نارة بغرفتها النوم؟
What did the man in Adel’s office say to Adel? What’s the problem between this man and his daughter?
Why did Adel go to Nara’s school?
Why is Adel worried after he finds Nara’s letter in her bedroom?
Episode 10: An Exact Copy / نسخة طبق الأصل
This episode starts off with the family watching a program about the cloning of Dolly the sheep. This gets them talking about children, an uncomfortable topic for Shadia, who has been struggling with infertility.
Back at their apartment, Shadia and Barhoom are visited by a fortune teller and Barhoom invites her in. This woman has many children from a couple different husbands. Barhoom is impressed and Shadia misinterprets the interaction, thinking that Barhoom wants to marry the fortune teller as his second wife. It turns out he is actually thinking about trying to clone himself.
Vocabulary / مفردات
الأستنساخ
Cloning (noun)
العَلم ج العلوم
Science / the sciences
غنمة ج غنم
Sheep
There is a difference between the singular and plural form of this word in Arabic, unlike in English
بدهم يجيبو أولاد
They want to have kids
البصارة
Seer; fortune teller
غلطان/ة
S/he is mistaken
Questions / أسألة
ليش شادية و برهوم ما عندهم أولاد؟
ليش شادية فكرت أنه برهوم كان بده يتزوّج البصارة؟
شو كان بده يعمل برهوم ببريطانيا؟
Why don’t Shadia and Barhoom have children?
Why did Shadia think that Barhoom wanted to marry the seer?
What did Barhoom want to do in Britain?
Episode 11: Surprise Groom / عريس على غفلة
Maya tells Susu about the flirtatious phone correspondence she’s been having with a guy. Mazen sneaks out to go for a drive with a girl, but both families find out after they get in a car crash. While in the hospital, the families consider quickly arranging an engagement between Mazen and the girl in order to preserve reputations, particularly the girl’s reputation.
Vocabulary / مفردات
تدّعي أنها / أدّعيت أنها
She pretends to be / she pretended to be
حادث سيارة ج حوادث سيارة
Car accident or car crash / car accidents or car crashes
بياخذ العقل / بتاخذ العقل
Mind blowing (masc./fem.)
Literal translation: it takes the mind
خطبة
Engagement (to be married)
فضيحة ج فضايح
Scandal/s
جرح ج جروح
Injury / injuries
بيندم / ندم
He regrets / he regretted
Questions / أسألة
مين سميرة؟
شو صار مع مازن؟
مازن بده يتزوّج البنت؟ ليش مخبر أنه يتزوّجها؟
Who is Samira?
What happened to Mazen?
Does Mazen want to marry the girl? Why is he obligated to marry her?
Episode 12: Jourbar Gate / جوربار غيت
As the arrangements for Mazen’s engagement move forward, Malek also finds himself in a complicated situation with a woman. He skips a family gathering to go out with a female coworker and things do not go as planned. Meanwhile, Maya stays up all night and even consults Barhoom in her quest to solve a riddle her phone friend has given her.
Vocabulary / مفردات
ابتزاز
Blackmail
بتبتزه / تبتزته
She’s blackmailing him / she blackmailed him
يكذب / كذب
He lies / he lied
روسي/ة
Russian
لغز ج الغاز
Riddle/s
بتخنن / جنّت
She goes crazy / she went crazy
يفسخو الخطبة / فسخوا الخطبة
They call off the engagement / they called off the engagement
Questions / أسألة
مين إليكا بالينسكي وشو العلاقة بينها وبين مالك؟
شو طلبت إليكا من مالك بعد حادث السيارة؟
شو يعني لغز يلي قاله مهمود؟
مازن رح يتزوّج؟ شو رأي فاتن وأم البنت عن خطبة مازن والبنت؟
Who is Ileka Balinski and what is the relationship between her and Malek?
What does Ileka request from Malek after the car accident?
What is the meaning of Mahmoud’s riddle?
What do Faten and the girl’s mother think about the engagement between Mazen and the girl?
