And the first word is…”still”!

How To Say “Still” In Levantine Arabic?

There are two words that natives across the Levant would use and they are…

1. بَعَد

2. لِسّا / لِسّة

And the tables below will show you how to add personal pronouns to them…

As you can see, there can be different ways that natives conjugate for لسة within the Levant. The ways vary from region to region.

For example, in addition to the ones mentioned in the table, there are natives such as Syrians from Aleppo who say لسّعتو instead of لسّاتو.

Don’t let the variations bother you. For simplicity’s sake, you might want to just stick with the ones in the yellow columns.

Before we look at the sentence examples, it is useful to note that when it comes to using the word لسة to refer to “still”, you may choose to add or omit the attached pronouns.

So for example, if you want to say “He is still young”, you can choose from the following sentences:

هو لسة صغير

هو لساته صغير

هو بعده صغير

As you can see, using both لسة and لساته is acceptable.

However, you can’t use بعد without the attached pronoun because native speakers will tell you that it sounds odd and unnatural.

So all in all, remember to attach the pronouns when using بعد to refer to “still”.

UPDATE:

I’m guessing you have to add the attached pronoun to بعد when using adjectives. For example, if you want to say “he’s still tired” or “he’s still young”, بعده is used. If you omit the attached pronoun and just say بعد, it won’t sound natural.

However, I’ve seen natives (from Lebanon and Syria) use بعد on its own when using verbs. For example, if you want to say “I haven’t watched it (the movie) yet”, you can say:

ما حضرته بعد

However, my Jordanian friend insists that the sentence structure above sounds unnatural and he would rather say

بعدني ما حضرته

or

ما حضرته بعدني

So maybe it’s a North Levantine Arabic vs South Levantine Arabic thing

~~~

Now, let’s look at more sentence examples

Note: The audio recordings are by a native Syrian speaker so the attached pronouns used are the North Levantine ones.

Sentence examples:

وين حسن؟ لسة رح يجي عالشغل؟

بعدو رح يجي عالشغل؟

Where is Hasan? Is he still coming to work?

حسن لساتو عالطريق للمكتب

حسن بعدو عالطريق للمكتب

Hasan is still on his way to the office

وين رايح؟ خليك شوي كمان، لسة بكير

بعدو بكير

Where are you(m) going? Stay awhile more, it is still early

وطوا صوتكن! لسة في طلاب عم يقدموا فحص بالغرفة التانية

بعدو في طلاب عم يقدموا فحص بالغرفة التانية

Lower your (pl) voice! There are still students taking their examinations in the next room

أنا بروح عالنادي كل يوم بس لسة ما عم ينزل وزني

بس بعدو وزني ما عم ينزل

I go to the gym every day but I’m still not losing weight

ديانا لسة ما قررت اذا رح تجي للحفلة اليوم باليل

ديانا بعدا ما قررت اذا رح تجي للحفلة اليوم باليل

Diana still hasn’t decided if she is coming to the party tonight

بتعرفِ اذا لسة ليزا هي مديرة الشركة؟

بتعرفِ اذا بعدا ليزا هي مديرة الشركة؟

Do you(f) know if Lisa is still the manager of the company?

كيف رح نروح  عالبحر الميت هلق؟ لسة الدنيا عم تمطر

بعدا الدنيا عم تمطر

How are we going to the Dead Sea now? It is still raining

شو صار لأبو علي؟ صار أسبوع ولسة دكانتو مسكرة

صار أسبوع وبعدا دكانتو مسكرة

What happened to Abo Ali? It has been a week and his shop is still closed

الولاد لساتن معصبين منك لأنو ما خليتن يروحوا عالسينما

الولاد بعدن معصبين منك لأنو ما خليتن يروحوا عالسينما

The children are still mad at you (m) for not letting them go to the cinema

فيقوا ياجماعة! صارت الساعة 10 الصبح ولسة انتوا نايمين؟

صارت الساعة 10 الصبح وبعدكن نايمين؟

Wake up (pl)! It’s already 10 in the morning and you all are still sleeping?

لسة انت عايش بنفس البناية؟

بعدك عايش بنفس البناية؟

Are you (m) still living in the same building?

ليش لساتك فايق لهالوقت؟

ليش بعدك فايق لهالوقت؟

Why are you still awake at this hour?

إنتِ لساتِك بأستراليا؟

إنتِ بعدِك بأستراليا؟

Are you (f) still in Australia?

إنتِ لساتك بتحبِ هداك الشخص؟

إنتِ بعدِك بتحبِ هداك الشخص؟

Are you(f) still in love with that guy?

لسة ما خلصتِ من المهمة؟

بعدِك ما خلصتِ من المهمة؟

You’re (f) still not finished with the task?

لسة مش متأكد من اللون الّي رح ادهن فيه غرفتي

بعدني مش متأكد من اللون الّي رح ادهن فيه غرفتي

I’m still not sure what color to choose to paint my room

رح أتأخر، لساتي علقان بزحمة السير

بعدني علقان بزحمة السير

I will be late, I’m still stuck in the traffic jam

[For South Levantine Arabic, you can say علقان بالأزمة instead]

(انا ما بعرف كتير. لساتني عم اتعلّم بس رح حاول (أحاول) ساعدك (أساعدك

(بعدني عم اتعلّم بس رح حاول (أحاول) ساعدك (أساعدك

I don’t know much, I’m still learning, but I’ll try to help you

عطينا دقيقة، لسة عم نحاول نحلّ اللغز

بعدنا عم نحاول نحلّ اللغز

Give us a minute, we are still trying to solve the puzzle

حمود ربك أنو لساتنا عايشين

حمود ربك أنو بعدنا عايشين

Be grateful that we are still alive

