Levantine Arabic/Printable version

Levantine Arabic

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Pronunciation

Consonants

Letter(s)	Romanization	IPA	Pronunciation notes
أ إ ؤ ئ ء	'	[ʔ]	glottal stop like in uh-oh
ق	' g	[ʔ] [g]	glottal stop (urban accent) "hard g" as in get (Jordanian, Beduin)
ع	ʕ	[ʕ]	voiced throat sound similar to "a" as in father, but with more friction
ب	b	[b]	as in English
د	d	[d]	as in English
ض	ḍ	[dˤ]	emphatic "d" (constricted throat, surrounded vowels become dark)
ف	f	[f]	as in English
غ	ġ	[ɣ]	like Spanish "g" between vowels, similar to French "r"
ه	h	[h]	as in English
ح	ḥ	[ħ]	"whispered h", has more friction in the throat than "h"
ج	j	[dʒ] or [ʒ]	"j" as in jump or "s" as in pleasure
ك	k	[k]	as in English
خ	ḵ	[x]	"ch" as in Scottish loch, like German "ch" or Spanish "j"
ل	l	[l]	as in English
م	m	[m]	as in English
ن	n	[n]	as in English
ر	r	[r]	"rolled r" as in Spanish or Italian; "r" is emphatic unless: - followed by the vowel "e" or "i" - followed by no vowel but preceded by the long vowel "i"
س ث	s	[s]	as in English
ص	ṣ	[sˤ]	emphatic "s" (constricted throat, surrounded vowels become dark)
ش	š	[ʃ]	"sh" as in sheep
ت	t	[t]	as in English
ط	ṭ	[tˤ]	emphatic "t (constricted throat, surrounded vowels become dark)
و	w	[w]	as in English
ي	y	[y]	as in English
ز ذ	z	[z]	as in English
ظ	ẓ	[zˤ]	emphatic "z" (constricted throat, surrounded vowels become dark)

Formal MSA words

Some letters preserve the original sound in usually formal words from [[w:Modern Standard Arabic].

Letter(s)	Romanization	IPA	Pronunciation notes
ذ	ḏ	[ð]	voiced "th" as in this
ق	q	[q]	guttural "k" pronounced further back in the throat
ث	ṯ	[θ]	voiceless "th" as in think

Additional sounds in loanwords

Some sounds that don't exist in Arabic are rendered as follows:

Letter(s)	Romanization	IPA	Pronunciation notes
ج غ ك	g	[g]	"hard g" as in get
ب	p	[p]	"p" as in pen
ف	v	[v]	"v" as in vat

Vowels

Short vowels

Sign	Romanization	Environment	IPA	Pronunciation notes
ـَ (Fatḥa)	a	near emphatic consonant	[α]	as in got (American pronunciation)
		elsewhere	[a~æ]	as in cat
ـِ (Kasra)	e / i	before/after ḥ or ʔ	[ɛ]	as in get
		elsewhere	[e] or [ɪ]	as in kit
ـُ (Ḍamma)	o / u		[o] or [ʊ]	as in full

The difference between the short vowel pairs "e" and "i" as well as "o" and "u" is not phonemic. The vowel quality is usually "i" and "u" in stressed syllable.

Stressed "i" and "u" merge in North Levantine. They usually become "i", but might also be "u" near emphatic consonants. Syrian tends to pronounce both of them as schwa [ə].

Long vowels

Letter(s)	Romanization	Environment	IPA	Pronunciation notes
ـَا	ā	near emphatic consonant	[αː]	as in father
		elsewhere	[aː~æː]	as in can
		Imāla in North Levantine	[ɛː~eː]	as in face, but plain vowel
ـَي	ē	any	[eː]
		in open syllable in Lebanese	/ay/	as in price or in face
ـِي	ī		[iː]	as in see
ـَو	ō	any	[oː]	as in boat, but plain vowel
		in open syllable in Lebanese	/aw/	as in mouth or in boat
ـُو	ū		[uː]	as in food

The long vowel "ā" is pronounced similar to "ē" or even merge to "ē" in North Levantine, when it's not near an emphatic or guttual consonant.

The long vowels "ē" and "ō" have evolved form the MSA diphthongs "ay" and "aw". Those diphthongs are preserved in open syllables in Lebanese.

Final vowels

Vowels in word final position are shortened. As result more short vowels are distinguished.

Letter(s)	Romanization	Environment	IPA	Pronunciation notes
ـَا ـَى ـَة	a	near emphatic consonant	[α]	as in got (American pronunciation)
		elsewhere	[a~æ]	as in cat
ـَا ـَى	e	Imāla in North Levantine	[ɛ~e]	as in get, but closed vowel
ـِة	e		[e]
ـِي	i		[i] [e] (Lebanese)	as in see, but shorter merged to "e" in Lebanese
ـُه	o		[o]	as in lot, but closed vowel
ـُو	u		[u] [o] (Lebanese)	as in food, but shorter merged to "o" in Lebanese

Helping vowels

Helping vowels are optionally inserted in order to simplify pronunciation. They might be marked in romanization as superscript vowels "e" and "o".

The helping vowel is "e" most of the time, but usually "o" if the preceding (usually stressed) syllable has the vowel "o" or "u".

Helping vowels are typically inserted in the following cases:

• Before an initial cluster of two consonants, if the preceding word or prefix doesn't end in vowel
• Between a final cluster two consonants, if the following word or suffix doesn't start with a vowel
• After the first consonant in a cluster of three consonants
• After the second consonant in a cluster of four consonants
• Geminated (doubled) consonants are pronounced as a single consonant if they precede another consonant

Stress

The stress in Levantine Arabic can be predicted. It might be marked as bold vowel in romanization.

1. If the last syllable superheavy (long vowel + final consonant or vowel + final consonant cluster), it takes the stress.
2. Else, if the second last syllable is heavy (long vowel or vowel + final consonant) or superheavy, it takes the stress.
3. Else, the third last syllable takes the stress, or the first syllable in shorter words.
4. Prefixes as well as Hamza al-Waṣl (initial vowel that disappears if the preceding word ends in a vowel) are ignored.

Negation

Yes and no

	Default meaning	Reply to a negative question
أيوه 'aywa إيه 'ē (N) / آه 'ā (S) نعم naʕam (formal)	yes	no (agreement)
لأ la'	no	yes (contradiction)
مبلا mbala	-

Negation of verbs

Verbs are negated with the particle ما (ma) preceding the verb and the optional suffix ـش‎ (-š).