Episode 13: God Grant a Car / رزق الله على العربيات
Najib has been saving up for a car for ages and he has finally found a used car he can afford to purchase in full. It’s an old car, but it looks cool and the family is excited about it. Soon though, the car begins having all kinds of issues, causing Najib to spend lots of time and money at the mechanic.
Vocabulary / مفردات
عربة ج عربيات
Car/s
This word is especially common in the Egyptian dialect
يتجادلو / تجادلوا
They fight or argue / they fought or argued
بيحوّش مصاري / حوش مصاري
He saves money / he saved money
بيصرف مصاري / صرف مصاري
He spends money / he spent money
قرض ج قروض
Loan/s
جار ج جيران
Neighbor/s
سيارة قديمة ج سيارات قديمة
An old car / old cars
مزنوق / مزنوقة
He’s broke / she’s broke
As in they have no money
مشاكل بمشاكل
Problem after problem or so many problems
Questions / أسألة
ليش نجيب ستنى كتير قبل ما يشتري سيارة؟
كيف السيارة يلي شتراها نجيب؟ شو مشكلتها؟
Why did Najib wait so long before buying a car?
How is the car that Najib bought? What’s wrong with it?
Episode 14: Dear Neighbor / جار الرضا
Shadia borrows a video camera from Faten to record an event. However, when Barhoom tries to turn the camera on the next day, it doesn’t work! Shadia and Barhoom decide to sell some things from their apartment in order to raise money to repair or replace the camera. This turns out to be a more difficult task than they had imagined, as all of the items seem to remind them of important moments in their lives and relationship.
Vocabulary / مفردات
كاميرا ج كاميرات
Camera/s
تصوّر / صوّرت
She photographs / she photographed
تتصوّر / تصوّرت
She photographs herself / she photographed herself
قطعة ج قطع
Piece or part / pieces or parts
دَين ج دَيون
Loan/s (noun)
As in a bank loan
مشحون/ة
Charged (adjective)
محرز/ة
It’s worth it
For example, if something is really expensive but you think the price is justified
طلعوا عيوني
I suffered
Literal translation: my eyes went out
ليش مبوزم/ة؟
Why are you scowling? Or why are you frowning?
Questions / أسألة
شادية ليش كان بدها تستعير من فاتن الكاميرا؟
شو صار لما شادية وبرهوم جربوا يبيعو بعض الاشياء من شقتهم؟
شو كانت المشكلة مع الكاميرا بالنهاية؟
Why did Shadia want to borrow the camera from Faten?
What happened when Shadia and Barhoom tried to sell some of the things from their apartment?
In the end, what was the problem with the camera?
Episode 15: The Mountains Don’t Meet / الجبال لا تلتقي
Due to a baggage mixup on their flight back from Morocco, Faten and Malek are introduced to a friendly couple who have arrived in Damascus for a visit. Faten and Malek offer to help the couple, Mahdia and Allam, find the missing bag and invite them to dinner while they wait. When the guests are introduced to Faten’s family, Allam and Najib recognize each other. Years ago, Najib saved Allam’s life, a story he’s never told even Magda. Allam shares the story and, over the next few days, Adel helps Mahdia get in touch with her Syrian relatives.
Vocabulary / مفردات
شنتة ج شناتي
Bag/s
This word is especially common in the Egyptian dialect
يعرّفو على / عرّفوا على
They introduce to / they introduced to
عرفّوا لضيوف على العيلة
They introduced the guests to the family
بيعرفو بعض / عرفوا بعض
They recognize each other / they recognized each other
Can also mean they get to know each other or they got to know each other
انقذ حياتك
He saved your life
بطل/ة
Hero / heroine
اصلها سوري
Her origins are Syrian
عنيد/ة
Stubborn
Questions / أسألة
امتى وكيف نجيب و علّام تعرّفوا على بعض؟
ليش مهدية وعلّام سافروا لدمشق؟
ليش اب مهدية طلع من دمشق وليش ما رجع؟
When and how did Najib and Allam meet?
Why did Mahdia and Allam travel to Damascus?
