Levantine arabic phrases for beginners

150 short Levantine Arabic phrases for beginners

Learn common Levantine Arabic phrases and improve your speaking skills.

When learning a language, it is very helpful to memorize whole phrases. This allows you to speak more fluently, but also remember some of the rules of grammar.

In this post we present 150 short Levantine Arabic phrases, all of which are used on a daily basis.

NEW POST ALERT! Check our new post for Levantine Arabic learners 1000 Most Common Levantine Arabic Words and learn vocabulary essential for beginners.

What you are going to learn

The following list is ideal for beginners, or for those who live in a country where this dialect is spoken.

By learning the phrases below, you will not only be able to speak more in Arabic, but you will also be able to better understand native speakers.   

We can say that these are the key words in Levantine Arabic everyday speech.

Levantine Arabic learning

Even if you don’t know the basics of the dialect yet, you can memorize these sentences and use them in the conversation. Doing so will help you to practice the correct Arabic pronunciation right away.

When learning a language, it is important to speak from the very beginning. If you speak your target language every day, you will notice a big improvement in your language skills.  

The more Arabic phrases you know by heart, the less stress you will experience when you speak with native speakers, and the more natural you will sound.

*You don’t have to know how to write in Arabic – the list includes pronunciation.

If you are fluent in Levantine Arabic check out our post with common Levantine Arabic proverbs.

List of basic Levantine Arabic phrases

Below you will find a list of 150 phrases used on a daily basis by native speakers of Levantine Arabic.

The phrases are tailored for beginners who are just starting to learn this Arabic dialect.

To make it easier for you to pronounce the sentences, each phrase has the phonetic pronunciation written underneath it. In addition, the short vowels are marked as well.

Note that the columns Arabic male and Arabic female indicate either that we are speaking to a man/woman or that the speaker is a man/woman, depending on the phrase.

If you are not a complete beginner and you already know these phrases, check our other Levantine Arabic resources. To enrich your vocabulary learn Levantine Arabic Verbs and Levantine Arabic Adjectives.

EnglishArabic
Male
Arabic
Female
Hiمَرْحبا
marHaba
مَرْحبا
marHaba
Goodbyeمَع السَّلامة
ma3 as-salaameh
مَع السَّلامة
ma3 as-salaameh
Good morningصَباح الخير
SabaaH Al-khayr
صَباح الخير
SabaaH Al-khayr
Good nightتِصْبَح عَلَى خير
tiSbaH 3alaa khayr
تِصْبَحي عَلَى خير
tiSbaHi 3alaa khayr
Good eveningمَساء الخير
masaa’ Al-khayr
مَساء الخير
masaa’ Al-khayr
Where are you from?مِنْ وينْ انت؟
miin wein inta?
مِنْ وينْ انتي؟
miin wein inti?
How old are you?كَم عُمْرَك
kam 3omrak?
كَم عُمْرِك؟
Kam 3omrik?
How are you?كيف حالَك؟
kiif Haalak?
كيف حالِك؟
Kiif Haalik?
I’m goodأنا منيح
ana mniiH
أنا مْنيحة
ana mniiHa
Everything’s fineكُلّ شي تمام
Kull shii tamaam
كُلّ شي تمام
Kull shii tamaam
What time is is?كَم السّاعة؟
kam as-saa3a?
كَم السّاعة؟
kam as-saa3a?
At what time?أيّ ساعة؟
ayy saa3a?
أيّ ساعة؟
ayy saa3a?
Could you help me?مُمْكِنْ تْساعِدْني؟
mumkin tsaa3idni?
مُمْكِنْ تْساعِديني؟
mumkin tsaa3idiini?
Do you speak English?بْتِحْكي إنْجليزي؟
btiHki injliizi?
بْتِحْكي إنْجليزي؟
btiHki injliizi?
I speak Arabic بَحْكي عَرَبي
baHki 3arabi
بَحْكي عَرَبي
baHki 3arabi
I don’t speak Arabic well ما بَحْكي عَرَبي مْنيح
ma baHki 3arabi mniiH
ما بَحْكي عَرَبي مْنيح
ma baHki 3arabi mniiH
I don’t understand مِش فاهِم
mish faahim
مِش فاهْمة
mish faahmeh
Could you repeat?بْتِقْدَر تْعيد؟
btiqdar t3iid?
بْتِقْدَري تْعيدي؟
btiqdari t3iidii?
I don’t knowما بعرف
ma ba3rif
ما بَعْرِف
ma ba3rif
I’m sorryآسِف
aasif
آسْفة
aasfeh
Thank you شُكْرا
shukran
شُكْرا
shukran
Thank you very muchشُكْرا كْتير
shukran ktiir
شُكْرا كْتير
shukran ktiir
Response to thank youعَفْواً
3afwan
Excuse me?عَفْواً؟
3afwan?
How is your family?كيف أهْلَك؟
kiif ahlak?
كيف أهْلِك؟
kiif ahlik?
What’s the news?شو أخْبارَك؟
shou akhbaarak?
شو أخْبارِك؟
shou akhbaarik?
What’s new?شو في جْديد؟
shou fi jdiid?
شو في جْديد؟
shou fi jdiid?
What’s your job?شو شُغْلَك؟
shou shughlak?
شو شُغْلِك؟
shou shughlik?
Could you pleaseمُمْكِن
mumkin
مُمْكِن
mumkin
Pleaseلَو سَمَحِت
law samaHit
لَو سَمَحْتي
law samaHti
Please مِن فَضْلَك
min faDlak
مِن فَضْلِك
min faDlik
Where do you live? وين ساكِن؟
wein saakin?
وين ساكْنة
wein saakneh?
Where are you?وينَك؟
weinak?
وينِك؟
weinik?
Yesنَعْم
na3m

