LEBANESE LESSONS
Lesson 1, Pronunciation Guide
The letters shown below are meant to be pronounced each in one unique way.
The letters shown in bold are the ones you need to get acquainted
with since they are either pronounced different or have a new
sound to English.
Due to having less Latin letters than the sounds required three arrangements
are made:
- The V rule: V is not pronounced but the letter preceding is pronounced
harder (thicker). - Gh and Kh are used as shown below
- Role/stress-on all double letters
|
Letter |
English Pronunciation |
Lebanese word |
Meaning |
|
|
A |
A as in car, far, bar and star |
Ana |
I |
|
|
‘ |
Very short A |
War’a |
Paper |
|
|
B |
B in bed |
Beb |
Door |
|
|
C |
Sh in she |
Cajra |
Tree |
|
|
D |
D in door |
Dabke |
Lebanese folkdance |
|
|
Dv |
Hard D close to the d sound in dummy, buddy |
Baydva |
Egg |
|
|
E |
Soft “ai” in Train and Spain, also like “a” sounds in bare, dare |
Edame |
Kind man |
|
|
F |
F in food, frog, fast and free |
Finjen |
Cup |
|
|
G |
G in glass, grass, green and gold |
Guitar* Pronounced Giitar |
Guitar* |
|
|
Gh |
G stretching tongue out, like the “R” in French as spoken in Paris |
Ghariib |
Stranger |
|
|
H |
H in home |
Hawa |
Air |
|
|
Hv |
Hard H (H stretching tongue base) |
Hvilo |
Sweet/beautiful |
|
|
I |
Like “e” in Ben and Bed
|
Inta
|
You for male
|
|
|
II |
Like “ee” in feed, seed, bee and deed |
iid |
Hand |
|
|
J |
G in Beige without your tongue touching your jaw |
Jabal |
Mountain |
|
|
K |
K in kind |
Kiifak |
How are you? |
|
|
Kh |
J in Spanish, “ch” in German |
Khibiz |
Bread |
|
|
L |
L in land |
Laban |
Yogurt |
|
|
M |
M in man |
Mreye |
Mirror |
|
|
N |
N in name |
Nar |
Fire |
|
|
O |
O in open
|
Moz |
Bananas |
|
|
P |
P in Peter |
Pardon** |
Sorry/Excuse me** |
|
|
Q |
Hard k close to the sound of “ck” in duck, truck, buck |
Qamiis*** |
Arabic for shirt*** |
|
|
R |
Rolled R (like R in Spanish) |
Ras |
Head |
|
|
S |
S in Sam |
Sama |
Sky |
|
|
Sv |
Hard S close to the “s” in us, and “ss” in fuss |
Svura |
Picture |
|
|
T |
T in toy |
Tor |
Bull |
|
|
Tv |
Hard T close to the “t” sound in shut |
Tvarii’ |
Road/way |
|
|
U |
OO in cool, fool, moon and soon. |
Jura |
Hole/ Ditch |
|
|
V |
(V in Victory- for English/French words used in Lebanese) Not pronounced in Lebanese words |
Video* (pronounced Vidyo) |
Video* |
|
|
W |
W in word |
Walad |
Boy |
|
|
X |
“A” stretching tongue base |
Xen |
Eye/Spring |
|
|
Y |
Y in yellow |
Yamiin |
Right (hand) |
|
|
Z |
Z in Zebra |
Zahra |
Flower |
|
|
Zv |
Hard Z like “zz” in fuzz |
Mazvbut |
Fits/ right-done |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frequently used phrases and expressions
The most frequently used expression in Lebanese is a distinguish character of modern
Lebanese. The words most used here are English or French. You can replace any
phrase in this section with any equivalent French or English one during any
conversation in a regular Lebanese conversation.
