In this video, I’m taking you on a little journey through the vibrant streets of Hamra, right to my favorite spot known for its beautiful flower shops. We’ll explore the charming “street of flowers” and dive into the heartwarming topic of friendship. I’ll be sharing some essential Lebanese words and phrases that you can use to talk about friends, fun outings, and even how we celebrate birthdays here in Lebanon. Plus, you’ll get a sneak peek into a birthday celebration and learn the famous song we sing, even though it’s in the Egyptian dialect. So, whether you’re looking to expand your Lebanese vocabulary or just curious about our local customs, you’re in for a treat!
Transcript:
Introduction
Hello guys, how are you? I know itโs been a long time. So today, Iโm going to talk about friendship and some words you will use. Iโm in Hamra street again and again. Iโm taking you to my favorite corner in Hamra. It is the street of flowers. Everywhere here, there are flower shops, especially the best known as Taโoush. Taโoush is a family name and it is called โazhar Taโoushโ, which means Taโoush flowers. And today, Iโm going to tell some words about friendship and at the end of this video, Iโm going to show you a little piece I shot at my brother-in-lawโs birthday, so you will learn some words you will say when you are attending a Lebanese birthday. And the famous song โsana 7elwa ya gamilโ, which we sing on a birthday, it is not in Lebanese, it is in Egyptian, in the Egyptian dialect. And we donโt know why it is in the Egyptian dialect, but it is soโฆ Letโs go to the flower shops.
At the Flower Shop
First flower shop, โazhar Taโoushโ. Azhar means flowers, Zahra means a flower, or we say Warde for the rose flower, Azhar means all kinds of flowers. Rose for Warde, Zahra for every flower. And another shop, I donโt know the name.
Words of Friendship
Okay, letโs learn some words because itโs quiet here. So, friendship means sada2a and it is also in fus-ha or modern standard Arabic. So it is sada2a.
- My friend (male): rfee2
- My friend (female): rfee2a
- Male friend: sadee2
- Female friend: sadee2a
- Male (friend): sa7ib
- Female (friend): sa7beh
To say “he is my friend” for a man, it’s โhoweh rfee2ehโ, and for a female friend, โhiyeh rfee2tehโ. For a boyfriend, โhoweh sa7behโ if straight, and โhiyeh sa7ebtehโ for a girlfriend if gay or lesbian. โHoweh sa7behโ can also mean she is my friend but is more commonly used for my boyfriend. For an enemy, โ3adouwโ for a male enemy, โhoweh 3adouwehโ, and โhiyeh 3adouwtehโ for a female enemy. In plural, it’s โhenneh a3de2ehโ.
Best Friends and Activities
My best friend is โhouweh rfee2eh el mufaddalโ for a male, and โhiyye rfee2teh el mufaddalehโ for a female. For a group, it’s โhenneh ref2ateh/as7abeh el mufaddaleenโ.
- We watch a movie: ne7na mno7dar film.
- We go out: mnodhar.
- Letโs do something (group): ta3o na3mil shi.
- Letโs do something (one friend): ta3e na3mil shi.
- Letโs do something (girl): ta3a na3mil shi.
- We have a drink: mneshrab keis.
- Have a drink with me (male): ta3a shrab ma3eh keis.
- Have a drink with me (female): ta3eh shrabeh ma3eh keis.
- We have fun: mnetsalla.
- We have dinner together: mnet3asha sawa.
- I invite you for dinner (male): ana 3ezmetak 3al 3asha.
- I invite you for dinner (female): ana 3esmetik 3al 3asha.
- I invite you for dinner (group): ana 3ezmetkoun 3al 3asha.
- We drink coffee: mneshrab ahweh.
- Come over to watch TV (male): ta3a la 3andeh, mno7dar TV.
- Come over to watch TV (female): ta3eh la 3andeh mno7dar television.
Now you will watch the birthday party I hope you will enjoy it And I wish it was a good lesson Ciao, see you soon.
Lebanese Birthday Celebration:
Hello, this is my sister, Lynn. And her husbandโs birthday is today, and weโre going to celebrate this occasion, not with a cake, but with mousse. Chocolate mousse. And I prepared it with the Jamie Oliver recipe. Thank you, Jamie Oliver. I love you. If youโre watching me, please be watching me. Weโre going to blow the candles. Maybe itโs easier if you help me, my sister. No, sheโs not very good. Iโm going to do that.
Lynn: Yalla, la2an 3am bidoubo.
