In Lebanon, saying goodbye is an art form that can take a long time at the door. It’s more than just a simple “bye”; it’s a moment to share good wishes and express warmth. This lesson covers the many rich and beautiful expressions used when parting ways.
Learn how to wish someone good luck, ask them to stay longer, tell them to visit again, and the proper responses to use when you are the one leaving.
Full Transcript: A Guide to Lebanese Goodbyes
1. Phrases for the Host (When Someone is Leaving)
If you are the host, you can use these expressions to wish your guest well or encourage them to stay.
- Good luck:
- mwaffa’ (موفّق) – to a man
- mwaffa’a (موفّقة) – to a woman
- mwaffa’een (موفّقين) – to a group
- With peace/health: ma3 el salemeh (مع السلامة)
- God be with you: Allah ma3ak (الله معك) / ma3ik (معكِ) / ma3koun (معكن)
- Happy night: sa3eedeh (سعيدة) – Used when a guest leaves at night. It’s short for layleh sa3eedeh (ليلة سعيدة).
- Good night: tosbaH / tosbaHeh / tosbaHo 3a kheir (تصبح / تصبحي / تصبحوا على خير)
- Say hello to…: sallim (سلّم) / sallmeh (سلّمي) – An instruction to pass on greetings to whomever the guest is going to see.
To ask them to stay longer:
- Stay:khalleek (خليك) / khalleekeh (خليكي) / khalleekoun (خليكن)
- Example: khalleek 3anna! (خليك عنّا!) – Stay with us! / Stay at our home!
- Example: khalleek ba3ed shway! (خليك بعد شوي!) – Stay a little more!
- Where are you going?!: la wein? (لوين؟) – A rhetorical question used to express that you want them to stay.
To ask them to visit again:
- Drop by again: teb’a tull (تبقى طل) / teb’eh tolleh (تبقي طلي) / teb’o tollo (تبقوا طلوا)
- Drop by again (another version): mayyil (ميّل) / mayleh (ميلي) / maylo (ميلوا)
- Do this again: 3eeda (عيدها) / 3eediya (عيديها) – A request to repeat the visit.
- We’ll repeat it: mn3adeh (منعيدها)
2. Phrases for the Visitor (When You Are Leaving)
If you are the guest and it’s time to leave, here are the phrases you can use.
- I should get going: yalla sar lezim emsheh (يلا صار لازم إمشي)
- We saw you: yalla shefnekoun (يلا شفناكن) – A common phrase used to announce you are leaving, even if you are alone.
- We were happy to see you: mbasaTet / mbasatna shefetkoun / shefnekoun (مبسوطة / انبسطنا شفتكن / شفناكن)
- Do you need anything?: baddak / baddik / baddkoun shi? (بدّك / بدِّك / بدكن شي؟) – A polite way to show you care before leaving.
Replying to the host:
- If the host says sallim (say hello), you reply: wosil (وصل) – Meaning, “Your hello is delivered!”
- If the host says tosbaH 3a kheir (good night), you reply: w ‘enta / ‘enteh / ‘ento min ahlo (وإنت / وإنتي / وإنتو من أهلو)
- If the host says 3eeda (repeat the visit), you can reply: min 3ida gheir marra (منعيدها غير مرة) – “We’ll repeat it another time.”
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
| Lebanese Phrase | Transliteration | English Meaning |
| شتقتلكم | Shta’tellkoun | I missed you (plural) |
| موفّق / موفّقة | Mwaffa’ / Mwaffa’a | Good luck (m/f) |
| مع السلامة | Ma3 el salemeh | With peace/health (goodbye) |
| خليك / خليكي | Khalleek / Khalleekeh | Stay (m/f) |
| الله معك | Allah ma3ak | God be with you |
| تبقى طل | Teb’a tull | Drop by again (to a male) |
| عيدها | 3eeda | Do it again (repeat the visit) |
| يلا صار لازم إمشي | Yalla sar lezim emsheh | I should get going |
| يلا شفناكن | Yalla shefnekoun | We saw you (used when leaving) |
| بدّك شي؟ | Baddak shi? | Do you need anything? (to a male) |
| وصل | Wosil | (Your hello) has arrived |
