You can think of this question as the English equivalent of the phrase, “There’s no comparison”.

Typically the question is used as a response when comparing two people or things to emphasize that one is much better.

The reply  “شو جاب لجاب” also often denotes a sort of bewilderment over the fact that a comparison was made in the first place.

The basic idea behind the phrase is that the difference between the two things/people is so huge such that to compare both of them in the first place is an unthinkable thing to do.

Although the literal translation is “What brings to bring”, it is almost like saying “How could you even bring up that comparison in the first place”.

Here are some examples:

مين احسن لاعب كرة قدم؟ رونالدو ولا ميسي؟

Who’s the better soccer player? Ronaldo or Messi?

شو جاب لجاب. طبعا ميسي  احسن بكتير

There’s no comparison! Of course, Messi is the much better player

 بنتك كتير بتشبه عمتها

Your daughter looks a lot like (resembles) her aunt

شو جاب لجاب, بنتي أحلا بكتير

Whaaatt…there’s no comparison. My daughter is a lot prettier

صوتك كتير بيشبه المطرب تامر

Your voice sounds like the singer, Tamer

لاااا شو جاب لجاب, هو احلا بكتير

No way…there’s no comparison. His voice is much better

الأكل بهالمطعم متل الأكل بسوريا

The food in this restaurant is like the food (we had back) in Syria

شو جاب لجاب, الأكل بسوريا أطيب بكتير

There’s no comparison. The food back in Syria is much nicer

~~~

That’s it, folks! A short post for today but I hope you learned a new phrase!

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

Lyn

P.S. If you found this post helpful, do help to hit the share buttons and spread the knowledge

The post Learn Levantine Arabic Phrases: There’s no comparison! appeared first on theLevanTongue.

…على كل حال

This phrase can be described as the English equivalent of “In any case…” where it is used to describe something regardless of what happens or has happened.

Here are some examples:

بلكي منشوف بعض بكرة أو يوم الجمعة. على كل حال بخبرك شو بصير معي

Perhaps we’ll see each other tomorrow or on Friday. In any case, I’ll let you know my decision.

الحفلة بتخلص الساعة وحدة بالليل وتقدر تركب آخر باص للبيت. على كل حال بتحسن تاخد تاكسي إذا ما في باصات

The party ends at one in the morning [lit: night]  and you can catch the last bus home. In any case, it’s better to take a taxi if there are no buses left.

والله صرلي أسبوع مرضان ومو قدران أتحرك بس الحمد لله على كل حال

Man I swear it’s been a week since I’m ill and not able to move but in any case, all praise be to God

…على فكرة

This phrase can be used to change the subject, resume a subject after interruption or to support an idea just mentioned. Pretty much just like how you would say “by the way” or “anyway” in English.

Here are some examples:

على فكرة, مبارح شفت الفيلم الّي حكيتلي عنه بس ما كتير حبيته

By the way, yesterday I’ve seen the film  that you told me about but I didn’t really like it

على فكرة بكرة عيد ميلاد ديانا. جبتلها شي؟

By the way, tomorrow is Diana’s birthday. Did you get her something?

على فكرة, رح نطلع الجمعة الجاية ناكل بالمطعم, تروح معنا؟

By the way, we’re going to go out and eat at the restaurant on the coming Friday. Do you want to go with us?

…على سيرة

This phrase is used when someone mentions a topic that reminded you of something else but which is related to the topic.

I would say it’s similar to how English speakers say “speaking of…”.

For example, a friend brought up the topic of engagement, I can say something like…

وعلى سيرة الخطبة, عرفتي إنه احمد خطب؟

Speaking of engagements, did you (f.)  know that Ahmad got engaged?

For example, if my friend brought up the topic of restaurants, I say something like…

على سيرة المطاعم شو احسن واطيب مطعم بتِنْصَحيني فيه؟

Speaking of restaurants, which is the best and the most delicious restaurant that you (f.) would recommend to me?

BONUS: Levantine Arabic Expression

Speaking of the word سيرة (see what I did there? ), there is a common expression used in Levantine Arabic that uses the same word.

And it is…

…جاب – بيجيب) سيرة عن)

Literal Meaning: To bring a biography about (someone/something)

Meaning: To talk about someone or to bring up a topic

**The Arabic Student website has a post on this expression. You can check it out here.

Here are some examples of how the expression is commonly used:

ما تجيب سيرة هاد الزلمة بنوب, مفهوم؟

Don’t bring up the topic of that guy ever, understand (is it understood)?

**بنوب is a Syrian word that means ‘at all”. You can replace the word with بالمرة for Jordanian/Palestinian Arabic.

وبعدين ليش جبت سيرة لينا؟ مو قلتلك انفصلنا انا وياها من زمان؟

Then again, why do you have to talk about Lina (why did you bring her name up)? Didn’t I tell you that we broke up a long time ago?

