| Home |
|---|
| Forum |
| Photos |
| Articles |
| Bios |
| Classes |
| Bazaar |
| Calendar |
| Workshop & Bookings |
| Resources |
| Giving Back |
 |
INDEX -| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | | Y | Z | Numbers | Colors |
Alemah - (Arabic) "Learned woman".
Allah - God.
Ab - Father.
Aewa - Yes.
Ahlan wa sahlan - "Welcome!"
Ais krîm - Ice Cream.
Aiwa - Exclamation. "Yes!"
Akh - Brother
Akht - Sister.
Akh laa - "Oh, no!" A cry of dismay.
Alhandullellah - "Thank God."
Almeh - ( Arabic ) Originally singers trained in the fine arts of music and improvised poetry. From Alemah . Later came to include dancers who also sang. (And singers of popular songs, who also danced.)
al-Sayyid - The Lord. (El Cid)
al-ud - Lute.
Amir - Commander. (Emir)
Amir-al-bahr - Commander of the seas. (Admiral)
'Anâ bi-khayr - "I'm fine."
Ana ismee - "My name is..."
Asaya - ( Egyptian ) Arabic for cane, as in Raks al Assaya, the (Egyptian) Cane dance. Raks al Assaya is also done in Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, etc.
As-salaam - Alas, or so be it.
'As-salâmu alaykum - "Hello, Peace upon you."
Atiik - Old.
Ayatu-llah - Miraculous sign of God (Ayatollah)
Baba ghanouj - A dip made from eggplant and sesame paste. The name means "Old Spoiled Daddy;"
Balady, Baladi, Balady, or Beledi - ( Arabic ) Literally means "my town/city", used colloquially to mean "native/country", often used pejoratively to mean "hick/backwards". A folksy, improvisational type of music. Balady (or beledi) can also refer to the style or the specific beat of the music.
Bedlah - The traditional cabaret costume of a bra, fringed belt, bare midriff, and skirt or harem pants. Singular or plural; bedlah is bedlah.
Beledi dress - The covered garment worn for certain Middle Eastern dances.
Bîra - Beer.
Bris milahs - In the Jewish faith, the circumcision ritual and gathering/reception.
Bissalama - "Have a safe journey."
Bstila - Moroccan pie with chicken, nuts, and pastry.
Burqa - Covering for women, leaving only the eyes exposed.
Cabaret - Totally American distinction or designation for Raks Sharki or Oriental dance, when done in a beaded, sequined Egyptian or Turkish style "bedleh" costume, often (but not always) in a night club setting, to distinguish it from American Tribal. Also refers to the type of costume worn therein.
Caravanserai - ( Turkish ) A large inn or hostelry, built around a large court, for accommodating caravans, travellers on them, and their animals at night.
Cengi - ( Turkish ) From Cingene , it means a dancing boy or girl ( chengis ).
Chiftetelli - A rhythm used in Middle Eastern music. Often refers to the part of the show where some floor work might happen.
Choli - A long-sleeved midriff-baring top worn in tribal-style dance (also a traditional Indian garment).
Cifte telli - ( Turkish ) An oriental dance rhythm, sometimes used as a name for the dance. Tsifte telli in Greek.
Cingene - ( Turkish ) "Gypsy", the same as Tzigane.
Dajaaj - Chicken.
Danse du Ventre - ( French ) "Dance of the stomach"; used at first to describe one dance of the Ouled Nail of Bou Saada in Algeria, where they manipulated only the abdominal muscles. Later used as a dismissive catch-all for any dance from North Africa or the Near/ Middle East with hip or muscle isolation.
Danse Orientale - Term for belly dancing.
Debke - Traditional folk dance of Lebanon. A basic line or circle dance that's easy to pick up from those around you, it's frequently seen at weddings and family gatherings. Received its name (I'm told) from the dance being performed on rooftops and involving a great deal of foot/heel stomping. Each village and often each large family, has its own special variation.
Doumbek - A Middle Eastern hand drum.
Eid Milad Sa'eed - "Happy Birthday!"
Falafel - Arabic dish made with chick peas and seasonings (Felafel)
Fallahin - ( Arabic ) Egyptian for farmers or peasants (plural). Singular: fella - masc. fellaha - fem
Fatwa - Interpretation of Islamic law.
