Juba Arabic Words - how cool is that?!

Juba Arabic is a lingua franca spoken mainly in Equatoria Province in Southern Sudan, and derives its name from the town of Juba, Sudan. It is also spoken among communities of people from south Sudan living in towns in Northern Sudan. The pidgin developed in the 19th century, among descendants of Sudanese soldiers, many of whom were forcibly recruited from southern Sudan. Residents of other large towns in southern Sudan, notably Malakal and Wau, Sudan, do not generally speak Juba Arabic, tending towards the use of Arabic closer to Sudanese Arabic, in addition to local languages. Read more here.

...and these days you also find ex-pats speaking Juba Arabic or at least borrowing words from this interesting language. Words which says things explicitly better in your Southern Sudanese context than English. I have learned some of the words which are the most frequently used. Some because they are usefull in daily life, but I guess, also because they sound really cool and powerfull in my Danish ears. (Apologies - I might not have spelled correctly)

• Shukran = Thanks
• Shukran khalis = Thank you very much
• Bukran = Tomorrow
• Insh'allah = God willing
• Malish = Sorry! (apparently this has many more meanings regarding contexts)
• Tamam = Excellent, OK
• La = No
• Khalas = Done! (my favorite)
• Khawadiya = stranger (the Southern Sudanese word for 'mzungu')

I also learned that South Sudan has an IBM syndrome which goes something like this; Insha'allah Bukran Malish - If God willing it will happen tomorrow but also it might not happen, and then we are 'sorry'...

Comments

[hash]

Reading those words again brought back memories... I grew up in Juba until the war got bad again in the mid 80's. It's interesting to hear how busy it is now - I've heard that from quite a few people.

[The 27th Comrade]

Wow. You're having fun. Juba Arabic should go on your resumé. :o)
It's an interesting post.

[Liz]

I recognize "Khalas" from my Nubian friends (Kenyan). I have always liked the way they speak and wished I could learn.