Why did Mahdia’s father leave Damascus and why didn’t he return?
Episode 16: Soul Doctor / طبيب الروح
Something seems to be bothering Nadia. She’s not her usual, inquisitive self. The family, particularly her parents and aunt are concerned and try to come up with ways to cheer her up. Eventually, she decides to talk to Allam, who is a psychologist. This inspires the rest of the family to try it out too.
Vocabulary / مفردات
هي مع الاكتياب
She has depression; she is depressed
دكتور نفسي / دكتورة نفسية
or
طبيب نفسي / طبيبة نفسية
Psychologist
ديسكو
The disco or the club
بيرقصو / رقصوا
They dance / they danced
يتناقشو بالمشاكل حياتهم
or
يتناقشو مشاكل حياتهم
They discuss the problems in their lives
تصرفاتها غريبة / تصرفاتها كانت غريبة
She's acting weird / she was acting weird
Questions / أسألة
ليش العيلة خافت على نادية؟
ليش قرروا يروحو للديسكو؟ من مين الفكرة؟
كتب ملخص عن ناقشتها العيلة مع الدكتور النفسي
Why was the family worried about Nadia?
Why did they decide to go to the disco? Who gave them the idea?
Write a summary of what the family discussed with the psychologist.
Episode 17: Tree Leaves / ورق الشجر
Karim’s longtime friend, Abu Ramsey has died. Nabila and some of the other family members are worried that hearing this news will take a serious toll on Karim’s health and decide it’s better that he does not know about it. They go to great lengths to hide the information from him, taking down leaflets announcing the death all over the neighborhood, trying to prevent Karim from leaving the house, and more.
Vocabulary / مفردات
يخبو منه / خبوا منه
They hide from him / they hid from him
تفقد وعيها / فقدت وعيها
She faints / she fainted
Literal translation: she loses consciousness / she lost consciousness
ما بدهم يا يعرف
They don’t want him to know
إعلان / إعلانات
Announcement/s; advertisement/s
ما بدها يكونو قلقانين عليها
She doesn’t want them to worry about her
بسدفة
By coincidence or unexpectedly
ايام الخوالي
The good ‘ol days
This is a very colloquial phrase
Questions / أسألة
ليش نبيلة ما كان بدها انه كريم يعرف انه مات رفيقه ابو رمزي؟
ليش نبيلة فقدت وعيها؟
عن شو حكوا الرْجال بالمطعم؟
Why did Nabila not want Karim to know that his friend, Abu Ramsey, died?
Why did Nabila faint?
What do the men talk about at the restaurant?
Episode 18: Ad Campaign / حمله إعلانية
A new sock company has entered the market with catchy advertisements and a lot of similarities to Malek’s sock products. At first, Malek dismisses the threat but soon he becomes worried and starts brainstorming ways to refresh his brand. Meanwhile, Najib seems delighted that Malek’s empire may be in danger.
Vocabulary / مفردات
مالك عنده منافسة
Malek has competition
الك عنده منافس
Malek has a competitor (masc.)
جودة
Quality (noun)
يجاكره / جاكره
He makes fun of or taunts him / he made fun of or taunted him
اذما قلبية
Heart attack
جرابة ج جوارب
Sock/s
فخم/ة
Luxurious or very fancy
هق
Cost or price
Ex: شو هق الفستان؟
What is the cost of the dress?
Questions / أسألة
ليش العيلة محتّمة بالحمله الإعلانية يلي شفتواها بالتلفيزيون؟
ليش مالك كان بده يحكي مع برهوم بالمستشفة؟
ليش مجدة غارت من شادية و برهوم؟
Why is the family interested in the advertisement on TV?
Why did Malek want to talk to Barhoom at the hospital?
Why was Magda jealous of Shadia and Barhoom?
Episode 19: Naima is Missing / نعيمة مفقودة
Naima is very immersed in a television game show. She’s spending more and more time watching the show and on the phone, calling in to participate. The time and long distance calling expense is causing tension between Faten and Naima, and bringing up some underlying issues in their relationship. Eventually, things get bad enough that Naima leaves without telling the family where she’s going.