	Examples	Commonly used in	Notes
mā + verb	ما كتب ma katab (“he didn't write”) ما بعرف ma baʕref (“I don't know”)	the whole Levant	- the particle ma is stressed
ma + verb + -š	ما كتبش ma katab-š ما بعرفش ma baʕref-š	Jordan, Palestine	- ma is unstressed, the stress of the verb is shifting - same form as in Egyptian Arabic
verb + -š	بعرفش baʕref-š	Palestine	- ma is unstressed, the stress of the verb is shifting - only used with non-past forms (present, subjunctive)

Imperative

In order to negate the imperative, the subjunctive form is used.

	Verb form	Example
Positive	Imperative	نسى nsā (North) إنسى 'insa (South)
Negated	Subjunctive	ما تنسى ma tinsa ما تنساش ma tinsā-š / تنساش tinsā-š لا تنسى la tinsa (formal)

Pseudo verbs

Pseudo verbs like بدّ (bidd-, “want”) and عند (ʕind-, “to have”) are negated with the partile ما (ma) as well, but usally without the suffix ـش‎ (-š).

Example
ما بدّي يّاه ma biddi yyā (“I don't want it”)

Negation of nouns, adjectives etc.

Nouns, adjectives, adverbs and partiples are negated with the preceding particle مش (miš, in the South sometimes pronounced “muš”) or مو (mu, only in Syria).

As modal verbs like لازم (lāzem, “must”) and ممكن (mumken, “may”) are technically adverbs, they are negated the same way as well.

While particles preceding verbs like عم (ʕam, progressive marker) and رح (raḥ, future marker) are usually negated like verbs (see above), they can be negated with مش (miš/muš) as well.

Personal pronouns

In Levantine Arabic, pronouns can appear either as independent words or as suffixes, depending on their function.

Standalone forms

Standalone pronouns are used as subject preceding the verb. When used without a verb the meaning of "to be" is implied.

The pronouns can be omitted when the person is obvious by the conjugation of the verb.

	Masculine	Feminine	Plural
1st person (I, we)	أنا 'ana		نحنا / إحنا niḥna (North) 'iḥna (South)
2nd person (you)	إنت 'inta	إنتي 'inti	إنتو 'intu
3rd person (he, she, they)	هو huwwe	هي hiyye	هن / هنن / هم hinne / hinnen (North) humme (South)

Suffix forms

Suffix pronouns have different functions, depending on what kind of word they are attached to:

• Show possession if attached to nouns
• Object if attached to verbs or prepositions
• Subject if attached to conjunctions

	Masculine	Feminine	Plural
1st person (me, my, us, our)	ـي / ـني -i -y (after vowel) -ni (after verb)		ـنا -na
2nd person (you, your)	ـك -ak -k (after vowel)	ـك -ek -ki (after vowel)	ـكن / ـكم -kon (North) -kom (South)
3rd person (him, his, her, them, their)	ـه -o silent after vowel	ـا / ـها -(h/w/y)a (North) -ha (South)	ـن / ـهم -(h/w/y)on (North) -hom (South)

Some suffix pronouns have a different pronunciation if they are attached to a word ending in a vowel.

The suffix of the 1st person singular has a different form when attached to verb.

The suffix of the 3rd person masculine singular is silent after a vowel, but it has effect on the stress and vowel length.

Examples (South Levantine)

		Nouns, prepositions, conjuctions				Verbs
		Consonant		Tāʼ marbūṭah	Vowel	Consonant	Vowel
Example		بدّ bidd	صاحب ṣāḥeb	مدرسة madrase	أبو 'abu	شفت šuft	شفتي šufti
1st	singular	بدّي bidd-i	صاحبي ṣāḥb-i	مدرستي madrast-i	أبوي 'abū-y	شفتني šufᵉt-ni	شفتيني šuftī-ni
	plural	بدنا bid-na	صاحبنا ṣāḥeb-na	مدرستنا madraset-na	أبونا 'abū-na	شفتنا šufᵉt-na	شفتينا šuftī-na
2nd	masculine	بدّك bidd-ak	صاحبك ṣāḥb-ak	مدرستك madrast-ak	أبوك 'abū-k	شفتك šuft-ak	شفتيك šuftī-k
	feminine	بدّك bidd-ek	صاحبك ṣāḥb-ek	مدرستك madrast-ek	أبوك 'abū-ki	شفتك šuft-ek	شفتيك šuftī-ki
	plural	بدكم bid-kom	صاحبكم ṣāḥeb-kom	مدرستكم madraset-kom	أبوكم 'abū-kom	شفتكم šufᵉt-kom	شفتيكم šuftī-kom
3rd	masculine	بدّه bidd-o	صاحبه ṣāḥb-o	مدرسته madrast-o	أبوه 'abū	شفته šuft-o	شفتيه šuftī
	feminine	بدها bid-ha	صاحبها ṣāḥeb-ha	مدرستها madraset-ha	أبوها 'abū-ha	شفتها šufᵉt-ha	شفتيها šuftī-ha
	plural	بدهم bid-hom	صاحبهم ṣāḥeb-hom	مدرستهم madraset-hom	أبوهم 'abū-hom	شفتهم šufᵉt-hom	شفتيهم šuftī-hom

Questions

Interrogative pronouns

مين mīn	who
لمين la-mīn	whose
شو šū إيش 'ēš (South)	what
لشو la-šu	for what
ليش lēš	why
أيّ 'ayy أنو 'anū (masc.) أني 'anī (fem.)	which
إيمتى 'ēmta	when

وين wēn	where
لوين la-wēn	where to
من وين min wēn منين mnēn	where from
كيف kīf شلون šlōn (Syria)	how
قدّيش 'addēš	how much
كم kam	how many
كل قدّيش kull/kill 'addēš كم مرّة kam marra	how often

In Lebanese the variants ليه (lē, “why”), قدّيه ('addē, “how much”) and إمتى ('imta, “when”) are also common, which are shared with Egyptian Arabic.

Yes-no questions

In order to turn a statement into a simple yes-no questions, the intonation is rising at the end of the sentence.

