Listomania
22 Odd-Sounding Lebanese Expressions And What They Actually Mean
Here’s our urban dictionary translation of some wonderfully weird common expressions that you’d only hear in Lebanon:
1. “Enta men 3dam el ra2be”
Translation: You’re one of the neck’s bones
Meaning: “You and I are so close”
2. “Fi baynetna khebez w meleh”
Translation: There’s bread and salt between us
Meaning: “We have known each other for such a long time”
3. Men kel wede 3asa
Translation: A stick from each valley
Meaning: What is being said or done is very random and unorganized or non-sequential
4. Metel el orb3a bi noss el jom3a
Translation: Like a Wednesday in the middle of the week
Meaning: Used to express the oddness of someone being out of place
5. “Kebret el khasse bi raso”
Translation: The lettuce grew in his head
Meaning: “He’s so full of himself”
6. “3tine yeha min el ekhir”
Translation: Give it to me from the end
Meaning: “Get straight to the point”
7. “3emlouloun kabse”
Translation: They pressed them
Meaning: “They caught them doing something unauthorized in secret”
8. “Belak shou fade”
Translation: Your mind is so empty
Meaning: “You have a lot of time on your hands”
9. “Khalis la alla”
Translation: He’s so done to God
Meaning: “He’s so stupid”
10. “Enta wen wel dene wen”
Translation: Where are you and where’s the world
Meaning: “Aren’t you aware of what’s happening around you?”
11. “Ahsan ma yetla3 halib el nawar”
Translation: Or else I’d let out the gypsies’ milk
Meaning: “Don’t make me lose control or lose my temper”
12. “Rahit 3lek”
Translation: it went out on you
Meaning: “You missed out on something important”
13. Min Hal 3en Abel Hal 3en
Translation: From this eye before this eye
Meaning: “I’ll do anything you ask of me”
14. Shou khas toz bi marhaba?
Translation: What does fart have to do with Hello?
Meaning: What is being said is unreasonable or unrelated to the conversation happening.
15. “Shou fi hek hek?”
Translation: What’s up like this like that?
Meaning: “What’s up? Tell me anything”
16. El sabah rabah
Translation: The morning is a winner
Meaning: “Don’t worry, we’ll solve this issue tomorrow”
17. “E3din 3am nemshe”
Translation: We’re out here, sitting-walking
Meaning: “We’re just taking a walk”
18. “Bala hob bala battikh”
Translation: Without love and watermelon
Meaning: “love is not a priority for me right now”
19. “Ba3ed ma fa2as men el bayda”
Translation: He didn’t crack out of his egg yet
Meaning: “Who does he think he is?”
20. Min tiz el daw
Translation: From the light’s butt
Meaning: Waking up very early in the morning
21. De2 el may may
Translation: Tap the water, it stays water
Meaning: used to describe a futile action
22. “Toli3 el sha3er 3ala lsene”
Translation: The hair grew on my tongue
“I’ve warned you many times but you didn’t take it seriously.”
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