Lebanese Arabic phrasebook

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The Lebanese dialect of Arabic is similar to that spoken in Syria, Jordan and Palestine, 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. (This guide will use the word "Lebanese" to refer to "the Lebanese dialect of Arabic".)

Arabic is significantly different to 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 a much-simplified from standard Arabic, and should not be overly difficult for the traveller.

[edit] Pronunciation guide

Lebanese Dialect Audio CDs 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.

[edit] Vowels

like 'a' in "apple"
like 'ee' in "cheese"
like 'oo' in "too"
like 'o' in "dore"
like 'e' in "bed"
é 
like 'ai' in "claire"

[edit] Easy Consonants

like 'b' in "bed"
like 't' in "top"
like 's' in "pleasure"
kh 
like 'ch' in Scottish "loch" (or German "nach")
like 'd' in "mad"
like 'r' in "row"
like 'z' in "haze"
like 's' in "sing"
sh 
like 'sh' in "sheep"
like 'f' in "fun"
like 'k' in "kitten"
like 'l' in "love"
like 'm' in "mother"
like 'n' in "nice"
like 'h' in "help"
like 'w' in "weight"
like 'y' in "yes"

[edit] 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.

like 's' in "sorry"
like 'd' in "dot"
like 't' in "taught"

The following consonant is almost never pronounced in lebanese dialect, but replaced with a glottal stop.

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

The following 2 consonants are pronounced from the back of the throat. Once again, accentuate the following pronunciations.

like 'h' in "hot"
gh 
like Scottish ch as in 'Loch'

The following letter (called the "ayn", which we will represent by an apostrophe), 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.

' or 3 
like the sound represented by "aargh"

[edit] Phrase list

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

[edit] Basics (Kalimét Asasiéh)

Hello. 
marHaba
Welcome! 
ahla w' sahla
How are you? 
kifak (to male), kifik (to female)
Fine, thank you. 
el hamdillah (literally: "thanks to God")
Thank you. 
Shukran
(I'm) fine. 
(ana) b'khéir - (Ana) Mniih (Male) - (Ana) Mniiha (Female)
Well (health) 
b'khéir
Good 
mnih(m) mniha(f)
Excellent 
memtéz
And you? 
w' enta
Blessed 
el hamdellah
What is your name? 
shou esmak? (m), shou esmik? (f)
My name is ______ . 
esmé ______ .
Nice to meet you. 
Tsharrafna
How old are you? 
qedde 3omrak?
Please. 
min faDlak (to male), min faDlik (to female)
Thank you. 
shoukran(arabic) yislamo(arabic) merci(french)
You're welcome 
tekram (male) tekramé (female)
Welcome (welcoming someone). 
ahla w sahla
If God wills (or used as 'hopefully') 
inshAllah
God has willed it 
mashAllah
Really? 
Walla or 'anjad
Yes. 
eh
No. 
la
Maybe 
momkin or yemkin
Excuse me. (getting attention
'afwan (egyptian)
Excuse me. (begging pardon
"pardon" (French is used here)
I'm sorry. 
"sorry" (English is used here)
Goodbye (Go with peace) 
(formal) Ma'el salémé
Goodbye (informal
"bye" (English is used here)
I can't speak Arabic [well]. 
ma baHké 'arabé [mniH]
Do you speak English? 
btaHké englizé?
Is there someone here who speaks English? 
Hada menkom byeHké englizé?
Help! 
se'duné
Okay 
tayib
Look out! 
ou'a
For sure/Of course! 
akeed!
Good morning. 
SabaH el khéir - bonjour
Good evening. 
masa el khéir - "bonsoir" (french)
Good night. 
"bonne nuit" (french) - tesbaH 3ala khéir (litterally "wake up well")
I don't know. 
ma ba'rif
Where is the toilet (bathroom)? 
wain el "toilette?" (French is used here)
Where is the restroom (in a restaurant)? 
wain el hemmém?
ana
You 
Inta(m), Inté(f)
I understand 
ana befham
I do not understand 
ma befham
Sweetheart 
Habibé(m) Habibté (f)
You're the prettiest possible 
Inté(a) ajmal min al kill
Where are you from? 
min wéin inta?

