The Only Dictionary You’ll Need To Understand Every Lebanese Mom

Lebanese moms are simultaneously the most difficult and easiest people to understand. In the Lebanese mom dictionary, sometimes A = B. Sometimes A = C. But B = C? Never. But maybe. Are you lost? So are we.

Meriam Webster, step aside. This is the ultimate dictionary to unlocking Lebanese moms. It will include some definitions, synonyms, antonyms, and a whole lot of confusion.

Ya hmar

Definition: donkey
Synonyms: Habibi, albe, [insert your full name here], wla, ya ahbal, ya hayawen, hayete, Allah yse3edne
Antonyms: N/A

Yansoon or zhoorat

Definition: miracle of modern medicine
Synonyms: metel el Panadol
Antonyms: Panadol

Fucidin/Fucicort or Augmentin/

Definition: her true love
Synonyms: N/A
Antonyms: N/A

3melo l badkon ye

Definition: do NOT…we repeat, DO NOT…ta3mlo l badkon ye
Synonyms: starje, badde kasrak eza bta3mela, death wish, funeral, risky
Antonyms: 3melo l badkon ye

Ah walla?

Definition: don’t repeat what you just said or suffer the consequences
Synonym: 3anjad? Walla shu? Ahaaaa…
Antonyms: N/A

Mjaddara

Definition: metel l dawa
Synonyms: iron, hadeed, ghiza
Antonyms: iron supplements

Shu badkon teklo lyom?

Definition: I don’t care, 7a 2a3mol mjaddara*
Synonyms: mjaddara
Antonyms: anything but mjaddara

*See definition of Mjaddara above.

Tale3/Tal3a la bayyak/ik

Definition: I am pointing out your flaws
Synonyms: stupid
Antonyms: your mom

Ma hada b se3edne bhal bet

Definition: I need help but don’t help me right now or you’ll make things worse
Synonyms: useless kids, lashu jebet wled, I don’t need help but I do but not now so I can make my point
Antonyms: …???

Keef ba3mol [insert tech-related task here]?

Definition: you are a tech genius
Synonyms: Habibi shu btefham/e, tale3/tal3a la emma, computer engineer
Antonyms: N/A

3amleen hotel nehna

Definition: stop acting like a guest
Synonyms: home, parents, ungrateful, house, chores
Antonyms: hotel

*See “Ma hada b se3edne bhal bet”.

S2al bayyak

Definition: the answer is no but I’m giving you false hope
Synonyms: no
Antonyms: yes

Nshallah

Definition: hopefully
Synonyms: never, no, ma tehlam, don’t ever ask again
Anyonyms: yes

*See “S2al bayyak”.

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