A LEVANTINE EXPRESSION FRIDAY (ALEF) #05:

اخر زمان

Transliteration:

akher zaman

Meaning:

Literal: the end of time

However, the phrase is used to express strong dissatisfaction and criticism towards a behaviour, trend or product that are not in line with traditions or societal norms.

The idea behind the expression is that the behaviour or trend in question is deemed as one of the signs of doomsday. This is an exaggeration, of course. But you get the idea.

It’s like seeing teenage kids sporting a ridiculous fashion trend and thinking to yourself, “What’s the world coming to?!”.

Do note the expression is pretty harsh and not a nice thing to say.

Examples:

شباب اخر زمان

shabab  akher zaman

شباب = young men

بنات اخر زمان

banat akher zaman

بنات = girls/daughters

These are two common phrases that have the English equivalent of “kids these days” –  y’know the phrase older people say when they disapprove of the behaviours of kids from the younger generation.

The expression is usually uttered on its own since the explanation is in the context.

To see how the phrase can work in various contexts, simply type the phrase into YouTube.

For example, if you type شباب اخر زمان into YouTube, you’ll come across videos of men dancing flamboyantly or effeminately (behaviours that are not kindly looked upon in a conservative society).

Take a look at this clip titled “بنات اخر زمان” from a famous Lebanese comedy show.

Initially, I thought that the expression, بنات اخر زمان, is referring to the fact that the woman (instead of the man) knows how to change a car’s tyre.

But I was wrong.

At the end of the clip, it became clear that the expression is referring to the fact the woman had asked for the man’s number and suggested that they could go out for drinks (just cause she helped him fix the car).

The show is obviously making fun of the fact that men can get away with asking women out after doing a favour for them, but not the other way around…

Near the end of the clip at 03:32, the conversation goes like this:

اي منروح نشرب شي كاس

Let’s go and grab some (alcoholic) drinks

تففف على بنات اخر زمان

(okay, this is untranslatable but it’s like ‘to hell with girls like you that cause the world to be in this f***ed state’)

تف is the sound made when spitting

ولو احترم حالك لو سمحت

Have some respect [respect yourself], please

روحي انتي احترمي حالك, يا عيب شوم

No, you go and respect yourself. Shame on you

I thought I recalled seeing a post somewhere in the World Wide Web about the phrase عيب شوم. It drives me crazy now that I can’t seem to find it. All I found was this which is not the one I recalled seeing. =(

Anyhoo, here are more common examples:

جيل اخر زمان

jeel akher zaman

جيل = generation

طلاب اخر زمان

tulaab akher zaman

طلاب = students

اولاد اخر زمان

uwlad akher zaman

اولاد = children

موضة اخر زمان

mawdah akher zaman

موضة = fashion

BONUS

Here’s an additional expression for you!

مكان اخر الدنيا

Transliteration:

makan akher dinya

Meaning:

an isolated/remote/secluded place, far away from everyone or everything else

Literally: “a place (at) the end of the world”

Examples:

لاقيت شغل جديد بس والله مكانو باخر الدنيا كتير بعيد علي

la2eyt shugl jdid bas wallah makano b-akher dinya, ktiir ba3eed 3alai

I found a new job but God, the place is so far away from me!

Take a look at this clip from the Jordanian show, Female, and listen from 4:52 till 5:01.

تيما, صحيح عنجد بتكون تسكن بتلاع العلي؟ ما لقيتي محل تاني؟ تلاع العلي اخر الدنيا. ما في ولا اشي حواليها

Tima, saHeh 3anjad bitkun tuskon bi Tla’ al Ali? Ma la2eyti mahal taani? Tla’ al Ali akher dinya. Ma fii wala ishii hawalayha

Tima, is it true that you are living at Tla’ al Ali? You could not find a different place? Tla’ al Ali is such an isolated place [located at the end of the world]. There is absolutely nothing around it.

Fun fact: I used to live at Tla’ al Ali at the beginning of my stay in Amman (and it’s not as bad as she made it out to be! lol).

~~~

That’s it, folks. I hope you like the post.

As usual, let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Take care and I’ll see you around in the hosh,

Lyn

P.S. Don’t forget to hit the share buttons and spread the word about theLevanTongue to others learning Levantine Arabic!

P.S.S. Never miss a post! Subscribe below and be notified of new posts.