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Lebanese Arabic phrasebook

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[+] Pronunciation guide
[+] Phrase list

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

a: like 'a' in "apple"
i: like 'ee' in "cheese"
u: like 'oo' in "too"

[edit] Easy Consonants

b: like 'b' in "bed"
t: like 't' in "top"
th: like 'th' in "think"
j: like 'j' in "jump"
kh: like 'ch' in Scottish "loch" (or German "nach")
d: like 'd' in "mad"
Th: like 'th' in "that"
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"

[edit] Difficult Consonants

The following 4 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"
TH: like 'th' in "other"

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

q: 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.

H: 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 9 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 (Kalimat Asasiah)

Hello.: marHaba
Welcome!: ahlan w' sahlan
How are you?: kifak (to male), kifik (to female)
Fine, thank you.: hamdillah (literally: "thanks to God")
Thank you.: Shukran
(I'm) fine.: (ana) bikhair - (Ana) Mneeh (Male) - (Ana) Mneeha (Female)
Well (health): bikhair
Good: mnih(m) mniha(f)
Excellent: mumtaz
And you?: wa'ant
Blessed: hamdullilah
What is your name?: shou ismak? (m), shou ismeek? (f)
My name is ______ .: ismi ______ .
Nice to meet you.: Tsharrafna
How old are you?: kam omrok or kadish umrak
Please.: min faDlak (to male), min faDlik (to female)
Thank you.: shoukran(arabic) yislamou(arabic) merci(french)
You're welcome: tekram (male) tekrami (female)
Welcome (welcoming someone).: ahlan wa sahlan
If Allah (God) wills (or used as 'hopefully'): inshAllah
Allah (God) has willed it: mashAllah
Really?: Walla or 'anjad
Yes.: eh
No.: la
Maybe: mumkin 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'asalema
Goodbye (informal): "bye" (English is used here)
I can't speak Arabic [well].: ma baHki 'arabi [mniH]
Do you speak English?: btaHki englizi?
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Hada menkom byeHki englizi?
Help!
Okay: tayib
Look out!: ou'a
For sure/Of course!: akeed!
Good morning.: SabaH al khair
Good evening.: masal khair - "bonsoir" (french)
Good night.: "bonne nuit" (french) - layla taiba - tesbaH 3ala khair (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 hamaam?
I: ana
You: Inta(m), Inti(f)
I understand: ana afham or ana befham
I do not understand: la afham or ma befham
Sweetheart: Habibi(m) Habibti [(f) rarely used]
You're the prettiest possible: Inti(a) ajmaal min al kol
Peace be with you: Salaam alaykum
Peace be with you too (reply): w'alaykum Salaam
Where are you from?: min wain inta?

[edit] Problems

Leave me alone.: Hel 'anni or Trikneh
Don't touch me!: ma tde fiyyi
I'll call the police.: raH de lal darak
Police!: "Police!" (French)or Bolice (Arabic)
Stop! Thief!: waqif Sirra'
I need your help.: badde musea'a de
It's an emergency.: Hale 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
I've been injured.: mensab
I need a doctor.: badde Hakim
Can I use your phone?: fiyye esta'mel telephonak?

[edit] Numbers (Arkam)

1: wahad
2: tnayn
3: tlaiti
4: arba'a
5: khamsi
6: sitti
7: sab'a
8: tmani
9: tis'a
10: 'ashra
11: Hda'sh
12: tna'sh
13: tlata'sh
14: arabata'sh
15: khamsta'sh
16: sitta'sh
17: sabata'sh
18: tmenta'sh
19: tesa'ta'sh
20: 'ashrin
21: waHad w 'achrin
22: tnayna w 'achrin
23: tleta w 'achrin
30: tletin
40: arb'in
50: khamsin
60: settin
70: sab'in
80: tmenin
90: tes'in
100: miyi
200: miten
300: tlait miyi
1000: alf
2000: alfen
1,000,000: malyun
1,000,000,000: milyar
1,000,000,000,000: alf milyar
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): (tren, bas) numra _____
half: nus
less: aqal
more: ba'd

[edit] Time

now: hala'
later: baaden
before: 'abil
morning: sabaH
afternoon: ba'd el duhur
evening: masa
night/nights: layla/layali

[edit] Clock time (Wakit)

What hour is it?: ed day esay'ah
one o'clock AM: se'a waHde 'a bukra
two o'clock AM: se'a tenten 'a bukra
noon: se'a tna'sh
one o'clock PM: se'a waHde ba'd el duhur
two o'clock PM: se'a tenten ba'd el duhur
midnight: noss lel

