لبنان
lebnēncountry, Lebanese pronunciation
The Arabic name of the country is لبنان (lebnēn) in Lebanese pronunciation. Standard Arabic says "lubnān". A Lebanese person is لبناني (lebnēni). It is also called اللبناني (el-lebnēni).
Meaning: country in the Middle East (proper noun)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| لبنان | lebnēn | country, Lebanese pronunciation |
| اللبناني | el-lebnēni | the Lebanese |
Lebanese speakers say بلبنان (b-lebnēn) for "in Lebanon" and من لبنان (men lebnēn) for "from Lebanon".
How do you pronounce it?
The ending -ān of the standard name becomes a long ē in Lebanese, an effect known as imāla.
When do people say it?
The name is often explained as coming from a Semitic root for "white", for the snow on the mountains.
Did you know?
- The name Lebanon is explained as related to the Semitic root for "white", a link to the snow on Mount Lebanon.
Examples in context
- أنا من لبنانana men lebnēnI am from Lebanon.
- بحب لبنان كتيرbaḥebb lebnēn ktīrI love Lebanon very much.
- هو لبنانيhuwwe lebnēniHe is Lebanese.
Example conversation
Hugo, a visitor, talks to a taxi driver at Beirut airport.
- Taxi driverمن وين إنت؟men wēn inte?Where are you from?
- Hugoمن فرنسا، أول مرة بلبنانmen Faransa, awwal marra b-lebnēnFrom France, first time in Lebanon.
- Taxi driverأهلا وسهلا بلبنانahlan w sahlan b-lebnēnWelcome to Lebanon.
