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Lebanese Arabic phrasebook Travel Guide

From Wikitravel

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.

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"

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"

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"
g: like French 'r'

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.

': like the sound represented by "aargh"

Phrase list

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

Basics

Hello.: marHaba
Welcome!: ahlan w' sahlan
How are you?: kifak (to male), kifik (to female)
Fine, thank you.: hamdillah (literally: "thanks to God")
What is your name?: shu ismak? (to male), shu ismik? (to female)
My name is ______ .: ismi ______ .
Nice to meet you.: Tsharrafna
Please.: min faDlak (to male), min faDlik (to female)
Thank you.: shukran
You're welcome.: ahlan
Yes.: e
No.: la
Excuse me. (getting attention): 'afwan
Excuse me. (begging pardon): "pardon" (French is used here)
I'm sorry.: "sorry" (English is used here)
Goodbye
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!
Look out!: ou'a
Good morning.: SabaH al khair
Good evening.: masal khair - "bonsoir" (french)
Good night.: "bonne nuit" (french) - tesbaH 3ala khair (litterally "wake up well")
Good night (to sleep)
I don't know.: maba'rif
Where is the toilet?: wain el "toilette" (French is used here)

Problems

Leave me alone.: Hel 'anni
Don't touch me!: ma tde fiyyi
I'll call the police.: raH de lal darak
Police!: "Police!" (French)
Stop! Thief!: waqif
I need your help.: badde muse'ade
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?

Numbers

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

Time

now: hala
later: baadain
before
morning: khair
afternoon
evening
night

Clock time

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

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)

Days

today: liom
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

Months

The muslim lunar calendar is only used for dates of muslim holidays. the gregorian calendar is used everywhere else

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

Writing time and date

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

Colors

black: aswad
white: abyad
gray: rmedi
red: aHmar
blue: azraq
yellow: aSfar
green: akhDar
orange: "orange" (french)
purple: "mauve" (french)
brown: benne

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: How much is a ticket to _____? (...)
One ticket to _____, please.: One ticket to _____, please. (...)
Where does this train/bus go?: Where does this train/bus go? (...)
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Where is the train/bus to _____? (...)
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 _____? (...)

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...: Where are there a lot of... (...)
...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 (...)
street: tareek (...)
Turn left.: Turn left. (...)
Turn right.: Turn right. (...)
left: shmeil (...)
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 (...)

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)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Do you have any rooms available? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: How much is a room for one person/two people? (...)
Does the room come with...: Does the room come with... (...)
...bedsheets?: ...bedsheets? (...)
...a bathroom?: ...a bathroom? (...)
...a telephone?: ...a telephone? (...)
...a TV?: ...a TV? (...)
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?: What time is breakfast/supper? (...)
Please clean my room.: Please clean my room. (...)
Can you wake me at _____? | Can you wake me at _____? (...)
I want to check out.: I want to check out. (...)

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)? (...)

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.: I only eat kosher food. (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: breakfast (...)
lunch: lunch (...)
tea (meal): shay
supper: supper (...)
I want _____.: baddi
I want a dish containing _____.: I want a dish containing _____. (...)
chicken: dajaj
beef: beef (...)
fish: fish (...)
ham: ham (...)
sausage: sausage (...)
cheese: jibne
eggs: eggs (...)
salad: salata
(fresh) vegetables: (fresh) vegetables (...)
(fresh) fruit: (fresh) fruit (...)
bread: khubz
toast: toast (...)
noodles: noodles (...)
rice: roz
beans: beans (...)
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: black pepper (...)
butter: butter (...)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Excuse me, waiter? (...)
I'm finished.: I'm finished. (...)
It was delicious.: It was delicious. (...)
Please clear the plates.: Please clear the plates. (...)
The check, please.: The check, please. (...)

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? (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Do you have this in my size? (...)
How much is this?: bi kem? (...)
That's too expensive.: hatha ghalee jiddan. (...)
Would you take _____?: Would you take _____? (...)
expensive: ghalee (...)
cheap: rakhees (...)
I can't afford it.: I can't afford it. (...)
I don't want it.: Ma baddi. (...)
You're cheating me.: You're cheating me. (...)
I'm not interested.: I'm not interested. (..)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (...)
Can I have a bag?: Can I have a bag? (...)
Do you ship (overseas)?: Do you ship (overseas)? (...)
I need...: baddi
...toothpaste.: ...toothpaste. (...)
...a toothbrush.: ...a toothbrush. (...)
...tampons.: ...tampons. (...)
...soap.: saboon
...shampoo.: shamboo
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ...pain reliever. (...)
...cold medicine.: ...cold medicine. (...)
...stomach medicine.: ...stomach medicine. (...)
...a razor.: ...a razor. (...)
...an umbrella.: shamsiyye
...sunblock lotion.: ...sunblock lotion. (...)
...a postcard.: ...a postcard. (...)
...postage stamps.: ...postage stamps. (...)
...batteries.: ...batteries. (...)
...writing paper.: ...writing paper. (...)
...a pen.: qalam
...English-language books.: ...kitab ingelizi. (...)
...English-language magazines.: ...English-language magazines. (...)
...an English-language newspaper.: ...jareeda ingelizia. (...)
...an English-English dictionary.: ...an English-English dictionary. (...)

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

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: I haven't done anything wrong. (...)
It was a misunderstanding.: It was a misunderstanding. (...)
Where are you taking me?: Where are you taking me? (...)
Am I under arrest?: Am I under arrest? (...)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (...)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (...)
I want to talk to a lawyer.: I want to talk to a lawyer. (...)
Can I just pay a fine now?: Can I just pay a fine now? (...)

Learning more

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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