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’ (ู ูููู) – to a man
- mwaffa’a (ู ููููุฉ) – to a woman
- mwaffa’een (ู ูููููู) – to a group
- With peace/health: ma3 el salemeh (ู ุน ุงูุณูุงู ุฉ)
- God be with you: Allah ma3ak (ุงููู ู ุนู) / ma3ik (ู ุนูู) / ma3koun (ู ุนูู)
- Happy night: sa3eedeh (ุณุนูุฏุฉ) – Used when a guest leaves at night. It’s short for layleh sa3eedeh (ูููุฉ ุณุนูุฏุฉ).
- Good night: tosbaH / tosbaHeh / tosbaHo 3a kheir (ุชุตุจุญ / ุชุตุจุญู / ุชุตุจุญูุง ุนูู ุฎูุฑ)
- Say hello to…: sallim (ุณููู ) / sallmeh (ุณููู ู) – An instruction to pass on greetings to whomever the guest is going to see.
To ask them to stay longer:
- Stay:khalleek (ุฎููู) / khalleekeh (ุฎูููู) / khalleekoun (ุฎูููู)
- Example: khalleek 3anna! (ุฎููู ุนููุง!) – Stay with us! / Stay at our home!
- Example: khalleek ba3ed shway! (ุฎููู ุจุนุฏ ุดูู!) – Stay a little more!
- Where are you going?!: la wein? (ููููุ) – A rhetorical question used to express that you want them to stay.
To ask them to visit again:
- Drop by again: teb’a tull (ุชุจูู ุทู) / teb’eh tolleh (ุชุจูู ุทูู) / teb’o tollo (ุชุจููุง ุทููุง)
- Drop by again (another version): mayyil (ู ููู) / mayleh (ู ููู) / maylo (ู ูููุง)
- Do this again: 3eeda (ุนูุฏูุง) / 3eediya (ุนูุฏููุง) – A request to repeat the visit.
- We’ll repeat it: mn3adeh (ู ูุนูุฏูุง)
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 (ููุง ุตุงุฑ ูุงุฒู ุฅู ุดู)
- We saw you: yalla shefnekoun (ููุง ุดููุงูู) – A common phrase used to announce you are leaving, even if you are alone.
- We were happy to see you: mbasaTet / mbasatna shefetkoun / shefnekoun (ู ุจุณูุทุฉ / ุงูุจุณุทูุง ุดูุชูู / ุดููุงูู)
- Do you need anything?: baddak / baddik / baddkoun shi? (ุจุฏูู / ุจุฏููู / ุจุฏูู ุดูุ) – A polite way to show you care before leaving.
Replying to the host:
- If the host says sallim (say hello), you reply: wosil (ูุตู) – Meaning, “Your hello is delivered!”
- If the host says tosbaH 3a kheir (good night), you reply: w ‘enta / ‘enteh / ‘ento min ahlo (ูุฅูุช / ูุฅูุชู / ูุฅูุชู ู ู ุฃููู)
- If the host says 3eeda (repeat the visit), you can reply: min 3ida gheir marra (ู ูุนูุฏูุง ุบูุฑ ู ุฑุฉ) – “We’ll repeat it another time.”
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
| Lebanese Phrase | Transliteration | English Meaning |
| ุดุชูุชููู | Shta’tellkoun | I missed you (plural) |
| ู ูููู / ู ููููุฉ | Mwaffa’ / Mwaffa’a | Good luck (m/f) |
| ู ุน ุงูุณูุงู ุฉ | Ma3 el salemeh | With peace/health (goodbye) |
| ุฎููู / ุฎูููู | Khalleek / Khalleekeh | Stay (m/f) |
| ุงููู ู ุนู | Allah ma3ak | God be with you |
| ุชุจูู ุทู | Teb’a tull | Drop by again (to a male) |
| ุนูุฏูุง | 3eeda | Do it again (repeat the visit) |
| ููุง ุตุงุฑ ูุงุฒู ุฅู ุดู | Yalla sar lezim emsheh | I should get going |
| ููุง ุดููุงูู | Yalla shefnekoun | We saw you (used when leaving) |
| ุจุฏูู ุดูุ | Baddak shi? | Do you need anything? (to a male) |
| ูุตู | Wosil | (Your hello) has arrived |