Vocabulary / مفردات
برنامج مسابقات
Game show
فاتورة التليفون
The telephone bill
مكالمة دولية
Long distance call
This term is specifically for long distance calls to another country
في حساسّيات بيناتهن
There’s bad blood between them
مَهووس/ة ب
Obsessed with
شاطر/ة
Smart
بدها تغيّر الجو
She wants a change of atmosphere or scenery
تكتشف / اكتشفت
She explores / she explored
Questions / أسألة
ليش نعيمة ضيعت كتير وقت لتشوف التلفيزيون وتحكي عالتليفون؟
ليش صارت مشاكل بين مالك وبين فاتن بعد ما طلعت نعيمة من البيت؟
شو عملت نعيمة بعد ما طلعت من بيت مالك وفاتن؟
Why did Naima spend so much time watching television and talking on the phone?
Why were there problems between Malek and Faten after Naima left the house?
What did Naima do after she left Malek and Faten’s house?
Episode 20: Name Swap / تبادل ألقاب
Mazen and Maya get invited to a wedding celebration that Maya does not want to attend. She convinces Susu to go along with her and to switch identities. Susu is confused and hesitant, but goes along with the plan. Once they get to the party, Susu realizes why Maya wanted to switch identities: the mother of this family is trying really hard to get her children engaged to Maya and Mazen because they come from a wealthy family.
Vocabulary / مفردات
حفلة عرس
Wedding party
As in celebration, not the bridal or groom parties
بتتنكر / تنكرت
She disguises herself / she disguised herself
متنكر
A disguise
بتضغط عليها / ضغطت عليها
She pressures her / she pressured her
نكتة ج نكات
Joke/s
غني/ة
Rich
مصدوم/ة
Surprised in a bad way; dismayed
نعلينو / علينوا
They announce / they announced
Questions / أسألة
ليش مايا كان بدها تقول انها سوسو وسوسو مايا بحفلة العرس؟
ندى كان بدها مازن يعلْن شو؟
شو عملوا مايا و نعيمة في نهاية الحلقة؟
Why did Maya want to say that Susu was Maya and Maya was Susu at the wedding party?
What did Nada want Mazen to announce?
What did Maya and Naima do at the end of the episode?
Episode 21: Dee and Dodi / دي ودودي
When Faten hears that Princess Diana and her romantic partner, the Egyptian producer Dodi Fayed, died in a car crash, she is devastated. She remembers the time she took a photo with Princess Diana years ago. This memory triggers a strange reaction in which she imagines having had a closer friendship with Diana than she actually had. The doctor believes that her condition is curable, but it’s going to require some effort from Malek.
Vocabulary / مفردات
أميرة برطانيا
Princess of Britain
فراغ عاطفي
Emotional emptiness or emotional depravity
العلاج ج العلاجات
The treatment/s
كلمات حلوة
Kind words
بيشاور / شاور
He gets advice / he got advice
حيلة ج حيلات
A trick / tricks
Questions / أسألة
بالنسبة الدكتور ليش فاتن كتير حزينة بعد ما تموت الأميرة ديانا؟
ليش مالك شاور من برهوم و مازن؟ شو كان بده يتعلم منهم؟
In the doctor’s opinion, why is Faten so sad after Princess Diana dies?
Why does Malek get advice from Barhoom and Mazen? What does he want to learn from them?
Episode 22: Friends of Nizar / أصدقاء نزار
A new poetry group is starting up and Mazen decides he wants to join. Though his motivation is not entirely intellectual, he starts memorizing verses and attending events, trying to break into the group and hoping to impress at the big poetry event at the end of the episode.
Vocabulary / مفردات
مجموعة شوعراء
A group of poets
تنتسب / نتسبت
She joins / she joined
غنده حافز
He has motivation or he is motivated
بيحفظ / حفظ
He memorizes / he memorized
بيغازل البنت
He flirts with the girl
مش عدل/ة
Unfair
يلقي / ألقى
He recites / he recited
جنازة ج جنازات
Funeral/s
Questions / أسألة
شو المجموعة يلي مازن كان بده ينتسب الها و ليش بده ينتسب الها؟
ليش شادية معصبة من برهوم؟
شو صار بنهاية الحلقة لما مازن ومايا وسوسو ورامي كانوا بنادي شعر؟
What is the group that Mazen wants to join and why does he want to join it?