~~~

That’s it, folks! I hope you find this post useful!

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

Lyn

The post How To Say “Still” In Levantine Arabic appeared first on theLevanTongue.

Marhaba! A simple post for today – how to say “by mistake” and “on purpose” in Levantine Arabic.

Let’s take a look at some sample sentences:

عن قصد

on purpose / deliberately

*The word قصد can be pronounced as ‘gaSed’, ‘qaSed’ or ‘2aSed’. (ء = 2)

 شفتك شو عملت  وبعرف انك عملته عن قصد

I saw what you did and I know that you did it on purpose

ماله محمد؟ ليش ضرب هداك الشب عن قصد؟

What’s wrong with Muhammad? Why did he deliberately beat up that guy?

انت ليش معصب؟ مو انا قلتلك انه ما عملتها عن قصد

Why are you so angry? Didn’t I tell you that I did not do it on purpose?

Alternatively, you can use the word:

قصداً

**Note that the word قصداً is more frequently used in Syria and Lebanon and less so in Jordan and Palestine.

هو قصداً كذَب علي مشان أعمل الشي اللي طلبه مني

He deliberately lied to me so that I will do the thing that he asked of me

ليلى ما تأخرت بالرد مو قصداً بس ما كان عندا (عندها) نت قوي لترد بسرعة

Layla did not deliberately reply late but she did not have a strong internet connection to be able to reply quickly

The following are 2 words that have the same meaning but are more frequently used in Jordan and Palestine. 

عمداً

&

بالعمداً

on purpose / deliberately

Here are some examples:

احمد بالعمداً بحب يضايق اخته بالحكي

Ahmad likes to deliberately annoy his sister with (his) words

انا بالعمداً كتبت هالكلمة لاني كنت زعلان منك

I wrote this word on purpose because I was upset at you

صحيح اني سويت هالشي بس ما سويته بالعمداً

It is true that I did this (thing) but I didn’t do it on purpose

In general, the words, بالعمداً and عمداً can be used interchangeably in Spoken Arabic. So it is perfectly fine if you choose to say عمداً instead of بالعمداً in the sample sentences above.