Verbs

Tenses

Tense	Example		Usage
past tense	عمل ʕimel	he did / he has done
subjunctive	يعمل yaʕmel	he ... (to) do	- after another verb or pseudo-verb - after conjuctions introducing the subjunctive
present tense	بيعمل byaʕmel	he does / he is doing	- general facts - habitual or recurring actions - ongoing actions (instead of present progressive) - future actions (instead of future tense)
progressive	عم يعمل ʕam yaʕmel	he is doing	- ongoing actions (not for verbs of motion)
future tense	رح يعمل raḥ yaʕmel حيعمل ḥa-yaʕmel	he will do
imperative	عمول ʕmōl (N) بيعمل 'aʕmel (S)	do!

Participles

Participle	Example		Usage
active participle	عامل ʕāmel	(is) doing	- ongoing actions for verbs of motion - current state for verbs of perception
passive participle	معمول maʕmūl	(is) done	- expressing the passive voice

Compound tenses

Formation	Example		Usage
كان (kān) + past tense	كان عمل kān ʕimel	he had done
كان (kān) + subjuctive كان (kān) + active participle	كان يعمل kān yaʕmel كان عامل kān ʕāmel	he used to do / he was doing
كان (kān) + progressive	كان عم يعمل kān ʕam yaʕmel	he was doing
كان (kān) + future tense	كان رح يعمل kān raḥ yaʕmel	he was going to do

Verbs/Subjunctive

Formation

The stem of the subjunctive is usally formed by changing the vowels of the past tense 3rd person singular. It can be predicted for form II-X verbs, however it must be learned for form I verbs.

The given form is the 3rd person singular with the prefix “y-”, other persons are derived from it.

Note that any stressed “i” in an emphatic environment can become “u” in North Levantine.

Form	Type	Stem vowel(s)	Past	Subjunctive
I	regular	a → a	فتح fataḥ	يفتح yiftaḥ
		a → i	مسك masak	يمسك yimsik
		a → u	درس daras	يدرس yidrus (N) / yudrus (S)
		i → a	فهم fihim	يفهم yifham
		i → i (rare)	عرف ʕirif	يعرف yaʕrif, yiʕrif
	defective	i (N) / a (S) → i	حكي ḥiki (N) / حكى ḥaka (S)	يحكي yiḥki
		i → a	نسي nisi	ينسى yinsa
		a → a (rare)	قرا 'ara	يقرا yi'ra
	hollow	a → i	جاب jāb	يجيب yjīb
		a → u	شاف šāf	يشوف yšūf
		a → a (rare)	نام nām	ينام ynām
	geminate	a → i	حسّ ḥass	يحسّ yḥiss
		a → u	حطّ ḥaṭṭ	يحطّ yḥuṭṭ
		a → a (rare)	ضلّ ḍall	يضلّ yḍall
II / Iq	regular	a → a-i	علّم ʕallam	يعلّم yʕallim
	defective	a → a-i	خلّى ḵalla	يخلّي yḵalli
III
IV (rare)
V / IIq
VI
VII
VIII
IX (rare)
X

Verbs/Present

Conjugation

The present tense (also called b-imperfect) is formed by adding the prefix بـ (b-/bi-) to the subjunctive form.

The b-prefix is pronounced “b-” if the subjunctive prefix is stressed and “bi-” if its unstressed, resulting in the following conjugation:

Person		Pronoun	Stressed		Unstressed
1st	sg	أنا I	بفهم	bi-fham (N) ba-fham (S)	بجيب	b-jīb (N) ba-jīb (S)
	pl	نحنا / أحنا we	منفهم	mni-fham	منجيب	min-jīb
2nd	m	إنت you (m)	بتفهم	bti-fham	بتجيب	bit-jīb
	f	إنتي you (f)	بتفهمي	bti-fham-i	بتجيبي	bit-jīb-i
	pl	إنتو you (pl)	بتفهمو	bti-fham-u	بتجيبو	bit-jīb-u
3rd	m	هو he	بيفهم / بفهم	byi-fham (N) bi-fham (S)	بجيب	bi-jīb
	f	هي she	بتفهم	bti-fham	بتجيب	bit-jīb
	pl	هن / هم they	بيفهمو / بفهمو	byi-fham-u (N) bi-fham-u (S)	بجيبو	bi-jīb-u

• North and South Levantine differ in the 1st person singular (I) and 3rd person masculine (he) and plural (they).
• When the prefix is stressed, the South Levantine 3rd person masculine is the same as the 1st person singular in North Levantine.
• The 2nd person masculine (you) and 3rd person feminine (she) share the same form.
• In the 1st person plural (we) the prefix becomes assimilated resulting “mn-/min-”, however some speakers pronounce it as “bn-/bin-”.

Present progressive

The present progressive is formed by the particle عم (ʕam) followed by either the subjunctive or present tense of the verb, depending on the region and personal preference.

It is used to emphasize an ongoing action. It's usage is less frequent as in English, as the present tense itself can be used instead.

The present progressive is not used with verbs of motion, where the active participle is used instead.

Greetings

Greetings

The response is usually different than the greeting itself.

Phrase			Responses
هلا! / يا هلا!	hala! / yā hala!	Hi! (informal)	-
مرحبا!	marḥaba!	Hello!	مرحبتين!	marḥabtēn!	Two hellos!
			مراحب!	marāḥeb!	Many hellos!
أهلا! / أهلا وسهلا!	'ahlan! / 'ahla w-sahla!	Welcome!	أهلين!	'ahlēn!	Two welcomes!
			أهلان فيك!	'ahlan fīk(i)!	Welcome to you!
السلام عليكم!	as-salāmu ʕalēkom!	Pease be upon you! (muslim greeting)	وعليكم السلام!	wa-ʕalēkom is-salām!	Upon you be peace!
صباح الخير!	ṣabāḥ il-ḵēr!	Good morning!	صباح النور!	ṣabāḥ in-nūr!	Morning of the light!
مسا الخير!	masa l-ḵēr!	Good evening!	مسا النور!	masa n-nūr!	Evening of the light!

Goodbye

Phrase			Responses
باي! / يلّا باي!	bāy! / yalla bāy!	Bye! (informal)	-
بخاترك!	b-ḵātrak/ek!	Goodbye (Leaving person) “With your permission!”	مع السلامة!	maʕ is-salāme!	Goodbye (Remaining person) “Go safely!”
مع السلامة!	maʕ is-salāme!	Goodbye (Remaining person) “Go safely!”	الله يسلّمك!	'alla ysallmak/ek!	Goodbye (Leaving person) “May God keep you safe!”
تصبح على خير!	tiṣbaḥ ʕala ḵēr!	Good night! “May you morning on goodness!”	تلاقي الخير!	tlā'i l-ḵēr!	“May you encounter goodness!”
			وإنت من أهله!	w-'inta/i min 'ahlo!

