Robyn Lesley

The everyday Lebanese word for money is مصاري (masari).

A very Lebanese way to call someone gorgeous is قمر (ʾamar), literally “moon”. It fits a man or a woman.

The everyday Lebanese word for love is حب (hob), and the verb بحب (bhebb) means “I love”. حب (hob) covers love between partners, family and friends.

Beer is بيرة (bīra) in Lebanese Arabic. The plural is بيرات (bīrāt), and for two beers people say بيرتين (bīrtēn).

In Lebanese Arabic “bear” is دب (dubb). The word is the same in Standard Arabic.

In Lebanese Arabic the noun “smell” is ريحة (rīḥa). The verb “to smell something” is شمّ (shamm).

In Lebanese Arabic, “good” is منيح (mnīḥ). People use it for food, weather and plans, and also to say they are fine.

To say “God bless” to a man in Lebanese Arabic, use الله يبارك فيك (allāh ybārek fīk). To a woman it is الله يبارك فيكي (allāh ybārek fīki).

The Lebanese word for head is راس (rās). With the ending -i it becomes راسي (rāsi), “my head”.

In Lebanese Arabic you say صاحبي (sahbi) for “my friend” about a man and صاحبتي (sahbte) about a woman.