Lebanese Arabic phrasebook

The Lebanese dialect of Arabic (اللهجة اللبنانية) is similar to that spoken in Syria, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories, somewhat different to that spoken in Egypt, and very different to other forms of Arabic. As with all dialects of Arabic, the dialect is a spoken language only; the written language always conforms to standard Arabic.

Arabic is significantly different from English: different forms are used when addressing males, females and groups; plurals and verb conjugations are highly irregular and difficult to figure out from their roots; and the pronunciation includes some very difficult sounds. Lebanese, luckily, is much-simplified from standard Arabic, and should not be overly difficult for the traveller.

Learning some basic Lebanese Arabic dialect expressions could always come in handy; however, knowing either English or French should be enough for a tourist visiting Lebanon, since many Lebanese people (especially the youth, and particularly in Beirut) are trilingual.

Pronunciation guide

For some Arabic sounds, there is no easy transliteration (and no single agreed transliteration). The pronunciation guide shown below is case sensitive; for example, 'th' is a different sound to 'Th' and 'TH'. Note that there is no such things as a diphthong in Arabic; instead, some consonants map to English diphthongs. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Vowels

a 

like 'a' in "apple"

i 

like 'ee' in "cheese"

u 

like 'oo' in "too"

o 

like 'o' in "more"

e 

like 'e' in "bed"

é 

like 'ai' in "claire"

Easy Consonants

b 

like 'b' in "bed"

t 

like 't' in "top"

j 

like 's' in "pleasure"

kh 

like 'ch' in Scottish "loch" (or German "nach")

d 

like 'd' in "mad"

r 

like 'r' in "row"

z 

like 'z' in "haze"

s 

like 's' in "sing"

sh 

like 'sh' in "sheep"

f 

like 'f' in "fun"

k 

like 'k' in "kitten"

l 

like 'l' in "love"

m 

like 'm' in "mother"

n 

like 'n' in "nice"

h 

like 'h' in "help"

w 

like 'w' in "weight"

y 

like 'y' in "yes"

Difficult Consonants

The following 3 consonants are pronounced by rounding the mouth as you say them. You can get an approximate effect by accentuating them in the following pronunciations.

S 

like 's' in "sorry"

D 

like 'd' in "dot"

T 

like 't' in "taught"

The following consonant is almost never pronounced in the Lebanese Arabic dialect but replaced with a glottal stop, which can also be represented by an apostrophe.

q 

in regular arabic : like 'c' in "call" (with the back of the throat)

gh 

like a French or German letter "r"

The following consonant (called "ha", which will be represented by the number 7), is similar to English "h" but stronger. It is pronounced deep in the throat, like the sound you make when breathing on a pair of glasses to clean them.

7 

a little like a mixture of "h" and "kh"

2 

a glottal stop (IPA: ʔ), or the constriction of the throat as between the syllables uh-oh, but in Arabic this is often found in strange places such as the beginning of a word. Known in Arabic as hamza ء

The following consonant (called "ayn", which we will be represented by the number 3), is very difficult to say. In English, the only time you will use the throat muscles used to say this letter is when you are throwing up; if that's how it feels, you're probably doing it right.

3 

like the sound represented by "aargh"

Phrase list

Some commonly understood Lebanese Arabic dialect phrases use either French or English words; these have been shown in quotes below to avoid confusion.

Basics (Kalimét Asesiyé)

Hello. 

mar7aba

Welcome! 

ahla w sahla (Lebanese people use also the French (bienvenue) or the English terms or they say just "ahlan"

How are you? 

kifak (male), kifik (female)

(I'm) fine. 

Mni7 (Male) - Mni7a (Female)(Lebanese people also say l 7amdella, literally: "thank God")

Well (health) 

bikher, tamem

Good 

mni7(m) mni7a(f)

Excellent 

be jannin (it's excellent) or bjannin (I'm excellent)

And you? 

w enta (male), w enté (female)

Blessed 

l 7amdella

What is your name? 

shoo esmak? (m), shoo esmik? (f)

My name is ______ . 

esmé ______ .

Nice to meet you. 

Tsharrafna

How old are you? 

addé 3omrak? (m) addé 3omrik? (f)

Please. 