Adverbs

Degree

شويّ šwayy	a litte, a bit
كتير ktīr	very
أنجق 'anja' / بالكاد bil-kād	hardly, barely
عالآخر ʕal-'āḵer / عالخالص ʕal-ḵāles	totally, extremely
لألله la-'alla	“to Allah”

Frequency

دايمًا dāyman	always
كتير مرّات ktīr marrāt	often
مرّات marrāt	sometimes
عادةً ʕādatan / بالعادة bil-ʕāde	usually, normally
قليل ما 'alīl-ma	seldom, rarely
بالمرّة bil-marra / أبدًا 'abadan	never, not at all (negated phrase)

Modality

يمكن yimken / بلكي balki	maybe, perhaps
أكيد 'akīd / بالتأكيد bit-ta'kīd	certainly, definitely, for sure
طبعًا ṭabʕan / بالطبع biṭ-ṭabᵉʕ	of course, naturally

Time

هلّا halla / halla' (most common), هسّا hassa (South) regional: هلقيت hal'ēt (Jerusalem), إسّا 'issa (Galilee)

now

Countries

Phrases

Masculine	Feminine	Translation
إنت من وين؟ 'inta min wēn? من وين إنت؟ min wēn 'inta?	إنتي من وين؟ 'inti min wēn? من وين إنتي؟ min wēn 'inti?	Where do you come from?
أنا من الأردن 'ana min il-'urdon		I'm from Jordan.
أنا أردني 'ana 'urdoni	أنا أردنيّة 'ana 'urdoniyye	I'm Jordanian.
وين ساكن؟ wēn sāken?	وين ساكنة؟ wēn sākne?	Where do you live?
ساكن في عمّان sāken fi ʕammān	ساكنة في عمّان sākne fi ʕammān	I live in Amman.

Countries

Arab countries

Country		Nationality (masculine)
-	Arab	عربي ʕarabi (plural without suffix)
الجزاير il-jazāyer / الجزائر il-jazā'er	Algeria	جزايري jazāyri / جزائري jazā'iri
مصر maṣr	Egypt	مصري maṣri
الإمارات il-'imārāt	The Emirates	إماراتي 'imārāti
العراق il-ʕirāq	Iraq	عراقي ʕirāqi
الأردن il-'urdon	Jordan	أردني 'urdoni
لبنان libnān (N) / lubnān (S)	Lebanon	لبناني libnāni / lubnāni
المغرب il-maḡreb	Morocco	مغرب maḡrebi / muḡrabi
فلسطين falasṭīn	Palestine	فلسطيني falasṭīni
السعودية is-suʕūdiyye	Saudi Arabia	سعودي suʕūdi
سوريا sūrya / sūriyya	Syria	سوري sūri
تونس tūnes	Tunesia	تونسي tūnesi
اليمن il-yaman	Yemen	يمني yamani

Americas

Country		Nationality (masculine)
الأرجنتين il-'arjentīn	Argentina	أرجنتيني 'arjentīni
برازيل brāzīl	Brazil	برازيلي brāzīli
كندا kanada	Canada	كنداوي kanadāwi
كولومبيا kōlōmbya	Colombia	كولومبي kōlōmbi
المكسيك il-maksīk	Mexico	مكسيكي maksīki
أميركا 'amērka / أمريكا 'amrīka	United States (coll.)	أميركاني 'amērkāni (plural without suffix)

Asia

Country		Nationality (masculine)
الصين iṣ-ṣīn	China	صيني ṣīni
الهند il-hind	India	هندي hindi
إندونيسيا 'indōnīsya	Indonesia	إندونيسي 'indōnīsi
إيران 'īrān	Iran	إيراني 'īrāni
اليابان il-yābān	Japan	ياباني yābāni
باكستان bākistān	Pakistan	باكستاني bākistāni
تركيا turkiyya	Turkey	تركي turki (plural: أتراك 'atrāk)

Europe

Country		Nationality (masculine)
فرنسا fransa	France	فرنساوي fransāwi
ألمانيا 'almānya	Germany	ألماني 'almāni (plural without suffix)
إيطاليا 'īṭālya	Italy	إيطالي 'īṭāli
روسيا rūsya / rūsiyya	Russia	روسي rūsi
إسبانيا 'isbānya	Spain	إسباني 'isbāni (plural without suffix)
بريطانيا briṭānya	United Kingdom	بريطاني briṭāni

Nationalities

Nationalities are formed from the country names by adding the Nisba suffix. The definite article is removed if present.

Masculine	Feminine	Plural
ـي‎ -i	ـيّة‎ -iyye	ـيّين‎ -iyyīn

Many countries end in ـيا‎ (-ya). This ending is replaced by the Nisba suffix. In many cases the plural form has no suffix at all.

Examples of deriving nationalities from countries

Country	Nationality			Case
	Masculine	Feminine	Plural
لبنان libnān	لبناني libnāni	لبنانيّة libnāniyye	لبنانيّين libnāniyyīn	suffix added
الأردن il-'urdon	أردني 'urdoni	أردنيّة 'urdoniyye	أردنيّين 'urdoniyyīn	suffix added, definite article removed
سوريا sūrya	سوري sūri	سوريّة sūriyye	سوريّين sūriyyīn	-ya replaced by the suffix
ألمانيا 'almānya	ألماني 'almāni	ألمانيّة 'almāniyye	ألمان 'almān	-ya replaced by the suffix, plural without suffix

Colours

Singular	Plural
لون lōn	ألوان 'alwān	colour

Basic colours are "defect" adjectives. They have a special feminine and plural form.

	Masculine	Feminine	Plural
	أحمر 'aḥmar	حمرا ḥamra	حمر ḥumᵒr	red
	أصفر 'aṣfar	صفرا ṣafra	صفر ṣufᵒr	yellow
	أخضر 'aḫḍar	خضرا ḫaḍra	خضر ḫuḍᵒr	green
	أزرق 'azra'	زرقا zar'a	زرق zirᵉ' (N) / zurᵒ' (S)	blue
	أسود 'aswad	سودا sōda	سود sūd	black
	أبیض 'abyaḍ	بیضا bēḍa	بیض bīḍ	white

Other colours are Nisba adjectives derived from nouns.