Why is Shadia upset with Barhoom?
What happens at the end of the episode when Mazen, Maya, Susu, and Rami are at the poetry club?
Episode 23: Indian Apricot / مشمش هندي
When an unfamiliar woman calls the house and asks for Adel, Nara gets suspicious that Adel has a new girlfriend. Soon, he seems to be acting strange as well, which deepens her suspicion. Nara decides to learn a few investigative techniques to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Vocabulary / مفردات
اللاشعور
The subconscious
الهند
India
بيتصرف / تصرف
He's acting or behaving / he acted or behaved
تبع
Belonging to
Ex: هاي الشنطة تبعك؟
Is this bag yours?
بتشك / شكت
She suspects / she suspected
بتحقق / حققت
She investigates / she investigated
جهاز كشف الكذب
A lie detector device
Questions / أسألة
ليش نارا كان شاكة انه عادل عنده حبيبة؟
مين هند؟
ليش نارا بدها تدرس اللاشعور؟
Why was Nara suspicious that Adel has a girlfriend?
Who is Hind?
Why does Nara want to study the subconscious?
Episode 24: A Race Against Time / سباق مع الزمن
Adel gets a new, female coworker, Hind. After an awkward first day, things are going smoothly at work and Adel and Hind begin to enjoy spending time together. However, the women of the family - encouraged by one of Nadia’s friends - become increasingly concerned about Adel’s relationship with his coworker. Eventually, Nara decides to take matters into her own hands and contacts Hind behind her father’s back.
Vocabulary / مفردات
عندها واعي
or
هي واعية
She’s mature
زميل/ة ج زُملاء
Coworker/s
محامي/ة
Lawyer
بتدرس القانون / درست القانون
She studies law / she studied law
معجب/ة في
S/he has a crush on or is attracted to
مخبّي/ة شي
S/he is hiding something
غيران/ة من [حدا]
S/he is lying to sabotage someone
مرة الأب
Step-mom
Questions / أسألة
مين صاحبة نادية وشو قصتها؟
ليش البنات بالعيلة خايفين انه عادل عنده حبيبة؟
ليش هند ما رجعت للمكتب؟
Who is Nadia’s friend and what’s her story?
Why are the women of the family afraid that Adel has a girlfriend?
Why did Hind not come back to the office?
Episode 25: The Titanic / التيتانيك
Nadia is engaged! And the movie, Titanic is in theaters. After seeing the movie, the women ask their partners how they would handle a Jack and Rose type situation. Most of the men give their wives disappointing answers at first. Nadia’s fiance, however, responds with sweet words, but his actions communicate a different message.
Vocabulary / مفردات
خطيب/ة
Fiance / fiancee
جواب ج أجوبة
Answer/s
رومانسي/ة
Romantic
مسبح ج مسابح
Pool/s
بيسبحو / سبحوا
They swim / they swam
طالعة مع حبيبها / طلعت مع حبيبها
She goes on a date / she went on a date
السينما
The cinema
Questions / أسألة
مين معتز وكيفه؟
شو السؤال يلي سألوا النسوان للرجال؟
ليش النسوان ما كانوا مبسوطين من أجوبة لرجال؟
Who is Moutaz and what is he like?
What is the question that the women ask the men?
What are the women not happy with the men’s responses?
Episode 26: Sixth Sense / حاسة سادسة
Nabila and Karim have a new neighbor with a unique talent for sensing the truth and the future. She warns Nadia that her friend’s wedding is doomed after a road rage incident damages the wedding flowers. Nadia doubts her at first but soon changes her mind when the groom suddenly falls ill.
