بيبي
bēbēeveryday
In Lebanese Arabic people often say بيبي (bēbē) for a baby, borrowing the English word. The standard word is طفل (ṭifl). It is also called رضيع (raḍīʿ).
Meaning: a very young child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بيبي | bēbē | everyday |
| طفل | ṭifl | standard |
| رضيع | raḍīʿ | infant, formal |
In casual talk بيبي is natural for a baby, while طفل sounds more neutral or written.
Which one should you use?
رضيع (raḍīʿ) means a nursing infant and is used in formal or medical speech. طفل means child and is used for small children too.
Did you know?
- The Lebanese word منيح (mnīḥ), meaning "good", is a typical Levantine word you will hear daily.
Examples in context
- البيبي نايم.el-bēbē nāyem.The baby is sleeping.
- الطفل عم يبكي.eṭ-ṭifl ʿam yebki.The child is crying.
Example conversation
Two neighbors talk on a balcony in Beirut.
- Rimaكيف البيبي؟kīf el-bēbē?How is the baby?
- Mayaمنيح، نايم هلق.mnīḥ, nāyem halla.Good, he is sleeping now.
- Rimaالله يحميه.allāh yeḥmīh.May God protect him.
