Question Words

1. شو؟

   Shū?

   What?

   Usage

   Used alone to ask for repetition, or at the start of a sentence as in "shū hāda?".

   Grammar Note

   The colloquial counterpart of Standard "mādhā". Question words come first.

2. وين؟

   Wēn?

   Where?

   Usage

   The basic place question; put the noun after it, e.g. "wēn el-funduʾ?".

   Grammar Note

   Pan-Levantine "where" (not Egyptian "fēn").

3. إيمتى؟

   Īmta?

   When?

   Usage

   Asks about time, e.g. "īmta btiftaḥ?" (when does it open?).

   Grammar Note

   Spelling varies (أيمتى, إيمتى); this app uses "إيمتى".

4. مين؟

   Mīn?

   Who?

   Usage

   Asks about a person; on the phone "mīn maʿi?" means "who is this?".

   Grammar Note

   The colloquial counterpart of Standard "man".

5. ليش؟

   Lēsh?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason. "lashū" means the same.

   Grammar Note

   "lēsh" is a contraction of "li-ayy shay'".

6. كيف؟

   Kīf?

   How?

   Usage

   Asks about manner or method; it comes first, as in "kīfak?" (how are you?).

   Grammar Note

   Same as Standard "kayfa"; also the stem of the greeting "kīfak".

7. كم واحد؟

   Kam wāḥad?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks for a count of people or things. "ʾaddēsh ʿadadon?" is another way to ask.

   Grammar Note

   After "kam" the counted noun is singular.

8. قديش هاد؟

   ʾAddēsh hāda?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The standard price question. Jordan/Palestine also say "bikam"; Lebanon says "hayda" instead of "hāda".

   Grammar Note

   Urban speech turns "ق" into a glottal stop. For a feminine noun use "hāy".

9. أي واحد؟

   Ayy wāḥad?

   Which one?

   Usage

   Said while pointing at options. For a feminine noun: "ayy waḥde?".

   Grammar Note

   "ayy + noun" means "which ..."; "wāḥad" acts as a pronoun here.

10. شو هاد؟

    Shū hāda?

    What is this?

    Usage

    For pointing at an unfamiliar dish or object.

    Grammar Note

    A verbless sentence; no copula is needed.

11. وين الحمام؟

    Wēn el-ḥammām?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    "el-ḥammām" means bathroom and is the normal word for the toilet in public too. "et-tuwālēt" also works.

    Grammar Note

    No copula is needed.

12. قديش الساعة؟

    ʾAddēsh es-sāʿa?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Asks the time. "kam es-sāʿa?" is also heard.

    Grammar Note

    "ʾaddēsh" asks about quantities and also the time.

13. عندك هاد؟

    ʿIndak hāda?

    Do you have this?

    Usage

    In a shop, pointing at an item. To a woman it is pronounced "ʿindik" (same spelling).

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar. Yes/no questions keep word order and rely on intonation.

14. فيك تعمل هيك؟

    Fīk taʿmel hēk?

    Can you do that?

    Usage

    To check whether someone can do something. To a woman: "fīki taʿmli hēk?".

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar. "fīk + bare verb" expresses "can".

15. في رسوم؟

    Fī rusūm?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    Asks whether there is an entry or service fee. "bibalāsh" in reply means free.

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar. "fī + noun" asks "is there ...?".

16. هاد ببلاش؟

    Hāda bbalāsh?

    Is this free?

    Usage

    Check whether a taster or handout is free. "bbalāsh" means "for free".

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar. "b-" is the preposition "for/with".

17. مسموح؟

    Masmūḥ?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    Asks whether something such as photography or entry is allowed; add the object, e.g. "masmūḥ et-taṣwīr?".

    Grammar Note

    A passive participle meaning "permitted".

18. مو مسموح؟

    Mū masmūḥ?

    Is it not allowed?

    Usage

    To confirm a ban. In Lebanon and Jordan: "mish masmūḥ?".

    Grammar Note

    Nouns and adjectives are negated with "mū" (Syria) or "mish" (elsewhere in the Levant).

19. إنت منيح؟

    Inte mnīḥ?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    To someone who looks unwell. To a woman: "inti mnīḥa?".

    Grammar Note

    "mnīḥ" is an adjective that agrees in gender and number.

20. عنجد؟

    ʿAnjad?

    Really?

    Usage

    A reaction of surprise, extremely common in conversation.

    Grammar Note

    A fused form of "ʿan jadd" ("in earnest").

21. إنت متأكد؟

    Inte mitʾakkid?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    To a woman: "inti mitʾakkade?".

    Grammar Note

    An active participle that changes with gender.

22. من وين إنت؟

    Men wēn inte?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    Asks origin. To a woman: "min wēn inti?".

    Grammar Note

    The preposition "min" comes before the question word.

23. شو اسمك؟

    Shū ismak?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    To a woman it is pronounced "ismik" (same spelling). Answer: "ismi ...".

    Grammar Note

    "ism" plus the possessive suffix -ak/-ik.

24. قديش عمرك؟

    ʾAddēsh ʿumrak?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asking age can be rude with adults you have just met, especially women. Use it with children or friends.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "how much is your age".

25. فينا ناخد صورة مع بعض؟

    Fīna nākhod ṣūra maʿ baʿḍ?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    Always ask before photographing people. Do not photograph military personnel, checkpoints or government buildings.

    Grammar Note

    "nākhod ṣūra" is the idiom for taking a photo.

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