Learn Lebanese Arabic online — the Levantine dialect, with a native teacher
Live 1-on-1 and small-group courses in Lebanese — the Levantine (Shami) Arabic spoken by 30–35 million people across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine. Speak from lesson one, without starting from the alphabet. From beginner (A1) to advanced (C2).
Online worldwide
Lessons over Zoom in any time zone that overlaps with Bucharest (EET).
1-on-1 or small group
Private lessons tailored to your goals, or groups of 4–10 learners.
CEFR A1 → C2
Six levels, from survival Lebanese to full fluency.
Why learn Lebanese Arabic?
Lebanese Arabic is the living language of Lebanon — what people use with family, on TikTok, in songs and series, and in daily life. It is also one of the most widely understood Arabic dialects across the Middle East thanks to decades of Lebanese music, cinema and media.
- Speak from lesson one: no alphabet gatekeeping; you start with arabizi transliteration.
- Real conversations at A2: handle introductions, shopping, directions and small talk in 3–6 months.
- Understand Lebanese media: songs, series, YouTube and social content in the original dialect.
- Travel and family: connect with Lebanese speakers in Lebanon and the diaspora.
- Gateway to the Levant: Lebanese is mutually intelligible with Syrian and widely understood in Jordan and Palestine.
Learning Levantine Arabic through Lebanese
Levantine Arabic (Shami) is the everyday spoken language of the Eastern Mediterranean — 30–35 million native speakers across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine. It splits into North Levantine (Lebanese, Syrian) and South Levantine (Jordanian, Palestinian), and the differences between them are accent and a slice of vocabulary, not grammar. Learn one properly and you follow conversations in all four countries.
We teach the Lebanese variety, for three practical reasons:
- Media reach: Lebanese songs, series and TV travel across the whole Arab world — endless listening practice, far beyond the Levant.
- Diaspora density: the Lebanese diaspora is one of the largest globally (Brazil, France, the US, West Africa), so there are people to practise with almost anywhere.
- Clarity: Lebanese is considered an easy Levantine variety to be understood in, which matters when you are still slow.
For the full linguistic map — how North and South Levantine differ, and where Levantine sits against Egyptian, Gulf and Maghrebi — see the Arabic dialects guide.
Lebanese Arabic vs Modern Standard Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic (MSA / Fusha) is the written, formal register used in news, laws and religious texts. Nobody speaks it at home, and native speakers switch to their dialect the moment the camera turns off. If your goal is real conversation, spoken Lebanese Arabic is the shortest path. You can layer MSA on top later for reading and formal writing.
Read the full Lebanese Arabic vs Standard Arabic comparison for a side-by-side breakdown.
Course formats
Group courses
Small groups (4–10 learners), twice a week, 90 minutes per session. Online or in Bucharest. Fixed schedule with a clear CEFR syllabus.
From 500 LEI / month online
Private lessons
1-on-1 lessons tailored to your goals and pace. Flexible scheduling. Online worldwide or in person in Bucharest.
150 LEI / lesson
How we teach
- Oral first: you speak from lesson one using arabizi (Latin transliteration). The Arabic script is introduced after 2–3 months, once your ear is tuned.
- Native teacher: Ibra is a native Lebanese speaker with 5+ years of teaching experience.
- CEFR structure: six levels A1 → C2, from survival to full fluency.
- Real conversations: every lesson builds toward something you can actually say in daily life.
- Online worldwide: live Zoom lessons in any time zone that overlaps with Bucharest (EET). In-person option in Bucharest.
- Teaching language: English, French, Arabic or Romanian — you choose the one you're most comfortable in.
What you will be able to say
Even after a few lessons you can handle practical situations: introduce yourself, order food, ask for directions, shop, make plans and greet people naturally. By A2 you can hold short conversations about everyday topics; by B1 you can discuss past experiences, give opinions and understand the gist of Lebanese media.
