How to Say “Donkey” in Lebanese Arabic

By Robyn Lesley • Updated October 16, 2026

حمار

ḥmāreveryday, Lebanon

A donkey is a حمار (ḥmār) in Lebanese Arabic. The plural is حمير (ḥmīr).

Calling a person حمار (ḥmār) is an insult meaning stupid, so use it only for the animal.

Meaning: a donkey (noun)

Which one should you use?

The standard Arabic pronunciation is حمار (ḥimār), and in speech the first vowel is dropped.

Did you know?

The word حمار (ḥmār) is the same in standard Arabic and in nearly every Arabic dialect.

Examples in context

الحمار بالحقل
el-ḥmār bil-ḥaʼl
The donkey is in the field.
ركبنا عالحمار
rkebna ʿal-ḥmār
We rode the donkey.
عندهم حمار وبقرة
ʿindon ḥmār w baʼara
They have a donkey and a cow.

Example conversation

Ms. Hind shows her pupil Ali a picture book of animals.

Hind

شو هيدا الحيوان؟
shu haydā el-ḥayawān?
What is this animal?
Ali

هيدا حمار
haydā ḥmār
This is a donkey.
Hind

برافو، الحمار بيشتغل كتير
bravo, el-ḥmār byishtghel ktīr
Bravo, the donkey works hard.

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About The Author

Robyn Lesley

Hello beautiful people, I'm Robyn, your friendly guide to the Lebanese language. Obsessed with Lebanese heritage, I dedicate my time to exploring the fascinating intricacies of conversational and formal Lebanese dialect. Quite the foodie, you'll often find me sampling local cuisines and finding nuanced ways to describe them. Among my favorite phrases are "Bon Appétit" and "Enjoy Your Food" in Lebanese. I appreciate a good "beiruti" beer while penning down my next piece. From "Hi" to "Goodbye", from "Love" to "Monkey", join me as we unlock the charm of the Lebanese dialect. Shaklik hélu! (You look nice!)

Robyn LesleyHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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