Darlene Eva

A cat is a بسة (bisse) in Lebanese Arabic. قطة (ʼetta) is the other common word, and both are feminine.

In Lebanese Arabic you ask “what are you doing?” with شو عم تعمل؟ (shū ʿam taʿmel?) to a man and شو عم تعملي؟ (shū ʿam taʿmli?) to a woman.

In Lebanese Arabic “banana” is موز (mōz) as a collective word, and موزة (mōze) for a single banana.

In Lebanese Arabic people often say بيبي (bēbē) for a baby, borrowing the English word. The standard word is طفل (ṭifl).

The plain word for grandfather is جدّ (jedd). In the family, Lebanese children call their grandfather جدّو (jiddo) or سيدو (sīdo).

The everyday Lebanese phrase for “I miss you” is اشتقتلك (ishtaʾtlak).

The everyday Lebanese word for “delicious” is طيب (ṭayyeb). لذيذ (ladhīdh) is the standard Arabic word and is also understood.

In everyday Lebanese Arabic you address a man politely as أستاذ (ostez), followed by his first name, as in أستاذ جورج (ostez George).

A church is a كنيسة (kenīse) in Lebanese Arabic. The plural is كنائس (kanāʼis).

In Lebanese Arabic a potato is بطاطا (batata), and the word is used for both one potato and potatoes in general.