Free resources to start learning Lebanese Arabic
While you decide on a course, you can already build exposure with free material:
- The first 20 Lebanese Arabic phrases — greetings, politeness, café and taxi situations.
- How to greet in Lebanese Arabic — complete politeness guide with pronunciation.
- What is Arabizi — how to read Arabic written with Latin letters and numbers.
- How to learn Lebanese Arabic: a beginner's guide — methods, mistakes and timeline.
Want a step-by-step beginner guide?
Read our dedicated guide on how to learn Lebanese Arabic — it covers dialect differences, study methods, common mistakes and your first useful phrases.
Read the beginner guideStart learning Lebanese Arabic today
Book a free 30-minute trial lesson. No card required — just show up, chat, and see if the method fits you. Online worldwide or in person in Bucharest.
- Speak from lesson one — no alphabet gatekeeping
- Real conversations at A2 in 3–6 months
- Native pronunciation and cultural context
- Understand Lebanese music, cinema and series
- Works across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine
- Optional transition to the Arabic script when you're ready
Frequently asked questions
What is Lebanese Arabic exactly?
Lebanese Arabic is the spoken dialect of Lebanon. It belongs to the Levantine Arabic family (together with Syrian, Jordanian and Palestinian), so what you learn is understood across the whole Levant. It is not the same as Modern Standard Arabic (MSA / Fusha), the formal written language used in news and official documents.
Should I learn Lebanese Arabic or Modern Standard Arabic first?
If your goal is to speak with people — family, friends, travel, media — start with Lebanese Arabic. MSA is the written, formal register; almost no one speaks it at home. Lebanese gets you to real conversations faster, and you can add MSA later if you need reading or formal skills.
Are the courses online or in person?
Both. Online lessons over Zoom are available worldwide (any time zone overlapping with Bucharest / EET). In-person lessons and group courses take place in Bucharest, Romania. Group courses run twice a week; private 1-on-1 lessons are scheduled flexibly.
Who is the teacher?
Ibra — a native Lebanese Arabic speaker with 5+ years of teaching experience (Preply and independent students), based in Bucharest. Lessons combine native pronunciation, cultural context and a structured CEFR method.
How much do Lebanese Arabic courses cost?
Group courses start at 500 LEI / month (≈ €100) online, with monthly or full-payment options (10% discount for the full level). Private 1-on-1 lessons are 150 LEI / lesson (≈ €30). A 30-minute trial lesson is free.
Is Levantine Arabic the same as Lebanese Arabic?
Lebanese is a variety of Levantine — specifically North Levantine, which it shares with Syrian. South Levantine covers Jordanian and Palestinian. Core grammar, most vocabulary and the pronunciation patterns overlap heavily, so learning Lebanese gives you roughly 90% comprehension across the whole Levantine region.
Which Levantine variety do you teach — Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian or Palestinian?
We teach the Lebanese variety (North Levantine), which is mutually intelligible with Syrian and highly understood in Jordan and Palestine. Lebanese also has the widest media reach — songs, series, TV — which gives you plenty of listening practice outside class.
Is Levantine Arabic easy to learn?
Compared to MSA, noticeably easier. Levantine has no case endings and simpler verb conjugation, and the oral-first method skips the alphabet hurdle for the first months. It is still a Semitic language with new sounds, so it needs consistent practice — but learners who avoid MSA-first curricula are usually speaking basic Levantine within weeks.
How long does it take to speak Levantine Arabic?
With 2 lessons of 90 minutes per week plus modest practice, learners typically reach basic everyday conversation (A2) in 3–6 months, and comfortable fluency (B1/B2) in 1.5–2 years. Starting with arabizi before the Arabic script accelerates the first months substantially.
What language are lessons taught in?
You pick. Ibra teaches fluently in English, French, Arabic and Romanian — pick whichever you're most comfortable with. Lessons are not taught in German or other languages.
Start with a free trial lesson
30 minutes with a native teacher — online worldwide or in person in Bucharest. No obligation.