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 traveler.

Learning some basic Lebanese expressions could always come in handy; however, knowing either English or French should be enough for a tourist visiting Lebanon, since many Lebanese (especially in the youth, and particularly in Beirut) are trilingual.

Pronunciation guide

[http://www.learn-media.com 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.

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" ; e : 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 lebanese 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's pronounced deep in the throat. ; 7 : like a mixture of "h" and "kh"

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

Basics (Kalimet Asesiye)

; Hello. : mar7aba ; Welcome! : ahla w sahla (lebanese also use the french (de rien) or English terms) or they just say ahlan ; How are you? : kifak (male), kifik (female) ; Fine, thank you. : l 7amdella (literally: "thank God") they also say meshe l 7al ; Thank u. : Shookran (they also use the french term(merci) and the english term) ; (I'm) fine. : Mni7 (Male) - Mni7a (Female) ; Well (health) : bikher ; Good : mni7(m) mni7a(f) ; Excellent : tamem ; And you? : w enta (male), w ente (female) ; Blessed : l 7amdella ; What is your name? : shoo esmak? (m), shoo esmik? (f) ; My name is ______ . : esme ______ . ; Nice to meet you. : Tsharrafna ; How old are you? : adde 3omrak? (m) adde 3omrik? (f) ; Please. : men fadlak (male), men fadlik (female) (lebanese also use the english term) ; Thank you. : shookran(arabic) yeslamo(arabic) merci(french)they also use "thank you" ; You're welcome : tekram (male) tekrame (female) ; Welcome (welcoming someone). : ahla w sahla (it will be enough to just say 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'') : 3afwan (egyptian) ; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : "pardon" (French is used here) ; I'm sorry. : "sorry" (English is used here) ; Goodbye (Go with peace) : (formal) Ma3el saleme ; Goodbye (''informal'') : "bye" (English is used here) ; I can't speak Arabic [well]. : ma be7ke 3arabe [mni7] ; Do you speak English? : bte7ke english? or you can just say it in english ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : 7ada menkoon bye7ke english? ; Help! : se3doone ; Okay : tayib or okay ; Look out! : oo3a or ntebih (male) ntebhe (female) ; For sure/Of course! : akeed! ; Good morning. : Saba7 l kher - bonjour (french) ; Good evening. : masa l kher - bonsoir (french) ; Good night. : "bonne nuit" (french) - tesba7 3ala kher (male) tesba7e 3ala kher (female) ; I don't know. : ma ba3rif ; Where is the toilet (bathroom)? : wen l "toilette?" (French is used here) ; Where is the restroom (in a restaurant)? : wen l 7emmem? ; I : ana ; You : enta(m), ente(f) ; I understand : ana befham ; I do not understand : ana ma befham ; Sweetheart : 7abibe(m) 7abibte(f) 7abibe can be used for a female also ; You're the prettiest possible : enta ajmal men l kell (male) ente ajmal men l kell (female) ; Where are you from? : men wen enta? (male) men wen ente (female)

Problems

; Leave me alone. : 7el 3anne or Trekne ; Don't touch me! : ma tde2 fiyye ; I'll call the police. : ra7 de2 lal darak ; Police! : "Police!" (French) ; Stop! Thief! : wa22if! 7arame! ; I need your help. : badde moose3ade ; It's an emergency. : 7ale tar2a ; I'm lost. : do3ot ; I lost my bag. : dayya3et jezdene ; I lost my wallet. : dayya3et l "porte-monnee" taba3e (french) ; I'm sick. : marid or sakhin ; I've been injured. : mensab ; I need a doctor. : badde 7akim ; Can I use your phone? : fiyye esta3mil telephonak?(male) fiyye esta3mil telephonik? (female)

Numbers (Ar2am)

; 1 : wa7ad ; 2 : tnen ; 3 : tlete ; 4 : arb3a ; 5 : khamse ; 6 : sette ; 7 : sab3a ; 8 : tmene ; 9 : tes3a ; 10 : 3ashra ; 11 : 7da3sh ; 12 : tna3sh ; 13 : tlatta3sh ; 14 : arba3ta3sh ; 15 : khamesta3sh ; 16 : setta3sh ; 17 : sabeta3sh ; 18 : tmanta3sh ; 19 : tese3ta3sh ; 20 : 3eshrin ; 21 : wa7da w 3eshreen ; 22 : tnen w 3eshreen ; 23 : tleta w 3eshreen ; 30 : tleteen ; 40 : arb3een ; 50 : khamseen ; 60 : setteen ; 70 : sab3een ; 80 : tmeneen ; 90 : tes3een ; 100 : miyye ; 200 : miten ; 300 : tlet miyye ; 1000 : alf ; 2000 : alfen ; 1,000,000 : malyon ; 1,000,000,000 : melyar ; 1,000,000,000,000 : alf melyar ; number _____ (''train, bus, etc.'') : nomra _____ (train, bus) ; half : nos ; less : a2all ; more : ba3ed, 2aktar

