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Top Levantine Arabic Idioms, Proverbs Expressions with Meanings + Videos

Updated: 2 days ago

Unlock the charm of everyday spoken Levantine speech: read, watch, learn, and laugh with real-life idioms and expressions.

 

Let's look at common and yet strange Levantine Spoken Arabic idioms and expressions, all used in real life by Levantine speakers every day, from "May you bury me!" to debating whether to eat grapes or fight with the watchman, to kissing a bald man on the head! I'll be adding more, so keep checking!


Whether you're a beginner or brushing up your skills, each phrase is broken down with:

  • ✅ The expression in Arabic

  • 🗣 How to pronounce it (transliteration)

  • 💬 What it actually means

  • 🎥 A short video if available to hear it used naturally

👇 Scroll down and click on the videos to bring these expressions to life. Practice them, share them, and start sounding like a local! And don’t forget: if you enjoy these, subscribe to my Levantine Arabic mailing list for more fun, authentic content and updates, and to get your special welcome Lebanese Arabic Spoken Conversation and phrasebook startup freebie (in Arabic and English letters): https://www.learningarabicwithangela.com/levantine-spoken-arabic



1. 🪦May you bury me  تؤبرني [Tuʼburné] and Other Cringy Love Expressions

 [Tuʼburné] تؤبرني (Literal: May you bury me)

Meaning: A strange-sounding expression of deep love, like saying "I love you so much I want to die before you. I can't stand the thought of dying before you."

[Dakheel albak] دَخيل قَلْبَك (Something like: I cherish your heart; you're very precious to me; O' your precious heart) Meaning: It can't be translated literally. [Dakeel Allah] دَخيل الله for example, means I seek God's help; I am entering his refuge (from verb "dakhala" دَخَلَ in Arabic (to enter). Same goes for [Dakeelak] دَخيلَك: I seek your refuge. This can be said in a pleading manner as "please, please..." or affectionately as a phrase of endearment.

💬 These are deep and emotionally intense expressions of love and affection, commonly used with loved ones, including children, family, or a romantic partners.


2. 2️⃣Double Trouble Words in Levantine Arabic!

Why do people of the Levante like to express certain words in the dual, by adding the -èn suffix ـين. For example:

  • [Marḩaba] مرحبا (Hello) ---> [Marḩabtèn] مرحبتين

  • [Ahla] أهلا (Hello / Welcome) ---> [Ahlèn] أهلين

  • [Saḩḩa] صَحّة (Health; The equivalent of Bon Apetite) ---> [Saḩtèn] صَحّتين

  • [Bonjour] بونجور (Good morning, from French) ---> [Bonjourèn] بونجورين

  • [Bonsoir] بونسوار (Good evening, from French) ---> [Bonsoirèn] بونسوارين

💬 This is great for beginners and all learners and helps you connect with natives in a natural and authentic way, simply by "doubling" daily greeting expressions for a "warmer" approach. But be careful, we don't double all of them, only certain ones like these mentioned here.


3. 😏Idioms in Levantine to show you're flabbergasted!

What to say in Levantine when you’re utterly shocked.

  •  ['an jad?!] عَن جَد (Really? / For real?)

  •  [Walla shou?!] ولله شو (Literal: swear to God, what? - Really?!)

  •  [Laa, Walla?!] لا ولله (Literal: No, I swear?! - No, really / No, seriously?!)

  •  [Laa wlō?!] ولو (No, really? / No seriously?!)

  •  [Maa 'am şaddi'] ما عَم صَدِّق (Literal: I am not believing! - I can't believe!)

  •  [Mish ma''uol] مِشْ مَعْقول (Unreasonable / not possible / unconceivable)

  •  [UFFF] أففف (Ugh!)

💬 Use these funny and dramatic expressions to show your shocked or doubtful reaction to what people are saying.


4. ❤️Expressions and idioms with the word "heart" [Alb] قَلْب

We love using the word [Alb] قَلْب or "heart" to describe someone's personality and character:

  • [albo abyaḑ] قَلْبُه أبْيَض (Literal: His heart is white; he's loving; forgiving; he has the capacity to give much love)

  • [albo ţayyib] قَلْبُه طَيِّب (Literal: His heart is nice; he's kind-hearted)

  • [albo ḩajar] قَلْبُه حَجَر (Literal: His heart is stone; he's cold-hearted)

  • [albo kbeer] قَلْبُه كبير (Literal: His heart is big; he's loving; forgiving; he has the capacity to give much love)

  • [bala alb] بَلا قَلْب (Literal: without a heart; he's heartless)

  • [areeb lal-’aleb / ḩabboub] قَريب لَلْقَلب / حَبّوب (Literal: close to the heart / loveable, i.e. loveable, likeable, or approachable)

💬 It's all about the heart in Arabic! You can use these to describe someone in a creative and authentic way!


5.🍇 Do you want to eat grapes or fight the guard? بَدّك تاكُل عِنَب ولاّ تقاتِل النّاطور؟ [Baddak tèkol ʻinab walla tʼaatil el-naaṭour?]



