Ways to say it
| Jordanian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| لو سمحت | low samaht | |
| من فضلك | min fadlak | |
| بلييز | please | from English, casual |
من فضلك (min fadlak) means the same thing and is used just as often, especially in more careful speech. Among younger Jordanians, the English word itself appears as بلييز in casual conversation and texting.
What does it mean word for word?
لو سمحت literally means 'if you would permit'. من فضلك means 'from your kindness'.
Which one should you use?
لو سمحت and من فضلك are interchangeable and fit any request, from a waiter to a stranger on the street. بلييز is playful and informal, mostly among friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
لو سمحت and من فضلك are polite in any setting. بلييز is casual and best kept for friends and peers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
These forms of 'please' are shared across the Levant, with only small differences in which one speakers reach for first.
How does it change in a sentence?
سمحت technically changes with who is asked, سمحتي to a woman in careful speech, though many speakers keep لو سمحت fixed regardless.
How do you pronounce it?
The ح in سمحت is a breathy throat sound, and the phrase flows together quickly as one unit, 'low-samaht'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Dropping 'please' in a direct request is not automatically rude in Jordanian Arabic, since tone of voice and relationship carry much of the politeness.
When do people say it?
Jordanians often favour direct requests between close family, trusting tone rather than the word 'please', while strangers and service settings hear لو سمحت far more often.
Did you know?
- لو سمحت frames a request as something the other person graciously permits, rather than something they owe you.
- English words like 'please' slip easily into casual Jordanian texting and speech, sitting comfortably next to native phrases like لو سمحت.
Examples in context
- لو سمحت، وين محطة الباص؟low samaht, wein mahattat il-bas?Excuse me please, where is the bus station?
- من فضلك جيب لي الفاتورة.min fadlak jeeb li il-fatura.Please bring me the bill.
- بلييز ساعدني بهاي الشنطة.please sa'idni bhay ish-shanta.Please, help me with this bag.
Example conversation
Lina asks a waiter named Fadi for the menu at a restaurant in Amman.
- Linaلو سمحت، ممكن المنيو؟low samaht, mumkin il-menu?Excuse me, could I get the menu?
- Fadiطبعاً، هسا بجيبلك.tab'an, hassa bjiblak.Of course, I'll bring it right away.
- Linaومي وحدة كمان من فضلك.w moyeh wahdeh kaman min fadlak.And one water too, please.
- Fadiتحت أمرك.taht amrik.At your service.
