Basic Words

1. إي

   Ī

   Yes

   Usage

   The everyday spoken "yes". Standard "naʿam" is understood but sounds formal in conversation. Egyptian "aywa" is a different form.

   Grammar Note

   The colloquial counterpart of Standard "naʿam". The vowel is held long.

2. لا

   Lā

   No

   Usage

   The plain "no". Adding thanks ("lā, shukran") makes a refusal polite.

   Grammar Note

   Same form as in Standard Arabic. Not to be confused with "mā", which negates verbs.

3. لو سمحت

   Law samaḥt

   Please

   Usage

   The standard way to add politeness to a request, before or after it. To a woman: "law samaḥti". Also used to get someone's attention.

   Grammar Note

   Literally "if you permit". A woman is addressed with final -i (لو سمحتي).

4. شكرا

   Shukran

   Thank you

   Usage

   Basic thanks; stronger: "shukran ktīr" (thanks a lot). In Syria "yislamo" is also everyday; in Lebanon "mersi" is common.

   Grammar Note

   A fixed Standard-Arabic word; colloquial speech keeps the vowels unchanged.

5. عن إذنك

   ʿAn iznak

   Excuse me (to pass by)

   Usage

   Used when squeezing past someone or leaving a table. To a woman it is pronounced "ʿan iznik" (same spelling). To get someone's attention use "law samaḥt" instead.

   Grammar Note

   Literally "away from your permission". The ذ of "إذن" is pronounced z in speech.

6. آسف

   Āsif

   Sorry

   Usage

   Said by a man; a woman says "āsfe" (آسفة). Works from a light apology to a sincere one.

   Grammar Note

   An adjective that agrees with the speaker's gender (m. آسف, f. آسفة).

7. ما في مشكلة

   Mā fī mushkile

   It's OK / No problem

   Usage

   A reply to an apology, or a casual way to accept a request.

   Grammar Note

   "mā fī + noun" means "there is no ...". Here "fī" means "there is", not the preposition "in".

8. ما بفهم

   Mā bfham

   I don't understand

   Usage

   For when you cannot follow. Follow with "iḥki shwayy shwayy law samaḥt" (speak slowly, please).

   Grammar Note

   Verbs are negated with "mā"; the b- prefix marks the present. Nouns and adjectives take "mū".

9. فهمت

   Fhimt

   I understand

   Usage

   Said once an explanation has sunk in. A woman uses exactly the same form.

   Grammar Note

   First-person past form; in speech it means "I get it now".

10. خلصت

    Khlaṣt

    I'm finished / Done

    Usage

    For when you have finished a meal or a task; at a table it also signals the plate may be cleared.

    Grammar Note

    First-person past of "khalaṣ" (to finish). The bare "khalaṣ" is also an everyday "that's it / enough".

11. استنى لو سمحت

    Stanna law samaḥt

    Please wait

    Usage

    The form for a man. To a woman: "stanni law samaḥt".

    Grammar Note

    The imperative changes its ending by gender (m. -a, f. -i).

12. لحظة لو سمحت

    Laḥẓa law samaḥt

    Just a moment, please

    Usage

    To ask for a short wait. "daʾīʾa law samaḥt" (one minute) is an equally common variant.

    Grammar Note

    "laḥẓa" comes from the written language but is used as-is in conversation.

13. بالغ واحد لو سمحت

    Bāligh wāḥad law samaḥt

    One adult, please

    Usage

    For a ticket counter. "bāligh" means adult; for a child say the child's word instead (e.g. "walad").

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar. The number follows the noun.

14. ما عندي حجز

    Mā ʿindi ḥajz

    I don't have a reservation

    Usage

    At a hotel or restaurant desk. Follow with "fī ghurfe?" (is there a room?).

    Grammar Note

    "ʿind + pronoun suffix" expresses "have"; negate it with "mā" in front.

15. عندي حجز

    ʿIndi ḥajz

    I have a reservation

    Usage

    Say this at a front desk, then give your name.

    Grammar Note

    Possession uses "ʿind" plus a suffix; there is no verb "to have".

16. ساعدني لو سمحت

    Sāʿidni law samaḥt

    Please help me

    Usage

    The form for a man; to a woman: "sāʿidīni law samaḥt". For a real emergency call out to people nearby or the police.

    Grammar Note

    An imperative with the object suffix -ni ("me").

17. مرة تانية لو سمحت

    Marra tānye law samaḥt

    Once more, please

    Usage

    When you did not catch something. You can add "iḥki" for "iḥki marra tānye" (say it again).

    Grammar Note

    "tāni" means "second / another"; it takes the feminine form to agree with feminine "marra".

18. احكي شوي شوي لو سمحت

    Iḥki shwayy shwayy law samaḥt

    Please speak slowly

    Usage

    The same form for a man or a woman. Doubling "shwayy" gives "slowly".

    Grammar Note

    The imperative of "ḥaka" has one form for both genders (verbs ending in -i).

19. بحكي شوي

    Baḥki shwayy

    I speak a little

    Usage

    Add a language name for e.g. "baḥki shwayy inglīzi" (I speak a little English).

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar. First-person present b-aḥki contracts to baḥki.

20. بتحكي إنكليزي؟

    Btiḥki inglīzi?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Same form for a man or a woman. Politer: "ḥaḍritak btiḥki inglīzi?". In Lebanon French ("faransi") is often asked too.

    Grammar Note

    "ḥaka" is the everyday verb for "speak" (not Standard "tataḥaddath"). Language names are bare -i forms.

21. هاد

    Hāda

    This

    Usage

    Points at a masculine noun. Feminine: "hāy"; plural: "hadōl". Lebanon says "hayda".

    Grammar Note

    Demonstratives agree with the noun. Before a noun it shortens to "hal-" (e.g. "hal-shī").

22. هداك

    Hadāk

    That

    Usage

    Points at something farther away (masculine). Feminine: "hadīk".

    Grammar Note

    The distal counterpart of proximal "hāda".

23. هون

    Hōn

    Here

    Usage

    "hōn" means "here". Often said while pointing.

    Grammar Note

    The colloquial counterpart of Standard "hunā", pronounced with a long ō.

24. هونيك

    Hōnīk

    There

    Usage

    Refers to a place farther away. Other Levantine speakers may say "hnīk" or similar.

    Grammar Note

    The distal counterpart of "hōn".

25. أنا

    Ana

    I, me

    Usage

    First person. Often dropped because the verb shows the person; used for emphasis and short replies.

    Grammar Note

    Same form as Standard Arabic.

26. إنت

    Inte

    You

    Usage

    To a man. To a woman: "inti"; to several people: "intu".

    Grammar Note

    The colloquial counterpart of Standard "anta".

27. مع بعض

    Maʿ baʿḍ

    Together

    Usage

    E.g. "yalla nrūḥ maʿ baʿḍ" (let's go together).

    Grammar Note

    Literally "with each other".

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