بدّي
baddieveryday, Lebanese
In Lebanese Arabic, "I want" is بدّي (baddi). It is followed by a noun or a verb, as in بدّي قهوة (baddi ʾahwe), "I want a coffee". The negative is ما بدّي (ma baddi). It is also called بدّنا (baddna).
Meaning: expressing a wish or need (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بدّي | baddi | everyday, Lebanese |
| ما بدّي | ma baddi | negative |
| بدّنا | baddna | we want |
بدّي is used in everyday requests. In a shop or café, it is normal and not rude.
Which one should you use?
Standard Arabic says أريد (urīd). Lebanese speakers say بدّي in nearly every conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word takes endings: بدّك (baddak) "you want", بدّه (badda) "he wants", بدّنا (baddna) "we want". For a woman: بدّك spoken baddik.
Did you know?
- بدّي (baddi) is one of the most typical Lebanese words, and the same root is used for "will" in sentences like بدّي روح (baddi rūḥ), "I am going to go".
Examples in context
- بدّي قهوةbaddi ʾahweI want a coffee.
- ما بدّي روحma baddi rūḥI do not want to go.
- بدّنا ناكلbaddna nākolWe want to eat.
Example conversation
Elias and Mia order at a small restaurant in Byblos.
- Waiterشو بدّكن؟shū baddkon?What do you want?
- Eliasبدّي حمّص وسلطةbaddi ḥommoṣ w salaṭaI want hummus and salad.
- Miaوأنا بدّي عصير ليمونw ana baddi ʿaṣīr laymūnAnd I want lemon juice.
