The backbone of social life. Lebanese greetings are warm and personal.
| Arabic |
Transliteration |
English |
| مرحبا |
Mar7aba |
Hello |
| أهلا وسهلا |
Ahlan wa sahlan |
Welcome |
| كيفك؟ |
Kifak? (m) / Kifik? (f) |
How are you? |
| منيح |
Mni7 (m) / Mni7a (f) |
Fine |
| تمام |
Tamaam |
Good / Okay |
| شو الأخبار؟ |
Sho l-akhbar? |
What’s the news? |
| صباح الخير |
Saba7 l-kheir |
Good morning |
| مساء الخير |
Masa l-kheir |
Good evening |
| تصبح على خير |
Tisba7 3a kheir |
Good night |
| وأنت من أهله |
W enta men ahlo |
Reply to good night |
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👉 Related: How to Say Thank You in Lebanese Arabic Hospitality is sacred in Lebanon. Use these often.
| Arabic |
Transliteration |
English |
| شكراً |
Shukran |
Thank you |
| ميرسي كتير |
Merci kteer |
Thanks a lot (French influence) |
| تكرم |
Tekram (m) / Tekrami (f) |
You’re welcome |
| عفواً |
3afwan |
Excuse me / You’re welcome |
| لو سمحت |
Law sama7t |
Excuse me / Please |
| إذا بتريد |
Iza bitreed |
Please (formal) |
| آسف |
Aasif |
Sorry |
| ما تعتل هم |
Ma t3tal ham |
Don’t worry |
| بعد إذنك |
Ba3d eznak |
With your permission |
Transport is survival Arabic. Lebanese “service” taxis are unique, always shared.
| Arabic |
Transliteration |
English |
| لوين؟ |
Lwein? |
Where to? |
| على الحمرا |
3al Hamra |
To Hamra |
| على المطار |
3al matar |
To the airport |
| قديش الأجرة؟ |
Addeish l taxi? |
How much is the fare? |
| وقف هون |
Wa22if hon |
Stop here |
| دغري |
Deghre |
Straight ahead |
| عالشمال |
3a shmel |
To the left |
| عاليمين |
3a yameen |
To the right |
Food = Lebanon’s love language.
| Arabic |
Transliteration |
English |
| بدي قهوة |
Baddi ahwe |
I want coffee |
| بدي شاي |
Baddi shai |
I want tea |
| بدي مي |
Baddi mayy |
I want water |
| الحساب لو سمحت |
L-7seb law sama7t |
The bill please |
| طيب كتير |
Tayyib kteer |
Very tasty |
| صحة |
Sa77a |
To your health (cheers) |
| صحتين! |
Sa7tein! |
Enjoy your meal |
| شو بتنصحني؟ |
Sho btensa7ni? |
What do you recommend? |
| في عندكن…؟ |
Fi 3endkon…? |
Do you have…? |
Lebanese love bargaining, it’s part of the fun.
| Arabic |
Transliteration |
English |
| بكم هيدا؟ |
B2adde hayda? |
How much is this? |
| في تخفيض؟ |
Fi khasem? |
Is there a discount? |
| غالي |
Ghale |
Expensive |
| رخيص |
Rkhiis |
Cheap |
| آخد اتنين |
Bekhod tnen |
I’ll take two |
| بس عم بتفرج |
Bas 3am bitfarraj |
I’m just looking |
| عطيني أحسن سعر |
3tini a7san se3r |
Give me the best price |
Lebanese families are warm and generous.
| Arabic |
Transliteration |
English |
| تفضل |
Tfaddal (m) / Tfaddali (f) |
Please, go ahead |
| بيتك بيتنا |
Baytak baytna |
Your home is our home |
| الله يخليلك… |
Allah ykhallilak… |
May God keep your (family member) safe |
| مبروك |
Mabrouk! |
Congratulations |
| الله يرحمو |
Allah yer7amo |
God bless his soul |
| إن شاء الله |
Inshallah |
God willing |
Lebanese are expressive, romance is poetic.
| Arabic |
Transliteration |
English |
| بحبك |
Bhebbak (m) / Bhebbik (f) |
I love you |
| إنت حياتي |
Enta 7ayati |
You’re my life |
شتقتلك
|
Shta2tellak/ik | I miss you |
| Arabic |
Transliteration |
English |
| ساعدني |
Se3idne |
Help me |
| وين المستشفى؟ |
Wen l-mistashfa? |
Where’s the hospital? |
| اتصل بالإسعاف |
IttiSil bil-is3aaf |
Call an ambulance |
| عندي وجع |
3andi waja3 |
I have pain |
| عندي حساسية |
3andi 7assasiye |
I have an allergy |
Numbers are essential for shopping, taxis, and dates.
| Arabic |
Transliteration |
English |
| صفر |
Sefer |
Zero |
| واحد |
Wa7ad |
One |
| اتنين |
Tnen |
Two |
| تلاتة |
Tlete |
Three |
| عشرة |
3ashra |
Ten |
| عشرين |
3shreen |
Twenty |
| مية |
Miye |
Hundred |
| ألف |
Alf |
Thousand |
Lebanese are online 24/7, and love fillers like “ya3ne.”
| Arabic |
Transliteration |
English |
| يا عيني |
Ya 3ayne |
Wow / Oh dear |
| يلا |
Yalla |
Let’s go |
| شو هالحكي؟ |
Sho hal-7ake? |
What nonsense is this? |
| يعني |
Ya3ne |
I mean… |
| والله |
Wallah |
I swear |
| عنجد |
3anjad |
Really? |
| خلص |
Khalas |
Enough / That’s it |
| ماشي |
Meshe |
Okay / Fine |
FAQ
Q: How long does it take to learn these phrases?
With 15 minutes/day, you can master greetings, numbers, and politeness in 3–4 weeks.
Q: Is Lebanese Arabic very different from MSA?
Yes. Lebanese is spoken, flexible, and simpler. MSA is formal and rarely spoken in daily life.
Q: Can I just use “Shokran” for thank you?
Yes, but locals often say “Merci kteer”, using both sounds natural.
Q: What does “Ya3ne” mean?
It literally means “it means,” but it’s also a filler word like “you know.”
With these 150+ Lebanese Arabic phrases, you’re ready for real conversations, in taxis, cafés, homes, and with family.