![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/h4Z6RfuQycdiM\/giphy.gif\"width=\"100%\")
<\/p>\nWe often make fun of our friends for saying words differently than we do without taking into account an important thing: what if you\u2019re the one saying it wrong. There are so many words that you hear people say that make you think \u201chmm, could it be?\u201d but then you shake it off and convince yourself you\u2019re right. You sometimes end up in debates on whether this word is said this way or that and these debates usually end with the overused \u201cyeah, maybe that\u2019s how it\u2019s said in your area\u201d you know, because people in Ashrafieh speak differently than people in Tallet el Khayat. <\/p>\n
Here are a few from a pool of words that we can’t quite figure out if it’s us, or them. <\/p>\n
1. Barkeh vs Balkeh <\/b><\/p>\n
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This is one I hear all the time and have often mocked. \u201cBarkeh\u201d, translating to \u201cmaybe\u201d is the more common version but many people say \u201cbalkeh\u201d, often compared to people who say \u201cGh\u201d instead of \u201cR\u201d. <\/p>\n
2. Loubye vs Loubya <\/b><\/p>\n
This one might seem trivial but it\u2019s really not. It has caused debates and controversies. loubYE or loubYA, the mystery will never be solved! From a linguistic perspective, it is \u201cloubya2\u201d \u0644\u0648\u0628\u064a\u0627\u0621 in proper Arabic (fos-ha) so it makes sense for many people to think it\u2019s technically loubYA in Arabic slang yet, we continue to say loubYE. <\/p>\n
3. Sayniye vs Soniye<\/b><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/jB0nx7i1qybPa\/giphy.gif\"width=\"100%\")
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This is a tricky one. It\u2019s often a misconception that only Beiruti\u2019s speak with a thick accent and therefore only people in Beirut say soniye because it sounds heavy, but I\u2019ve heard it from people of different backgrounds. And sayniye? It remains the winner as it originates from \u0635\u064a\u0646\u064a\u0629 <\/p>\n
4. Khobez vs khebez<\/b><\/p>\n
I sometimes involuntarily use both, so this one doesn\u2019t depend on a specific \u201cmanta2a\u201d or background, but sometimes they both sound weird to say. In more technical terms, there\u2019s no hamza on the \u201ckh\u201d, so\u2026 khebez for the win!<\/p>\n
5. Ma3karona vs Ma3karone<\/b><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/SabSYEpsVh0di\/giphy.gif\"width=\"100%\")
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Oh boy, the number of times I\u2019ve laughed at the word ma3karonE. The wording in Arabic is \u0645\u0639\u0643\u0631\u0648\u0646\u0629 which qualifies as \u201cA\u201d so why do so many people still believe it\u2019s E?<\/p>\n
6. Jou3an vs Jee3an <\/b><\/p>\n
Are you JEE3an or JOU3an? This one\u2019s a tough one. Many people typically say, the latter but if you hang out in Beirut, you might also hear the former jEE3an.<\/p>\n
7. Balcon vs Balgon<\/b><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/l2YWmJXKo7imjqhxu\/giphy.gif\"width=\"100%\")
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If your dad doesn\u2019t say \u201cbalgon\u201d, did you really grow up around here? It\u2019s no longer French, not Arabic and certainly not English\u2026 just a strange, strange way to say something. <\/p>\n
8. Ref2at vs. Ref2et<\/b><\/p>\n
Both are pretty common, but are what are more accustomed to? Going out ma3 ref2ATkon, or ref2ETkon? The difference in pronunciation depends on the area in which you grew up. <\/p>\n
9. Bin (coffee beans) vs ban <\/b><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/media.giphy.com\/media\/3o7TKTDn976rzVgky4\/giphy.gif\"width=\"100%\")
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If you\u2019re still confused, we\u2019re talking about \u201c\u0628\u0646 \u201c i.e. coffee, and who doesn\u2019t love coffee! I often hear people call it ban, with a \u201cfatha\u201d on the B. I\u2019m more used to saying Bin, with a \u201cKasra\u201d on the B. it\u2019s a matter of opinion, really, but the love for coffee remains the same!<\/p>\n
10. Dora vs dara<\/b><\/p>\n
No, not Dora the highway, we mean corn! Some people believe saying it with an O is the classy way of saying it. Some people think it\u2019s because that\u2019s how they\u2019re used to saying it. What do you believe in, dora or dara?<\/p>\n
11. Ma3la2a vs. mal3a2a <\/b><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/gifrific.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Ron-Burgundy-What-Did-You-Say-Anchorman.gif\"width=\"100%\")
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There is no logical explanation for these different pronunciations, although the proper Arabic way of saying it is \u0645\u0644\u0639\u0642\u0629.<\/p>\n
12. Riz vs. Rouz <\/b><\/p>\n
Another result of the battle of the areas.<\/p>\n
13. 7eit vs. 7ayt<\/b><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/thepaperbprincess.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/07\/wait-say-what-gif.gif\"width=\"100%\")
<\/p>\n
Beid vs. bayd, kheit vs. khayt, the list goes on. It is thought that the use of \u201ce\u201d is the more Beiruti (aka. classier) pronunciation of this family of words, since the a is considered heavy. Oh well, I wouldn\u2019t swap my \u201cheavy\u201d mountain accent for the world!<\/p>\n
14. Sajjede vs sijjede<\/b> <\/p>\n
That would be a carpet. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We often make fun of our friends for saying words differently than we do without taking into account an important thing: what if you\u2019re the one saying it wrong.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":408519,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_preview_accessed":0,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"media-embed-type":[],"class_list":["post-51567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-listomania"],"authorship":[23],"yoast_head":"\n