Welcome to Lebanese Lesson 1! In this video and transcript, you’ll learn how to introduce yourself in the Lebanese dialect of Arabic. One of the first things you’ll learn is the common greeting “marhaba” which can be translated to “hi” or “bonjour” in English. We’ll also cover the meaning of “kifak” and “kifik”, which are used to ask “how are you?” in Lebanese Arabic. Throughout the lesson, you’ll be learning practical phrases that you can use when speaking with Lebanese people. So, whether you’re a foreigner visiting Lebanon or just looking to expand your language skills, you’ll find this lesson helpful. Now, let’s get started and learn how to say “hello” and “how are you” in Lebanese Arabic.
Want to master Lebanese Arabic step-by-step?
How do you say hello in Lebanese Arabic?
Marhaba is one of the most common ways to say hello in Lebanese Arabic. If you want to say hi in Lebanese, marhaba is the most useful place to start.
Quick meaning: marhaba = hello / hi / welcome, depending on context.
Transcript:
Introduction
Welcome to our Lebanese lesson 1! In this video, I am Hiba, and I will be helping you to learn the Lebanese language. As a foreigner in Lebanon, you are in the right place to learn how to speak the language. Keep in mind that the Lebanese language is divided into two types, one for writing and reading, but we won’t be learning that, instead we will be focusing on the spoken language.
Learn to Say Hello in Lebanese: Introduction to Introducing Yourself
Let’s start by learning how to introduce ourselves:
| English | Lebanese (for a man) | Lebanese (for a woman) |
|---|---|---|
| hello, how are you? | marhaba, kifak? | marhaba, kifik? |
It’s important to know that “marhaba” can be translated to “Hi” or “Bonjour” in English. It’s commonly used by everyone and will be understood by everyone.
More Phrases
Let’s continue with learning more phrases:
| English | Lebanese |
|---|---|
| My name is Maria, I come from Mexico. | esmeh Maria, jeiyeh mnel mexeec |
| To study the Arabic language | edros aarabeh |
| I work as a translator | beshteghil terjmein |
You can also use these phrases together to say “My name is Maria, I come from Mexico to study the Arabic language. I work as a translator.” :
| English | Lebanese |
|---|---|
| My name is Maria, I come from Mexico to study the Arabic language | esmeh Maria, jeiyeh mnel mexeec edros aarabeh |
| I work as a translator | beshteghil terjmein |
Want to go further?
What does marhaba mean in Lebanese Arabic?
Marhaba means hello in Lebanese Arabic. It is a common greeting you can use when meeting someone, starting a conversation, or greeting people politely in everyday situations.
Depending on context, marhaba can also feel close to hi or welcome, but on this page we focus on its most useful everyday meaning: hello.
When do you use marhaba?
You can use marhaba when greeting someone for the first time, entering a shop, starting a casual conversation, or introducing yourself. It is one of the safest and most natural beginner greetings in Lebanese Arabic.
Common uses of marhaba
- Hello: when meeting someone
- Hi: in casual conversation
- Welcome: in some contexts, depending on the sentence
Marhaba and other Lebanese greetings
This lesson focuses on how to say hello in Lebanese Arabic and what marhaba means. If you want to learn other everyday greetings like good morning in Lebanese, see this lesson on everyday Lebanese phrases.
Review
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s review what we’ve learned:
| English | Lebanese |
|---|---|
| hello | marHaba |
| how are you? (for a man) | kifak? |
| how are you? (for a woman) | kifik? |
| how are you? (for many people) | kifkoun? |
| My name is Maria | esmeh Maria |
| I come from Mexico | jeiyeh mnel mexeec |
| To study the Arabic language | edros aarabeh |
| I work as a translator | beshteghil terjmein |
Since this is just an introductory lesson, we didn’t cover many sentences. But don’t worry! You can watch the other Lebanese Arabic lesson videos by checking out the menu at the top of the page, or just click here to watch lesson 2 about Lebanese Arabic at the airport.
Hello in Lebanese Arabic FAQ
The most common beginner-friendly way is marhaba.
Marhaba means hello in Lebanese Arabic. In some contexts it can also feel close to hi.
You can say marhaba to say hi in Lebanese Arabic.
Marhaba works well in both casual and polite everyday situations, which is why it is a very useful first greeting for learners.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this first lesson and I will be with you step-by-step to learn the Lebanese language. Thank you for learning with us!
✓ You’ve Completed Lesson 1!
What’s Next?
Continue Your Learning Journey
You’ve learned the foundations. Now it’s time to master Lebanese Arabic with structured lessons, interactive exercises, and real conversations with native speakers.
I’m here over a decade later and am happy to find your website! I work at a lebanese restaurant for a lebanese chef and have been looking for resources to learn levantine/lebanese arabic. my coworkers include palestinian, egyptian, and ofc lebanese people and although they all speak english, I want to be able to speak to them in their mother tongue as they speak to me in mine. I have no idea if this website is still active, but thank you so much for your work! I’m excited to keep learning. sahat!
Great help! thank you!!!!
Just now found this. Shukran for the lessons
This is such a cool blog! I look forwards to learning the "Lebanese" dialect. Thanks for posting all these lessons! ~Michael