Noلا
laa

Yeahآه
aa

Bon appetitصَحْتين
SaHtein

Enoughخَلَص
khalaS

No problemمِش مُشْكِلة
mish mushkileh
Sureأكيد
akiid

Maybeيِمْكِن
yimkin

OKماشي
maashi

Nice to meet youتْشَرَّفْنا
tsharrafnaa
تْشَرَّفْنا
tsharrafnaa
See you later بَشوفَك بَعْدين
bashuufak ba3dein
بَشوفِك بَعْدين
bashuufik ba3dein
My dearحَبيبي
Habiibi
حَبيبْتي
Habiibti
It’s okعادي
3aadi

What do you think?شو رأَيَك؟
shou ra’yak
شو رأيِك؟
shou ra’yik?
I think that…بَظُنّ إنُّه
bazonn inno…
بَظُنّ إنُّه
bazonn inno…
In my opinionبرأَي
bra’yi
برأَي
bra’yi
I don’t think soما أَتْوَقَّع
maa atwaqqa3
ما أَتْوَقَّع
maa atwaqqa3
Never mind/ forget itاِنْسى
insaa
اِنْسي
insii
I don’t have any ideaما عِنْدي أيّ فِكْرة
maa 3indi ayy fikra
ما عِنْدي أيّ فِكْرة
maa 3indi ayy fikra
Good ideaفِكْرة مْنيحة
fikra mniiHa
By the wayعَلى فِكْرة
3alaa fikra
Anywayعَلَى كُلّ حال
3alaa kull Hal
Regardlessبِغَضّ النَّظَر
bighaDD an-nadhar
Of course طَبْعاً
Tab3an

That’s great مُمتاز
mumtaaz

Congratulations مَبْروك
mabrook
Who is speaking?مين مَعي؟
miin ma3yi?
مين مَعي؟
miin ma3yi?
Is something wrong?في إشي غَلَط؟
fi ishi ghalaT
في إشي غَلَط؟
fi ishi ghalaT
I meanقَصْدي
qaSdi
قَصْدي
qaSdi
What do you mean?شو قَصْدَك؟
shou qaSdak?
شو قَصْدِك؟
shou qaSdik?
What does it mean?شو يَعْني؟
shou ya3ni?
Where?وين؟
wein?
When?مَتَى؟
mataa?
How much?كَمّ؟
kamm?
Don’t worryلا تِقلَق
laa tiqlaq
لا تِقْلَقي
laa tiqlaqi
Lucky youنِيّالَك
niyyaalak
نِيّالِك
niyyaalik
Do you need anything?بِدَّك إشي؟
biddak ishi?
بِدِّك إشي؟
biddik ishi?
I want/ needبِدّي
biddi
بِدّي
biddi
I should/ mustلازِم
laazim

Are you kidding?بْتِمْزَح؟
btimzaH?
بْتِمْزَحي؟
btimzaHi?
The weather is niceالجَوّ حِلو
al-jaww Hilou
Nice!حِلو
Hilou

