Darlene Eva

The Lebanese word for home or house is بيت (bēt). Standard Arabic says “bayt”, and Lebanese speakers turn the vowel into a long ē.

In Lebanese Arabic “thunder” is رعد (raʿd). Lightning is برق (barʔ), and the two words often come together.

In Lebanese Arabic you call a man حبيبي (habibi) and a woman حبيبتي (habibti), both meaning “my love” or “my dear”.

Bread is خبز (khobz) in Lebanese Arabic. The thin round flatbread eaten with most meals is خبز عربي (khobz ʿarabi), and one loaf is a رغيف (raghīf).

The everyday Lebanese word for “beautiful” or “pretty” is حلو (helo) for masculine things and حلوة (helwe) for feminine ones.

The Lebanese way to say “shut up” is اسكت (osket) to a man and اسكتي (osketi) to a woman.

The everyday Lebanese way to say “no problem” is ما في مشكلة (ma fi moshkle). Say ما في مشكلة (ma fi moshkle) when someone asks for a favor or apologizes.

In Lebanese Arabic a bed is usually a تخت (takht). The standard Arabic word سرير (sarīr) is understood everywhere and is also used.

Lebanese children call their father بابا (baba), and بيي (bayyi) means “my father” when talking about him.

In Lebanese Arabic “yesterday” is مبارح (mbāreḥ). Standard Arabic says أمس (ams), but people say مبارح in conversation.