حلو
heloeveryday, masculine
The everyday Lebanese word for "beautiful" or "pretty" is حلو (helo) for masculine things and حلوة (helwe) for feminine ones. جميل (jamīl) also exists and sounds more formal.
Meaning: beautiful, pretty (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| حلو | helo | everyday, masculine |
| جميل | jamīl | formal |
| حلوة | helwe | everyday, feminine |
حلو (helo) works for people, houses, views and clothes. Add كتير (ktīr), "very", to make it stronger: كتير حلو (ktīr helo).
Which one should you use?
جميل (jamīl) is the standard Arabic word. You will hear it in writing and in careful speech, while حلو (helo) is what people say to each other.
Did you know?
- The word حلو (helo) literally means "sweet" and shares its root with حلويات (halawiyyāt), the word for sweets.
Examples in context
- البيت حلو كتيرel-bayt helo ktīrThe house is very beautiful.
- الصورة حلوةes-sūra helweThe picture is beautiful.
- شو حلو هالمنظرshu helo hal-manẓarWhat a beautiful view.
Example conversation
Maya shows her friend Jad the new apartment she just rented in Jounieh.
- Jadشو حلو البيت!shu helo el-bayt!What a beautiful apartment!
- Mayaشكرا، شوف البلكونshokran, shūf el-balkōnThanks, look at the balcony.
- Jadالمنظر حلو كتيرel-manẓar helo ktīrThe view is very beautiful.
