Unit 6 · Finding your way
When el- changes sound
Capitals mark the emphatic letters, 3 is ع and 7 is ح, and ' is the glottal stop that Cairo uses for q.
Before about half the alphabet, the l of el- disappears and the next consonant doubles. It happens with sounds made at the front of the mouth: t, d, r, z, s, sh, S, D, T, Z, n and l. So esh-share3 (the street), es-saa3a (the hour), en-noor (the light), eT-Taraabeeza (the table). Before the other letters el- stays as it is: el-kitaab, el-baab, el-fondo'. Cairo often doubles g as well, as in eg-gayy (the next one). The spelling never changes. It's still written ال.
Hear it in sentences
الشَّاي دَه سُخْن.
This tea is hot.
الصَّيْدَلِيَّة هِنَاك.
The pharmacy is over there.
مَكْتَب السِّيَاحَة فِين؟
Where's the tourist office?
الْمَتْحَف جَنْب الْجِنِينَة.
The museum is next to the garden.
الْمَطَافِي هِنَاك، عَلَى الشِّمَال.
The fire station is over there, on the left.
الرِّيَاضَة حِلْوَة.
Sport is great.
بِتْحِبّ الشُّوكُولَاتَة.
She likes chocolate.