Fatayer - A meat-filled pie, folded into an origami-like triangle and baked.
Fawâkih - Fruit.
Felahin - An Egyptian peasant.
Feluus - Money.
Fetwa - Instruct by a legal decision. (Fatwa)
Feyrouz - ( Arabic ) First name of a famous Arabic female singer.
Fida'iyin - Commandos (Fedayeen)
Gadaa - Lunch.
Gahwa - Coffee.
Gha 'bi - Moron.
Ghâlî - "Expensive!"
Ghawazee - it means literally "invaders of the heart" They are Gypsies/ Roma. A dancing tribe of Egypt mainly in Luxor, Quena & Sumbat,that flourished in the eighteenth century and exists in smaller numbers today.
Ghidoo - Grandfather.
Ghul - Demon.
Habibi - "Baby" or "sweetheart."
Hafla - Party.
Haj - Pilgrimage.
Hamam/Hammam - ( Turkish ) The name given to Turkish Bathes (bathroom), very often public.
Haram - Forbidden. This is where the term harem originated, as it was haram for men to enter the womens' quarters. The quarters were a separate part of the house for the women, where they were isolated/ protected from strangers & only family men could enter.
Hashish - Dried herbs, hemp.
Hash 'shashin - Hash eaters. (Assassins)
Henna - A reddish dye made from the leaves of the Henna shrub. Used to dye the skin and hair.
Hezbollah - Party of God
Hijab - The loose clothing and head coverings worn by some Muslim women. Might, but does not necessarily, involve a face veil (niqab); hijab translates as "modest covering."
Hummus - A dip made from sesame paste, chick peas, and garlic.
H'uqqah - A Bottle of water (in which smoke is drawn through.) (Hookah)
Iftar - Breakfast.
Ilâ l-liqâ' - "So long; Until the next time"
Imam - A recognized teacher or spiritual leader in Islam.
Insh'Allah - "If Allah wishes it."
Inta fahamt - "Do you understand?"
Ismi - "My name is..."
Iziz - How?
Jadd - Grandfather.
Jaddah - Grandmother.
Jamal - Camel.
Jinni - Spirit. (Genie)
Kaif Halak (to a man) - "How are you?"
Kaif Halik (to a woman) - "How are you?"
Kalam - Pen/pencil.
Kayf hâluk - "How are you?"
Khaleegy - "Gulf" as in Persian Gulf area.
Khubz - Bread.
Khurûf - Lamb.
Kohl - (Egyptian) "Antimony", an inorganic solution which blackens the eye area, use of which is a very ancient practice. Never use Kohl which doesn't come from a well known modern (western) cosmetics company. Anything else might contain lead or other harmful additives!
Kûkâ kûlâ - Coca Cola.
La - "No."
Lahmu - Meat.
Lufah - A plant whose pods are used as sponges. (Loofah)
Maalaka - Spoon.
Maa salâma - "Go without fear."
Malh - Salt.
Malish - It doesn't matter; don't worry about it.
Mamoul - A cookie filled with mashed dates, figs, or nuts.
Marhaba - "Hello, welcome."
Masâ'a l-khayr - "Good evening."
Mayia - Water.
Merhaba - ( Turkish ) Hello
Min Fadlak - "Please."
M'joudra - A dish made of lentils, rice, and onions.
Muezzin - The person who makes the call to prayer for Muslims.
Mumiya - Embalmed body. (Mummy)
Muttawa - Muslim religious police.
Na'am - "Yes."
Nargileh - (Turkish) A water pipe.
"Opa!" - (Greek) Exclamatory called out when people are enjoying a performer, dancers or singers, men or women. Loosely translated it means, "You go!" See "Yalla!"
Oud - A stringed instrument played in Middle Eastern music. ("al uod" came to be known as the lute in western music)
Ouled Nail - A tribe who could be found in the Sahara and in settlements from Biskra and Laghout. A term which came to be used to refer to dancers in general, not unlike the use of Ghawazee.
Pappadom - A thin lentil-flour wafer served with Indian food.
Pharaonic Dance - inspired by Egyptian paintings--very stylized, often with lighted globes in hands.
Qahwa - Coffee.
Raks al Baladi - (Arabic) "Dance of the people."
