Recently I’ve learned a few Syrian expressions with regards to expressing doubts which are pretty funny so I figured I might as well write a post on them.

But before I do that, let me throw out some simple phrases that I’ve known previously.

عنجد؟

3an jad?

(seriously/really?)

من وين لوين؟

men wain la wain?

(literal meaning: from where to where?)

من هون لهون؟

men hon la hon?

(literal meaning: from here to here?)

While the first word is more often used to express surprise, the other two phrases are used to express doubt to what the other person is saying.

All of these could be said when you suspect that the person is not telling the whole truth or is hiding something from you. Don’t forget to raise your eyebrows when you say these!

For example, your friend does not seem like her usual self and you could sense that something is amiss. So you ask her how she is and she responds “انا منيحة” which means “I’m good/I’m fine”.

In this situation, you can simply express doubt that everything is okay by asking her “من وين لوين منيحة؟”

*Bonus cheeky reply to someone who asks you “من هون لهون؟“

—>”لا حبيبي من هون لهناك\ لهنيك”

la habibi, men hon la hunaak/ la huniik

(literal meaning: no darling, from here to there)

هناك (Jordanian/Palestinian)

هنيك (Syrian)

Here, I’m going to add a Jordanian/Palestinian expression.

Note: it is said not to express doubt but to exclaim loudly to the person that you have caught him/her lying!

اطلع من بين الخبيزة

iTla3 men bain el-khubayzah

(Get out from the khubayzah!!)

I think الخبيزة is a type of plant that looks like this:

Image Source 

So you can imagine the person who is lying is hiding among these plants and you want to let him/her know that you’ve discovered the lie…so you tell him/her to stop hiding and get out from there! “اطلع من بين الخبيزة” Haha, make sense?

Ok so now let me jump straight to the new expressions which I’ve learned from my Syrian friends but I’m sure they exist in the other Levantine dialects too.

The first is…

الحاق الكذاب لورا الباب

(elHaq elkazaab la wara elbab)

This phrase is said sarcastically to give someone the benefit of a doubt although you know, deep down, the person is not going to keep to his/her words or promises.

Example 1: said to a friend who failed to keep to previous promises but now promises to pay you back the money next week…

امتى رح تعطيني ال١٠٠$ تبعي؟ :A

When will you give back my $100?

 الاسبوع الجاي :B

Next week

 تمام رح نشوف, الحاق الكذاب لورا الباب :A

Alright, we’ll see…elhaq elkadaab la wara elbab

Example 2: said to a friend who promises to be on time but is always late…

 رح تكون جاهزة بكرا ع الساعة ١؟ :A

Will you be ready tomorrow at 1?

 اي اكيد :B

Yes, of course.

رح نشوف, الحاق الكذاب لورا الباب :A

We’ll see…elhaq elkadaab la wara elbab

& the second expression is…

شفناك فوق وشفناك تحت

(shufnak fawq u shufnak taHt)

It literally means that we saw you up and down/above and under — which easily gives off the meaning “I know you well, I can easily see right through you and your bullsh*t”

So say it to anyone (close friends, hopefully) when you feel like screaming “Do you really think I’m going to believe that?!!”

Oooh, you liar…

OK moving on…this last expression is specifically used if you still do not believe the person even after he or she has sworn.

انت اللي كسرت المزهرية مو؟ :A

You broke the vase, didn’t you?!

  لأ والله مو انا :B

No, wallah (I swear) it’s not me

  قالوا للحرامي احليف قال اجاني الفرج :A

(2allu lil Haraami Hleft 2al ejaani elfaraj)

In other words…

والله؟!؟

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That’s it! Take care and I’ll see ya in the hosh,

Lyn

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