Robyn Lesley

The everyday Lebanese word for “man” is زلمة (zalame), used for any adult male. زلمة (zalame) is what people say in conversation.

The Lebanese word for salt is ملح (melh). Say عطيني الملح (a3tini el-melh), “pass me the salt”, at the table.

To a man, Lebanese people say تصبح على خير (tiṣbaḥ ʿala khēr).

A doctor is a دكتور (doktōr) in Lebanese Arabic. A woman doctor is a دكتورة (doktōra).

To wish someone an enjoyable meal in Lebanese Arabic, say صحتين (ṣaḥtēn), literally “two healths”. A fuller wish is بالهنا والشفا (bil-hana w esh-shifa).

In Lebanese Arabic “watermelon” is بطيخ (baṭṭīkh). It is a collective noun, so it covers one watermelon and watermelon as a fruit.

In Lebanese Arabic “where” is وين (wēn). Standard Arabic uses أين (ayna), but speakers say وين in daily life.

In Lebanese Arabic “stupid” is غبي (ghabi) for a man and غبية (ghabiyye) for a woman. The colloquial أهبل (ahbal) means “silly” or “foolish”.

The Lebanese word for monkey is قرد (2erd), with the first letter pronounced as a glottal stop instead of a hard q.

The Lebanese word for a shoe is صرماية (sarmaye). صرماية (sarmaye) is the everyday word, as in صرمايتي ضيقة (sarmayti dayyaqa), “my shoe is tight”.