|
Hi, Hello |
Marhvaba |
|
How are you doing? (addressing male) |
Kiifak? |
|
How are you doing? (addressing female) |
Kiifik? |
|
I’m fine (m.) |
Mniihv |
|
I’m fine (fem.) |
Mniihva |
|
This is (m.) |
Hayda |
|
This is (fem.) |
Hayde |
|
Yes |
E |
|
No |
La’ |
|
Thanks |
Yislamo/ Merci ** (French) |
|
Welcome |
Ahlen |
|
Please |
Iza bitriid/ Please * (English) |
|
Excuse me |
Iza bitriid/ Pardon** ( French) |
|
Sorry |
Pardon**( French) |
|
Bye |
Bye* (English) |
|
Good ( masculine) Good (feminine) |
Mniihv Mniihva |
|
Very good |
Ktiir mniihv |
|
OK |
OK* |
|
Now |
Halla’ |
|
Later |
Baxden |
|
Waw |
Yay |
|
Oh |
Yii |
|
Here |
Hon |
Meeting people
words from other languages used in
Introducing people: George, Salwa & Paul George: Paul, I would like to introduce Salwa. Salwa, This is Paul. Paul is a student, he studies at college. He is from California, originally from Beirut. George: Paul, bhvib xarrfak xa Salwa. Salwa, hayda Paul. Paul tvalib, xam yidros bi ljemxa. Paul min California, w aslo min Beirut. Siham: Hi, Paul, nice to meet you. Paul: Welcome Salwa, nice to meet you. Siham: Marhvaba Paul, Tcarrafna Paul: Ahlen Salwa, Tcarrafna. George: Salwa is visiting from Lebanon, she will stay at our place for two months. George: Salwa jeye zyara min Libnen, w rahv tib’a xinna cahren.
Lebanese: * English, ** French, *** Arabic
For more Lessons Click Here: www.abcleb.com/lebanese/examples.htm
Frequently Used Phrases
|
Hi, Hello |
Marhvaba |
|
How are you doing? |
Kiifak? (addressing male) |
|
How are you doing? |
Kiifik? (addressing female) |
|
I’m fine |
Mniihv (ml) |
|
I’m fine |
Mniihva (fem) |
|
This is |
Hayda (ml) |
|
This is |
Hayde (fem) |
|
Yes |
E |
|
No |
La’ |
|
Good morning |
The most used is the French's Bon Jour (pronounced Bon jur) Nharkon saxiid is a Lebanese phrase that is used also. |
|
Good evening |
The most common phrase is the French's Bon Soir (prnounced Bon swar) Masa lkher is also used |
|
Good night |
The most common phrase is the French's Bonne nuit (pronounced Bon wii) |
|
Thanks |
Fernch's Merci is most used, prnounced Mersii English's Thanks is the second most used Yislamo is a Lebanese term that is also used Arabic's Cukran is the least term used for Thanks in Lebanese |
|
Welcome |
If French used for thanks, the reply will be Derien- pronounced Deryan If Enaglish used for thanks, the reply will be Welcome If Lebanese used for thanks, the reply will be Aheln or: Tikram (ml) If Arabic is used for thanks, you can reply in Lebanese or use Arabic Xafwan You can Also use Ahlen |
|
What is your name? |
Cu ismak? (ml) |
|
My name is Tom |
Isme Tom |
|
Pleased/ honored to meet you |
Tcarrafna |
|
I love you |
Ana Bhvibbak/ Bhvibbak( addressing male) |
|
Lebanon |
Libnen |
|
Do you Speak Lebanese? |
Btihvke Libnene? |
|
I speak a little |
Bihvke cway |
|
I speak good Lebanese |
Bihvke Libnene mniihv |
|
I do not speak Lebanese |
Ma bihvke libnene |
|
Maybe |
Yimkin |
|
For sure |
Akiid |
|
Sorry |
Pardon ( French) pronounced Pardon |
|
Bye |
Bye (English) |
|
Good |
Mniihv |
|
Very good |
Ktiir mniihv |
|
OK |
OK |
|
Now |
Halla’ |
|
Later |
Baxden |
|
Waw |
Yay |
|
Oh |
Yii |
|
Here |
Hon |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
