Darlene Eva

In Lebanese Arabic “water” is مي (mayy). The standard Arabic word ماء (māʔ) is used in writing and formal speech.

The Lebanese word for popcorn is بوشار (boushar). بوشار (boushar) is what people say at the cinema and at home.

In Lebanese Arabic, “I want” is بدّي (baddi). It is followed by a noun or a verb, as in بدّي قهوة (baddi ʾahwe), “I want a coffee”.

In Lebanese Arabic you tell a man to sit with اقعد (o3od) and a woman with اقعدي (o3odi). Hosts say تفضل اقعد (tfaddal o3od), “please sit down”.

A car is a سيارة (sayyāra) in Lebanese Arabic. The plural is سيارات (sayyārāt). Most drivers just say سيارتي (sayyārti), “my car”.

In Lebanese Arabic “socks” is كلسات (kalsāt). The formal Arabic word جوارب (jawārib) is understood but sounds bookish in conversation.

The common way to say “I miss you” in Lebanese Arabic is اشتقتلك (ishta2tellak) to a man and اشتقتلك (ishta2tellek) to a woman.

Breakfast is فطور (ftūr) in Lebanese Arabic. “For breakfast” is عالفطور (ʿal-ftūr), and “breakfast is ready” is الفطور جاهز (el-ftūr jāhez).

In Lebanese Arabic, grape leaves are ورق عنب (warak ʿinab). The cooked dish of stuffed grape leaves is ورق عنب محشي (warak ʿinab meḥshi).

The standard Lebanese morning greeting is صباح الخير (ṣabāḥ el-khēr), “morning of goodness”. The reply is صباح النور (ṣabāḥ en-nūr), “morning of light”.