منيح
mnīḥeveryday, Lebanese
In Lebanese Arabic, "good" is منيح (mnīḥ). People use it for food, weather and plans, and also to say they are fine. كويس (kwayyes) is a casual alternative.
Meaning: of high quality or fine (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| منيح | mnīḥ | everyday, Lebanese |
| كويس | kwayyes | casual |
منيح is the usual answer when someone asks how you are: منيح، الحمدلله (mnīḥ, el-ḥamdella), "good, thank God".
Which one should you use?
The standard Arabic word جيد (jayyid) sounds bookish in Lebanese conversation, so منيح is what you will hear.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes with the person it describes. A woman is منيحة (mnīḥa) and a group is منيحين (mnīḥīn).
Did you know?
- منيح is also the word for a healthy or well person, so صرت منيح (ṣirt mnīḥ) can mean "I got better".
Examples in context
- الأكل منيح كتيرel-akel mnīḥ ktīrThe food is very good.
- أنا منيح، وإنت؟ana mnīḥ, w inte?I am good, and you?
- هيدا الخيار منيحhayda l-khyār mnīḥThis choice is good.
Example conversation
Karim runs into his neighbor Rima on the stairs of their building in Beirut.
- Karimصباح الخير ريما، كيفك؟ṣabāḥ el-khēr Rīma, kīfik?Good morning Rima, how are you?
- Rimaمنيحة، الحمدلله، وإنت؟mnīḥa, el-ḥamdella, w inte?I am good, thank God, and you?
- Karimمنيح، شكراًmnīḥ, shukranGood, thanks.
