#palestinian dialect

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يُغاوِز

[Yuġāwez]

Meaning : playing favorites; giving someone you like a preferrential treatement 

Example : ما بِصير تضل تغاوز لحسام لأنه إبنك | Mā biṣīr tḍal tġāwez la ḥusām laʾanno ibnak | you shouldn’t give prefential treatement to Husam just because he’s your son

Notes : conjugate the verb depending on the context and the speaker; the noun is مغاوزة [Mġāwazeh]

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Different ways to say “thank you” in Levantine Arabic

You’re filled with manners | كُلَّك ذُوق | kullak ḏōq

May your hands be safe | يِسْلَموا إديك | yeslamū ideik

May he (God) give you heath | يَعْطيك العافية | ya’tīk el’āfyeh

Thank you so much | شُكرًا كتير | šukran ktīr

You embarrass me (with your kindness) | خَجَّلتني | ẖajjaltnī

I don’t know how to thank you | ما بَعْرِف كِيف أشْكُرَك | mā ba’ref kīf ashkurak

May god make you happy | الله يِسْعِدَك | Allāh yes’edak

Notes:

There are some regional variations in the pronunciation of some words.

For the feminin version (if you’re addressing a female) replace -ak with -ek; the -ni with -īni, and the -ik with -eiki

If you want to address a group change the -ak to -kom; -ni to ūni and ik to -ikom

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حيانِة

Ḥyāneh

Meaning : you use it when you want to say “what a waste” or “how wasteful”. It doesn’t have any variation and it’s used by people who speak Levantine dialects.

Example : حيانة الرز اللي انكب | Ḥyāneh erroz elli inkab | all that rice that spilled is wasted!

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ما عِنْدُه لِحْيِة ممشَّطَة

[Ma ‘endo lehye mmashshata]

Literal meaning : he doesn’t have a combed beard

Use : it’s used to describe someone who is very rude and feels no shame about it.

Note : when you want to change it to female you can say ما عندها لحية ممشطة (ma ‘endha lehye mmashata) ie : she doesn’t have a combed beard.

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Day 19 : Palestinian expression

Expression : سَنْسولِة مَيْ أَحْسَنْ مِنْ حَنَفِيّة مَقْطوعَة/sansoolet may ahsan men hanafiyyeh ma’too’aa/ [audio]

Translation :  a little string of water (coming from a tap) is better than a broken tap (from which no water is coming)

Meaning: it’s better to do something good, even if it’s a little than to do nothing at all.

Feel free to share the equivalent of this saying in your dialects!

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Day 2 : Ramadan in Nablus

[audio]

Transcript : وحدة من العادات الفلسطينية في مدينة نابلس وضواحيها إنو إحنا بناكل في أول يوم رمضان إشي أبيض أو أخضر

Translation : On of the Palestinian traditions in the city of Nablus and its outskirts is that, the first day of Ramadan, we either eat something white or green.

For example : either cooked yoghurt, mlookhiya, spinach, or even some dishes that has both “white” and “green” like makhshi koosa b laban (cooked yoghurt with suffed zucchini).

White is the color of purity and green represents goodness and generosity and both are very good way to start the Holly Month!

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Levantine dialect : common sayings

Requested by anon

Note : this post will be in the Palestinian dialect and Jordanian dialect

Greetings [audio file]

Hello / مَرْحَبا / marhaba

Hello (response : lit : two hellos) / مَرْحَبْتين / marhabtein

Good Morning / صَباح الخِير / sabaah al kheir

Good morning (response) /  صَباح النُّور / sabaah ann-noor

Good evening / مَسا الخِير / masaa’ alkheir

Good evening (response) / مَسا النٌّور / masaa’ annoor

How are you? / كِيْف الحَال؟ / keef el haal?

Fine. / تَمام / tamaam

What’s your name?/ شو إسْمَك/ شو إسْمِك؟/shu esmak (m) shu esmek (f)

My name is__________/ إسْمي / Esmee____

Where are you from?/ من وين إنتَ؟ من وين إنتِ؟/ Mn ween inta (m)?/ Men ween inti(f)?

I’m from _________/ أنا من / Anaa min________

Asking for directions [audio file]

I’m lost/ أنا تايه  - أنا تايهة/ ana tayeh (m) ana tayha (f)

I don’t know this city well /  ما بَعْرِف هادي المَدينة منيح/ma baa’ref haadi el madeeneh mneeh

Could you tell me where I could find_____? / مُمْكِن تخَبْرني وِين بَقْدَر ألاقي___؟- مُمْكِن تخَبْرني وِين بَقْدَر أَلاقِي؟/ween ba’dar alaa’i___? (male) momken tkhabbreeni wen ba’dar alaa’i?

What’s the starting fee?/ كَمْ أُجْرَة فَتْح العَدَّاد؟/ kam ujret fat-h el’addaad?