Masculine	Feminine
بردقاني burd'āni أورانج 'ōrãnj (Leb.)	بردقانية burd'āniyye	orange
نهدي nahdi / ليلكي lēlaki موف mōv (Leb.)	نهدية nahdiyye ليلكية lēlakiyye	purple
بنفسجي banafsaji	بنفسجية banafsajiyye	violet
زهري zahri / زهر zahᵉr	زهرية zahriyye	pink
بني binni	بنية binniyye	brown
رمادي ramādi سكني sakani (S)	رمادية ramādiyye سكنية sakaniyye (S)	grey
كحلي kuḥli	كحلية kuḥliyye	navy blue
خمري ḫamri	خمرية ḫamriyye	dark red
فضي fiḍḍi	فضية fiḍḍiyye	silver
دهبي dahabi	دهبية dahabiyye	gold

As أرانج ('ōrãnj) and موف (mōv) are loanwords, they are invariable and don't have a feminine form.

Clothes

Clothes

تياب tyāb أواعي 'awāʕi	clothes
توب tōb	garment, item of clothing
قميص 'amīṣ كنزة kanze (N)	shirt, blouse
بلوزة blūze	blouse
بنطلون banṭalōn	trousers, pants
صبّاط ṣubbāṭ (N) كندرة kundara (S)	shoes (pair of)

Washing and ironing

غسيل ḡasīl	laundry; washing
نشّافة naššāfe مجفّف mjaffef (N)	clothes dryer
مكوى makwa مكواي mikwāy	iron
جحش كوي jaḥš kawi	ironing board
غسّالة ḡassāle	washing machine

Family

عيلة ʕēle

family

Core family

أب 'abb بي bayy (Leb.)	father		إم 'imm	mother
بابا bāba	dad		ماما māma	mom
أخ 'aḫḫ خي ḫayy (Leb.)	brother		إخت 'iḫt (N) أخت 'uḫt (S)	sister
إخوة 'iḫwe إخوات 'iḫwāt (N)	brothers; siblings		خيات ḫayyāt (N) خوات ḫawāt (S)	sisters
ابن ibᵉn / ولد walad	son		بنت binᵉt	daughter
ولاد wlād	sons; children		بنات banāt	daughters

أبي 'abi (Syr.) بيي bayyi (Leb.) أبوي 'abūy (S)	my father
أخي 'aḫi (Syr.) خيي ḫayyi (Leb.) أخوي 'aḫūy (S)	my brother

Grandparents and grandchildren

جد jidd سيد sīd	grandfather		جدة jidde ست sitt	grandmother
جدو jiddo	grandpa		تيتا tēta	grandma
حفيد ḥafīd	granson; grandchild		حفيدة ḥafīde	granddaughter
أحفاد 'aḥfād	gransons; grandchildren		حفيدات ḥafīdāt	granddaughters

Numbers

Cardinal numbers

0-2

The numbers one and two have a masculine and a feminine form. As the singular and dual form of the noun already imply the number, those numbers are only used with a noun in order to stress it. In that case the numbers follow the noun like an adjective.

		Masculine	Feminine
0	٠	صفر ṣifᵉr
1	١	واحد wāḥad	واحدة waḥde
2	٢	تنين tnēn	تنتين tintēn

3-99

The numbers 3 to 19 have two forms as well, one used independently and one preceding a noun. The noun is plural only after the numbers 3 to 10. After numbers larger than 10 the singular is used.

		Independent	Before noun (attributive)
3	٣	تلاتة tlāte (N) talāte (S)	تلات / تلت tlāt / tlat (N) talat / tlat (S)
4	٤	أربعة 'arbaʕa	أربع 'arbaʕ
5	٥	خمسة ḫamse	خمس ḫamᵉs
6	٦	ستّة sitte	ستّ sitt
7	٧	سبعة sabʕa	سبع sabᵉʕ
8	٨	تمانية / تمانة tmāne (N) tamanye (S)	تمن tman / tmin (N) taman / tman (S)
9	٩	تسعة tisʕa	تسع tisᵉʕ
10	١٠	عشرة ʕašara	عشر ʕašᵉr

		Independent	Before noun (attributive)
11	١١	حدعش/ادعش ḥdaʕš	حدعشر/ad3sh ḥdaʕšar
12	١٢	تنعش tnaʕš	تنعشر tnaʕšar
13	١٣	تلتّعش t(a)lattaʕš	تلتّعشر t(a)lattaʕšar
14	١٤	أربعتش 'arbaʕtaʕš	أربعتشر 'arbaʕtaʕšar
15	١٥	خمستعش ḫamᵉstaʕš	خمستعشر ḫamᵉstaʕšar
16	١٦	ستّعش sittaʕš	ستّعشر sittaʕšar
17	١٧	سبعتعش sabᵉʕtaʕš	سبعتعشر sabᵉʕtaʕšar
18	١٨	تمنتعش t(a)mantaʕš	تمنتعشر t(a)mantaʕšar
19	١٩	تسعتعش tisᵉʕtaʕš	تسعتعشر tisᵉʕtaʕšar

20	٢٠	عشرين ʕišrīn
30	٣٠	تلاتين t(a)lātīn
40	٤٠	أربعين 'arbaʕīn
50	٥٠	خمسين ḫamsīn
60	٦٠	ستّين sittīn
70	٧٠	سبعين sabʕīn
80	٨٠	تمانين t(a)mānīn
90	٩٠	تسعين tisʕīn

100 and above

100	ميّة miyye	pronounced as “mīt” before a noun
200	ميتين mītēn	dual of ميّة (miyye)
300	تلت ميّة t(a)lat-miyye	attributive form + ميّة miyye
400	أربع ميّة 'arbaʕ-miyye
... 900

1,000	ألف 'alf
2,000	ألفين 'alfēn	dual of ألف ('alf)
3,000	تلت آلاف t(a)lat t-ālāf	attributive form + t + آلاف (ālāf)
4,000	أربع آلاف 'arbaʕ t-ālāf
... 10,000

As ألف ('alf) is technically a noun, the numbers 11,000-999,000 are created with attributive form of the number followed by ألف ('alf, singular).