~~~

That’s it, folks!

I hope you find this post useful and if you do, hit the share buttons and spread the knowledge.

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

Lyn

The post Learn Levantine Arabic Phrases: Anyway, by the way, speaking of which… appeared first on theLevanTongue.

EXAMPLES:

لحّق حالك يا خي, ماما عملت كيكة الشوكولاتة كتير زاكية وبِتْشَهي

Brother, hurry…Mom made a very delicious and appetising chocolate cake!

الاكل بهالمطعم كتير طيب وبيشهي , رح صير اجي انا ورفقاتي لهون دايماً

The food in this restaurant is very delicious and appetising, I will definitely always come here with my friends

والله الجاتو شكلو كتير بيشهي… يسلمو ايديكِ يا مدام

The cake really looks so appetising…thank you so much Madam

*The expression يسلمو ايدك is commonly used to thank someone who had done something especially with their hands (eg: cooking, picking up something for you, etc)

Note:

• The word زاكي \ زاكية (delicious) is more commonly used in Jordan and Palestine.
• The word جاتو (cake) is more commonly used in Syria and Lebanon

BONUS:

فتح شهيتي X

فتحت شهيتي X

something “opened my appetite”

While the phrase literally means “opened my appetite”, what it actually means is that something looks appetising, irresistible or engaging enough that causes you to take an interest in it.

And this phrase is not limited to describing food.

So for example, while you can say something like…

ما كنت جوعان بس هلأ كلامك عن الاكل فتح شهيتي والله

I wasn’t hungry but all these talks [your words] about food is making me hungry

you also can say something like…

المباراة المشوقة بين نعومي وسيرينا فتحت شهيتي اتعلم لعب التنس

The exciting match between Naomi and Serena made me gain an interest in learning to play tennis

or…

الصور فتحت شهيتي عالسفر واكتساب خبرات جديدة

The pictures piqued my interest in travelling and the acquisition of new experiences

~~~

That’s it, folks!

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you like it, share it

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

Lyn

P.S Subscribe if you haven’t already and never miss a post!

The post Learn Levantine Arabic Phrases: It’s so appetising! + Bonus! appeared first on theLevanTongue.

EXAMPLES:

شو يعني ايمت الحفلة؟ الحفلة كانت اِمْبارِح يا زلمة. والله راحَت عليك

What do you mean “when’s the party”? Dude, the party was yesterday. You missed it!

ماما طبختلك اكلتك المفضلة عالعشا بس راحت عليك لانك رجعت متأخر

Mom cooked your favourite dish for dinner but since you came back late…too bad, you missed it!

انا آسفة لانو جيت متأخرة بس راحت علي نومة

I’m sorry I came late but I overslept

احمد رسب في امتحاناتو الاخيرة لانو راحت عليه نومة

Ahmad failed his final exams because he overslept

~~~

That’s it, folks!

I hope you find this post useful. I’ll be putting up the audio recording of the sentences examples by a native speaker real soon.

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

Lyn

P.S. You’ll be doing me a huge favour if you could spread the word about theLevanTongue to your friends learning Levantine Arabic

P.S.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a post!

The post Learn Levantine Arabic Phrases: “Too late, you missed it” & “I overslept” appeared first on theLevanTongue.

*Note: The word “هون” literally means “here” and of course you can always replace the word “هون” with “هلأ” (now).