Hiba: Kelloun lezim ndawwiyoun?
Lynn: La2, khalas, yalla. Mnghanneh mn hala2?
Hiba: Fikoun tghanno bl 3arabeh awwal shi?
Lynn: Mnghanneh bas bl 3arabeh.
Everyone: Sana 7elwa ya gamil, sana 7elwa ya gamil, sana 7elwa ya Jad, sana 7elwa ya gamil.
Samer: Wein l soura?
Imad: Rou2, rou2, rou2. Ba3ed fi we7deh mesh wel3a, rou2!
Hiba: Wein?
Samer: Hawdeh yalleh byoula3o w byotfo w byoula3o w byotfo?
Hiba: La2, byotfo, byotfo.
Imad: Fik ttaffiyoun kelloun bfard marra?
Lynn: 3a2bel l miyeh Jad.
Hiba: 3a2bel l miyeh. Yen3ad 3leik.
Samer: Yen3ad 3leik! Nefra7 mennak!
Imad: Nefra7lak mn 3arees teneh.
Hiba: Okay. This is how we celebrate birthdays.
Lynn: This is how we celebrate birthdays in Lebanon.
Everyone: Happy birthday! Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to Jad-u. Happy birthday to you.
Hiba: Okay, Imad, Aline, Mirna, Samer, Samer is shy, Lynn, Jad, and we have Wael who is always busy. Thank you.
Lynn: Thank you, Hiba.
Recap:
| English | Lebanese (Latin) | Lebanese (Arabic) |
|---|---|---|
| Flowers | azhar | ุฃุฒูุงุฑ |
| Flower | zahra | ุฒูุฑุฉ |
| Rose flower | warde | ูุฑุฏุฉ |
| Friendship | sada2a | ุตุฏุงูุฉ |
| My friend (male) | rfee2 | ุฑููู |
| My friend (female) | rfee2a | ุฑูููุฉ |
| Friend (male) | sadee2 | ุตุฏูู |
| Friend (female) | sadee2a | ุตุฏููุฉ |
| Friend (male) | sa7ib | ุตุงุญุจ |
| Friend (female) | sa7beh | ุตุงุญุจุฉ |
| My boyfriend | sa7beh | ุตุงุญุจู |
| My girlfriend | sa7ebteh | ุตุงุญุจุชู |
| Enemy (male) | 3adouweh | ุนุฏูู |
| Enemy (female) | 3adouwteh | ุนุฏูุชู |
| Enemies | a3de2eh | ุฃุนุฏุงุก |
| Best friend (male) | rfee2eh el mufaddal | ุฑูููู ุงูู ูุถู |
| Best friend (female) | rfee2teh el mufaddaleh | ุฑูููุชู ุงูู ูุถูุฉ |
| Best friends | ref2ateh/as7abeh el mufaddaleen | ุฑููุงุชู/ุฃุตุญุงุจู ุงูู ูุถููู |
| We watch a movie | ne7na mno7dar film | ูุญูุง ู ูุญุถุฑ ูููู |
| We go out | mnodhar | ู ูุถูุฑ |
| Let’s do something | ta3o na3mil shi | ุชุนุง ูุนู ู ุดู |
| Have a drink with me (male) | ta3a shrab ma3eh keis | ุชุนุง ุดุฑุงุจ ู ุนู ูุงุณ |
| Have a drink with me (female) | ta3eh shrabeh ma3eh keis | ุชุนู ุดุฑุจู ู ุนู ูุงุณ |
| We have fun | mnetsalla | ู ูุชุณูู |
| We have dinner together | mnet3asha sawa | ู ูุชุนุดู ุณูุง |
| I invite you to dinner (male) | ana 3ezmetak 3al 3asha | ุฃูุง ุนุงุฒู ุชู ุนูู ุงูุนุดุงุก |
| I invite you to dinner (female) | ana 3esmetik 3al 3asha | ุฃูุง ุนุงุฒู ุชู ุนูู ุงูุนุดุงุก |
| We drink coffee | mneshrab ahweh | ู ูุดุฑุจ ูููุฉ |
| Come over to watch TV (male) | ta3a la 3andeh, mno7dar TV | ุชุนุง ูุนูุฏูุ ู ูุญุถุฑ ุชู ูู |
| Come over to watch TV (female) | ta3eh la 3andeh mno7dar television | ุชุนู ูุนูุฏูุ ู ูุญุถุฑ ุชููุฒููู |