Time

; now : halla2 ; later : ba3den ; before : abel ; morning : sobo7 ; afternoon : ba3d l dohor ; evening : masa, 3ashiye ; night/nights : layle/layele

Clock time (Wa2et)

; What hour is it? : adde l se3a ; one o'clock AM : se3a we7de l sobo7 or you c say 3abukra instead of sobo7 ; two o'clock AM : se3a tenten sobo7 / 3abukra ; noon : se3a tna3sh l dohor ; one o'clock PM : se3a we7de ba3d l dohor ; two o'clock PM : se3a tenten ba3d l dohor ; midnight : noss leil

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) : d2i2a (one minute), d2i2ten (2 min), _____ d2eyi2 (____ min for 3 to 10) ____ di2a (____ min for 11 and above) ; _____ hour(s) : se3a (one hour), se3ten (2 hrs), _____ se3at (____ hrs for 3 to 10) ____ se3a(____ 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) : jem3a (one week), jeme3ten (2 weeks), _____ jme3 (____ weeks for 3 to 10) ____ jem3a (____ weeks for 11 and above) ; _____ month(s) : shaher(one month), shahren(2 months), _____ tesh-hor(____ months for 3 to 10) ____ shaher (____ months for 11 and above) ; _____ year(s) : sene (one yr), sentein(2 yrs), _____ snin (____ yrs for 3 to 10) ____ sene (____ yrs for 11 and above)

Days

; today : lyom ; yesterday : mberi7 ; tomorrow : bookra ; this week : hal jem3a ; last week : jem3it l madye ; next week : jem3it l je

; Sunday : a7ad ; Monday : tanen ; Tuesday : taleta ; Wednesday : ereba3a ; Thursday : khamis ; Friday : jem3a ; Saturday : sabet

Months

; January : kenoon l tene ; February : shbat ; March : adar ; April : nisen ; May : ayyar ; June : 7zeiran ; July : tammooz ; August : ab ; September : aylool ; October : teshrin l awwal ; November : teshrin l tene ; December : kenoon l awwal

Writing time and date (Ktaba wakit wa toarik)

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

Colors

; black : aswad (male) sawda (female) ; white : abyad(male) bayda (female) ; gray : rmede (male) rmediyye (female) ; red : a7mar (male) 7amra (female) ; blue : azra2 (male) zar2a (female) ; yellow : asfar (male) safra (female) ; green : akhdar (male) khadra (female) ; orange : aoun ; purple : "mauve" (french) ; brown : benne (male) benniyye (female)

Transportation (Safar)

Bus and train

; How much is a ticket to _____? : b2addesh l tiket 3a ... ; One ticket to _____, please. : tiket we7de,______ please ... ; Where does this train/bus go? : la wen bi rou7 l train/buss? ... ; Where is the train/bus to _____? : wayno l train/buss? ... ; Does this train/bus stop in _____? : biwa22if l train bi_____ shi? ; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : Aymata l train/l buss byemshe 3a ....? ; When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : Aymata ra7 yousal l train/l buss 3a _____? ; Where are you going? : la wen rayi7 enta? (male) la wen ray7a ente? (female)

Directions

; How do I get to _____ ? : keef boosal 3ala _____ ? ; ...the train station? : ...m7atet l train? ; ...the bus station? : ...m7atet l bus? ; ...the airport? : ...l matar? ; ...downtown? : ...downtown(English used)? ; ...the youth hostel? : ...the youth hostel? (''...'') ; ...the _____ hotel? : ...l _____ hotel? ; ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : safara amerkiyye/canadiyye/australiyye/britaniyye ; Where are there a lot of... : wen fi ktir... ; ...hotels? : ...hotels? ; ...restaurants? : ...mat3am? ; ...bars? : ...bars? ; ...places to see? : ...ma7allet ta shoufa? ; ...sites to see? : ...ma7allet siye7iyye? ; Can you show me on the map? : feek tfarjine l kharita ; Where is the airport? : wen l matar? ; street : taree2 or sheri3 ; Turn left. : khod shmel ; Turn right. : khod yameen ; left : shmel ; right : yameen ; straight ahead : deghre eddem ; towards the _____ : sob l _____ ; past the _____ : ba3d l _____ ; before the _____ : abel l _____ ; Watch for the _____. : ntebih (male) ntebhe (female) la l _____. ; intersection : ta2atoo3 ; north : shmel ; south : jnoub ; east : share2 ; west : ghareb ; uphill : fo2 ; downhill : ta7et ; Car rental agency : Sherkit te2jir siyarat ; passport : jawez safar

Taxi

; Taxi! : "Taxi!" (english) ; Take me to _____, please. : khedne 3ala ____, "please" (english) ; How much does it cost to get to _____? : adde l towsile 3a ____? ; Take me there, please. : khedne la honik, "please" (english)