Ordinal numers

Masculine/ before noun	Feminine
أول 'awwal	أولى 'ūla	first
تاني tāni	تانية tānye	second
تالت tālet	تالتة tālte	third
رابع rābeʕ	رابعة rābʕa	fourth
خامس ḫāmes	خامسة ḫāmse	fifth
سادس sādes	سادسة sādse	sixth
سابع sābeʕ	سابعة sābʕa	seventh
تامن tāmen	تامنة tāmne	eight
تاسع tāseʕ	تاسعة tāsʕa	ninth
عاشر ʕāšer	عاشرة ʕāšra	tenth
آخر 'āḫer		last

Ordinal numbers can either precede or follow the noun. When preceding the noun, the masculine singular form is used without the definite article.

There are no ordinal numbers above 10, instead the cardinal numer is used following the noun.

Examples:

Before noun	After noun
أول مرة 'awwal marra	المرة الأولى il-marra l-'ūla	the first time
–	المرة العشرين il-marra l-ʕišrīn	the 20th time
آخر مرة 'āḫer marra	–	the last time

Fractions

Singular	Plural
نص nuṣṣ	أنصاص 'anṣāṣ	half
تلت tilᵉt (N) / tulᵒt (S)	تلات tlāt	third
ربع ribᵉʕ (N) / rubᵒʕ (S)	رباع rbāʕ	quarter
خمس ḫimᵉs (N) / ḫumᵒs (S)	أخماس 'aḫmās	fifth

Time

وقت wa'ᵉt

time

Units of time

يوم yōm	إيام 'iyyām (N) / أيام 'ayyām (S)	day
ليلة lēle	ليالي layāli	night
ساعة sēʕa / sāʕa	ساعات sēʕāt / sāʕāt	hour; clock
دقيقة da'ī'a	دقايق da'āye'	minute
ثانية sānye (N) / ṯāniye (S)	ثواني sawāni (N) / ṯawāni (S)	second

ساعة (sēʕa/sāʕa) is one of the few word that is often pronounced with "ē" even in South Levantine. I doesn't only mean "hour" but also "clock" or "watch".

Time of the day

نهار nhār	daytime
صبح subᵒḥ	morning
ضهر ḍuhᵒr	noon
بعد الضهر baʕd iḍ-ḍuhᵒr	afternoon
مسا masa (m)	evening
ليل lēl	nighttime
نص الليل nuṣṣ il-lēl	midnight

Telling time

When telling the time you literally say "the hour is" (الساعة is-sēʕa / is-sāʕa) followed by the feminine (1-2) or independent (3-12) form of the number for the hour.

The minutes can be expressed by their exact number or by a fraction (half, third, quarter) of an hour. The word for minute (دقيقة da'ī'a) is only used for numbers larger than 10.

For fraction that are nearer to the next hour, they are substracted from it using the word "except" (إلا 'illa).

Question:

قديش الساعة؟ 'addēš is-sēʕa

What time is it?

Examples:

Fraction	Minutes
الساعة تنتين is-sēʕa tintēn		2:00
الساعة تنتين وخمسة is-sēʕa tintēn w-ḫamse		2:05
الساعة تنتين وعشرة is-sēʕa tintēn w-ʕašara		2:10
الساعة تنتين وربع is-sēʕa tintēn w-rubᵒʕ/ribᵉʕ	الساعة تنتين وخمستشر دقيقة is-sēʕa tintēn w-ḫamᵉstašar da'ī'a	2:15
الساعة تنتين وتلت is-sēʕa tintēn w-tult/tilt	الساعة تنتين وعشرين دقيقة is-sēʕa tintēn w-ʕišrīn da'ī'a	2:20
الساعة تنتين وتلت is-sēʕa tintēn w-nuṣṣ	الساعة تنتين وتلاتين دقيقة is-sēʕa tintēn w-talatīn/tlātīn da'ī'a	2:30
الساعة تلاتة إلا تلت is-sēʕa talāte/tlāte 'illa tult/tilt	الساعة تنتين وأربعين دقيقة is-sēʕa tintēn w-'arbaʕīn da'ī'a	2:40
الساعة تلاتة إلا عشرة is-sēʕa talāte/tlāte 'illa ʕašara	الساعة تنتين وخمسين دقيقة is-sēʕa tintēn w-ḫamsīn da'ī'a	2:50

Date

Days

يوم yōm	day
إيام 'iyyām / أيام 'ayyām	days
اليوم il-yōm	today
مبارح mbēreḥ / mbāreḥ	yesterday
أول مبارح 'awwal mbēreḥ/mbāreḥ	day before yesterday
بكرة bukra	tomorrow
بعد بكرة baʕd bukra	day after tomorrow
بعد تلات إيام baʕd tlāt 'iyyām (N) بعد تلت ايام baʕd talatt iyyām (S)	in three days
قبل ... إيام 'abᵉl ... (')iyyām من ... ايام min ... (')iyyām	... days ago

مبارح (mbēreḥ/mbāreḥ) is one of the few words that is often pronounced with "ē" even in South Levantine.

In South Levantine the numbers have a special form before a few words including the plural form of "days" and "months". A "t" sound is added and the hamza is removed from the next word.

Weeks

أسبوع 'usbūʕ / جمعة jumʕa	week
أسابيع 'asābīʕ / جمع jumaʕ	weeks
هالأسبوع hal-'usbūʕ هادا/هيدا الأسبوع hāda/hayda l-'usbūʕ	this week
الأسبوع الجاي il-'usbūʕ il-jāy	next week (lit. "the coming week")
الأسبوع الماضي il-'usbūʕ il-māḍi	last week (lit. "the past week")

Days of the weeks

الأحد il-aḥad	Sunday
التنين it-tanēn / il-ᵉtnēn	Monday
التلاتا il-talāta	Tuesday
الأربعا il-'irbʕa (N) / il-'arbʕa (S)	Wednesday
الخميس il-ḫamīs	Thursday
الجمعة il-jumʕa	Friday
السبت is-sabᵉt	Saturday

Months

In colloquial speech, the names of the months are often replaced by cardninal numbers.