Raks al Hawanem - (Arabic) "Dance of the ladies." Name of a specific song.
Raks Sha'abi - (Arabic) "Folkdance"
Raks Sharki - (Arabic) "Dance of the East/Orient." Commonly used term for belly dancing.
Raqsat Shemadan - Egyptian wedding dance performed with elaborate candelabra worn on the head.
Ruz - Rice.
Sabah al khair - "Good morning."
Sadiq - Friend.
Safariy - Journey. (Safari)
Sahbee - My friend.
Sah'ra - Desert (Sahara)
Samar - ( Arabic) Literally, "To talk into the night," but implies the softly spoken conversation between lovers.
Saidi - Upper Egyptian folk dance done with a stick or cane.
Salata - Salad.
Samak - Fish.
Sarier - Bed.
Shaikh - Old Man. (Sheik)
Shamadan - (Arabic/Egyptian) A specially constructed candelabrum which is worn on the head while dancing.
Sharmouta - A woman of ill repute, whore.
Sayyara - Car.
Shah - King.
Shemedan - The headpiece used in Raqsat Shemadan.
Shi - Tea
Shisha - Freestanding water pipe use to smoke fruity tobacco mixture through a tube. The smoking of the shisha is a social affair.
Shoeya - Little.
Shoe ismack or ismack eh - "What is your name?"
Showka - Fork.
Shukran - "Thank you."
Sikkiyn - Knife.
Souk - A marketplace.
Sokkar - Sugar.
Sultan - (Turkish) An emperor of the Ottoman Empire. Sovereign
Sukhthange - "Eat up!"
Tabouli - A salad made with finely chopped vegetables and cracked bulgar wheat.
Tahini - A sesame sauce.
Talib - Student. (Taliban)
Tanbur - A small tambourine.
Tannur - A small oven. (Tandoori)
Taqsim - The snaky slow part of the music or the dance. The term actually means "improvisation."
Taverna - (Greek or Turkish) Restaurant that sells alcoholic drinks, tavern.
Thobe - A long, loose garment worn in the Gulf area.
Topkapi Palace - (Turkish) Built by Muhammad II, on Seraglio Point , Constantinople, between 1459-1465. A Harem continued there until 1909, when all Harems were outlawed. This was the last Ottoman palace
Tuareg - A Berber nation that roams the Sahara, from Mauritania to the borders of Egypt. Some of them are known as the "Blue People", in reference to the fact that their clothes are colored with powdered indigo stones, some of which rubs off and remains on their skin, dying it blue.
Umm - Mother.
Vegetable Biryani - A traditional Indian rice dish.
W
Walad - Boy.
Wadi - Valley.
Yaha - "Oh sh*t"
"Yalla" - (Arabic) Exclamation. "Lets Go." See "Opa!"
"Y'Allah" - (Arabic) "Oh, God", origin of the Spanish "Ole".
"Ya Lilli Ya Aini" - (Arabic) "You are my eyes."
"Ya Noori" - (Arabic) "You are my light."
Yâ nâdil - Waiter.
"Yasha" - (Turkish) Exclamatory shouted at peaks of excitement, it means, "Long live."
"Yasu" - (Greek) Exclamatory meaning "yes". Called out to a dancer, singer, etc.
Zaghareet - The high-pitched ululating sound made by wagging the tongue quickly back and forth while shrieking.
Zambra Mora - A Cante Chico Flamenco dance that came directly from the Moors. Often danced with zils and bare feet, using some slow movements that are very Sharki.
Zar - An exorcism ritual/ceremonial trance dance of North Africa.
Zils - Finger cymbals (also zagat, sagat).
Sifr - 0
Wâhid - 1
Ithnân - 2
Thalâtha -3
'Arbaa - 4
Khamsa - 5
Sitta - 6
Saba - 7Thamâniya - 8
Tisa - 9
Ashra - 10
Abyad - White.
Ahmar - Red.
Akhdar - Green
Anbar - Amber.
Al-lazward - Azure.
Asfar - Yellow.
Asrag - Blue.
Aswad - Black.
Burdukali - Orange.
Jauzi - Brown.
Qirmazi - Crimson
Ramadi - Grey.
Urjuwani - Purple.
Za`fara - Saffron.
Farfesha Belly Dance © 2004