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.
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.
| English | Arabic Male | Arabic Female |
|---|---|---|
| Hi | مَرْحبا marHaba | مَرْحبا marHaba |
| Goodbye | مَع السَّلامة ma3 as-salaameh | مَع السَّلامة ma3 as-salaameh |
| Good morning | صَباح الخير SabaaH Al-khayr | صَباح الخير SabaaH Al-khayr |
| Good night | تِصْبَح عَلَى خير tiSbaH 3alaa khayr | تِصْبَحي عَلَى خير tiSbaHi 3alaa khayr |
| Good evening | مَساء 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 good | أنا منيح ana mniiH | أنا مْنيحة ana mniiHa |
| Everything’s fine | كُلّ 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 know | ما بعرف ma ba3rif | ما بَعْرِف ma ba3rif |
| I’m sorry | آسِف aasif | آسْفة aasfeh |
| Thank you | شُكْرا shukran | شُكْرا shukran |
| Thank you very much | شُكْرا كْتير shukran ktiir | شُكْرا كْتير shukran ktiir |
| Response to thank you | عَفْواً 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 please | مُمْكِن mumkin | مُمْكِن mumkin |
| Please | لَو 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? |
| Yes | نَعْم na3m | – |
| No | لا laa | – |
| Yeah | آه aa | – |
| Bon appetite | صَحْتين SaHtein | – |
| Enough | خَلَص khalaS | – |
| No problem | مِش مُشْكِلة mish mushkileh | – |
| Sure | أكيد akiid | – |
| Maybe | يِمْكِن yimkin | – |
| OK | ماشي maashi | – |
| Nice to meet you | تْشَرَّفْنا tsharrafnaa | تْشَرَّفْنا tsharrafnaa |
| See you later | بَشوفَك بَعْدين bashuufak ba3dein | بَشوفَك بَعْدين bashuufak ba3dein |
| My dear | حَبيبي Habiibi | حَبيبْتي Habiibti |
| It’s ok | عادي 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 opinion | برأَي bra’yi | برأَي bra’yi |
| I don’t think so | ما أَتْوَقَّع maa atwaqqa3 | ما أَتْوَقَّع maa atwaqqa3 |
| Never mind/ forget it | اِنْسى insaa | اِنْسي insii |
| I don’t have any idea | ما عِنْدي أيّ فِكْرة maa 3indi ayy fikra | ما عِنْدي أيّ فِكْرة maa 3indi ayy fikra |
| Good idea | فِكْرة مْنيحة fikra mniiHa | – |
| By the way | عَلى فِكْرة 3alaa fikra | – |
| Anyway | عَلَى كُلّ حال 3alaa kull Hal | – |
| Regardless | بِغَضّ 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 mean | قَصْدي 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 worry | لا تِقلَق laa tiqlaq | لا تِقْلَقي laa tiqlaqi |
| Lucky you | نِيّالَك niyyaalak | نِيّالِك niyyaalik |
| Do you need anything? | بِدَّك إشي؟ biddak ishi? | بِدِّك إشي؟ biddik ishi? |
| I want/ need | بِدّي biddi | بِدّي biddi |
| I should/ must | لازِم laazim | – |
| Are you kidding? | بْتِمْزَح؟ btimzaH? | بْتِمْزَحي؟ btimzaHi? |
| The weather is nice | الجَوّ حِلو al-jaww Hilou | – |
| Nice! | حِلو Hilou | – |
| What happened? | شو صار؟ shou Saar? | – |
| Once again | مَرّة تانية marra taaniyeh | – |
| No way/ impossible | مُسْتَحيل mustaHiil | – |
| Really? / Seriously? | عَنْجَدّ؟ 3anjadd? | – |
| Not necessarily | مِش ضَروري mish Daruuri | – |
| On the contrary | بالعَكْس bil3aks | – |
| Exactly | بالضَّبْط biDDabT | – |
| Right | صَحيح SaHiiH | – |
| I agree | أنا مُوافِق ana muwaafiq | أنا مُوافْقة ana muwaaqa |
| Awesome | رائِع raa’i3 | – |
| I’m tired | أنا تَعْبان ana ta3baan | أنا تَعْبانة ana ta3baana |
| I’m hungry | أنا جُعان ana jo3aan | أنا جُعانة ana jo3aana |
| I’m thirsty | أنا عَطْشان ana 3aTshaan | أنا عَطْشانة ana 3aTshaana |
| I’m sick | أنا مَريض Ana mariiD | أنا مَريضة ana mariiDa |
| I’m a student | أنا طالِب ana Taalib | أنا طالِبة ana Taaliba |
| I’m married | أنا مِتْزَوِّج ana mitzawwij | أنا مِتْزَوّجة ana mitzawwja |
| I’m busy | أنا مَشْغول ana mashghruul | أنا مَشْغولة ana mashghruula |
| I have children | عِنْدي أُولاد 3indi uwlaad | عِنْدي أُولاد 3indi uwlaad |
| Give me one minute | أعْطيني دَقيقة a3Tiini daqiiqa | أعْطيني دَقيقة a3Tiini daqiiqa |
| Why not? | ليش لا؟ leish laa? | – |
| Why? | ليش؟ leish? | – |
| Call me | رِنِّلّي 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 remember | مش 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 wish | يا 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 least | على الأقَلّ 3alal aqall | – |
| In spite of | مَعْ إنُّه ma3 inno | – |
| Usually | عَادَةً 3aadatan | – |
| Never | أَبَداً abadan | – |
| Always | دايماً daayman | – |
| Sometimes | أَحْياناً aHyaanaan | – |
| Rarely | نادِرا 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 | – |
| Welcome | أهلاً 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.
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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