Hi again and welcome back! In this lesson, we’re going to dive into the world of travel and learn some essential phrases in Lebanese Arabic that will come in handy when you’re in Lebanon. The word “afwan” in Arabic is a very important one to remember, as it means “excuse me” and is used frequently in conversation. From asking about your delayed baggage to exchanging money, to taking a cab, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s start by learning the word afwan and the rest of the key phrases you need to make your trip to Lebanon a smooth and enjoyable one.
What does afwan mean in Lebanese Arabic?
Afwan most commonly means “excuse me” or “pardon” in everyday Lebanese Arabic. In some Arabic contexts, it can also be used like “you’re welcome”, but in this lesson we focus on the way Lebanese speakers use afwan in real travel and everyday situations.
Quick meaning: afwan = excuse me / pardon
Transcript
In this lesson, you’ll learn some useful phrases for traveling in Lebanon.
At the Airport
Upon arrival in Lebanon, you will hear the greeting “Welcome to Lebanon” which in Arabic is “Ahla w sahla b Lebnen.”
If your baggage is late, you can say “Excuse me, my baggage is late” in Arabic, which is “afwan, ghradeh t2akharit.” Alternatively, you can also say “afwan shenateh t2akharit.”
If you’ve lost your baggage, you can say “Excuse me, I lost my baggage” in Arabic, which is “afwan dayya3et ghradeh” or “afwan dayya3et shenateh.”
Exchanging Money
If you need to exchange money, you can say “Excuse me, I want to exchange money” in Arabic, which is “afwan, baddeh sarrif masareh.” The currency in Lebanon is the Lira, and both Lira and dollars are accepted in shops. Euros are not accepted.
Taking a Cab
To take a cab to your hotel, step outside the airport and you’ll see many cabs available. There are no buses or metros available in the airport.
When you get into the cab, you can say “Hello, I want to go to Ashrafieh” in Arabic, which is “marhaba baddeh rouh aal Ashrafieh.” To ask how much the cab will cost, you can say “How much do you take?” in Arabic, which is “Addeh betrid.”
Note that the first cab you take from the airport will likely be more expensive than subsequent cabs. There are two types of cabs in Lebanon: “service” cabs which you see on the streets, and “taxi” cabs which you call to reserve in advance. Service cabs are much cheaper than taxi cabs and will cost less than one euro or dollar.
When do you use afwan in Lebanese Arabic?
You can use afwan when you want to politely get someone’s attention, say “excuse me”, or ask for help in a public place. It is especially useful while traveling in Lebanon, for example at the airport, while exchanging money, or when speaking to a taxi driver.
Common uses of afwan
- Excuse me: to politely start a question
- Pardon: when you want someone to repeat something
- You’re welcome: possible in broader Arabic usage, but less central to this lesson than the “excuse me” meaning
Afwan vs. “thank you” in Lebanese Arabic
Afwan does not primarily mean “thank you.” If you want to learn how to say thank you in Lebanese Arabic, see this lesson on thank you in Lebanese. This page focuses on the meaning and use of afwan as excuse me or pardon.
Recap
Let’s repeat what we learned:
| English | Lebanese Arabic |
|---|---|
| Welcome | ahla w sahla |
| Lebanon | lebnein |
| Welcome to Lebanon | Ahla w sahla b lebnen |
| Excuse me | afwan |
| Excuse me, my baggage is late | afwan, ghradeh t2akharit or afwan shenateh t2akharit |
| Excuse me I lost my baggage | afwan dayya3et ghradeh or afwan dayya3et shenateh |
| Excuse me, I wanted to exchange money | afwan, baddeh sarrif masareh |
| Hello I want to go to Ashrafieh | marhaba baddeh rouh aal Ashrafieh |
| How much do you want? | Addeh betrid? |
| Money | masareh |
| I want | baddeh |
Ok so, now my lesson at the airport is done, and now you know how to ask people questions starting with ‘excuse me’ which is ‘afwan‘ in Arabic.
I hope you enjoyed it
I will meet you again in lesson 3, to talk more about the hotels, and apartments, if you’re going to reserve.
So see you soon!
After you learn these sentences, watch them being used in a conversation: Conversation 1 : Airport (from Lesson 2)
Afwan FAQ
In everyday Lebanese Arabic, afwan usually means “excuse me” or “pardon.” It is commonly used to politely begin a question or get someone’s attention.
It can be used that way in some Arabic contexts, but on this page we focus on the more practical Lebanese usage: excuse me and pardon.
It is pronounced approximately like af-wan. The best way to learn it is to hear it in the lesson video and repeat it out loud in context.
Use afwan when asking for help, getting someone’s attention, or politely starting a question in places like the airport, shops, taxis, or other everyday situations.
