Vocabulary Cards — Session 3: Family at Home

Print this page. Cut along the dotted lines. Each card is index-card sized. Tape them next to a photo of the person they name. That's the fastest way to learn.

Card 1

Say it: MA-ma Means: Mama

🎨 Picture: A mom in the kitchen, stirring a pot, looking over her shoulder with a smile.

Use it when: You want her attention. You're hugging her. You're calling from the other room: "Mama!"

Card 2

Say it: BA-ba Means: Papa

🎨 Picture: A dad lifting a small child onto his shoulders, both laughing.

Use it when: He walks in the door. You want to show him something you made. Bedtime story time.

Card 3

Say it: TAY-ta Means: Grandma (Levantine)

🎨 Picture: A grandma on a balcony with potted herbs, handing a piece of fruit to a grandchild.

Use it when: You see her on a video call. You smell her cooking. She hugs you and kisses both cheeks.

This is the Levantine word — what Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, and Jordanian kids actually say. Other Arabic speakers might say jidda or sitti. All beautiful.

Card 4

Say it: JID-doo Means: Grandpa (Levantine)

🎨 Picture: A grandpa sitting on a chair outside, sipping coffee, a grandchild leaning on his knee.

Use it when: He picks up the phone. He arrives for a visit. You want to climb in his lap.

Card 5

Say it: AKH Means: Brother

🎨 Picture: Two kids on a couch, one older, sharing a bowl of popcorn.

Use it when: You talk about your brother. Someone asks how many siblings you have. You point at his photo.

The "kh" sound is from the back of your throat — like clearing it gently. We'll practice it more later. For now, just try.

Card 6

Say it: UKHT Means: Sister

🎨 Picture: Two girls braiding each other's hair, giggling.

Use it when: You talk about your sister. You introduce her. You're showing a friend a family photo.

Card 7

Say it: 'AY-leh Means: Family (Levantine)

🎨 Picture: A big family around a table — mama, baba, teta, jiddu, kids — passing plates of food.

Use it when: You talk about everyone together. Someone asks who you live with. You point to a group photo on the wall.

The little mark at the start (ع) is a sound from deep in your throat. Don't worry about it yet — just say 'ayleh and you'll be understood everywhere from Beirut to Amman.

A bonus card — letter of the day

Card 8 (bonus)

Say it: TA Means: The letter ta — makes the "t" sound.

🎨 Picture: A smiling letter ت wearing two little dots like a hat. A teapot next to it.

Find it in: تيتا (teta) — right at the start! Also in أُخت (ukht) — at the end.

Use it when: You're spotting letters in books. You're writing your family's names. You see two dots floating above a curve — that's our friend ت.

How to use these cards

1. Tape them to faces. Put each card next to a photo of the real person. Teta's card goes by teta's picture.
2. Use them in real moments. When mama walks in, say "Mama!" When you call jiddu, say "Marhaba, jiddu!" The card is just a reminder — the real practice is at home.
3. Pick a card a day. That's it. One card. Say the word five times during the day. Done.
4. Let your kid teach you. Heritage kids may already know these — let them be the teacher. Beginner kids love teaching too, even after one day.

On the alphabet you'll see

Today we met ت (ta) — the letter with two dots floating above it. You'll see it in teta and at the end of ukht. Last session we met ب (ba) — one dot below. The session before that, أ (alif) — the tall straight line.

Three letters. That's already a lot. Don't rush. The rest will arrive, one per session, like family arriving for dinner.

Yalla Arabic · Vocabulary Cards · Session 3