[edit] Problems

Leave me alone. 
Hel 'anné or Triknéh
Don't touch me! 
ma t'deq fiyyé
I'll call the police. 
raH deq l'el darak
Police! 
"Police!" (French)
Stop! Thief! 
waqif Sirra'
I need your help. 
badde musea'adé
It's an emergency. 
Halé tarqa
I'm lost. 
de'et
I lost my bag. 
dayya'et jezdene
I lost my wallet. 
dayya'et el "portefeuille" taba'e (french)
I'm sick. 
marid or sakhen
I've been injured. 
mensab
I need a doctor. 
badde Hakim
Can I use your phone? 
fiyyé esta'mel telephonak?

[edit] Numbers (Arkam)

wahad
tnéin
tlété
arb'a
khamsé
sitté
sab'a
tmané
tis'a
10 
'ashra
11 
Hda'sh
12 
tna'sh
13 
tleta'sh
14 
arabata'sh
15 
khamesta'sh
16 
sitta'sh
17 
sabata'sh
18 
tmenta'sh
19 
tesa'ta'sh
20 
'eshrin
21 
waHad w 'echrin
22 
tnéina w 'echrin
23 
tléta w 'echrin
30 
tlétin
40 
arb'in
50 
khamsin
60 
settin
70 
sab'in
80 
tmenin
90 
tes'in
100 
miyé
200 
mitén
300 
tlet miyé
1000 
alf
2000 
alféin
1,000,000 
malyun
1,000,000,000 
milyar
1,000,000,000,000 
alf milyar
number _____ (train, bus, etc.
(tren, bas) numra _____
half 
nos
less 
aqal
more 
ba'd

[edit] Time

now 
hala'
later 
baadén
before 
'abel
morning 
sobeH
afternoon 
ba'd el doher
evening 
masa, 'ashié
night/nights 
leil, leilé

[edit] Clock time (Wakit)

What hour is it? 
eddé el sé3a
one o'clock AM 
sé3a weHdé a bokra
two o'clock AM 
sé3a tentén a bokra
noon 
se'a tna'sh
one o'clock PM 
se'a weHdé ba'd el doher
two o'clock PM 
se'a tentén ba'd el doher
midnight 
noss léil

[edit] 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) 
daqiqa (one minute), daqiqten (2 min), _____ dqayeq (____ min for 3 to 10))/ ____ daqiqa (____ min for 11 and above)
_____ hour(s) 
se'a (one hour), se'ten (2 hrs), _____ se'a (____ hrs for 3 to 10))/ ____ se'a(____ 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) 
jem'a (one week), jema'ten (2 weeks), _____ jmé' (____ weeks for 3 to 10))/ ____ jem'a (____ 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)

[edit] Days

today 
el yom
yesterday 
mberiH
tomorrow 
bokra
this week 
hel jem'a
last week 
jem'it el madyé
next week 
jem'at el jéy
Sunday 
aHad
Monday 
tanén
Tuesday 
taléta
Wednesday 
erba'a
Thursday 
khamis
Friday 
jem'a
Saturday 
sabet

[edit] Months

January 
kanun el téné
February 
shbat
March 
adar
April 
nisén
May 
ayyar
June 
Hzeiran
July 
tammuz
August 
ab
September 
aylul
October 
techrin el awwal
November 
techrin el téné
December 
kanun el awwal

[edit] Writing time and date (Ktaba wakit wa toarik)

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

[edit] Colors

black 
aswad (m) sawda (f)
white 
abyad(m) bayda (f)
gray 
rmédé
red 
aHmar
blue 
azraq
yellow 
aSfar
green 
akhDar
orange 
"orange" (french)
purple 
"mauve" (french)
brown 
benné

[edit] Transportation (Safar)

[edit] Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____? 
b'eddésh el tiket a (...)
One ticket to _____, please. 
tiket wehdé,______ emelé ma'ruf(...)
Where does this train/bus go? 
la Wéin bi rouh el train/buss? (...)
Where is the train/bus to _____? 
weino el train/duss? (...)
Does this train/bus stop in _____? 
hal el train bi waqif bi_____? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 
Aymata el train/el bussla _____ b'yemshé? (...)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 
Aymata raH yousal el train_____? (...)
Where are you going? 
la wein inta rayeh?