Vocabulary / مفردات
بيزيّن / زيّن
He decorates / he decorated
تعا لهون / تعي لهون
Come here (masc/fem)
بتخرب / خربت
She ruins / she ruined
فال
An omen
منحوس/ة
Unlucky
ذكي/ة
Smart
The adjectives ذكي and شاطر both mean smart but ذكي is usually used to describe someone who is smart in their thoughts and ideas, while شاطر is more often used to describe someone who is smart in their actions
Questions / أسألة
مين ام عزيز وليش هي مميزة؟
شو صار للورد يلي كان عسيارة عادل وليش كان فال مو منيح؟
شو صار مع جوز صاحبة نادية؟
Who is Um Aziz and why is she unique?
What happened to the flowers that were on Adel’s car and why was it a bad omen?
What happened to Nadia’s friend’s husband?
Episode 27: Motherly Crisis / أزمة أمومة
A seemingly normal phone call from Faten releases a frustration in Nabila and in Jamila that has been building up for decades. This change results in Nabila leaving the house and later Jamila leaving the house. Neither says where they are going or if they plan to return.
Vocabulary / مفردات
بتكسر شي / كسرت شي
She breaks something / she broke something
هم ممنونين
They are appreciated
بتترك البيت / تركت البيت
She leaves the house / she left the house
ما حدا بيعرف / ما حدا عرف
No one knows / no one knew
بيتناقشو / ناقشوا
They discuss / they discussed
متضايق/ة من
Annoyed with or bothered by
بتسامح حدا / سامحت حدا
She forgives someone / she forgave someone
Questions / أسألة
ليش نبيلة كسرت صحون وتركت من البيت؟
ليش جميلة ما كان بدها تحكي مع حدا؟
ليش نبيلة كانت غيرانة من جميلة؟
Why did Nabila break plates and leave the house?
Why didn’t Jamila want to talk to anyone?
Why was Nabila jealous of Jamila?
Episode 28: Thrown Without a Thrower /رمية من غير رامي
Rami is supposed to be resting and recovering from an ear issue, but he can’t stop himself from studying. After a parade of visitors comes through and Rami passes out from exhaustion, his parents decide he needs to take a break from studying and they hide his books. Unfortunately, he can’t be so easily deterred.
Vocabulary / مفردات
رمية من غير رامي
A happy accident
Literal translation: thrown without a thrower
This phrase is used when something positive happens by chance or without those who benefit from the situation doing anything. As the episode title though, the phrase has a double meaning because it’s also a play off of Rami’s name
فحص
Exam/s
عم تتوجع/ي
Are you(masc./fem.) in pain
نفير اوستاش
Eustachian tube
The word نفير can also mean trumpet or horn
رياضيات التحليلية
Mathematical analysis
رياضيات تركبية
Mathematical synthesis
بالمعقول
Reasonably
مصلحته
What’s best for him
تتعاطف / تعاطفت
She sympathizes / she sympathized
العقل السليم في الجسم السليم
Healthy mind, healthy body
Questions / أسألة
من وين البنات يلي كان بدهم يحكي مع رامي؟
ليش العيلة ما بدها انه رامي يدرس؟
ليش مازن غيران من رامي؟
Where are all the girls who want to talk to Rami from?
Why does the family not want Rami to study?
Why is Mazen jealous of Rami?
Episode 29: Securing a Future /تأمين مستقبل
Jamila meets a charming, young gentleman who, after just a few meetings, proposes to her. Some family members try to be enthusiastic about the engagement but everyone is at least a little suspicious. Eventually, Adel asks a friend at the police to investigate and learns surprising information.
Vocabulary / مفردات
وسِم
Handsome
الخرف
Dementia
شاكك / شاكة
Suspicious (fem/masc)
صورة ج صوّر
Picture/s
احتيال
Fraud or a scam
النكران
Denial (noun)
بتنكر / نكرت
She denies / she denied
Questions / أسألة
مين الرجل يلي كان بده يتزوج جميلة؟
ليش العيلة تشك في الرجل؟
شو اكتشف عادل لما حكى مع الشرطة؟
Who is the man who wanted to marry Jamila?