What happened?شو صار؟
shou Saar?
Once againمَرّة تانية
marra taaniyeh
No way/ impossibleمُسْتَحيل
mustaHiil
Really? / Seriously?عَنْجَدّ؟
3anjadd?
Not necessarily مِش ضَروري
mish Daruuri
On the contraryبالعَكْس
bil3aks
Exactlyبالضَّبْط
biDDabT
Rightصَحيح
SaHiiH
I agreeأنا مُوافِق
ana muwaafiq
أنا مُوافْقة
ana muwaaqa
Awesomeرائِع
raa’i3
I’m tired أنا تَعْبان
ana ta3baan
أنا تَعْبانة
ana ta3baana
I’m hungryأنا جُعان
ana jo3aan
أنا جُعانة
ana jo3aana
I’m thirstyأنا عَطْشان
ana 3aTshaan
أنا عَطْشانة
ana 3aTshaana
I’m sickأنا مَريض
Ana mariiD
أنا مَريضة
ana mariiDa
I’m a studentأنا طالِب
ana Taalib
أنا طالِبة
ana Taaliba
I’m married أنا مِتْزَوِّج
ana mitzawwij
أنا مِتْزَوّجة
ana mitzawwja
I’m busyأنا مَشْغول
ana mashghruul
أنا مَشْغولة
ana mashghruula
I have childrenعِنْدي أُولاد
3indi uwlaad
عِنْدي أُولاد
3indi uwlaad
Give me one minuteأعْطيني دَقيقة
a3Tiini daqiiqa
أعْطيني دَقيقة
a3Tiini daqiiqa
Why not?ليش لا؟
leish laa?
Why?ليش؟
leish?
Call meرِنِّلّي
rinnilli
رِنِّيلي
rinniili
Let me see خَلّيني أشوف
khalliini ashuuf
خَلّيني أشوف
khalliini ashuuf
What is this?شو هاد؟
shou haad?
What is the problem?شو المُشْكِلة؟
shoul mushkileh
I don’t rememberمش مِتْذَّكِّر
mish midhdhakkir
مِش مِتْذَّكْرة
mish midhdhakra
Can I ask you something? مُمْكِن أسْألَك إشي؟
mumkin as’alak ishi?
مُمْكِن أسْألِك إشي؟
mumkin as’alik ishi?
I wishيا ريت
yaa rait
يا ريت
yaa rait
I can بَقْدَر
baqdar
بَقْدَر
baqdar
I can’t ما بَقْدَر
maa baqdar
ما بَقْدَر
maa baqdar
What are you doing?شو بِتْسَوّي؟
شو بْتَعْمَل؟
shou bitsawwi?
shou bta3mal?
شو بِتْسَوّي؟
شو بْتَعْمَلي؟
shou bitsawwi?
shou bta3mali?
What do you want to do?شو بِدَّك تَعْمَل؟
shou biddak ta3mal?
شو بِدِّك تَعْمَلي؟
shou biddik ta3mali?
At leastعلى الأقَلّ
3alal aqall
In spite of مَعْ إنُّه
ma3 inno
Usuallyعَادَةً
3aadatan
Neverأَبَداً
abadan
Alwaysدايماً
daayman
Sometimesأَحْياناً
aHyaanaan
Rarelyنادِرا
naadiran
Honestly/ frankly بِصَراحة
biSaraaHa
In general بِشَكِل عام
bishakil 3aam
Because عَشان /
لَإنُّه
3ashaan
lainno
What do you study?شو بْتِدْرُس؟
shou btidros?
شو بْتِدْرُسي؟
shou btidrosi?
What do you want to eat?شو بِدَّك تاكُل؟
shou biddak taakul?
شو بِدِّك تاكْلي؟
shou biddik taakli?
What do you want to drink?شو بِدَّك تِشْرَب؟
shou biddak tishrab?
شو بِدِّك تِشْرَبي؟
shou biddik tishrabi?
In any possible way بِأيّ طَريقة
bi’ay Tariiqa
Welcomeأهلاً
ahlan
أهلاً
ahlan

Tips to memorize Levantine Arabic phrases

Some people have an easy time remembering new vocabulary and sentences. However, for some students this is a big challenge while learning new language.

Below you will find our tips on how to memorize Levantine Arabic vocabulary and phrases easily.

Basic Phrases in Levantine Arabic

Learn often used phrases

Start by memorizing Levantine Arabic phrases that you are sure you are going to use.

For example; if you are a student you can be sure that you will often be asked What do you study?, or that you will need to know how to say I’m a student.

You will be able to use and practice the vocabulary immediately after learning such sentences. In addition, it will help you to master your Arabic pronunciation.

Write it down

It is advisable to write down sentences and vocabulary by hand. Studies say that writing down information helps you remember it.  

Repeat Levantine Arabic phrases every day

Repeat new vocabulary every day. Combine this and the above point by creating your own list of vocabulary or/and phrases. Afterward repeat the entire list aloud each day.

Even if you haven’t learned the vocabulary by heart, just revising your list every day will, after some time, help you remember it even without learning.

Besides improving your pronunciation, such an exercise will help you remember at least some of the vocabulary for the rest of your life.

Learn common phrases while listening

Listen and watch a lot of content in Levantine Arabic. Podcasts, YouTube, series, television – all this will help you to remember new vocabulary without learning.

You can often hear Levantine Arabic phrases from our list in TV series, so check our post Arabic series to learn Arabic and start watching Arabic TV series! In the mentioned post you will find suggestions for free Arabic series to watch (short plot description included).

Set a goal

Set yourself a goal that you want to achieve. Whether it’s one word a day or 10 sentences a day, if you set yourself a steady goal, you are more likely to achieve at least some of it.

Besides, by consistently learning a few words a day, you will make learning them easier and faster over time.

Immerse yourself in the dialect

Immerse yourself in Arabic and learn the language without actual studying.

To learn Levantine Arabic faster, check out our post about Arabic immersion and find immersion ideas you can implement in your daily life.

Good luck!

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