Levantine Arabic Phrases: 40 Everyday Expressions

Essential Levantine Arabic phrases include marhaba (hello), kifak? (how are you?), shukran (thank you), and biddi (I want). Learn those four and you can already greet someone, be polite, and ask for what you need in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, or Palestine.

This guide gives you 40 everyday expressions, grouped by situation, with Arabic script and transliteration. Levantine Arabic is spoken, not formal, so these are the words you’ll actually hear in homes, cafés, taxis, and markets.

Picture a learner who has a trip to Amman coming up. They don’t need a grammar course in the next two weeks. They need a pocket list of phrases they can say with confidence. That’s what this article is for.

Note on pronunciation: Transliteration is approximate, and spelling varies. Regional accents differ, so you may hear small changes between cities. A native speaker or tutor can help you polish the sounds.

Greetings and Introductions

Greetings are the best place to start, because you’ll use them in every conversation. For a wider look across dialects, see our guide to Arabic greetings.

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning
مرحبا	marhaba	Hello
أهلا	ahlan	Hi / welcome
صباح الخير	sabah el kheir	Good morning
صباح النور	sabah el noor	Good morning (reply)
مساء الخير	masa’ el kheir	Good evening
كيفك؟	kifak? (to a man), kifik? (to a woman)	How are you?
منيح، الحمد لله	mnih, el hamdillah	Good, thank God
شو اسمك؟	shu ismak? / shu ismik?	What’s your name?
اسمي…	ismi…	My name is…
تشرفنا	tsharrafna	Nice to meet you

A few notes help here. Kifak and kifik differ by gender, so use the form that matches the person you’re speaking to. Replies like mnih (“good”) and el hamdillah are standard, and people often follow them by asking back.

Politeness and Everyday Courtesy

Politeness phrases show respect and open doors. They’re also easy to practice, since you can use them anywhere.

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning
شكرا	shukran	Thank you
يعطيك العافية	ya’tik el ‘afye	Thank you for your effort (lit. may God give you health)
عفوا	‘afwan	You’re welcome / excuse me
من فضلك	min fadlak / min fadlik	Please
إذا بتريد	iza btrid	If you like / please
آسف	asif (man), asfe (woman)	Sorry
الله يسلمك	allah yisalmak	Bless you (reply to thanks or kindness)
يلا	yalla	Let’s go / come on

Yalla is one of the most useful words in the region. It means “let’s go,” “hurry up,” or “okay, go ahead,” depending on tone.

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Easy Arabic teaches Levantine phrases in short themed packs, with vocabulary audio so you can hear how they sound. Download free and start with the preview pack.

Essential Questions and Answers

Questions let you take part in conversations instead of only listening. Levantine question words are short and easy to reuse.

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning
شو؟	shu?	What?
وين؟	wein?	Where?
ليش؟	leish?	Why?
كيف؟	kif?	How?
قديش؟	addesh?	How much?
مين؟	mein?	Who?
بتحكي إنجليزي؟	btihki inglizi?	Do you speak English?
ما فهمت	ma fhimt	I didn’t understand
ممكن تعيد؟	mumkin ti’id?	Can you repeat that?
ما في مشكلة	ma fi mushkile	No problem

The phrase ma fhimt may be the most helpful of all for a beginner. It lets you ask people to slow down without switching to English.

Food and Café Phrases

Food is where many learners get their first real practice. These phrases work in restaurants, bakeries, and family homes.

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning
بدي…	biddi…	I want…
بدي قهوة	biddi ahwe	I want coffee
بدي مي	biddi mayy	I want water
الحساب، لو سمحت	el hisab, law samaht	The bill, please
صحتين	sahtein	Enjoy your meal
يسلمو إيديكي	yislamu iideiki	Thanks to the cook (to a woman)
لذيذ	lazeez	Delicious
كتير	ktir	Very / a lot

Sahtein (“two healths”) is something you’ll hear at nearly every meal. Reply with allah yisalmak or a simple shukran.

Picture a learner at a family dinner who says lazeez, ktir after the first bite. That small effort tends to earn a smile, and it often leads to a longer conversation. Phrases don’t need to be perfect to build connection.

Shopping and Getting Around

When you’re out and about, a handful of phrases covers most situations.

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning
قديش هاد؟	addesh hada?	How much is this?
غالي كتير	ghali ktir	Too expensive
خفف شوي	khaffif shwayy	Lower it a bit (to bargain)
وين الحمام؟	wein el hammam?	Where’s the bathroom?
على طول	‘ala tool	Straight ahead
يمين / شمال	yamin / shmal	Right / left
هون	hon	Here
هناك	hunak	There

Bargaining is common in markets, but be polite. A smile and a friendly khaffif shwayy works better than pushing hard. For a travel-focused set of phrases, see our guide to learning Arabic for travel.

Regional Differences to Expect

Levantine Arabic is one family with local accents. You’ll notice differences, but they rarely block understanding.

• Lebanese speakers often say bddi for “I want” and use shu for “what.”
• Syrian speakers often say halla’ for “now” and leish for “why.”
• Jordanian and Palestinian speakers may pronounce certain letters differently, so kifak might sound slightly different.
• Word choices shift. The same object can have a different everyday word in different cities.

Don’t worry about picking a “correct” version. Choose the forms you hear most often from the people you’ll talk to, and adjust as you go. For more on how the dialects compare, read how to learn Levantine Arabic.

How to Make These Phrases Stick

Reading a list isn’t enough. Use these habits to turn phrases into speech.

1. Learn three to five phrases a day. Small batches are easier to remember than a full list.
2. Say them out loud. Your mouth needs practice with the sounds, not just your eyes.
3. Learn chunks, not single words. Ma fi mushkile is one unit, not three separate words.
4. Review on a schedule. Spaced repetition brings each phrase back right before you’d forget it.
5. Use them in real moments. Greet a neighbor, thank a barista, or practice with a language partner.

Easy Arabic supports this routine with themed vocabulary packs, vocabulary audio, and Anki-style spaced repetition review. Pro unlocks the full set of packs, while the free version lets you try a starter pack first. If you want to compare study tools, see our look at the best Arabic spaced repetition app.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Levantine Arabic phrases?

The most common ones are marhaba (hello), kifak? (how are you?), shukran (thank you), yalla (let’s go), biddi (I want), and ma fi mushkile (no problem).

Do these phrases work in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine?

Mostly, yes. Levantine Arabic shares a large common core, so these phrases are understood across the region. Local accents and a few word choices differ.

Is Levantine Arabic the same as Modern Standard Arabic?

No. Levantine is the spoken dialect, while MSA is the formal written language. Our article on Arabic dialect vs Modern Standard Arabic explains the difference.

How many phrases do I need to start a conversation?

About 15 to 20 well-practiced phrases are enough for greetings, basic questions, and simple requests. Add more as you go.

How do I learn Levantine Arabic phrases fast?

Study a few daily, say them aloud, and review them with spaced repetition. Short daily sessions work better than occasional long ones.

Start Using Levantine Phrases Today

Forty phrases won’t make you fluent, but they will help you greet people, be polite, ask questions, order food, and shop with confidence. Pick five from this list, say them out loud today, and add five more tomorrow.

Easy Arabic gives you the tools to keep that habit going, with short themed packs, audio, and spaced repetition. Download the app and try the free preview pack.

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