detroitmak Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 (edited) There are a variety of terms out there for different hookah aspects, but i thought i would let those that would like to know, what the Arabic terms are, since the market is heavily middle eastern dominated. Just as english has multiple dialects (british, southern, brooklyn, etc) so does arabic, every country in fact has a few too many!First off Hookah is used rarely in the Middle East, however because of western influence it is sparingly used. Hookah is a Hindi/Urdu term. In Arabic one could say Shisha (شيشة) which literally means a container or glass container, or the proper term which is Nargieleh (نرجيلة), or colloquial Argeileh (ارجيلة), or Arkelah (اركيلة) which literally means coconut shells, which makes one think they were originally made from coconut shells then evolved to glass, hence the two names.Tobacco is called Toubagh (تبغ) Colloquially Toumbak (تمبغ) - Note: The term shisha is not used for tobacco, coming online as an Arabic speaker i was extremely confused by this terminology. However if you asked for Toumbak, you would get just that, pure tobaccy! As hookah smokers, we are looking for what is commonly known as Moassel (معسل) which literally means honeyed, which makes me wonder if original Toumbak was sweetened with honey to start. Areed (or Baddi) Moassel Il-Argieleh is a common way of saying "i want honeyed (tobacco) for hookah" its assumed when you say Il-Argieleh, its tobacco that you are looking for. However if i went into an arabic grocery store and asked for Moassel, they wouldn't know what i was asking for unless i put it in context honeyed fruit, honeyed candy, etc.Moving on, a hose is called a Nabrej (نبريج) or Colloquial Narbidj (نربيج) or Narbish (نربيج), Sonda is also used in parts of the Gulf and Iraq. On a side note, i dont know how well hookah john sells his Narbish in the Middle East, because translated the name of his hose is hose. i think its funny...lolCoal, one word fits all! Faham (فحم) ... thats it!Tray is See-nee-ya (صينية) Thats all i have for now... Any other native speakers want to chime in and add, please do! Also if you have other translations, please let me know... Edited September 9, 2009 by detroitmak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detroitmak Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 Another term i forgot to add is Smoke or Dakhen (دخان). It is typical to say Dakhen il-Argeleh or Dakhen il-Shisha which both indirectly translate to Smoke the Hookah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detroitmak Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 Shit means Khara as in Khara! I posted this in the wrong forum!Mods could you please move to the hookah forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Nice post! Good for us nerdy people on here like myself, who sadly, already knew those words I do have a question, could you transliterate a phrase where one could interject a flavor into the hookah they were ordering? Particularly:OrangeBlackberryPineapple (I think this is ananas?)MangoPink (the color)Mint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detroitmak Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 QUOTE (FSUReligionMan @ Sep 9 2009, 05:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Nice post! Good for us nerdy people on here like myself, who sadly, already knew those words I do have a question, could you transliterate a phrase where one could interject a flavor into the hookah they were ordering? Particularly:OrangeBlackberryPineapple (I think this is ananas?)MangoPink (the color)MintOrange Per-tah-qa-lee or Or-andjBlackberry Ah-Leek or Toot al Aswad (toot means berry)Pineapple (I think this is ananas?) A-na-nasMango - Man-Djo (no arabic rooted word)Pink (the color) War-De (also means rose) or ZahriMint Nah-Nah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoop Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 QUOTE (detroitmak @ Sep 9 2009, 02:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE (FSUReligionMan @ Sep 9 2009, 05:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Nice post! Good for us nerdy people on here like myself, who sadly, already knew those words I do have a question, could you transliterate a phrase where one could interject a flavor into the hookah they were ordering? Particularly:OrangeBlackberryPineapple (I think this is ananas?)MangoPink (the color)MintOrange Per-tah-qa-lee or Or-andjBlackberry Ah-Leek or Toot al Aswad (toot means berry)Pineapple (I think this is ananas?) A-na-nasMango - Man-Djo (no arabic rooted word)Pink (the color) War-De (also means rose) or ZahriMint Nah-Nahthats how you say pineapple in russian too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srawas89 Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 yo man where are you from? Ana Min Libnan.Anyway yea I think many people should know that argeleh is hookah since I get wierd looks from people when i say it.me: "I want to smoke argeleh so bad!"The other guy: me: "Argeleh means hookah"The Other guy: "Oh ok"This happens to me regurlarly considering I say argeleh as much as possible haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joytron Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 hey thanks for the post that was a good read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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