Learning how to say “upstairs” in Arabic can be useful when you find yourself in an Arab-speaking country or interacting with Arabic speakers. In this guide, we will explore both formal and informal ways to express this concept. While Arabic dialects may vary, we will primarily focus on Modern Standard Arabic, which is widely understood across the Arab world.
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say “Upstairs” in Arabic:
1. الطابق العلوي (Al-ṭābiq al-ʿuly): In formal situations, this phrase is commonly used to mean “upstairs.” It is often used to refer to the uppermost floor or level of a building, such as an upper floor in a hotel or a higher level in an office complex.
Example: يوجد مكتبهم في الطابق العلوي من العمارة. (Yuwajidu maktabuhum fi al-ṭābiq al-ʿuly min al-ʿamārah.) – Their office is on the upper floor of the building.
2. فوق (Fawq): This word means “above” or “up” and can be used to indicate going upstairs or being on an upper level. It is more general and less specific to a particular floor.
Example: الغرفة فوق. (Al-ghurfah fawq.) – The room is upstairs.
Informal Ways to Say “Upstairs” in Arabic:
1. فوق (Fawwā): In informal contexts, the same word “fawq” can be used, but it is pronounced with a longer vowel sound as “fawwā.” This gives it a more casual feel.
Example: الغرفة فوق. (Al-ghurfah fawwā.) – The room is upstairs.
2. فوق في أسفل (Fawwā fi asfal): This expression combines the word “fawwā” (upstairs) with “fi asfal” (downstairs) to create a colloquial way to refer to upstairs.
Example: الشقة فوق في أسفل. (Al-shaqah fawwā fi asfal.) – The apartment is upstairs.
Tips:
- While these phrases are commonly used, it’s important to note that different dialects may have regional variations. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to consult a native speaker if you’re unsure about which expressions to use in a specific dialect.
- To ask someone where something is located upstairs, you can use the phrases “أين يوجد الطابق العلوي؟” (Ayna yujad al-ṭābiq al-ʿuly?) meaning “Where is the upper floor?” or “أين تقع الغرفة العلوية؟” (Ayna taqaa al-ghurfah al-ʿulyah?) meaning “Where is the upstairs room?”
- In informal conversations, you could simply use hand gestures pointing upwards and say “هناك فوق” (Hunāka fawq) or “هناك فوق السلم” (Hunāka fawq al-salim) to indicate “upstairs there” or “upstairs above the stairs.”
Now armed with these phrases, you can confidently navigate your way around and ask for directions to the upper floors in Arabic-speaking environments!