Why is the family suspicious of the man?
What did Adel discover when he talked to the police?
Episode 30: Who Doesn’t Love Kassandra / من لا يحب كاساندرا
Nearly everyone in Damascus is captivated by the Arabic translation of Kassandra, a Venezuelan telenovela. The show seems to be influencing all aspects of life from people’s daily routine to their outfits to their marriages.
Vocabulary / مفردات
مسلسل ج مسلسلات
TV show/s
Often refers specifically to soap opera or drama shows
مشهور/ة
Famous or popular
دكتور اسنان ج دكاترة اسنان
Dentist/s
بيتفرجو / يتفرجوا
They watch / they watched
This verb is only used when talking about watching something on a screen
مبين/ة متل
S/he looks like
بينسرق البيت / انسرق البيت
The house is being robbed / the house was robbed
بيسرقو / سرقوا
They steal / they stole
حرامي ج حَرَمية
Criminal/s or thief/thieves
بتقابل / قابلت
She interviews / she interviewed
Questions / أسألة
شو صار كل يوم بوقت مسلسل كساندرا؟
شو شغلتين سيئين يلي صارت عشان حدا كان يتفرج على كساندرا؟
ليش قابلت ناديا الناس في نهاية الخلقة؟
What happened every day at the time of the television show Kassandra?
What are two bad things that happened because someone was watching Kassandra?
Why did Nadia interview people at the end of the episode?
Episode 31: Holiday Bride /عروسة العيد
A young man’s family calls to say they would like to come by to meet Nadia and discuss a potential engagement between the two. This unexpected event gets Nadia thinking about traditional marriage and her frustrations with the whole process. So, she comes up with a plan that will allow her to reject him, rather than the other way around. But things do not quite go as planned.
Vocabulary / مفردات
خطابين
The members of a man’s family who go to meet a woman to decide if they want to propose an engagement between their relative and the woman
قنديل ج قنادبل
Lamp/s
حاج تقطعي وتلحشي
Stop talking nonsense (fem)
حاج تقطع وتلحش
Stop talking nonsense (masc)
تقليدي/ة
Traditional
ينصحوها / نصحواها
They give her advice / they gave her advice
ازياء or ملابس
Costume or outfit
تيبي
My type
As in the type of person you’re attracted to
Questions / أسألة
شو رأيها ناديا عن الزواج التقليدي؟
شو النصائح يلي قالتها الناس لناديا عن الخطبة والزواج؟
كيف كانت المقابلة بين احمد واهله وبين ناديا واهلها؟ شو صار؟
What is Nadia’s opinion about traditional marriage?
What advice do people give Nadia about engagement and marriage?
How was the meeting between Ahmed and his family and Nadia and her family? What happened?
Episode 32: a Smart Trade / التجارة شطارة
After talking to some business associates in China, Malek decides to invest in a bunch of silk robes, hoping to resell them in Syria. Unfortunately, the men of Damascus are not as excited about buying and wearing the robes as Malek had hoped. He put a lot of money into this product though and doesn’t want to lose it though, so he and the family start coming up with creative ideas to drive sales.
Vocabulary / مفردات
غلابية ج غلابيات
Robe/s or Dashiki/s
تياب البنات
Women’s clothing or girls’ clothing
تياب لرجال
Men’s clothing
يقنعونه / افنعوه
They convince him / they convinced him
يلبسو / لبسوا
They wear / they wore
خِطة ج خِطط
Plan/s
موضة
Style
هو عل موضة / هي عل موضة
He’s in style / she’s in style
يدفع / دفع
He buys / he bought
Questions / أسألة
ليش مالك اشترى كتير غلابيات؟
ليش مازن ورامي حطوا صوّر مايكل جاكسون حوال المدينة؟
شو رأيهم السوريين بالغلابيات؟
Why did Malek buy so many robes?
Why did Maze and Rami put pictures of Michael Jackson around town?
What did the Syrian’s think about the robes?