Eza bet reed (m), eza bet reedeh (f) (literally : if you please). Also, 3mol ma3roof (m), 3mele ma3roff (f). Proper : La-w sama7et (m), la-w sama7teh (f) (literally : only if you allow it) (Lebanese people use also the English term : please)

Thank you. 

shookran (Arabic) yeslamo (Arabic) merci (French) they also use the English expression but pronounce it "tank you, sank you, or tanx"

You're welcome 

tekram (male) tekramé (female)

Welcome (welcoming someone). 

ahla w sahla (it will be enough to say just "ahla")

If God wills (or used as 'hopefully') 

eza alla rad

Really? 

Walla or 3anjad

Yes. 

eh or na3am

No. 

la2

Maybe 

yemkin

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

ma twekhezne

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

"pardon" (French is used here)

I'm sorry. 

"sorry" (English is used here) or Be3tezeer (I excuse myself)

Goodbye (Go with peace) 

(formal) Ma3el salémé

Goodbye (informal) 

"bye" (English is used here)

I don't speak Arabic [well]. 

ma be7ké 3arabé [mni7]

Do you speak English? 

bte7ké englize? or you can just say it in english

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

fi 7adan hon bye7ke inglize?

Help me! 

se3dooné

Okay 

tayib/okay/meshe

Look out! 

oo3a or ntebih (male) ntebhé (female)

For sure/Of course! 

akeed!

Good morning. 

Saba7 l kher - bonjour (french)

Good evening. 

masa l kher - bonsoir (french)

Good night. 

"bonne nuit" (french) - tesba7 3ala kher (male) tesba7é 3ala kher (female)

I don't know. 

ma ba3rif

Where is the toilet (bathroom)? 

wen l "toilette?" (French is used here)

Where is the restroom (in a restaurant)? 

wen l 7emmém?

I 

ana

You 

enta(m), enté(f)

I understand 

ana befham. (Though it may be more useful to say: I understood Fhemet)

I do not understand 

ana ma befham. (Though it may be more useful to say I did not understand : Ma fhemet)

Sweetheart 

7abibé(m) 7abibté(f) 7abibé is commonly used for females also

You're the prettiest of them all 

enta ajmal men l kell (male) enté ajmal men l kell (female)

Where are you from? 

men wen enta? (male) men wen enté (female)

Problems

Leave me alone.(addressing a male) 

7el 3anné (aggressive) or Trekné

Stop it

Khalas!

Don't touch me!(addressing a male) 

ma tde2 fiyyé

I'll call the police. 

ra7 de2 lal darak

Police! 

Bolice!

Stop! (addressing a male) 

wa22if!

I need help. 

baddé moosé3adé

It's an emergency. 

7alé tar2a

I got lost/I'm lost. (male) 

do3ot/dayi3

I got lost/I'm lost (female)

do3ot/day3a

I lost my purse/bag. 

dayya3et jezdéné/shanté

I lost my wallet. 

dayya3et ma7fazteh

I'm sick. (male) 

marid or sakhin

I've been injured. 

mensab

I want a doctor. 

baddé 7akim

Can I use your phone? 

fiyyé esta3mil telephonak?(male) fiyyé esta3mil telephonik? (female)

Numbers (Ar2am)

1 

wa7ad

2 

tnén

3 

tlété

4 

arb3a

5 

khamsé

6 

setté

7 

sab3a

8 

tméné

9 

tes3a

10 

3ashra

11 

7da3sh

12 

tna3sh

13 

tlatta3sh

14 

arba3ta3sh

15 

khamesta3sh

16 

setta3sh

17 

sabeta3sh

18 

tmanta3sh

19 

tese3ta3sh

20 

3eshrin

21 

wa7da w 3eshreen

22 

tnén w 3eshreen

23 

tléta w 3eshreen

30 

tléteen

40 

arb3een

50 

khamseen

60 

setteen

70 

sab3een

80 

tméneen

90 

tes3een

100 

miyyé

200 

mitén

300 

tlet miyyé

1000 

alf

2000 

alfén

1,000,000 

malyon

1,000,000,000 

melyar

1,000,000,000,000 

alf melyar

number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 

nomra _____ (train, bus)

half 

nos

less 

a2all

more 

ba3ed, 2aktar

Time

now 

halla2

later 

ba3dén

before 

abel

morning 

sobo7

afternoon 

ba3d l dohor

evening 

masa, 3ashiyé

night/nights 

laylé/layélé

Clock time (Wa2et)

