20 Lebanese Arabic phrases you'll use from day one
Written in Arabizi (Latin letters), with Arabic script and translation. Exactly the phrases you use from day one in Lebanon — or with Lebanese friends.
Published on 16 July 2026 · About 6 min read
How to read the table: '3' is pronounced like a guttural 'a' (the letter ع), '7' like a harsh 'h' from the throat (ح), and '2' marks a short catch in the voice (ء). Don't worry — in class you hear and repeat them naturally, our method is Oral First.
Greetings and politeness
| Arabizi | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mar7aba | مرحبا | Hi / Hello |
| Kifak? (m) · Kifik? (f) | كيفك؟ | How are you? |
| Mnee7, shukran | منيح، شكراً | Good, thanks |
| Shu akhbarak? | شو أخبارك؟ | What's new? |
| Yalla, baaden | يلا، بعدين | Alright, see you later |
| Tsharrafna | تشرفنا | Nice to meet you |
Basic words
| Arabizi | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Eh / La' | إيه / لأ | Yes / No |
| Min fadlak (m) | من فضلك | Please |
| Shukran ktir | شكراً كتير | Thank you very much |
| 3afwan | عفواً | You're welcome / Excuse me |
| Aasef (m) · Aasfeh (f) | آسف | I'm sorry |
| Ma fhemet | ما فهمت | I didn't understand |
At the café and on the street
| Arabizi | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Baddi ahwe | بدي قهوة | I'd like a coffee |
| Addesh el 7saab? | قديش الحساب؟ | How much is it / the bill? |
| Wein el 7ammem? | وين الحمام؟ | Where's the toilet? |
| 3al yamin / 3ash-shmel | عاليمين / عالشمال | To the right / To the left |
| Wa''ifni hon | وقفني هون | Stop here (in a taxi) |
| Ktir tayyeb! | كتير طيّب! | Very tasty! |
Heartfelt Lebanese expressions
| Arabizi | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ya3ni | يعني | I mean / sort of (universal filler) |
| Ta2burni | تقبرني | 'I love you dearly' (literally: may you bury me) — typically Lebanese affection |
Want to hear how it sounds?
30 minutes with a native teacher, free — online or in person in Bucharest.
Book the trial lessonWhere to go next
If you liked the phrases above, the natural next step is to put them in context — how they connect, how you reply, how you hold a short conversation. That's what we do in class from the first lesson.
- See the difference between dialect and Classical Arabic in Lebanese Arabic vs Standard Arabic.
- Don't know what the numbers in 'mar7aba' mean? See the full Arabizi guide.
- Want all 100 phrases as a free PDF? Get them from the free resources page.
- Not sure where to start? Take the free level test.
Frequently asked questions
Which phrase should I use if I only know one?
"Mar7aba". It is the neutral greeting, right in any context and with anyone, and the reaction a foreigner gets for greeting in Lebanese changes the rest of the conversation.
What does "yalla" mean?
Literally "come on", but it is used for almost any prompt: let's go, hurry up, that's enough. It is among the most heard words in Lebanon and turns up mid-sentence in any language.
Do I risk sounding rude if I get the pronunciation wrong?
Almost never. The effort of speaking Lebanese is met warmly, and mistakes are corrected in a friendly way. The real risk runs the other way: not trying at all.
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In a free trial lesson you hear them from a native speaker and repeat them on the spot.
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