Ya Reitek by Yazan Haifawi | How I wish...

Let’s learn words and expressions in Levantine Arabic through songs!

Yazan Haifawi is a Jordanian solo artist who used to be part of Jordan’s first ever alternative rock band.

And as a fan of alternative rock or just rock in general, I decided to use one of his songs for this post.

This song is on the slow side with simple lyrics – nothing too complicated which is great for all of us 🙂

Yazan Haifawi - Ya Raitek يزن حيفاوي - يا ريتك

Watch this video on YouTube.

Comments	English	Arabic
	How I wish you were mine	يا ريتك تكوني ملكي
to find something/someone - Verb III لاقى - بلاقي	To wake up everyday and find you (next to me)	اصحى كل يوم ألاقيكِ
to call out Verb III نادى - بنادي	To hear your voice calling out to me	اسمع صوتك تناديني
	How I wish you were	يا ريتك
	a tear in my eyes	دمعة في عيني
to cry Verb I بكى - ببكي to comfort/console someone - Verb III واسى - بواسي	Everytime I cry, you would comfort me	كل ما بكيت تواسيني
	Whenever I'm happy, you would talk to me	كل ما فرحت تحاكيني
	Oh my..	يمّا يا سلام
	Those days...	هل الأيام يمّا
to live Verb I عاش - بيعيش	One day we'll live those dreams	يوم نعيش هل احلام
	How I wish	يا ريت
If someone calls you تاج راسي, it means that the person respects you and regards you as someone precious & important	How I wish you were the crown on my head	يا ريتك تكوني تاج راسي
قاسي = harsh/rough طريق=road/way	We'll walk every difficult paths	نمشي كل طريق قاسي
to build Verb I نبى - ببني	We'll build a tall palace	نبني قصرعالي
	Oh my...	يمّا يا سلام
	Those days..	هل الأيام يمّا
	One day we'll live those dreams	يوم نعيش هل احلام
	How I wish...	يا ريت
	A cruel world ain't oppressed	عالم ظالم مش مظلوم
	Why should I be condemned	ليش اكون انا محكوم
to be absent Verb I غاب - بيغيب	If come a day where the stars of the night disappear	لو يوم نجوم الليل تغيب
to increased something/ it increased Verb I زاد - بيزيد	My love for you will grow	حبي لكِ رح يزيد

The phrase يا ريت is a common phrase used to express a longing/desire for something.

For example,

يا ريت ازور سوريا شي يوم

How I wish I can visit Syria someday

Or you can also wish something for others by adding the appropriate pronouns at the end.

…يا ريتك

How I wish you..

…يا ريتها

How I wish she…

يا ريتك تكوني معي

How I wish you (female) were (here) with me

يا ريتها سيارتي

How I wish that car is mine

*the “ها” refers to the car which is a feminine noun.

So..that’s all for this post!

Take care and I’ll see ya in the hosh,

Lyn