Prepositions in Arabic, as well as connectors, are not always used in the same way as in English. “To” for example can have different meanings, and therefore be translated to two different words in Lebanese. We’ll try to cover most things in this lesson, but don’t worry, you will learn how to use all the prepositions in Lebanese with time.
Transcript:
Hello!
I know I promised a tour video, but I made a poll on my blog and the preposition lesson won. So I will do a preposition lesson, and connectors, but don’t worry I will do a tour video soon, and this time it’s for real.
Ok, before I begin my lesson I would like to thank very very much my friend loki who made a video response, and I’m very happy you can see it on the last lesson, and you can hear him talking in Arabic, Lebanese Arabic. Thank you loki, and to reply to your question, it’s “ma l2eet”.
So for now, let’s start!
Prepositions in Lebanese Arabic
First one is:
And: w.
and in Arabic is wa.
So me and my friend are studying: ana w rfee2teh 3am nedrous
rfee2teh is my friend, female.
rfee2eh is a male friend.
3am nedrous: studying.
So ana w rfee2teh,
and you do like a “liaison” (slur), ana w-rfee2teh.
So: fa
So, second connector is so.
so is fa.
So finally we agreed on the red color:
fa akheeran, so finally
we agreed ttafa2na
on the red color 3ala l lawn, color lawn, l a7mar red
fa akheeran ttafa2na 3ala l lawn l a7mar
So in this lesson you can learn prepositions and new words too.
But: bas
Ok so, but means bas.
I would like to come but I am traveling:
I would like 3abeleh
to come ejeh
bas but
msefra.
msefra: me I’m a female I say msefra.
If I’m a male, I say msefar.
And bas also indicates when you need to say stop! (enough!).
Like if someone is putting a soup for example in your plate you say: stop! stop! stop!
You say bas! bas! bas! (enough!).
And also it means only, Like I love only you: ana b7ebbak bas elak or ana b7ebbak elak bas.
Ok so but is bas. Let’s continue.
To (location): 3ala
She’s going to the gym:
so to means 3ala.
She’s going to the gym:
hiyeh she’s
going ray7a
to the gym 3ala l nedeh
gym nedeh (and also you can say gym).
so hiyeh ray7a 3ala l nedeh.
There is something a bit complicated about to.
I will explain. When to is used to indicate a location, like here, she’s going to the gym, it’s translated to 3ala, but when it indicates a cause, like “I called to tell you something”, whatever, it’s translated to:
I called da22eit or talfanet (it came from telephone)
talfanet or da22eit ta ellak.
So to becomes ta.
To (reason): ta
Very easy instead of the o use a.
I called to tell you: talfanet ta ellak
Then: ba3dein
Ok so let’s continue with then.
Eat the sandwich, then the chocolate:
Eat the sandwich:
eat kol
the sandwich: l sandwich or 3arous or tartine
kol l 3arous then ba3dein l chocola
kol l 3arous ba3dein l chocola
When: lamma
I will call you when I get back: be7kik lamma erja3.
so when lamma
erja3 I get back
From: min
I buy milk from the supermarket:
I buy ana beshtereh
7aleeb milk
from min
mn l supermarket.
ana beshtereh 7alib men l supermarket
On: 3ala
My book is on the table:
ktebeh my book,
because book means kteb, and my book ktebeh.
ktebeh 3ala l tawleh.
table tawleh.
ktebeh 3ala l tawleh.
I hope it’s not too hard!
About: 3ann
I’m talking about last night:
I’m talking 3am be7keh,
3ann mberi7.
3am be7keh 3an mberi7.
That: enno (m.) / enna(f.)
Ok last two, I will tell you about that.
He said that he will come:
He said:
howe he
howe like she hiyyeh
he howeh
2al said
enno jeyeh, here the preposition or the connector is enno.
so howe 2al enno jeyeh.
enno is masculine.
when enno becomes feminine it becomes enna.
howe 2al he said that she’s coming for example.
howe 2al enna jeyeh.
Because: la2anno
Last sentence because I now it’s hard, it is because.
I am here because I lost my baggage:
I am here ana hon
la2enno dayya3et ghradeh or shenateh.
ana hon la2anno.
I will repeat all the connectors.
Recap of Lebanese Prepositions:
Let’s make a revision:
| And | w |
| So | fa |
| But | bas |
| Enough! | bas! |
| To (location) | 3ala |
| To (reason) | ta |
| Then | ba3dein |
| When | lamma |
| From | min |
| On | 3ala |
| About | 3ann |
| That | enno (m.) enna(f.) |
| Because | la2anno |
Now that you’ve learned the prepositions and connectors in Lebanese, check out the next lesson.
Next Lesson: Go to lesson 9 on shopping and how to buy things in Lebanese