بالغلط

by mistake / accidentally

الكل ضحكوا على سلمى لما دخلت حمام الرجال بالغلط

Everyone laughed at Salma when she accidentally entered the male washroom

انا متأكد إنو هاي الكلمة مكتوبة بالغلط لانو ما الها معنى

I’m (m) sure this word is written by mistake because it doesn’t make any sense

(محمد حكى عن سر روان بالغلط قدام أهلها (أهلا

Mohamad accidentally mentioned Rawan’s secret in front of her parents

~~~

That’s it, folks!

If you like the post and found it useful, do share it with other Levantine Arabic learners

Till then, take care & I’ll see you around in the hosh.

Lyn

The post Learn Levantine Arabic Phrases: By mistake & On Purpose appeared first on theLevanTongue.

Ready? Let’s go!

يا سلام انا بحب اقرا واستمتع يوم العطلة

I like to read and enjoy the weekend

خصوصا انو الجو مش بارد اليوم

especially when the weather today is not cold

معك حق يا جل جل شوف ما احلى جو والعصافير اللي حوالينا

you’re right Jul Jul. Look, how beautiful is the weather and the birds that are around us

جل جل؟

Jul Jul?

نعم

Yes

مش عارفة اقعد هون. بيصير منغير اماكنا؟

I can’t sit here, can we change our places?

طبعا يا تن تن, انا بيهمني انك تكوني مرتاحة

Of course Tun Tun, it matters to me that you’re comfortable

شكرا كلك زوق

Thanks a lot!

شو هاد؟ ما لقي العصفور يخرج فضلاته إلا على كتابي؟

what’s this?! A bird just shat on my book?!

*العصفور يخرج فضلاته = the bird excretes its droppings

شو هالحظ السيء هاد

What bad luck is this..

بالعكس يا جل جل انت محظوظ

On the contrary, Jul Jul, you’re lucky!

لاني انا سمعت لما وقعت على راس واحد فضلات عصفور بيكون محظوظ

because I heard that when a bird’s dropping fell on one’s head, he or she is lucky

معقول يا طن طن؟

Really, Jul Jul?!

المهم بتكون ايجابي ومتفائل

What’s important is that you be positive and optimistic

صح انا لازم اكون ايجابي ومتفائل, مزبوط كلامك يا تن تن

True, I have to be positive and optimistic. Your words are right, Tun Tun.

اذا بدك ,نرجع نغير اماكنا

If you want, we can return and change our places

شكرا يا تن تن بلكي هيك بتحسن نهاري

thank you Tun Tun, perhaps now my day will be better

ايش هدا…صوت نحلة

what’s this..the sound of a bee

كشي يا نحلة

go away bee!

روح يا نحلة

go away bee!

!شو حظ اليوم؟

What kind of luck am I having today?!

معليش معليش يا جل جل خلص خليك متفائل

never mind, don’t’ worry Jul Jul, that’s okay, remain optimistic

هلأ الأمور اكيد رح تتحسن

now things will surely improve

الواحد لازم بيكون ايجابي ومتفائل حتى لو الأمور ما زبطت

one has to be positive and optimistic even though things didn’t work out

جل جل؟

Jul Jul?

نعم

Yes.

شو رايك منغير اماكنا؟ بلكي حظك بتغير

What do you think about changing our places? Perhaps your luck will change

طيب يا تن تن يالله منغير اماكنا

Ok Tun Tun, yallah, let’s change our places

…شو هاد

what’s this..

تن تن مش معقول هدا اليوم

Tun Tun, today is unbelievable!

!هادا اللي ما توقعته…عاصفة؟ هادا اللي كان ناقص

I did not expect this…a storm? This is what’s missing!

*هادا اللي كان ناقص is said sarcastically

ما تقلق يا جل جل

Don’t worry Jul Jul

خليك دايما ايجابي ومتفائل

always remain positive and optimistic

ايجابي…حاضر يا تن تن, رح اكون ايجابي, ما انا ايجابي

positive…alright Tun Tun. I will be positive…Am I not positive?

جل جل؟

Jul Jul?

نعم

Yes

انا عندي فكرة, رح تعدل مزاجك وتصلح نهارك

I got an idea…it will adjust your mood and fix your day

هاي جبتلك مظلة جل جل…هيك بتتحسن نهارك

Here I brought you an umbrella..this way, your day will be better

انا حظي سعيدة…تعرفي ليش؟ لانك صديقتي

My luck is great (lit: happy)…do you know why? Because you’re my friend

ومش بس هيك…صديقتي مفضلة

and not just a friend…but my favourite friend

تعرفي اشي كمان يا تن تن؟

do you know what else, Tun Tun?

شو؟

What?

اني شفتك قديش مهتمة تساعديني عشان اكون مبسوط

I’ve seen how keen (lit: interested) you are in helping me so that I will be happy

طبعا انا بحب اساعدك يا جل جل واساعد كل اصحابي

Of course, I like to help you and help all of my friends

~~~

NOTES

1. To Enjoy -Verb no. 10

استمتع – بستمتع + ب

For example,

زمان وانا صغيرة كنت بستمتع بالمسلسلات التركية

zaman uu ana zghireh kunt bastamta3 bi musalsalat elturkiya

I used to enjoy (watching) Turkish series when I was small

2. The sound when swatting away insects

Let’s start with the verb for “to swat away” the fly, bee, cat, etc.

