Ways to say it
| Palestinian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| لو سمحت | law samaht | to a man |
| لو سمحتي | law samahti | to a woman |
To a woman, the same phrase becomes لو سمحتي (law samahti). Palestinians also soften a request with من فضلك (min fadlak), closer to Standard Arabic and heard more in shops and offices.
What does it mean word for word?
لو سمحت literally means 'if you allow', using the verb سمح, 'to permit'. من فضلك means 'from your kindness'.
Which one should you use?
لو سمحت is the everyday choice when asking for something, directing someone or getting attention politely. من فضلك sounds a touch more formal.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are polite. لو سمحت works with friends, family and strangers alike, while من فضلك fits paperwork and customer service.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Both phrases are shared across the Levant, with لو سمحت the more common choice in daily Palestinian speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending changes for gender: سمحت to a man, سمحتي to a woman. For a group, Palestinians say لو سمحتوا (law samahtu).
How do you pronounce it?
The stress falls on the second syllable: 'sa-MAHT'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Dropping لو and saying only سمحت can sound abrupt. Keep the full phrase for a polite request.
When do people say it?
لو سمحت is also used simply to get someone's attention, such as calling a waiter, without necessarily asking for a favour yet.
Did you know?
- لو سمحت is used both to make a request and simply to open a sentence politely, the way English speakers use 'excuse me'.
- The reply تحت أمرك, 'at your service', is a common polite response heard from waiters and shopkeepers across Palestine.
Examples in context
- لو سمحت، فين الشارع ده؟law samaht, fin ish-share3 da?Please, where is this street?
- لو سمحتي، ممكن تساعديني؟law samahti, mumkin tsa3dini?Please, can you help me?
Example conversation
Omar asks a waiter, Fares, for the bill at a restaurant in Ramallah.
- Omarلو سمحت، ممكن الحساب؟law samaht, mumkin l-hsab?Please, can I have the bill?
- Faresتحت أمرك، لحظة.taht amrak, lahza.At your service, one moment.
- Omarشكرا، وكاسة ماء لو سمحت.shukran, w kasit maye law samaht.Thanks, and a glass of water, please.
- Faresتمام، جايك هسا.tamam, jayek hassa.Sure, coming right up.