Lodging

; Do you have any rooms available? : fi oowad fadye? ; How much is a room for one person/two people? : adde l ooda la shakhs/la shaksein? ; Does the room come with... : bteje l ooda ma3... ; ...bedsheets? : ...couvre-lits? ; ...a bathroom? : ...7emmem ; ...a telephone? : ... telephone? ; ...a TV? : ... Television? ; May I see the room first? : fine 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 ekheda ; I will stay for _____ night(s). : ra7 eb2a_____ layele. ; Can you suggest another hotel? : btonsa7ne bi hotel tene? ; Do you have a safe? : 3endkoon khazne? ; What time is breakfast/supper? : ayya se3a l terwi2a/l 3asha? ; Please clean my room. : please naddefle l ooda. ; Can you wake me at _____? | fik (male) fike (female) twa3ine 3al_____? ; I want to check out. : badde 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. : tawle la shakhes/shakhsen please ; Can I look at the menu, please? : fine shoof l menu please?' ; Can I look in the kitchen? : fine shoof bel 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 nabete (male) ana nabetiyye (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/lard alil ; fixed-price meal : fixed-price meal (''...'') ; a la carte : a la carte (''...'') ; breakfast : terwi2a ; lunch : ghada ; tea (''meal'') : shay ; supper : 3asha ; I want _____. : badde ; I want a dish containing _____. : badde sa7en fiyo .... ; chicken : djej ; meat : la7me ; fish : samak ; ham : jambon ; sausage : m2eni2 ; cheese : jebne ; 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 _____? : please badde kebbeyit ... ; May I have a cup of _____? : please badde fenjen ... ; May I have a bottle of _____? : please badde anninit ... ; coffee : ahwe ; tea (''drink'') : shay ; juice : 3aseer ; (bubbly) water : may (ghaziyye) ; water : may ; beer : beera ; red/white wine : nbeed a7mar/abyad ; May I have some _____? : please fine ekhood ... ; salt : mele7 ; black pepper : bhar aswad ; butter : zebde ; Excuse me, waiter? (''getting attention of server''): law sama7t ; I'm finished. : khallaset ; It was delicious. : kenit taybe ; Please clear the plates. : Please clear the plates. (''...'') ; The check, please. : l 7seb please

Bars

; Do you serve alcohol? : 3endak alcohol? ; Is there table service? : fi khedmit tawlet? ; A beer/two beers, please. : we7de 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. : annine 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 tene please ; Another round, please. : round tenye please ; When is closing time? : ayya se3a betsakro?

Shopping

; Do you have this in my size? : fi menna 3a 2yese? ; How much is this? : bi adde hay? ; That's too expensive. : hayda kteer ghale ; Would you take _____? : btekhdo .... ; expensive : ghale (male) ghalye (female) ; cheap : rkhees (male) rkheesa (female) ; I can't afford it. : ma ma3e 7a22a ; I don't want it. : Ma badde yeha ; You're cheating me. : 3am testelemne (male) 3am testelmine (female) ; I'm not interested. : manne mehtamm (male) manne mehtamme (female) ; OK, I'll take it. : tayeb ra7 2ekheda ; Can I have a bag? : fine ekhood kees? ; Do you ship (overseas)? : btesh7ano douwale? ; I need... : 3ayiz (male) 3ayze (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 me3de ; ...a razor. : shafrit 7le2a ; ...an umbrella. : shamsiyye ; ...sunblock lotion. : creme lal shames ; ...a postcard. : bita2a baridiyye ; ...postage stamps. : tawabi3 barid ; ...batteries. : battariyyet ; ...writing paper. : wara2 mketib ; ...a pen. : alam ; ...English-language books. : kteb english ; ...English-language magazines. : majallet english ; ...an English-language newspaper. : jareede english ; ...an English-English dictionary. : amoos english

Driving

; I want to rent a car. : badde esta2jir siyyara ; Can I get insurance? : fine ekhood assurance? ; stop (''on a street sign'') : w2af ; one way : sens unique (french) ; yield : yield (''...'') ; no parking : mamnoo3 l woo2oof ; speed limit : speed limit (''...'') ; gas (''petrol'') station : m7attit benzeen ; petrol : benzeen ; diesel : mezoot

Authority

; I haven't done anything wrong. : ma 3melet shi ghalat ; It was a misunderstanding. : ken sou2 tafehoom ; Where are you taking me? : wen ekhdinne ; Am I under arrest? : ana maw2oof? (male) ana maw2oofe (female) ; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : ana moowatin (male) moowatne (female) amerkene/australe/britane/canade ; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : badde e7ke ma3 l safara/l2onsliye l amerkiyye/l australiyye/l britaniyye/l canadiyye/...'') ; I want to talk to a lawyer. : badde e7ke moo7ame ; Can I just pay a fine now? : fiyye bass edfa3 gharame/zabet halla2?

Asking about language

; How do you say _____ ? : Keef bet ool ...? ; What is this/that called? : Shoo hayda?/shoo esmo hayda?