Verb I: كش – بكش

According to the awesome book that I have for Levantine verbs (check it out HERE!), the inflection for the present tense may differ. Jordanians will often pronounce the present tense بكش as بكُش (with a dammah-bikush) while other Levantine speakers will pronounce it as بكِش (with a kasrah-bikesh). Similarly, the command will be kush for Jordanians and kesh for the rest.

كش من هون

kush/kesh men hon

Get away from here

(while swatting away a fly)

3. Weather جو ولا طقس؟

The word جو (jaow) is a common word that refers to “weather” in Jordan and Palestine. Meanwhile, I observe that most Syrians refer to the weather as طقس (thoqs) in everyday conversation. طقس is also the word for weather in Modern Standard Arabic. But I guess both are used interchangeably.

4. It matters to me…(I care)

بيهمني

bihemni

طمني عنك, بيهمني انك تكون بخير

Tamany 3anak, bihemni enak tkuuni bkhair

Update (reassure) me about you, it matters to me that you’re fine

Similarly, the opposite is..

ما بيهمني

ma bihemni

It don’t matter to me

ما بيهمني مين يحكي ورا ضهري

ma bihemni miin yeHki wara Dhahree

I don’t care (it doesn’t matter) who talks behind my back

ما بيهمني الحق على مين

ma bihimni elHaq 3ala meen

I don’t care who’s at fault

Do note that depending on contexts, the phrase may express an ambivalent attitude when said.

5. Thanks! That’s nice of you 

كلك ذوق

In spoken arabic, the second word is pronounced as زوق (like joke with a ‘z’). And it’s usually said to thank someone for a service or as a reply to a compliment. Think of it as the English equivalent of  “thanks, that’s nice of you” or “that’s kind of you”.

6. On the contrary

بالعكس

Bel aks = on the contrary, nope it’s the opposite…

Simply said, it is said to negate something that was said earlier.

This also reminds me of another phrase:

انا عكسك

ana 3ksak

I’m the opposite of you

(For example when your friend eats vegetables and you don’t)

7. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps…

بلكي

I have written about the usage of this word before. Check it out here.

8. That’s okay, no worries

 معليش

ma3lish

For example, you accidentally spilled water in your friend’s car and you felt bad about it. Your friend, knowing that it was just an accident, reassured you that it’s not a problem and said معليش

Never mind, don’t worry, that’s okay, no worries…..ma3lish habibi, ma3lish

9. Really?! No way, that’s unbelievable!

معقول

ma32ul

مش معقول / مو معقول

mesh/muu ma32ul

Fed-up with the poor customer service? Shake head and say ma32uuul?!?!!

Disgusted at the ridiculously high prices of items sold at the store? Stomp off and say mesh ma32uul!!

The phrase can also be said in a positive way. For example when you are amazed or impressed at someone’s capabilities. And of course, it can be said sarcastically.

When your classmate got first in class and you’re low key surprised,

معقول شو شاطرة انتي

ma32ul shu shaTrah enti

that’s unbelievable, you’re so smart

3an jad muu ma32uuul!!

There are so many contexts where the phrase can be said. One way to grasp the usage in various contexts is by watching drama series

10. Umbrella

Both the words شمسية (shamsiiya) and مظلة (mazhalah) are used in Spoken Arabic.

~~~

That’s it, folks! Hope this post has been useful for you. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below – I would love to read them.

PS. If you like this post, feel free to check out my other post on another Hikayat Simsim’s video HERE

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

Lyn

The post Beginners: Learn Jordanian Arabic through Sesame Street 2 appeared first on theLevanTongue.