غبي
ghabiinsult, to a man
Common Lebanese words for "idiot" are غبي (ghabi), أهبل (ahbal) and حمار (ḥmār), which literally means "donkey". They are insults, so use them only with close friends.
Meaning: foolish person (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| غبي | ghabi | insult, to a man |
| أهبل | ahbal | insult, casual |
| حمار | ḥmār | insult, strong |
Among friends and siblings these words are often said as a joke. With a stranger they are an insult.
How does it change in a sentence?
For a woman, غبي becomes غبية (ghabiyye) and أهبل becomes هبلا (habla).
What mistakes should you avoid?
Calling someone حمار is the harshest of the three. Lebanese speakers also use it for stubbornness.
Did you know?
- أهبل (ahbal) comes from the root هبل (habal), which has the sense of foolishness and is used in all Levantine dialects.
Examples in context
- شو غبي أنا!shū ghabi ana!How stupid of me!
- لا تكون أهبلla tkūn ahbalDo not be an idiot.
- إنت حمار!inte ḥmār!You are a donkey!
Example conversation
Ziad forgets his keys inside the car and talks to himself while his friend Sami laughs.
- Ziadشو غبي أنا، نسيت المفاتيحshū ghabi ana, nsīt el-mafātīḥHow stupid of me, I forgot the keys.
- Samiولو، أهبل!wala, ahbal!Man, you idiot!
- Ziadما تضحكma tiḍḥakDo not laugh.
