150+ Essential Lebanese Arabic Phrases (With Script & English Translation)
Here’s the most complete list online of 150+ Lebanese phrases, with Arabic script, transliteration, and English meaning.
💡 Pro tip: Don’t just read. Practice out loud, and notice tone. Lebanese is a musical dialect.
👉 Want more? Download the FREE Lebanese Arabic Starter Guide
Greetings & Everyday Hellos
| 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 |
Download the Free Lebanese Arabic Starter Guide and start speaking today.
👉 Related: How to Say Thank You in Lebanese Arabic
Politeness & Everyday Courtesy
| 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 |
Getting Around (Taxis, Service, Directions)
| 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, Drinks & Restaurants
| 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…? |
Shopping & Bargaining
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 |
At Home & Social Life
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 |
Love & Relationships
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 |
Health & Emergencies
| 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, Time & Dates
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 |
Social Media, Slang & Fillers
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 |
Mini-Dialogues (Real Scenarios)
Ordering Food
-
A: بدي منقوشة زعتر لو سمحت — Baddi man2oushe za3tar law sama7t — I’d like a zaatar man’oushe, please
-
B: تكرم — Tekram — Sure
In a Taxi
-
A: على ساحة ساسين — Aala sa7et Sassin — To Sassin Square
-
B: تفضل — Tfaddal — Let’s go
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.”
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