Politics can be a complex topic, but knowing the basic vocabulary is key to understanding the news and current events in Lebanon. This lesson covers the main words you’ll need to discuss politics, from “country” and “capital” to “elections” and “revolution.”
Learn the essential terms for government, political roles, and key concepts, and see how they are used in full sentences.
Full Transcript: A Guide to Political Vocabulary
1. The Basics: Country & Government
Let’s start with the fundamental building blocks of a nation’s structure.
- Politics: Siyeseh (ุณูุงุณุฉ)
- Country: Balad (ุจูุฏ)
- Capital: 3asmeh (ุนุงุตู ุฉ)
- State: Dawleh (ุฏููุฉ) or Woleyyeh (ููุงูุฉ)
- Republic:Jumhuriyyeh (ุฌู
ููุฑูุฉ)
- Example: The Republic of Lebanon – el jumhuriyyeh el Lebneniyeh (ุงูุฌู ููุฑูุฉ ุงููุจูุงููุฉ)
- Kingdom: Mamlakeh (ู ู ููุฉ)
- Nation:‘Ummeh (ุฃู
ุฉ)
- Example: The United Nations – el-‘Umam Al-MuteHdeh (ุงูุฃู ู ุงูู ุชุญุฏุฉ)
2. Political Roles & Titles
These are the titles for the people who run the government.
- President: Ra’ees (ุฑุฆูุณ) / Ra’eeseh (ุฑุฆูุณุฉ) (f.)
- King: Malik (ู ูู) / Malikeh (ู ููุฉ) (f.)
- Minister: Wazeer (ูุฒูุฑ)
- Ministers (plural): Wuzara (ูุฒุฑุง)
- Representative: Neyib (ูุงูุจ)
- Representatives (plural): Nuwweib (ูููุงุจ)
3. Institutions & Events
Here are the names for political bodies and important events.
- Parliament: Barlamen (ุจุฑูู ุงู) or Majlis (ู ุฌูุณ)
- Ministry: Wizara (ูุฒุงุฑุฉ)
- Party: Hezeb (ุญุฒุจ)
- Parties (plural): ‘aHzeib (ุฃุญุฒุงุจ)
- Election: ‘entikhabet (ุงูุชุฎุงุจุงุช)
- Revolution: Sawra (ุซูุฑุฉ)
4. Example Sentences
Let’s see how these words are used in the news (akhbar – ุฃุฎุจุงุฑ).
Sentence 1: “Today the representatives met at the parliament to elect a president.”
- l yom el nuwweib jtama3o bil barlamen ta yentekhbo ra’ees.
- (ุงูููู ุงููููุงุจ ุงุฌุชู ุนูุง ุจุงูุจุฑูู ุงู ุชููุชุฎุจูุง ุฑุฆูุณ)
Sentence 2: “There are two main political parties in the United States.”
- fi Hezbein asesiyyeh bil wileyet el mutteHdeh.
- (ูู ุญุฒุจูู ุฃุณุงุณููู ุจุงูููุงูุงุช ุงูู ุชุญุฏุฉ)
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
| Lebanese Phrase | Transliteration | English Meaning |
| ุณูุงุณุฉ | Siyeseh | Politics |
| ุจูุฏ | Balad | Country |
| ุนุงุตู ุฉ | 3asmeh | Capital |
| ุฏููุฉ | Dawleh | State |
| ุฑุฆูุณ / ุฑุฆูุณุฉ | Ra’ees / Ra’eeseh | President (m/f) |
| ุจุฑูู ุงู / ู ุฌูุณ | Barlamen / Majlis | Parliament |
| ูุฒูุฑ / ูุฒุฑุง | Wazeer / Wuzara | Minister / Ministers |
| ูุงูุจ / ูููุงุจ | Neyib / Nuwweib | Representative / Representatives |
| ุญุฒุจ / ุฃุญุฒุงุจ | Hezeb / ‘aHzeib | Party / Parties |
| ุงูุชุฎุงุจุงุช | ‘entikhabet | Election |
| ุซูุฑุฉ | Sawra | Revolution |
| ุฃุฎุจุงุฑ | Akhbar | News |
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