The Lebanese dialect of Arabic is similar to that spoken in Syria, Jordan and Israel, 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 a much-simplified from standard Arabic, and should not be overly difficult for the traveler.
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, 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 "dore"
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
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)
...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)
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?
This is a usable phrasebook. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use it to get by, but please plunge forward and help it grow!