Number	Month name
	شهر šahᵉr	month
	أشهر 'ašhor	months
1	كانون التاني kānūn it-tāni	Janurary
2	شباط šbāṭ	February
3	أذار 'azār / أدار 'adār	March
4	نيسان nīsān	April
5	أيار 'ayyār	May
6	حزيران ḥazīrān	June
7	تموز tammūz	July
8	آب 'āb	August
9	أيلول 'ēlūl	September
10	تشرين الأول tišrīn il-'awwal	October
11	تشرين التاني tišrīn it-tāni	November
12	كانون الأول kānūn il-'awwal	December

Seasons

فصل faṣᵉl	season
ربيع rabīʕ	spring
صيف ṣēf	summer
خريف ḫarīf	autumn
شتا šite (N) / šita (S)	winter

Years

سنة sine (N) / sane (S)	year
سنين snīn	years

Body

جزم jizᵉm

body

Head

راس rās	head
شعر šaʕᵉr	hair
وجّ wijj (Leb.) / وشّ wišš (Syr.) وجه wujᵉh (S)	face
جبين jbīn جبها jabha	forehead
منخار minḫār (N) / munḫār (S) أنف 'anᵉf	nose
تمّ timm (N) / tumm (S)	mouth
لسان lsān	tongue
فكّ fakk	jaw
دقن da'ᵉn	chin

Singular	Plural
عين ʕēn f.	عيون ʕyūn عينين ʕīnēn (Pal.)	eye
حاجب ḥājeb	حواجب ḥawājeb	eyebrow
جفن jifᵉn	جفون jfūn	eyelid
رمش rimᵉs (N) / ramᵉš (S)	رموش rmūš	eyelash
دانة dāne (Leb.) إدن 'idᵉn f. (Syr.) دان dān f. (S)	دانين dānēn (Leb.) أدان 'adān (Syr.) دنين dinēn (S)	ear
خدّ ḵadd	خدود ḫdūd	cheek
سفّة šiffe	سفّات šiffāt	lip
سنّ sinn	سنان snān	tooth

Neck down

رقبة ra'abe	neck
حلق ḥalᵉ'	throat
كتف kitᵉf	shoulder
ضهر ḍahᵉr	back
صدر ṣudᵉr (N) / ṣidᵉr (S)	chest, breast
بطن baṭn	belly, abdomen
صرّة ṣirra (N) / ṣurra (S)	belly button

Weather

Basic terms

طقس/جوء	ṭaʔs/jo2	weather
دنيا	dinya/dunya	world
كيف/شلون الطقس/الجوء اليوم؟	kif/shlon alta2s/jo2 alyom?	How is the weather today?
الطقس/الجوء...	iṭ-ṭaʔs ...	The weather is ...
الدنيا ...	id-dinya/dunya...	It's ...

الطقس (iṭ-ṭaqs) is followed by an adjective (hot, cold, sunny etc.).

الدبيا (id-dinya) is used as a dummy subject like “It's ...” in English. It can be followed by a verb (raining, snowing etc.), or a noun corresponding to an adjective (heat = hot, sun = sunny etc.).

Temperature

حرارة harāra	temperature
درجة daraje	degree(s)
درجات darajāt	degrees (after number 3-10)

Noun	Adjective	Adjective of feeling
شوب šōb حرّ ḥarr	مشوّب mšawweb حارّ ḥārr	شوبان šōbān	hot
دفا dafa	دافي dāfi	دفيان dafyān	warm
برد bard	بارد bāred	بردان bardān	cold

In order to express someone's sensation of the temperature, special adjectives with the ending “-ān” are used.

Examples:

الدنيا شوب اليوم.	id-dinya šōb il-yōm	It's hot today.
الشمس حارّة.	iš-šams ḥārra	The sun is hot.
أنا شوبان.	'ana šōbān	I'm feeling hot.
قدّيش درجة/درجات الحرارة؟	ʔaddēš darajet/darajāt il-harāra?	What's the temperature?
خمسة وعشرين درجة.	ḵamse w-ʕišrīn daraja	(It's) 25 degrees.
خمس (درجات) تحت الصفر.	ḵams (darajāt) taḥt iṣ-ṣifr	(It's) 5 (degrees) below zero.

The sky

سماء sama2	sky		Verb (past)	Verb (present)	Adjective
شمش šams (f)	sun		شمّس šammas	بشمّس bišammes	مشمّس mšammes	sunny
غيم ḡēm	clouds		غيّم ḡayyam	بغيّم biḡayyem	مغيّم mḡayyem	cloudy
شتى šita (m)	rain		شتّى šatta	بشتّي bišatti	مشتّي mšatti	raining

When used with a verb, الدنيا (id-dinya) can be omitted as long as the verb is not the only remaining word in the sentence.

States like “sunny” and “cloudy” can be expressed by verbs well, which have the meaning of “to be ...” or “to become ...”.

Examples:

غيّمت الدنيا.	ḡayyamat id-dinya	It's cloudy. (“The world became cloudy.”)
السما مغيّمة.	is-sama mḡayyme	The sky is cloudy.
(الدنيا) عم بتشتّي.	(id-dinya) ʕam bitšatti	It's raining.
شتّت مبارح.	šattat mbāreḥ	It rained yesterday.

House

بيت bēt / دار dār

house, home

Appliances

جلّاية jallāye	dishwasher
فريزر frīzar تلّاجة tallāje (N)	freezer
تلّاجة tallāje برّاد barrād (N)	fridge, refrigerator
فرن furn	oven
راديو rādyo	radio
تلفزيون talfizyōn	TV

For appliances related to clothes (washing machine, iron etc.) see →Clothes.

Furniture

فرشة farše تخت taḵt	bed
كومودين kōmōdīn (N) كمدينا komodīna (S)	bedside table, nightstand
مكتبة maktabe	bookshelf
كرسي kursi	chair
خزانة ḵazāne	closet, wardrobe; cupboard
مكتب maktab طبقة ṭab'a (N)	desk
سفرة sufra (N) صفرة ṣufra (S)	dining table
جرور jarūr (N) جرّار jarrār (S)	drawer
جوارير jawārīr	chest of drawes
صوفا ṣōfa كنباية kanabāye	sofa, couch
طاولة ṭāwle	table
سكملة skamle	small coffee table

Rooms

غرفة ḡurfe / أوضة 'ōḍa	room
حيط ḥēṭ / جدار jidār	wall
باب bāb	door
شبّاك šubbāk	window
أرض 'arḍ	floor
سقف sa'ef	ceiling
غرفة النوم ḡurfet in-nōm	bedroom
حمّام ḥammām	bathroom
غرفة السفرة ḡurfet is-sufra	dining room
مطبخ maṭbaḵ	kitchen
صالون ṣālōn غرفة القعدة ḡurfet il-'aʕde	living room

Verbs motion

This article is in South Levantine.

