Lesson 31: Classic Jobs & Professions in Lebanese Arabic

Ever wondered what to call a baker, a carpenter, or a tailor in Lebanese Arabic? This lesson covers the vocabulary for classic jobs and professions, many of which are named after the materials they work with or the places they work in.

Learn the names for common professions, from the person who fixes your shoes to the one who sells vegetables, and understand the origin of these traditional titles.

Full Transcript: A Guide to Lebanese Professions

1. Crafts & Trades

These are the skilled workers who fix, build, and create things.

• Shoemaker: Kendarjeh (كندرجي) – The person who fixes or makes shoes.
• Blacksmith / Ironworker: Hedded (حداد) – The person who works with iron.
• Carpenter: Najjar (نجار)
• Mechanic: Mécanicien (ميكانسيان) – Works with cars.
• Painter (Walls): Terrash (طرّاش) – Named after the paint material, taresh (طرش).
• Tiler: Bellat (بلّاط) – The person who works with tiles, which are called blat (بلاط).
• Electrician: Kahrabjeh (كهربجي) – From the word for electricity, kahraba (كهربا).
• Tailor: Khiyyat (خياط) / Khiyyata (خياطة) (f.)

2. Shopkeepers & Sellers

These are the people you’ll meet when buying everyday goods.

• Grocer: Dikkanjeh (دكنجي) – This person works in a small grocery store called a Dikken (دكان).
• Greengrocer: Khadarjeh (خضرجي) – The person who sells vegetables, which are called khodra (خضرة).
• Baker: This has two words:
  • Khebbez (خباز) – Bakes bread, which is khebez (خبز).
  • Forran (فران) – Bakes the famous man’ousheh (منقوشة) in an oven, or forn (فرن).

3. Other Professions

Here are a few more common and traditional jobs.

• Gardener: Jnayneteh (جنيناتي) – The person who takes care of a garden, or jnayneh (جنينة).
• Hairdresser / Barber: Halla’ (حلاق) / Halla’a (حلاقة) (f.)
• Fortune Teller: Bassara (بصارة) – Named after the word for vision, Baseera (بصيرة).
• Doorman: Natoor (ناطور) – This comes from the verb “to wait,” byontor (بينطر), because the doorman waits and watches over the building.

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Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Lebanese Phrase	Transliteration	English Meaning
كندرجي	Kendarjeh	Shoemaker
حداد	Hedded	Blacksmith / Ironworker
نجار	Najjar	Carpenter
دكنجي	Dikkanjeh	Grocer
خضرجي	Khadarjeh	Greengrocer
خباز / فران	Khebbez / Forran	Baker
حلاق / حلاقة	Halla’ / Halla’a	Barber / Hairdresser (m/f)
طراش	Terrash	Painter (walls)
كهربجي	Kahrabjeh	Electrician
خياط / خياطة	Khiyyat / Khiyyata	Tailor (m/f)
ناطور	Natoor	Doorman