Common Lebanese Terms and Phrases
August 27th, 2010
This a list of the most common Lebanese words and phrases.
The Lebanese Language Institute has an extended list of Phrases that will be published later, categorized form by situations and places.
| English | Lebanese [Generic/Masculine] | Lebanese [Feminine] |
| Hi, Hello | Marḣaba | |
| How are you doing? | Kiifak? | Kiifik? |
| I am fine? | Mniiḣ | Mniiḣa |
| Certainly/sure! | Akiid! | |
| Are you sure? | Akiid? | Akiide? |
| This is | Hayda | Hayde |
| Yes | E | |
| No | La’ | |
| Good moorning | The most used phrased is the French’s Bon Jour, pronounced Bon Jur.Nharkon saxiid is a Lebanese phrase that is used too. | |
| Good evening | The most used phrased is the French’s Bon soir, pronounced Bon swar.Masa l ḱer is also used. | |
| Thanks/ Thank you | French’s Merci is the most used, pronounced mersii.English’s Thanks is the second most used.Yislamo is a Lebanese term that is also used.Arabic’s Cukran is understood but not widely used. | |
| You’re welcome | If French is used for thanks, the reply will be Derien, pronounced Deryan.If English is used for thanks, the reply will be Welcome.If Lebanese is used for thanks, the reply will be Ahlen or:Tikram. If Arabic was used for thanks, you can reply in Lebanese or use xafwan! | |
| Tikrame | ||
| What is your name? | Cu ismak? | Cu ismik? |
| My name is …. | Isme … | |
| Pleased/ honored to meet you | Tcirrafna/ tcarrafna | |
| I love you | Ana bḣibbak/ Bḣibbak | Ana bḣibbik/ bḣibbik |
| Lebanon | Libnen | |
| Do you speak Lebanese? | Btiḣke Libnene? | |
| I speak a little | Biḣke cway | |
| I speak good Lebanese | Biḣke Libnene mniiḣ | |
| I don’t speak Lebanese | Ma biḣke Libnene | |
| Maybe | Yimkin | |
| Sorry | Pardon [French] pronounced Pardon | |
| Bye | Bye [English] | |
| Good | Mniiḣ | |
| Very good | Ktiir mniiḣ | |
| OK | OK | |
| Now | Halla` | |
| Soon | Bsirxa | |
| Later | Baxden | |
| Waw | Yay | |
| Oh | Yii | |
| Here | Hon | |
| What time is it? | Adde ssexa? | |
| I like/ I love | (Ana) bḣib | |
| I like to sleep | Bḣib nem | |
| Let’s go/ come on | yalla | |
| do you have water? | Xindak may? | Xindik may? |
| I want to eat | Badde ekol | |
| A little | Cway | |
| Slowly/ little by little | Cway cway | |
| That’s too much | hayda ktiir | |
| Later | baxid cway | |
| There is/ there are | Fii | |
| Is there/Are there? | Fii? | |
| Is there a restuarant here? | Fii maṫxam hon? | |
| Is there a restroom here? | Fii ḣimmem hon? | |
| Can you? | Fiik? | Fiike? |
| Can you come? | Fiik tije? | Fiike tije? |
| Can I bring my friend? | Fiiyye jiib rfii`e? | Fiiyye jiib rfii`te? |
| No one is here | Ma fii ḣada hon. | |
| No one came | Ma ija ḣada | |
| Can I try it on? | Fiyye jarrbo? | Fiyye jarriba? |
| Can I help you? | Fiyye sexdak? | Fiyye sexdik? |
| Can you help me? | Fiik tsexidne? | Fiike tsexdiine? |
| Do you want to eat? | Baddak tekol? | Baddik tekle? |
| I don’t have time | Ma xinde wa`it | |
| I am in a hurry | Mistaxjil | Mistaxjle |
| I am not hungry | Manne Juxan | Manne Juxane |
| I am hungry | Ana Juxan | Ana Juxane |
| Are you hungry? | Juxan? | Juxane? |
| Are you sleepy? | Nixsen? | Nixsene? |
| Do you want coffee? | Baddak ahwe? | Baddik ahwe? |
| Yes Please | E Please | |
| No, thanks | No, mersii | |
| Do you want more? | Baddak baxid?/ baxid baddak? | Baddik baxid?/ Baxid baddik? |
| That’s enough | Biikaffe |
