Marhaba! So, are you an Adele fan? Well, I am. My wife and I have been following her since the release of her first album ‘19’ in 2008. Her latest hit “Hello” from the album ‘25’ is topping all music charts around the world. Over 500 million fans (and counting!!!) have watched the music video of the song on YouTube. Given that Adele’s latest hit is extremely popular across the globe, I thought it would be interesting and fun as well as useful to learn the song lyrics in Arabic. So, today, I am sharing this beautiful tune by Adele, which translates to ‘Marhaba’(مرحبا)- yes, the word I start with all my blog posts! I have added the song in the form of a YouTube video and added the lyrics in English so that you can follow and sing with Adele. For our purposes, I have also translated the lyrics to Arabic so that you can learn what these lyrics mean. I have also added a cover of the song by Noel Kharman, an up-and-coming artist from Palestine, in form of a YouTube video. Kharman covers the song and also blends in a Fairouz classic called ‘Keefak Enta’ (كيفك انتَ) which translates to ‘How Are you?’ Enjoy this beautiful rendition!!
Adele – Hello
Hello, it’s me مرحبا, انها انا
I was wondering if after all these years you’d like to meet كنت اتسائل هل بعد كل هذه السنوات تحب ان نلتقي
To go over everything لنقوم بمراجعة كل شيء
They say that time’s supposed to heal ya يقولون ان الوقت من المفترض ان يشفيك
But I ain’t done much healing ولكني لم أُشفى كثيرا
Hello, can you hear me مرحبا, هل يمكنك سماعي؟
I’m in California dreaming about who we used to be انا في كاليفورنيا احلم كيف كنا معا
When we were younger and free عندما كنا أصغر و احرار
I’ve forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet لقد نسيت هذا الاحساس قبل ان سقط العالم على اقدامنا
There’s such a difference between us هناك اختلاف بيننا
And a million miles وملايين الاميال
Hello from the other side مرحبا من الجانب الآخر
I must have called a thousand times ربما اتصلت أكثر من آلاف المرات
To tell you I’m sorry for everything that I’ve done لاقول لك انا آسفة على كل ما قمت به
But when I call you never seem to be home ولكن عندما اتصل بك يبدو انك لست في البيت
Hello from the outside مرحبا من الخارج
At least I can say that I’ve tried to tell you على الأقل يمكنني ان اقول انني حاولت ان اقول لك
I’m sorry for breaking your heart انا آسفة لكسر قلبك
But it don’t matter it clearly doesn’t tear you apart anymore ولكن لا يهم, فمن الواضح ان ذلك لم يعد يزعجك
Hello, how are you مرحبا, كيف حالك؟
It’s so typical of me to talk about myself I’m sorry انه من النموذجي ان اتكلم عن نفسي, انا آسفة
I hope that you’re well اتمني ان تكون بخير
Did you ever make it out of that town where nothing ever happened? هل نجحت بالخروج من البلدة حيث لا شيء يحدث؟
Salam everyone! Born as an American to two originally Arab parents, I have been raised and have spent most of my life in Beirut, Lebanon. I have lived my good times and my bad times in Beirut. I was but a young child when I had to learn to share my toys and food with others as we hid from bombs and fighting during the Lebanese Civil War. I feel my connection to Arabic as both a language and culture is severing and so it is with you, my readers and fellow Arabic lovers, and through you that I wish to reestablish this connection by creating one for you.
Comments:
Christi Bourne:
Beautiful! For those of us who are beginning learners, could you record the lyrics in Arabic? Just reading them slowly would help. Then I can sing this in the car on the way to work (with the windows rolled up, of course, because I don’t sound quite like Adele 🙂 What a great way to learn! Thanks!
jesa:
Salam Christi! glad you enjoyed the post. this is a great idea. i will try to record these lyrics. i cannot promise, but i will try 🙂
Comments:
Christi Bourne:
Beautiful! For those of us who are beginning learners, could you record the lyrics in Arabic? Just reading them slowly would help. Then I can sing this in the car on the way to work (with the windows rolled up, of course, because I don’t sound quite like Adele 🙂 What a great way to learn! Thanks!
jesa:
Salam Christi! glad you enjoyed the post. this is a great idea. i will try to record these lyrics. i cannot promise, but i will try 🙂
Gabriell97:
This is best
jesa:
@Gabriell97 Excellent G! Enjoy 🙂