Learning Lebanese Arabic with Fairuz: “Yalla Tnam Rima”

Hello dear friends.

I am here with my friend, the cat. His name is Biso because every cat is bseyneh (بسينة) for a female or bsein (بسين) for a male, and Biso is a nickname. So hello Biso, say hello. oul Hi (قول هاي). Hi. Okay, so goodbye Biso, go to sleep.

Uh, today the lesson is about—before the lesson, I will tell you sorry because I’m not replying to the comments or um, I’m not making a lot of videos. And I will tell you if you are in Lebanon and you are interested to do, to learn with me some lessons, I will be able. We can meet somewhere and we will study Lebanese Arabic with a not expensive prices.

Why Fairuz and Not Elissa?

And as for the lesson, because some of you are really interested about the Lebanese songs, the one for Elissa or Nancy Ajram, but I’m not interested with the songs of Elissa or Nancy Ajram. I will translate another song and it is for Fairuz, the famous Fairuz.

Uh, she appeared in a movie, she is the principal role in a movie, Bint el Haress (بنت الحارس), and Bint el Haress means “the daughter of the guardian.” And you can see the movie and in the movie she sings a very beautiful song, very very famous, lullaby for all the kids. And every, every Lebanese mother sings this song for her, her child when she wants him to go to sleep.

So today I will translate it to you and I will, I’m sharing the link where you can hear it on YouTube.

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The Meaning of “Yalla” (يلا)

So let’s start with the song and to, to start the song you have to, um, you have to know the word Yalla (يلا). Maybe I told you about it, I don’t know, because this song is the title is Yalla Tnam Rima (يلا تنام ريما).

So Yalla is the title of the song and Yalla, uh, is an expression or an, a word that everyone uses it a lot, a lot, a lot. Every foreigner, uh, learned this the first, like the first word. Some of the people say that Yalla is originally composed of the two words, Ya Allah (يا الله), “oh God,” Ya Allah.

I don’t know, but, uh, like it is, uh, used now, it is Yalla like “come on.”

• Yalla let’s go, come on, let’s go.
• Um, Yalla, I mean, hurry up, Yalla.

So now when with the song, they, they are using Yalla, I am not translating Yalla because it is “come on” and has a private meaning, I cannot translate it to you. Okay, I will translate it.

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“Yalla Tnam Rima”: Lyrics and Translation

As, Yalla Tnam Rima (يلا تنام ريما), let Rima sleep. And Rima is a female name and it is the daughter of Fairuz and her name is for real, Rima. So Yalla Tnam Rima, let Rima sleep.

Yalla yijeeha el nawm (يلا يجيها النوم) or Yalla yijeeha el nawm. What does that mean?

• Uh, may she become sleepy. May she become sleepy.
• So, may Rima sleep, may she become sleepy.

Yalla tHibb el sala (يلا تحب الصلاة)

• May she like the prayer.

Yalla tHibb el sawm (يلا تحب الصوم)

• May she like the fast.

Yalla tijeeha el 3afieh (يلا تجيها العافية) And it is very beautiful because 3afieh, we say a lot of, Allah y3afeek (الله يعافيك) or Allah ya3teek el 3afieh (الله يعطيك العافية), may God makes you well. So, uh, Yalla tijeeha el 3afieh means “may she be well.”

Yawm bi yawm (يوم بيوم)

• Every day or day by day.

Yalla tnam Yalla tnam (يلا تنام يلا تنام) This is the most famous couplet, refrain.

• Yalla tnam Yalla tnam, Yalla sleep, Yalla sleep.

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The “Scary” Part of the Lullaby

Now it becomes scary.

LadbaHlik tayr el Hamam (لأذبحلك طير الحمام)

• I’ll kill a pigeon for you. I’ll kill a pigeon for you.

And then she says, uh, rouH ya Hamam la tsadde’ (روح يا حمام لا تصدق). Because Hamam means pigeon. RouH ya Hamam, she says:

• Oh no pigeon, go, don’t believe me.

Um, 3am bidHak 3ala Rima la tnam (عم بضحك على ريما لتنام).

• I’m lying to Rima so she sleeps.

It’s weird but it’s beautiful. “I’ll kill a pigeon for you. Oh no pigeon, don’t believe me. I’m lying to Rima so she sleeps.”

Then she continues with the beautiful song, but I’m just translating this part. Please listen to the song. It is beautiful and if you can watch the video, go ahead and watch it. Uh, this is my lesson for today. Thank you, thank you.

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Song Links & Resources:

• You could hear Fairuz’s song here: Yalla Tnam Rima
• With lyrics: Yalla Tnam Rima with Lyrics
• A Cover by Fayha Choir: Yalla Tnam Rima — Fayhaa choir

Song Vocabulary (Lyrics)

Lebanese Phrase	Transliteration	English Meaning
يلا تنام	Yalla tnam	Go to sleep / Let her sleep
يجيها النوم	Yijeeha el nawm	May sleep come to her
صلاة	Sala	Prayer
صوم	Sawm	Fasting
عافية	3afieh	Wellness / Good health
يوم بيوم	Yawm bi yawm	Day by day
طير الحمام	Tayr el Hamam	The pigeon bird
اذبحلك	idbaHlak	I will slaughter/kill for you
لا تصدق	La tSadde’	Don’t believe (it)
عم بضحك على…	3am bidHak 3ala…	I am tricking / lying to…

General Vocabulary & “Yalla” Usages

Lebanese Phrase	Transliteration	English Meaning
بسينة / بسين	Bseyneh / Bsein	Cat (female / male)
قول هاي	oul Hi	Say “Hi”
بنت الحارس	Bint el Haress	The Guardian’s Daughter (Movie title)
يلا	Yalla	Come on / Let’s go / Hurry up
الله يعافيك	Allah yi3afeek	May God give you health (Response to greeting)
الله يعطيك العافية	Allah ya3teek el 3afieh	May God give you health (Greeting for someone working)