[edit] Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 
keef bousal ala _____ ? (...)
...the train station? 
...mahatet el train? (...)
...the bus station? 
...mahatet el bus? (...)
...the airport? 
...el matar? (...)
...downtown? 
...downtown(English used)? (...)
...the youth hostel? 
...the youth hostel? (...)
...the _____ hotel? 
...el _____ hotel? (...)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (safar amrikiyye)
Where are there a lot of... 
wein fi ktir... (...)
...hotels? 
...hotel? (hotel/fundoq)
...restaurants? 
...mataa'm? (...)
...bars? 
...bars? (...)
...sites to see? 
...mahallét tan' shouf? (...)
Can you show me on the map? 
feek 'tfarjiné ala el khrita (...)
Where is the airport? 
wein el matar?
street 
tareek (...)
Turn left. 
khod shmel (...)
Turn right. 
khod yameen (...)
left 
shmel (...)
right 
yameen (...)
straight ahead 
deghré eddém (...)
towards the _____ 
sob el _____ (...)
past the _____ 
ba'd el '_____ (...)
before the _____ 
abel el '_____ (...)
Watch for the _____. 
entebeh l'el _____. (...)
intersection 
taqato' (...)
north 
shmél
south 
jnoub
east 
shareq
west 
ghareb
uphill 
foq (...)
downhill 
tahet (...)
Car rental agency 
Shirkit ta'jir siarat
passport 
jawéz safar

[edit] Taxi

Taxi! 
"Taxi!" (english)
Take me to _____, please. 
khedne 'ala ____, "please" (english)
How much does it cost to get to _____? 
adde el towsile 3a ____?
Take me there, please. 
khedne la honik, "please" (english)

[edit] Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 
fi owad fadiyeh? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people? 
addé el oda la shakhs/la shaksein? (...)
Does the room come with... 
b'tejé el oda ma'... (...)
...bedsheets? 
...couvrelits? (...)
...a bathroom? 
...hemmém (...)
...a telephone? 
... telephon? (...)
...a TV? 
... Television? (...)
May I see the room first? 
finé shouf el oda b'el awal? (...)
Do you have anything quieter? 
fi indkon shi arwaq? (...)
...bigger? 
akbar
...cleaner? 
...andaf? (...)
...cheaper? 
...arkhas? (...)
OK, I'll take it. 
OK, lah ékheda. (...)
I will stay for _____ night(s). 
lah ebqa_____ layélé. (...)
Can you suggest another hotel? 
b'tonsah bi hotel téné? (...)
Do you have a safe? 
endkon khazné? (...)
What time is breakfast/supper? 
ayya se'a el terwi'a/el 'asha? (...)
Please clean my room. 
please naddiflé el oda. (...)
Can you wake me at _____? | fiké t'wa'iné al_____? (...)
I want to check out. 
baddi a'mol check out. (...)

[edit] Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 
Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (...)
Do you accept British pounds? 
Do you accept British pounds? (...)
Do you accept credit cards? 
Do you accept credit cards? (...)
Can you change money for me? 
Can you change money for me? (...)
Where can I get money changed? 
Where can I get money changed? (...)
Can you change a traveler's check for me? 
Can you change a traveler's check for me? (...)
Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 
Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (...)
What is the exchange rate? 
What is the exchange rate? (...)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (...)

[edit] Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 
A table for one person/two people, please. (...)
Can I look at the menu, please? 
Can I look at the menu, please? (...)
Can I look in the kitchen? 
Can I look in the kitchen? (...)
Is there a house specialty? 
Is there a house specialty? (...)
Is there a local specialty? 
Is there a local specialty? (...)
I'm a vegetarian. 
I'm a vegetarian. (...)
I don't eat pork. 
ma bekol khanzeer
I don't eat beef. 
I don't eat beef. (...)
I only eat kosher food. 
bakol akl kosher we-bas (Halal)
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard
Can you make it "lite", please? (...)
fixed-price meal 
fixed-price meal (...)
à la carte 
à la carte (...)
breakfast 
terwiqa
lunch 
ghada
tea (meal
shay
supper 
supper (...)
I want _____. 
badde
I want a dish containing _____. 
I want a dish containing _____. (...)
chicken 
djéj
meat 
lahmé(...)
fish 
samak (...)
ham 
ham (...)
sausage 
sausage (...)
cheese 
jebné
eggs 
béid (...)
salad 
salata
(fresh) vegetables 
(fresh) vegetables (...)
(fresh) fruit 
(fresh) fruit (...)
bread 
khebez
toast 
toast (...)
noodles 
noodles (...)
rice 
riz
beans 
foul
May I have a glass of _____? 
May I have a glass of _____? (...)
May I have a cup of _____? 
May I have a cup of _____? (...)
May I have a bottle of _____? 
May I have a bottle of _____? (...)
coffee 
aHwe
tea (drink
shay
juice 
asseer
(bubbly) water 
water(...)
water 
mai
beer 
beera
red/white wine 
red/white wine (...)
May I have some _____? 
May I have some _____? (...)
salt 
milH
black pepper 
filful aswad
butter 
butter (...)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
law sama7t
I'm finished. 
I'm finished. (...)
It was delicious. 
kenet teibé
Please clear the plates. 
Please clear the plates. (...)
The check, please. 
The check, please. (...)

