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

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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

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