What time is it? 

addé l sé3a

one o'clock AM 

sé3a we7dé l sobo7 or you c say 3abukra instead of sobo7

two o'clock AM 

sé3a tentén sobo7 / 3abukra

noon 

se3a tna3sh l dohor

one o'clock PM 

se3a we7dé ba3d l dohor

two o'clock PM 

se3a tentén ba3d l dohor

midnight 

noss léil

Duration

Rules for durations are peculiar: singular is used for one but for 11 or more as well, "double" is used for 2, and plural is used from 3 to 10

_____ minute(s) 

d2i2a (one minute), d2i2ten (2 min), _____ d2eyi2 (____ min for 3 to 10) ____ di2a (____ min for 11 and above)

_____ hour(s) 

se3a (one hour), se3ten (2 hrs), _____ se3at (____ hrs for 3 to 10) ____ se3a(____ hrs for 11 and above)

_____ day(s) 

nhar (one day), nharén (2 days), _____ tiyyem (____ days for 3 to 10) ____ yom (____ days for 11 and above)

_____ week(s) 

jem3a (one week), jeme3ten (2 weeks), _____ jmé3 (____ weeks for 3 to 10) ____ jem3a (____ weeks for 11 and above)

_____ month(s) 

shaher(one month), shahren(2 months), _____ tesh-hor(____ months for 3 to 10) ____ shaher (____ months for 11 and above)

_____ year(s) 

sené (one yr), sentéin(2 yrs), _____ snin (____ yrs for 3 to 10) ____ sené (____ yrs for 11 and above)

Days

today 

lyom

yesterday 

mberi7

tomorrow 

bookra

this week 

hal jem3a

last week 

jem3it l madyé

next week 

jem3it l jéyé

Sunday 

a7ad

Monday 

tanén

Tuesday 

taléta

Wednesday 

ereba3a

Thursday 

khamis

Friday 

jem3a

Saturday 

sabet

Months

January 

kénoon l téné

February 

shbat

March 

adar

April 

nisén

May 

ayyar

June 

7zeiran

July 

tammooz

August 

ab

September 

aylool

October 

teshrin l awwal

November 

teshrin l téné

December 

kénoon l awwal

Writing time and date (Ktaba wakit wa toarik)

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

Colors

black 

aswad (masculine) sawda (feminine)

white 

abyad(masculine) bayda (feminine)

gray 

rmédé (masculine) rmediyyé (feminine)

red 

a7mar (masculine) 7amra (feminine)

blue 

azra2 (masculine) zar2a (feminine)

yellow 

asfar (masculine) safra (feminine)

green 

akhdar (masculine) khadra (feminine)

orange 

berd2ane

purple 

leilaké

brown 

benné (masculine) benniyyé (feminine)

Transportation (Safar)

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

b2addésh l tiket la ...

One ticket to _____, please. 

tiket we7dé la______, éza bet reed ...

Where does this train/bus go? 

la wen bi rou7 hal tren/bus? ...

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

wayno l tren/bus? ...

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

biwa22if l tren/bus bi_____ shi?

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

Emteen l tren/bus la ______ byémshé ....?

When will this train/bus arrive? 

Emteen byoowsal hal tren/bus?

Where are you going? 

la wen rayi7 (enta)? (male) la wen ray7a (enté)? (female)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

keef boosal 3ala _____ ?

...the train station? 

...m7atet l train?

...the bus station? 

...m7atet l bus?

...the airport? 

...l matar?

...downtown? 

...downtown(English used)?

...the youth hostel? 

...the youth hostel? (...)

...the _____ hotel? 

...l _____ hotel?

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British embassy? 

safara amerkiyyé/canadiyyé/australiyyé/britaniyyé

Where are there a lot of... 

wen fi ktir...

...hotels? 

...hotels?

...restaurants? 

...mata3im?

...bars? 

...pubs? ("bar" refers to a less innocent type of place)

...places to see? 