[edit] Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 
'andak mashroob
Is there table service? 
Is there table service? (...)
A beer/two beers, please. 
waHde bira/tintin bira,iza btrid
A glass of red/white wine, please. 
A glass of red/white wine, please. (...)
A pint, please. 
A pint, please. (...)
A bottle, please. 
A bottle, please. (...)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 
_____ and _____, please. (...)
whiskey 
whiskey
vodka 
vodka (...)
rum 
rum (...)
water 
mai / ma'
club soda 
club soda (...)
tonic water 
tonic water (...)
orange juice 
asseer burdaan
Coke (soda
cola
Do you have any bar snacks? 
Do you have any bar snacks? (...)
One more, please. 
waHad teni min faDlak
Another round, please. 
Another round, please. (...)
When is closing time? 
When is closing time? (...)

[edit] Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 
Do you have this in my size? (fi iyesse...)
How much is this? 
bi addeh hai? (...)
That's too expensive. 
haida ghalee kteer. (...)
Would you take _____? 
Would you take _____? (btekhdo ...)
expensive 
ghalee (...)
cheap 
rakhees (...)
I can't afford it. 
I can't afford it. (mafineh 2i2bala)
I don't want it. 
Ma baddi. (...)
You're cheating me. 
You're cheating me. (3ambitghesh)
I'm not interested. 
I'm not interested. (manne mehtam)
OK, I'll take it. 
OK, I'll take it. (tayeb 7a 2aekhida)
Can I have a bag? 
Can I have a bag? (byitla3leh shanta)
Do you ship (overseas)? 
Do you ship (overseas)? (.indkon shahn doualy..)
I need... 
baddi
...toothpaste. 
...toothpaste. (m3ajoun snen...)
...a toothbrush. 
...a toothbrush. (fersheyet snen...)
...tampons. 
...tampons. (it is recommended to say the brand ...)
...soap. 
saboon
...shampoo. 
shampoo
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen
...pain reliever. (dawa lal waj3a...)
...cold medicine. 
...cold medicine. (dawa lal rasheh...)
...stomach medicine. 
...stomach medicine. (dawa lal me3de...)
...a razor. 
...a razor. (shafret hle'a...)
...an umbrella. 
shamsiyye
...sunblock lotion. 
...sunblock lotion. (creme lal shams...)
...a postcard. 
...a postcard. (bitta'a baridiye...)
...postage stamps. 
...postage stamps. (tawabe3 barid...)
...batteries. 
...batteries. (bittariyet...)
...writing paper. 
...writing paper. (wara' mketib...)
...a pen. 
qalam
...English-language books. 
...kitab ingelizi. (...)
...English-language magazines. 
...English-language magazines. (majalle inglizie ...)
...an English-language newspaper. 
...jareeda ingelizia. (...)
...an English-English dictionary. 
...an English-English dictionary. (amous inglizi...)

[edit] Driving

I want to rent a car. 
I want to rent a car. (...)
Can I get insurance? 
Can I get insurance? (...)
stop (on a street sign
Qaf
one way 
one way (...)
yield 
yield (...)
no parking 
no parking (...)
speed limit 
speed limit (...)
gas (petrol) station 
gas station (...)
petrol 
benzene
diesel 
mezud

[edit] Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 
I haven't done anything wrong. (ma 3amalt shi ghalat...)
It was a misunderstanding. 
It was a misunderstanding. (sou' tafehum...)
Where are you taking me? 
Where are you taking me? (wayn ekhdini...)
Am I under arrest? 
Am I under arrest? (ana maou'ouf?...)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (ana mouaten amerkeni/australi/britani/canadi/...)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 
I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (baddi ehki m3a l'safara/l'onsliye l amerkenie/l australie/l britanie/l canadie/...)
I want to talk to a lawyer. 
I want to talk to a lawyer. (baddi ottosil bi mohami ...)
Can I just pay a fine now? 
Can I just pay a fine now? (fiye idf3a gharameh/zabet...)

[edit] Asking about language

How do you say _____ ? 
How do you say _____ ? ('Kif bit 'ool )
What is this/that called? 
What is this/that called? (Shu ismo hayda/Hayda Shu?)