Go left /رُوح على اليَسار / rooh ‘aal yasaar

Go right/ رُوح على اليَمين/ rooh ‘aal yameen

Continue straight /كَمًّل دُغْري /kammel dughree

The first opening / أَوَّل فَتْحَة/ awwal fat-ha

Roundabout / دَوَّار/dawwaar

Taxi / تاكسي/taxi

Bus / باص / baas

Bus station / مَحَطَّة باصات/mahattet baasaat

Currency exchange store / صَرَّاف  /sarraaf

Downtown/ نُصّ البَلَد / noss el balad

In a shop [audio file]

Could you tell me if I can find______? / مُمْكِن تُقُلّي إذا بَقْدَرْ ألاقي___؟/momken t’ollii wein ba’dar alaa’i?

What’s the price of _______?/ كَمْ شِعِر___؟/ kam s’ir_____?

Can you lower the price, please?/ مُمْكِن تنَزَّلي السِّعْر لَوْ سَمَحْت؟ / momken tnazzel el si’r law samaht? (addressing a male)

Can you lower the price, please?/ مُمْكِن تنَزَّل السِّعْر لَوْ سَمَحْت؟ / momken tnazzlee el si’r law samahti? (addressing a female)

Do you have a smaller size?/ عِنْدْكُمْ مَقاس أًصْغَر؟/ ‘endkom ma’aas asghar?

Do you have a bigger size?/ عِنْدْكُمْ مَقاس أَكْبَر؟/ ‘endkom ma’aas akbar?

What’s the smallest size you have? /شو أَصْغَر مَقاس عَندكُم / shu asghar ma’aas ‘endkom?

What’s the biggest size you have?/ شو أَكْبَر مَقاس عِنْدكُم/ shu akbar ma’aas ‘endkom?

Do you have other colors of this shirt? / عِنْدكُم أَلْوان تانية مِنْ هاد القََِميص/ ‘endkom alwaan taanyeh mn haada el ‘amees?

Do you accept credit cards?/ بتِقْبَلوا الدًّفْع بالبِطاقة؟/ bt’ebaloo eddafe’ bil bitaaqa?

When is the last day of the sale? / مَتى آخِر يوم للتَنْزيلات؟/ mata aakher yoom lal tanzeelaat?

Thank you / شُكْرَا / shukran

You’re welcome / عَفْوًا/ ‘afwan

At the cinema [audio file]

Could you tell me which movies are showing this week?/ مُمْكِن تحكيلي شو الأفْلام المَعْروضَة هالأُسْبوع؟/ momken tehkeeli shu el aflaam el ma’roodha hal osboo’?

What are the showing times of this movie for today? / إيَش أَوْقات عَرْض هاد الفيلم اليُوم؟/  esh aw’aat ‘ardh haad el film el yom?

How much does the ticket cost? / كَمْ سِعْر التَّذكِرَة؟/ kam si’r el tathkira?

Can I buy the ticket online? / مُمْكِن أشْتري التًّذكِرة على الانترنت؟/ momken ashtiri ettathkira ‘alaa el internet?

Where can I buy the popcorn? / وين بَقْدَر أَشْتِري البوشار؟/ ween ba’dar ashtiri el booshaar?

When will the movie list change? / مِتى رح تتغَيّر الأفْلام؟/ mataa rah tetghayyar el aflaam?

 In a restaurant [audio file]

Can I have the menu, please? / مَمْكِن تجيبلي المنيو(القائِمة) لو سَمَحْت؟/ momken tjeebli el menu (el qaa’ima) law samaht?

Does this dish contain _______? / هادي الوَجْبة فيها___؟/ haadi el wajbeh feeha_____?

Do you have gluten-free options? /عِنْدْكُم خيارات خالِية من الجلوتين؟ / ‘endkom khiyaaraat khaaliya min el gluteen?

Do you have a menu for kids? /عِندْكُم مينيو (قائِمة) للأَطْفال؟ / ‘endkom menu (qaa’ima) lal atfaal?

Do you vegetarian options? /عِنْدكُم اختيارات نَباتِيًّة؟ / ‘endkom ikhtiyaaraat nabaatiyeh?

Is the meat halal? /اللَّحْم حَلال؟ / el lahm halaal?

Can I have some water, please? / مُمْكِن تجيبلي مَيْ لَوْ سَمَحْت؟/ momken tjeebli may law samaht (m)?

Can I have the left-overs to go? / مَمْكِن آخَذ اللي وّفَّر سَفَري؟/ momken aakhod elli waffar safaree?

I would like to order_______ / بدي أَطْلُب/ bddi atlob____

What would you recommend?/ أي وجبة بتنصحوني فيها؟ / ay wajbe btnsahooni feeha?

General talk [audio file]

What time is it? / كَمّ الّساعة؟/ kamm essaa’a?

What’s today’s date? / شو تاريخ اليُوم؟/ shu tareekh el yoom?