...ma7allét ta shoufa?

...tourist attractions? 

...ma7allét siyé7iyyé?

Can you show me on the map? 

feek tfarjiné 3al kharita

Where is the airport? 

wen l matar?

street 

taree2 or shéri3

Turn left. 

khod shmél

Turn right. 

khod yameen

left 

shmél

right 

yameen

straight ahead/infront 

deghré/eddém

towards the _____ 

sob l _____

past the _____ 

ba3d l _____

before the _____ 

abel l _____

Watch out for the _____. 

ntebih (male) ntebhé (female) la l _____.

intersection 

ta2atoo3

north 

shmél

south 

jnoub

east 

share2

west 

ghareb

up

fo2

down

ta7et

Car rental agency 

Sherkit te2jir siyarat

passport 

jawéz safar (passport with a silent "t" as pronounced in french is also widely used)

Taxi

Taxi!

"Taxi!" (english)

Shared taxi

Service (french pronunciation)

Take me to _____, please. 

khedne 3ala ____, 3mol ma3rouf

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

adde l towsile 3a ____?

Take me there, please. 

khedne la honik, 3mol ma3rouf

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

fi oowad fadyé?

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

addé l ooda la shakhs/la shaksein?

Does the room come with... 

btejé l ooda ma3...

...bedsheets? 

...couvre-lits?

...a bathroom? 

...7emmém

...a telephone? 

... telephone?

...a TV? 

... Television?

May I see the room first? 

finé shoof l ooda bel awal?

Do you have anything quieter? 

fi 3endkoon shi arwa2?

...bigger? 

akbar

...cleaner? 

...andaf?

...cheaper? 

...arkhas?

OK, I'll take it. 

OK, ra7 ékheda

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

ra7 eb2a_____ layélé.

Can you suggest another hotel? 

btonsa7ne bi hotel téné?

Do you have a safe? 

3endkoon khazné?

What time is breakfast/supper? 

ayya se3a l terwi2a/l 3asha?

Please clean my room. 

please naddeflé l ooda.

Can you wake me at _____? 

fik (male) fiké (female) twa3iné 3al_____?

I want to check out. 

baddé a3mol check out.

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

bte2balo bi american/australian/canadian dollars?

Do you accept British pounds? 

bte2balo bel pound l britane?

Do you accept credit cards? 

bte2balo credit card?

Can you change money for me? 

fik tsarrefle masare?

Where can I get money changed? 

wen fine sarrif masare?

Can you change a traveler's check for me? 

fik tsarrefle traveler's check?

Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 

wen fine sarrif traveler's check?

What is the exchange rate? 

What is the exchange rate? (...)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

wen fi ATM?

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

tawlé la shakhes/shakhsen please

Can I look at the menu, please? 

finé shoof l menu please?'

Can I look in the kitchen? 

fine shoof el matbakh?

Is there a house specialty? 

Is there a house specialty? (...)

Is there a local specialty? 

Is there a local specialty? (...)

I'm a vegetarian. 

ana nabété (male) ana nabétiyyé (female)

I don't eat pork. 

ma bekool khanzeer

I don't eat beef. 

ma bekool la7em ba2er

I only eat kosher food. 

bekool akel kosher w bas (Halal)

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

fik ta3mela "lite" please? zet/zebde/dism alil

fixed-price meal 

fixed-price meal (...)

à la carte 

à la carte (...)

breakfast 

terwi2a

lunch 

ghada

tea  

shay

brunch

3asrouniyyé

supper 

3asha

I want _____. 

baddé

I want a dish containing _____. 

baddé sa7en fiyo ....

chicken 

djéj

meat 

la7mé

fish 

samak

ham 

jambon

sausage 

m2éni2

cheese 

jebné

eggs 

bayd

salad 

salata

(fresh) vegetables 

khodra (taza)

(fresh) fruit 

fweke (taza)

bread 

khebez

toast 

toast

noodles 

sh3ayriye

rice 

rez

beans 

fasolya

May I have a glass of _____? 

3mol ma3rouf/iza bit reed baddé kebbeyit ...

May I have a cup of _____? 

3mol ma3rouf/iza bit reed baddé fenjen ...