Episode 33: a Message from the Rooftops / رساله من فوق الأسطح
Naima develops a friendship with the man who runs a corner store in the neighborhood and begins finding excuses to visit him. Meanwhile, Nadia begins studying criminal psychology with one of Adel’s friends. As Nadia grows more invested in these study sessions, Maya gives her advice on how to behave.
Vocabulary / مفردات
سيكولوجية المجرم
Criminal psychology
رسالة الحب ج رسائل الحب
A love letter / love letters
تلميح ج تلميحات
Hint/s
تلمح / لمحت
She hints / she hinted
جيبة ج جيوب
Pocket/s
تاخذ المبادرة / اخذت المبادرة
She takes the initiative or she makes a move / she took the initiative or she makes a move
متزوّج / متزوجة
S/he is married
Questions / أسألة
مين ابو فتحي وشو العلاقة بينه وبين نعيمة؟
مين جميل جمال وشو العلاقة بينه وبين ناديا؟
بالنسبة لمايا لما بنت معجبة برجُل شو لازم تعمل؟
Who is Abu Fathi and what is the relationship between him and Naima?
Who is Jameel Jamal and what is the relationship between him and Nadia?
In Maya’s opinion, what should a woman do when she is interested in a man?
Episode 34: From Door to Door / من باب لباب
Money is tight for Barhoom and Shadia so Barhoom decides to look for a job. He finds a promising sales opportunity in the newspaper but the work turns out to be more difficult - and dangerous - than expected. After a particularly rough day, Rami suggests a different job opportunity for Nadia, Barhoom, and Susu.
Vocabulary / مفردات
جريد ج جرائد
Newspaper/s
بيدوّر على شغل / دوّر على شغل
He looks for work / he looked for work
بيّاع /ة
Salesman / saleswoman
بيدق / دق
He knocks / he knocked
صابون غسيل
Laundry soap
بيسكرو الباب بوشه
They close the door in his face
برنامج كمبيوتر ج برامج كمبيوتر
Computer program/s
معقم/ة
Disinfected or sterilized (adj.)
Questions / أسألة
شو شتغل برهوم بهاي الحلقة وشو صار؟
ليش سوسو محبطة وزعلانة بنهاية الحلقة؟ شو صار بينها و بين مازن؟
ناديا و برهوم يحكوا عن برنامج كمبيوتر مع مراء مشهورة. مينها وليش كان بدها تحكي معهم؟
What does Barhoom do for work in this episode and how does it go?
Why is Susu frustrated and annoyed at the end of the episode? What happened between her and Mazen?
Nadia and Barhoom talk to a famous woman about the computer program. Who is she and why did she want to talk to them?
Episode 35: a House of Daughters is Never Empty For Long / بيت البنات فاضي مليان
In the last episode of season 1 of Al Fosol Al Arbaa, Karim feels nostalgic for the days when all of his daughters lived in the family house. Meanwhile, Faten, Magda, and Shadia all have small arguments or disagreements with their husbands. Annoyed with their husbands, they go to Karim and Nabila’s and Karim sees an opportunity to recreate a modern version of the good old days.
Vocabulary / مفردات
حنين الماضي
Nostalgia
The word, حنين, means a sadness or kind of sad longing for something. It’s also used as a name
عطسة ج عطسات
Sneeze/s (noun)
بتعطس / عطست
She sneezes / she sneezed
بتشتقلهم / شتقتلتهم
She misses them / she missed them
حديقة عامة ج حدائق عامة
Park/s (noun)
مصالحة ج مصالحات
Reconciliation/s
بيصالحو / صالحوا
They reconcile / they reconciled
Questions / أسألة
ليش فاتن تركت من بيتها و بيت مالك؟
ليش ماجدة تركت من بيتها و بيت نجيب؟
ليش شادية تركت من بيتها و بيت برهوم؟
يش البنات ضلوا ببيت العيلة و ما رجعوا لبيوتهم؟
Why did Faten leave her and Malek’s house?
Why did Magda leave her and Najib’s house?
Why did Shadia leave her and Barhoom’s house?
Why did the women stay at the family house and not return to their homes?
