Lebanese

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).

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).

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.

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

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 “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.