May I have a bottle of _____? 

3mol ma3rouf/iza bit reed baddé anninit ...

coffee 

ahwe

tea (drink) 

shay

juice 

3aseer

(carbonated) water 

muy (ghaziyyé)

water 

muy

beer 

beera

red/white wine 

nbeed a7mar/abyad

May I take some _____? 

please finé ekhood ...

salt 

mele7

black pepper 

bhar aswad

butter 

zebdé

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

3afwan

I'm finished. 

khallaset

It was delicious. 

kenit taybé

Please clear the plates. 

3mol ma3rouf, sheel el s7oun.

The check, please. 

l 7seb iza bit reed

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

3endak alcohol?

Is there table service? 

fi khedmit tawlet?

A beer/two beers, please. 

we7dé bira/tnen bira,iza btrid

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

Kes nbeed a7mar/abyad please

A pint, please. 

A pint, please. (...)

A bottle, please. 

anniné please

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

_____ and _____, please. (...)

whiskey 

whiskey

vodka 

vodka

rum 

rum

water 

may

club soda 

club soda

tonic water 

tonic water (...)

orange juice 

3asir laymoon

Coke (soda) 

coke

Do you have any bar snacks? 

3endkoon bar snacks?

One more, please. 

wa7ad téné please

Another round, please. 

round tényé please

When is closing time? 

ayya se3a betsakro?

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

fi menna 3a 2yesé?

How much is this? 

bi addé hay?

That's too expensive. 

hayda kteer ghalé

Would you take _____? 

btekhdo ....

expensive 

ghalé (masculine) ghalyé (feminine)

cheap 

rkhees (masculine) rkheesa (feminine)

I can't afford it. 

ma ma3e 7a22a

I don't want it. 

Ma baddé yéha

You're cheating me. 

3am testelemné (addressing a male) 3am testelminé (female)

I'm not interested. 

manné mehtamm (male) manné mehtammé (female)

OK, I'll take it. 

tayeb ra7 2ekheda

Can I have a bag? 

finé ekhood kees?

Do you ship (overseas)? 

btesh7ano douwalé?

I need... 

3ayiz (male) 3ayzé (female)

...toothpaste. 

m3ajoon snen

...a toothbrush. 

fersheyit snen

...tampons. 

...tampons. (it is recommended to say the brand...)

...soap. 

saboon

...shampoo. 

shampoo

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

dawa lal waj3a.

...cold medicine. 

dawa lal rashe7

...stomach medicine. 

dawa lal me3dé

...a razor. 

shafrit 7le2a

...an umbrella. 

shamsiyyé

...sunblock lotion. 

creme lal shames

...a postcard. 

bita2a baridiyyé

...postage stamps. 

tawabi3 barid

...batteries. 

battariyyét

...writing paper. 

wara2 mketib

...a pen. 

alam

...English-language books. 

kutob bil engleezeh

...English-language magazines. 

majallét bil engleezeh

...an English-language newspaper. 

jareedé bil engleezeh

...an English-English dictionary. 

amoos engleezeh

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

baddé esta2jir siyyara

Can I get insurance? 

finé ekhood assurance (french pronunciation)?

stop (on a street sign) 

w2af

one way 

sens unique (french), or can be said in English

yield 

yield (...)

no parking 

mamnoo3 l woo2oof

speed limit 

sir3a al koswa (classical arabic)

gas (petrol) station 

m7attit benzeen

petrol 

benzeen

diesel 

mézoot

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

ma 3melet shi ghalat

It was a misunderstanding. 

ken sou2 taféhoom

Where are you taking me? 

wen ékhdinné

Am I under arrest? 

ana maw2oof? (male) ana maw2oofé (female)

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

ana moowatin (male) moowatné (female) amerkené/australé/britané/canadé

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

baddé e7ké ma3 l safara/l2onsliye l amerkiyyé/l australiyyé/l britaniyyé/l canadiyyé/...

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

baddé e7ké moo7amé

Can I just pay a fine now? 

fiyyé bass edfa3 gharamé/zabet halla2?

Asking about language

How do you say _____ ? 

Keef be oulo ...?

What is this/that called? 

Shoo hayda?/shoo esmo hayda?