Arabic Dictionary/Translators?

[MaxKaladin]

I'm working on an Arabic section of my world and I'm trying to translate some words into Arabic, but all the online dictionaries I've found give the translation in arabic characters, which I can't read. Does anyone know of a resource that will give me a reasonable approximation of the arabic word in western characters? It doesn't have to be perfect, just an approximation. None of the players will be able to tell the difference.

Thanks!

 

[Mark]

Might find something through here-

http://www.libraryspot.com

 

[Achilles]

What words? I might be able to help...

 

[MaxKaladin]

What words? I might be able to help...

Right now I'm working on the religions of the area, so I'm looking for words like:

Earth
Air
Fire
Water
Follower
Adherant
Prophet
Believer
Holy
(Holy) Warrior
Temple or Church (I know the Islamic church is a Mosque, but I'm wondering if there is a word for a non-Islamic holy building)
Monastery
Martyr
Protector
Defender

That's my list right now.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[MaxKaladin]

Might find something through here-

http://www.libraryspot.com

Thanks for the link. The maddening thing is I used to have a (physical) dictionary like this made for travellers, but all my reference books are in storage right now and will be for months so I can't get at it....

 

[Corey]

A few, my Arabic is rusty:

Prophet= Rasool (This isa prophet who has come with a sacred text; there is another word for a prophet who does not come with a revealed text.)
Believer= Mu’min
(Holy) Warrior =Mujahid
Martyr= Shaheed
Protector= Wali

If I remember the words for any of the others I’ll post it,
Corey

 

[Matt Black]

I needed the same thing in my campaign. Couldn't find an online translator anywhere. At least, not one that translated to english characters. In the end I resorted compilations of arabic names, which often have translations, and tend to cover a lot of useful concepts. Try:

http://www.gaminggeeks.org/Resources/KateMonk/Middle-East/Arab/index.htm

The 'male names' and 'female names' sections down the bottom of the page have loads of translations.

MB

 

[Angcuru]

I'm so gonna catch flak for this....Check the nearest 7-11!

On a completely unrelated note, it is of course acceptable to feel taken aback when finding out that your crush's name means 'Perfect One' in arabic, isn't it?

 

[Painfully]

And did anybody notice that ALL the Arabic language learning books were removed from bookstores after 9/11? I was looking for several months afterwards and in many different stores, and it has only been a few months ago that they seemed to have come back.

Maybe they were sold and just not restocked, I dunno. But I had picked up some Arabic language learning CDs before 9/11, and it was impossible to find any supplement material for a long time.

 

[Maldur]

Ill sne dthem to my GF, she is a arabic translator, Ill reply when I have them