[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), nharen (2 days), _____ tiyyem (____ days for 3 to 10))/ ____ yom (____ days for 11 and above)
_____ week(s): jem'a (one week), jema'ten (2 weeks), _____ jme' (____ weeks for 3 to 10))/ ____ jem'a (____ weeks for 11 and above)
_____ month(s): chaher(one month), shahren(2 months), _____ tesh-hur(____ months for 3 to 10))/ ____ shaher (____ months for 11 and above)
_____ year(s): sene (one yr), senten(2 yrs), _____ snin (____ yrs for 3 to 10))/ ____ sene (____ yrs for 11 and above)

[edit] Days

today: lyom
yesterday: mberiH
tomorrow: bukra
this week: hel jem'a
last week: jem'it el madye
next week: jem'at ejje

Sunday: aHad
Monday: tanen
Tuesday: taleta
Wednesday: erba'a
Thursday: khamis
Friday: jem'a
Saturday: sabet

[edit] Months

January: kanun el tene
February: shbat
March: aThar
April: nisen
May: ayyar
June: Hzeyran
July: tammuz
August: ab
September: aylul
October: techrin el awwal
November: techrin el tene
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: rmedi
red: aHmar
blue: azraq
yellow: aSfar
green: akhDar
orange: "orange" (french)
purple: "mauve" (french)
brown: benne

[edit] Transportation (Safar)

[edit] Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: Bikam al uhgra'a (...)
One ticket to _____, please.: Tathkara wahida,______ min fadlik (...)
Where does this train/bus go?: Wain fi ala kitar/autobees? (...)
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Wain kitar/autobees? (...)
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Does this train/bus stop in _____? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: When does the train/bus for _____ leave? (...)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: When will this bus arrive in _____? (...)
Where are you going?: wain inta thahib

[edit] Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: keef boosal ala _____ ? (...)
...the train station?: ...mahatel l tran? (...)
...the bus station?: ...mahatet l bus? (...)
...the airport?: ...l matar? (...)
...downtown?: ...downtown(English used)? (...)
...the youth hostel?: ...the youth hostel? (...)
...the _____ hotel?: ...the _____ hotel? (...)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (safar amrikiyye)
Where are there a lot of...: Wain kteer ala... (...)
...hotels?: ...hotels? (hotel/funduq)
...restaurants?: ...mataa'm? (...)
...bars?: ...bars? (...)
...sites to see?: ...mahallet tan' shoof? (...)
Can you show me on the map?: feek 'tfarjeeneh alah (...)
Where is the airport?: Wain matar
street: tareek (...)
Turn left.: khad shmel (...)
Turn right.: khad yameen (...)
left: shmel (...)
right: yameen (...)
straight ahead: straight ahead (...)
towards the _____: towards the _____ (...)
past the _____: ba'dl '_____ (...)
before the _____: ab'le '_____ (...)
Watch for the _____.: Watch for the _____. (...)
intersection: intersection before the (...)
north: shmal
south: junub
east: sharq
west: gharb
uphill: uphill (...)
downhill: downhill (...)
Car rental agency: Shirkat taigir sahiarat
passport: gawaz 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)

195.229.236.213 06:27, 27 March 2007 (EDT)Fouad AC===Lodging===

Do you have any rooms available?: fi ghoraf fadiyeh? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: addey el ghorfeh la shakhs/la shaksein? (...)
Does the room come with...: Does the room come with... (...)
...bedsheets?: ...bedsheets? (...)
...a bathroom?: ...hammaam (...)
...a telephone?: ...a telephoon? (...)
...a TV?: ...a Televishion? (...)
May I see the room first?: May I see the room first? (...)
Do you have anything quieter?: Do you have anything quieter? (...)
...bigger?: akbar
...cleaner?: ...cleaner? (...)
...cheaper?: ...cheaper? (...)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
I will stay for _____ night(s).: I will stay for _____ night(s). (...)
Can you suggest another hotel?: Can you suggest another hotel? (...)
Do you have a safe?: Do you have a safe? (...)
...lockers?: ...lockers? (...)
Is breakfast/supper included?: Is breakfast/supper included? (...)
What time is breakfast/supper?: ayya se'a el terwi'a/el 'asha? (...)
Please clean my room.: please naddifli el ghorfeh. (...)
Can you wake me at _____? | momkin twa'ini el se'a _____? (...)
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: fitar
lunch: ghada
tea (meal): shay
supper: supper (...)
I want _____.: baddi
I want a dish containing _____.: I want a dish containing _____. (...)
chicken: dajaj
meat: lahmah(...)
fish: samak (...)
ham: ham (...)
sausage: sausage (...)
cheese: jibne
eggs: bayd (...)
salad: salata
(fresh) vegetables: (fresh) vegetables (...)
(fresh) fruit: (fresh) fruit (...)
bread: khubz
toast: toast (...)
noodles: noodles (...)
rice: roz
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 / ma'
beer: beera
red/white wine: red/white wine (...)
May I have some _____?: May I have some _____? (...)
salt: milH
black pepper: filfil aswad
butter: butter (...)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): law sama7t
I'm finished.: I'm finished. (...)
It was delicious.: di kanet laziza
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?)

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