قرد
'erdLebanese, everyday
The Lebanese word for monkey is قرد ('erd) (2erd), with the first letter pronounced as a glottal stop instead of a hard q.
قرد (2erd) is the animal, as in في قرد بالحديقة (fi 2erd bil-hadiqa). Lebanese speakers also call a mischievous child قرد (2erd) in a joking way.
Meaning: a primate animal (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
In standard Arabic the first sound is q, but in Beirut and most of Lebanon it is a short glottal stop, so the word sounds like erd.
Did you know?
- Many Lebanese speakers replace the Arabic letter ق (q) with a glottal stop, which is one of the best known features of urban Lebanese speech.
Examples in context
- شفت قرد بالسيرك.shift 'erd bis-sirk.I saw a monkey at the circus.
- هالولد متل القرد.hal-walad metl el-'erd.This boy is like a monkey.
Example conversation
A little boy, Karam, points at a monkey while visiting a zoo with his aunt.
- Karamخالتو، شوفي القرد!khaltou, shoufi el-'erd!Auntie, look at the monkey!
- Auntشو عم يعمل؟shu 3am ya3mel?What is he doing?
- Karamعم ياكل موزة.3am yekol mouze.He is eating a banana.
