Dialogue Script — Session 34: At My Grandmother's

A short bilingual conversation in Levantine Arabic that uses today's vocabulary. Read it together, take turns playing each part, then try without the script. By now, your child has been doing these for a while — push for memorization and acting it out.

The setting

Lina hasn't seen her teta in a few weeks. She and her mama just arrived at Teta's apartment — there's a small balcony with potted basil, and the smell of something baking is already filling the kitchen. Lina runs in.

The dialogue

Line 1 — Lina runs through the door

Lina: Teta! Ishtaqtillik kteer! — Grandma! I missed you so much!

Line 2 — Teta wraps her in a hug

Teta: Habibti! W ana kamaan ishtaqtillik. Ta'ali, ta'ali! — My darling! I missed you too. Come, come!

Line 3 — Teta points to a plate on the table

Teta: Shu ra'yik? 'Amiltillik kuk w akil bayti. — What do you think? I made you cake and homemade food.

Line 4 — Lina's eyes go wide

Lina: Yayy, shukran teta! Reehto tayybeh! — Yay, thanks grandma! It smells delicious!

Line 5 — They sit down together with tea

Teta: Qa'adna sawa, w ana rah ihkeelik hikayeh. — We sat together, and I'm going to tell you a story.

Line 6 — Lina leans in

Lina: Hikayeh 'an shu ya teta? — A story about what, grandma?

Line 7 — Teta smiles, remembering

Teta: 'An lamma kaanit maamatik zgheereh, mitlik. — About when your mama was little, like you.

Line 8 — Lina laughs

Lina: Yalla teta, ihkeeli! — Come on grandma, tell me!

How to use this script

First time — listen

1. Read it together once, with you doing both voices.
2. Pause after Line 1 — let your child feel the warmth of ishtaqtillik. It's one of the most loved Levantine phrases. People say it the second they see each other.

Second time — alternate

3. You take Teta. Your child takes Lina.
4. Read slowly. Make eye contact when you say each line. This isn't reading practice — it's reunion practice.

Third time — switch

5. Your child takes Teta. You take Lina.
6. Teta's lines are longer this time around. That's okay. If your child gets stuck, whisper the first word and let them carry it.

Fourth time — act it out

7. Stand up. Pretend the kitchen is your kitchen. Pretend you haven't seen each other in weeks.
8. Hug at Line 1. Sit at Line 5. Lean in at Line 6.
9. The words can be imperfect. The feeling has to be right — that's the whole point of this scene.

What new words are in here (beyond today's main 6)?

These are bonus words your child picks up just by being in the conversation. We don't drill them — we just let them land:

• kteer (كْتير) — a lot / very much
• w ana kamaan (وأنا كَمان) — me too / and I also
• shu ra'yik? (شو رَأيِك؟) — what do you think? (to a girl)
• 'amilt (عَمِلت) — I made
• yayy (يَيّ) — yay! (a real Levantine exclamation kids use)
• reehto (ريحْتو) — its smell
• tayybeh (طَيِّبة) — delicious / nice (feminine)
• sawa (سَوا) — together
• rah (رَح) — going to / will (future marker in Levantine)
• ihki / ihkeeli (اِحكي / اِحكيلي) — tell / tell me
• 'an (عَن) — about
• lamma (لَمّا) — when
• kaanit (كانِت) — she was
• zgheereh / zgheer (زْغيرة / زْغير) — little / small (girl / boy)
• mitlik / mitlak (مِتلِك / مِتلَك) — like you (to a girl / to a boy)

A note on ishtaqtillik

This word does a lot of work in one breath. Ishtaqt = "I missed," and the ending tells you who you missed:

• ishtaqtillak (اِشتَقتِلَّك) — I missed you (to a boy/man)
• ishtaqtillik (اِشتَقتِلِّك) — I missed you (to a girl/woman)
• ishtaqtillkun (اِشتَقتِلكُن) — I missed you all

Heritage families: you probably already say this one. Total-beginner families: this is the word your child can say to grandparents on the next video call. Try it tonight. Watch the face on the other end of the screen.

Yalla Arabic · Dialogue Script · Session 34