Here is an audio recording of the phrases and the sentences examples. (All thanks to Rasheed for this audio)

Examples:

من هون ورايح بتقدر تقدم المنحة اونلاين \ عن طريق الإنترنت

From now onwards, you can apply for the scholarship online

 من هون ورايح رح اقرأ كتاب جديد كل أسبوع

From now onwards, I will read a new book every week

من هون وطالع ما في طلعة من البيت بدون ما تاخد إذني

From now onwards, there’s no going out of the house without my permission

من هون وطالع رح كون متفائل مهما صار

From now onwards, I will be positive no matter what happens

~~~

Do you know how to use the phrase now?

Great! Now not only do you know how to say “from now onwards…”, I bet you also know how to say “from today onwards…” and “from this year onwards…”.

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

Lyn

P.S Don’t forget to like and follow my Facebook Page where I’ll share stuff related to Levantine Arabic that I find online.

P.S.S Subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a post!

The post Learn Levantine Arabic Phrases: From now onwards… appeared first on theLevanTongue.

So recently, I have been watching a couple of Syrian drama series and I’m reminded of a common pattern of speech that can be heard generally on any Levantine shows when it comes to putting the blame on someone.

This phrase is:

الحق مو عليك, الحق عليي اصلا

ilhaq mu 3laik, ilhaq 3layyi aSlan

So the phrase can be roughly translated to “The fault is not upon you, the fault is upon me in the first place” and thus it means that “I’m the one to blame!”

And to me, that’s pretty amusing because if you watch the context in which the phrase is being said, rarely has the phrase actually conveyed the literal meaning.

Basically what’s happening is that, the phrase is used TO BLAME someone in spite of the noble gesture of picking up the blame upon oneself. There are both elements of exaggeration as well as exasperation packed in that one surely useful phrase.

So when you heard ’em say “الحق مو عليك, الحق عليي” be warned that they actually mean this…

Having learned the language for quite some time now and lived in Jordan for a year, I know (and we ALL know) that daily Arabic conversations are often peppered with compliments mixed with a certain level of exaggeration. The kind of talk that I was initally uncomfortable with but have now embraced it and put on a faint smile everytime I hear it. HAHA

Ok enough of the ramblings…let me just throw in some common phrases that are often said to GENUINELY blame someone and say “It’s your fault!”

انت السبب enta is-sbab

كله منك kulo/kelo minak

كل شي بسببك kul/kil shi bsebabak

But nothing compares to blaming someone and putting the blame on yourself all within the same breath…

Let me finish this post by providing scenarios where the phrase can be used. I would imagine the phrase being spoken with an almost resigned look on the face in an attempt to suppress the exasperation within.

Scenario #1:

When you are casually hanging out with your BFF in a café or at her house and then suddenly both of you got into an argument.

So your BFF got so mad and she decides to leave. And before she slams the door in your face, this is what she will say to you:

تعرفي شي؟ الحق مو عليكي, الحق عليي اصلا جيت هون اسليكي

ta3rafii shii? ilhaq mu 3laiki, ilhaq 3laiyyi aSlan jeet hon asalikii

(You know what? It’s not your fault. The fault is mine for coming here in the first place and keeping you company)

Scenario #2

When your friend starts a discussion and asks for your opinion only to get upset with you in the end…. So you’ll say something like this to express the ridiculousness of the situation-

الحق علي انا رديت عليك من البداية

ilhaq 3laii ana radaet 3laik min el-bidaayeh

(The fault is mine for bothering to respond to you in the beginning)

Scenario #3

When a relationship turns sour and you complain about the guy to your best friend…

مو الحق عليه الحق عليي اللي اتعرفت على شخص متلو.الحق عليي اللي حبيته وصدقته

mu ilhaq 3alaey, ilhaq 3alaiyyi elli t3arefet 3ala shakhs metlo. ilhaq 3alaiyyi elli habaeto u Sadaqto

(It’s not his fault. It’s my fault for getting to know a person like him. The blame is on me for liking him and believing him)

OK well maybe, in this case, she’s really blaming herself…

Scenario #4:

When you got home and you don’t feel like eating…but your mom has cooked up a feast. And that’s when you hear your mom says to you…

ليش ما بدك تاكل؟ كل هاد ومش عجبك؟ الحق عليي اللي طبخت

Leish maa bidak takol? kol had uu mesh 3ajabak? ilhaq 3alaiyii elli Thabakhet

(Why are you not eating? All of these food and you don’t like them? It’s my fault for even bothering to cook.)

That’s it, folks!

Let me know what you think and drop me a comment below.

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

Lyn

The post How do Arabs blame others? الحق على مين؟؟ appeared first on theLevanTongue.