The present progressive is not used for verbs of motion. An ongoing motion is expressed by the active participle instead.

Examples:

أنا رايح.	'ana rāyeḥ	I'm going. (male)
أنا رايحة.	'ana rāyḥa	I'm going. (female)
هم رايحين.	humme rāyḥīn	They are going.

Direction of movement

Past tense		Present tense		Active participle		English
راح	rāḥ	براح	birūḥ	رايح	rāyeḥ	to go; to depart
أجا	'aja	بيجي	bīji	جاي	jāy	to come; to arrive
رجع	rijeʕ	برجع	birjaʕ	راجع	rājeʕ	to return, to go/come back
روّح	rawwaḥ	بروّح	birawweḥ	مروّح	mrawweḥ	to return home
فات	fāt	بفوت	bifūt	فايت	fāyet	to enter, to go/come in
دخل	daḵal	بدخل	yūdḵol	داخل	dāḵel
طلع	ṭileʕ	بطلع	biṭlaʕ	طالع	ṭāleʕ	to go/come out
						to go/come up; to get into (vehicle)
نزل	nizel	بنزل	binzal	نازل	nāzel	to go/come down; to get off (vehicle)

Way of motion

Past tense		Present tense		Active participle		English
مشى	maša	بمشي	bimši	ماشي	māši	to walk
ركض	rakaḍ	بركض	burkoḍ	راكض	rākeḍ	to run
ركب	rikeb	بركب	birkab	راكب	rākeb	to ride (bike, bus etc.)
ساق	sā'	بسوق	bisū'	سايق	sāye'	to drive (vehicle)
سبح	sabaḥ	بسبح	bisbaḥ	سابح	sābeḥ	to swim
طار	ṭār	بطير	biṭīr	طاير	ṭāyer	to fly
رقص	ra'aṣ	برقص	bur'oṣ	راقص	rā'eṣ	to dance

Verbs perception

The present tense is rarely used for verbs of perception, when they have a passive meaning (eg. “to hear”). A current perception is expressed by the active participle instead.

Some of those words can also have an active meaning (eg. “to listen”) depending on the context.

Past tense		Present tense		Active participle		English
شاف	šāf	بشوف	bišūf	شايف	šāyef	to see
تطلّع	tṭallaʕ	بتطلّع	bitṭallaʕ	-		to look
تفرّج	tfarraj	بتفرّج	bitfarraj	-		to look; to watch
سمع	simeʕ	بسمع	bismaʕ	سامع	sāmeʕ	to hear; to listen
حسّ	ḥass	بحسّ	biḥess	حاسس	ḥāses	to feel
عرف	ʔiref	بعرف	biʔref, biʔraf, byaʔref	عارف	ʕāref	to know
فهم	fihem	بفهم	bifham	فاهم	fāhem	to understand

Emotions

Many emotions can be described by a stative verb. They usually have a related adjective ending in ـان (-ān), which acts like an active participle.

Emotions

Past tense	Present tense		Adjective
فرح (fireḥ)	بفرح (bifraḥ)	to be happy, glad	فرحان (farḥān)	happy, glad
انبسط (inbasaṭ)	بنبسط (binbaseṭ)	to enjoy, have fun	مبسوط (mabsūṭ)	happy, pleased
حزن (ḥizen)	بحزن (biḥzan)	to feel sad	حزين (ḥazīn), حزنان (ḥaznān)	sad
زعل (ziʕel)	بزعل (bizʕal)	to be angry, annoyed to be upset, distressed	زعلان (zaʕlān)	angry, annoyed upset, distressed
-	-	-	كئيب (ka'īb)	gloomy, depressed
قلق ('ile')	بقلق (ni'la')	to become worried to be concerned	قلقان ('al'ān)	worried, concerned
خاف (ḵāf)	بخاف (biḵāf)	to be afraid, scared	خايف (ḵāyef)	afraid, scared
خجل (ḵijil)	بخجل (biḵjal)	to be embarrassed, ashamed	خجلان (ḵajlān)	embarrassed, ashamed
تحمّس (tḥammas)	بتحمّس (bitḥammes)	to be enthusiastic, excited	متحمّس (mitḥammes)	enthusiastic, excited
حسد (hasad)	بحسد (biḥsed)	to envy, be envious	حاسد (hāsed)	envious
غار (ḡār)	بغار (biḡār)	to be jealous	غيران (ḡērān)	jealous

The body

Past tense	Present tense		Adjective
تعب (tiʕeb)	يتعب (bitʕab)	to become tired	تعبان (taʕbān)	tired; unwell, sick
نعس (niʕes)	بنعس (binʕas)	to feel drowsy, sleepy to dose, nod off	نعسان (naʕsān)	sleepy, drowsy
جاع (jāʕ)	بجوع (bijūʕ)	to be hungry	جوعان (jūʕān)	hungry
شبع (šibeʕ)	بشبع (bišbaʕ)	to become full, satisfied to become fed up	شبعان (šabʕān)	full (eating), satisfied
عطش (ʕiṭeš)	بعطش (biʕṭaš)	to be/become thirsty	عطشان (ʕaṭšān)	thirsty
برد (barad)	ببرد (bubrod)	to become cold to catch a cold	بردان (bardān)	feeling cold
دفي (difi)	بدفى (bidfa)	to warm up	دفيان (dafyān)	feeling warm
-	-	-	شوبان (šōbān)	feeling hot

Templates

This article lists templates used in the Levantine Arabic Wikibook

Text templates

{{ajp-text|...}}    <!-- Formats Levantine Arabic (both North and South) text large and readable, especially used in vocabulary tables. -->

{{ajp-smtext|...}}  <!-- Like ajp-text but smaller, used e.g. when mention something within English text. -->

{{ajp-wikt|...}}    <!-- Like ajp-text but includes a link to the South Levantine Wiktionary entry. -->

{{apc-wikt|...}}    <!-- Like ajp-text but includes a link to the North Levantine Wiktionary entry. -->

{{lang|ar|...}}     <!-- Formats Arabic text with a suitable font without enlargement. -->>