Meaning: Focus on the goal, not the fight.


💬 This popular Levantine proverb has deep social roots and comes from a story involving a vineyard guarded by a man called the naaṭour (watchman or caretaker / guard). The vineyard owner allowed people to enter and eat grapes freely, but on one condition: they could not take any grapes with them when they left. One day, a man insisted on taking grapes home. The naaṭour refused, reminding him of the owner's rule. The man kept pushing, and a bystander finally said: "Do you want to eat the grapes or fight the guard?" The phrase became symbolic. It’s used to remind someone to focus on the goal instead of creating conflict or getting stuck in irrelevant details. Fighting the guard (naaṭour) might block you from enjoying the grapes in the first place. It also highlights how some people, instead of working things out peacefully or through proper channels, might choose to challenge authority unnecessarily, even if it means losing the opportunity altogether.


6. 🤒My voice is gone [Raaḥ ṣawté] راح صَوْتي

Meaning: Used when you’ve got a cold or shouted or talked too much and you've lost your voice.



💬 Great way of saying: Hey, I can't speak much today, I've lost my voice.


7. 🥽I dove into sleep [Ghaṭaset bel-nawmé] غَطَست بِالنَّوْمِة

Meaning: I overslept or fell into a deep sleep.

💬 You simply overslept or had a long enjoyable sleep. It could also be used to explain why you missed your alarm or appointment.



8. 🩸Heavy blood, light blood or no blood at all?

  • [Dammo khafeef] دَمُّه خَفيف (Literal: his blood is light; he's likeable, funny, easygoing or approachable)

  • [Dammo t'eel] دَمُّه ثقيل (Literal: his blood is heavy; he's not very likeable, he's annoying to be around)

  • [Bala dam] بَلا دَمّ (Literal: without blood; can be used to indicate unpleasant and negatives qualities, mainly no manners or no shame)

💬 Using the word "blood" can draw the line when it comes to likeability in Arabic!


9. 🤬😂Aggressive but Funny Expressions

These are sarcastic and playful phrases people use jokingly when angry or annoyed.

[Yikhrib baytak shou mahḍoum!] يخْرُب بَيْتَك شو مَهْضُوم (Literally: May your house be destroyed,

how funny!) "Damn, you're so funny / cute!"

[Yi'ṣof ʻomrak ʻala hal-khabariyyé!] يقْصُف عمرك على هَالخَبْرِيّة (Literally: May your life be cut short

for this news!) - Expressing exaggerated frustration or disbelief when being told news

[El-ʻama bi-ʼalbak ma asʼalak!] العمى بِقَلْبَك ما أسْألك (Literally: Blindness in your heart,

how annoying you are!) -Used for teasing or scolding way an annoying person

💬 Humor + edge = Use with caution and at your own risk! 😂


10. Filthy Rich vs. Broke

[Mrayyash] مرَيَّش (Very rich; goes back to when the Sultan used to give someone feathers to wear on their head, as a sign of wealth, status and honor)

[ghani] غَني (rich)

[mfallas] مفَلَّس (broke; has no "flis" فلس or penny, i.e. penniless)

['ala el-ḩadeedé] على الحَديدِة (dead broke; stone broke; literal: on the iron)

[mantouf] مَنْتوف (dead broke; literal: plucked; i.e. no feathers)

💬 Learn native expressions for "filthy rich" and "broke."


11. The Pomegranate Proverb

القُصَّة مِش قُصِّة رِمّانة، القُصَّة قلوب مَلْيانِة

[El-'uşşa mish uşşit rimmèné, El-'uşşa uşşit 'uloub malyèné]

Saying: “It’s not about the pomegranate; it’s about hearts full of resentment.” It's about "full" hearts or people who have accumulated negative feelings for each other from some time ago. "It's not just a simple story; it's about hearts filled with emotions." The traditional story says that a pregnant woman had asked her husband to get her a pomegranate, as she was craving it. Her mother-in-law ate it, and the woman got very upset, which led to a big argument. The neighbours were like, come on, it's just a pomegranate, but the woman proceeded to say:    

القُصَّة مِش قُصِّة رِمّانة، القُصَّة قلوب مَلْيانِة

[El-'uşşa mish uşşit rimmèné, El-'uşşa uşşit 'uloub malyèné]

💬 Deep and philosophical and adds a rich twist to your speech.



  1. Like Wednesday in the Middle of the Week!

       مِثل الأربعاء بنُص الجُمْعَة

    [Mitl el-’irb‘a b-noş el-jum‘a] - Someone who's always in the middle of things, even if they don't fit in or belong or they're useless.

    💬For example, everyone is rushing around and busy doing tasks preparing for the wedding, but Mona is just sitting there doing nothing, just like Wednesday in the middle of the week.



  2. “Oh bald man, we’re confused about where to kiss your head!"

    اِحْتَرْنا يا قَرْعَة مِنْ وين بَدّنا نبوسِك

    English equivalent to this idiom: There is no satisfying you. No matter where we kiss you, that won't please you!




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