How to Ask Questions in Lebanese Arabic (Why, When, Who)

Knowing how to ask questions is fundamental to any conversation. This lesson covers the essential, formal question words you need to know in Lebanese Arabic, such as “why,” “when,” “who,” and “where.”

Learn the key vocabulary for forming basic questions, and see examples of how they are used in everyday speech.

Full Transcript: A Guide to Lebanese Question Words

Of course. Here is a more visually appealing and easier-to-understand version of that section, using a table to organize the information clearly.

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1. The Basic Questions

These are the most common and important question words you will use in almost any conversation.

Question	Lebanese Arabic	Example in a Sentence
Why? 🤔	leh (ليه) / lesh (ليش)	“Why are you sick?” – leh ‘enta mareeD? (ليه أَنتَ مَريض؟)
When? 🗓️	emtan (أَيمْتَن) / emta (أَيمْتَى)	“When are you coming?” – emta jeyeh? (أَمْتَى جَايَيَ؟)
Who? 👤	meen (مين)	“Who are you?” (group) – meen ‘ento? (مين إنتو؟)
How? 🤷	keef (كيف)	“How is your dad?” – keef bayyak? (كيف بيك؟)
What? 🗣️	shou (شو)	“What’s wrong?” (to a woman) – shou bekeh? (شو بكِ؟)
Where? 📍	wein (وين)	“Where are you going?” (to a man) – wein rayeH? (وين رايح؟)

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Note on “What?”: In polite situations where you didn’t hear what someone said, you can also use na3am? (نعم؟).

2. The Complicated Forms

These questions are combinations of the basic words and are used very frequently in conversation.

Question	Lebanese Arabic	Example in a Sentence
What for? 🎁	lashou? (لشو)	“What for are these mugs?” – lashou hawdeh l kebbeyeit? (لشو هودي الكبايات؟)
Since when? 🕰️	min emtan? (من أَيمْتَن؟) / min emta? (من أَيمْتَى؟)	“Since when do you wear black?” – min emtan btelbous aswad? (من امتن بتلبس اسود؟)
Why not? ✅	leh la’? (ليه لا؟)	—
What else? ➕	shou kamen? (شو كمان؟)	“What else are you bringing?” – shu jeybeh kamen? (شو جايبة كمان؟)
How come? 🤯	keef ta? (كيف تَ؟)	“How come your brother is here?” – keef ta khayyak hon? (كيف تَ خيّك هون؟)

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Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Lebanese Phrase	Transliteration	English Meaning
ليه / ليش	Leh / Lesh	Why?
إيمتن / إيمتى	Emtan / Emta	When?
مين	Meen	Who?
كيف	Keef	How?
شو	Shou	What?
وين	Wein	Where?
لشو	Lashou	What for?
من إيمتن	Min emtan	Since when?
ليه لا؟	Leh la’?	Why not?
شو كمان؟	Shou kamen?	What else?
كيف تَ؟	Keef ta?	How come?