I don’t know / ما بَعْرِف/maa ba’ref

I’m not sure /مو متأكّد- مو متأكدة / moo met’akked (m)- moo met’akkdeh (f)

I’m sorry /آسِف - آسْفِة / aafif (m)- aasfeh (f)

I’m in a hurry / أنا مِسْتَعْجِل - أنا مِستَعْجِلِة/ anaa mestaa’jel (m) - anaa mestaa’jileh (f)

Can you lend me _____? / مُمْكِن تعيرني ____- مُمْكِن تعيريني__؟/ momken t’eernee? (talking to a male) - momken t’eereeni (talking to a female)

I forgot my wallet at home! / نسيت جُزداني في البِيْت/ nseet juzdaani fel beit!

Let’s go to a cafe. / يَلّا نروح على كافيه (مَقْهى)/ yalla nrooh ‘alaa cafe (maqhaa)

I don’t like crowded places. / ما بَحِبّ الأَماكِن المَعجوقَة / maa baheb el amaaken el ma’joo’a

Can we go somewhere else? /مُمْكِن نروح مَكان تاني؟ / momken nrooh makaan tani?

Let’s stay here. / خَلّينا نضَل هون/ khaleena ndhal hon

Do you need help? / بتحتاج مُساعَدِة؟- بتحتاجي مُساعدة؟/ bthtaaj mosaa’adeh? (talking to a male) btehtaajee mosaa’adeh? (talking to a female)

I’m bored./أنا زَهْقان - أنا زَهْقانة / ana zah’aan (m) - ana zah’aaneh (f)

I’m having fun here / أنا مكَيِّف هون - أنا مكَيّفة هون/ ana mkayyef hon (m) - ana mkayyfeh hon (f)

Anon also requested a description of a place in the Levant using the Levantine dialect so I choose Nablus, my hometown.

[Audio file]

مدينة نابلس هي مدينة فلسطينية موجودة في الشَمال. و هي من أقدم مدن العالم (عمرها أكتر من 5 آلاف سنة) و هي مدينة حلوة كتير و فيها جبلين اسمهم جبل جرزيم وجبل عيبال. و أكيد في حوليها عدد كبير من القرى التابعة إلها

من أحلى الأماكن في نابلس برأيي هي البلدة القديمة، و هي موجودة بعد برج الساعة (أو متل ما الناس بسموها المنارة) البلدة القديمة فيها أسواق و بياعين ببيعوا في أكشاك مفتوحة كل أنواع الأشياء متل الأكل والحلويات والأواعي. أكتر أكل بحب أكله هناك هو العرايس و أكيد الكنافة النابلسية.

أنا متأكدة إنكم سمعتوا عن الكنافة النابلسية اللي أصلها مدينة نابلس و طبعًا أزكى كنافة رح تاكلوها رح تكون في مدينة نابلس وبالتحديد محل الأقصى اللي في السوق القديم.

في حارات كتيرة في نابلس متل حارة الياسمينة غرب نابلس و حارة السمراء وفيه بعيش الطائفة السامرية.

في كمان كتير أحياء و متنزهات و مساجد و كنائس في نابلس

بالإضافة للبلدة القديمة في كمان نص البلد و فيه أسواق و محلات كبيرة بالإضافة للبياعين اللي على العربايات و الأكشاك المتنوعة. و في كمان شارع مشهور في نابلس اسمه شارع رافيديا و هاد للطلعات و شمات الهوا فيه مطاعم و كافيهات و محلات مختلفة.

Translation : 

Nablus is a Palestinian city located in the North. It’s one of the oldest cities in the world  (it’s more than 5 thousand years old) it’s a beautiful city and it has two mountains, one of them is called Mountain Jarzeem, and the other is Mountain Eibaal. And of course there are many villages surrounding it.

In my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in Nablus in my opinion is the old city which comes after the Tower Clock (or as some people call it the lighthouse). The old city has many shops and merchants who sell in open air kiosks that sell different kinds of things like food, sweets and clothes. My favorite food is ‘araayes and of course the Nabulsi Knaafeh.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Nabulsi Knaafeh which originated from the city of Nablus and of course, the best knaafeh you’ll ever eat will be in Nablus and more specifically Al Aqsa shop in the old city.

There are so many cartiers in Nablus such as  Al Yasmeena cartier in the west of Nablus and the Samaritans cartier where the Samaritans ethoreligous group lives.

There are so many other cartiers, parks, mosques and churces in Nablus.

In addition to the old city there is the city’s downtown which has so many different shops as well as sellers on carts and different kiosks. There’s also a famous street in Nablus that is called Rafeedya street and it’s a great place for outings and having fun since it has different restaurants, cafes and shops.

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The saying : -الحمدلله على السلامة / elhamdellah ‘ass-salaameh/ [audio]

The response : -الله يسلمك / Allah ysalmak / [audio]

Meaning and usage : the saying literally means “thank God for your safety/health” and the response literally means “May God keep you safe/healthy” and it’s said to people who have returned from travelling, or people recovered from an illness or a surgery.

Note : you can change the pronouns of the speaker and the person you’re addressing.