Levantine Arabic (chami) is the dialect spoken in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. Melodic and widely understood throughout the Arab world thanks to Lebanese series and songs, it opens the doors of Beirut, Damascus, Amman and Jerusalem.
Levantine Arabic, called chami by its speakers, is spoken by approximately thirty-five million people in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and their diasporas. It is one of the most melodic Arabic dialects and one of the best understood across the Arab world, thanks to Lebanese cultural influence: Fairouz's music, Syrian TV series, satellite television broadcast from Cairo to Casablanca.
Chami distinguishes itself from Modern Standard Arabic (fusha) by softer pronunciation, open vowels and a vocabulary enriched by contact with French, English, Turkish and historic Aramaic. The qaf often becomes a glottal stop (written 3 or apostrophe), "ji" is pronounced as "j" in French, and many words are unique to the region. Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian and Palestinian variants differ in nuances but remain fully mutually intelligible.
Beyond the language, the Levant imposes its cultural codes: legendary hospitality, mezze shared with family, Arabic coffee served with dates, ritual bargaining in the souks, a religious mosaic unique in the world where Islam, Eastern Christianity, Druze, Jews and Alawites coexist. Knowing a few phrases like "Marhaba" or "Shukran" immediately changes the welcome you receive.
This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival in Beirut, a taxi ride in Amman, a mezze order in Damascus, a medical emergency and a smooth departure. You will find indispensable greetings, survival phrases, key words for eating and sleeping, as well as cultural tips to avoid faux pas. Memorize these expressions before leaving and you will gain confidence from the very first hours on site.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You land at Rafic Hariri Airport in Beirut in the early evening. An agent greets you with "Es-salamu 3aleikum" then the warmer informal "Marhaba". You answer correctly before asking for the exit.
The taxi driver asks where you are going in town. You tell him the house where you are staying, the door to spot in the alley, then the souk and the old city quarter where you want to go.
You sit down in a traditional restaurant to taste Lebanese mezze. You order water, pita bread to go with the dishes, grilled meat and fresh fish to share.
You hurt yourself walking through the souk and need to explain where it hurts. You point to the affected area using key body words: head, eye, hand, foot.
On the morning of departure, you greet the staff with "Sabah el-kheir" and the traditional response "Sabah el-noor". In the evening, at the airport, "Masa el-kheir" and its echo "Masa el-noor" punctuate your final exchanges.
What you need to know before travelling to a arabe levantin-speaking country.
Levantine Arabic (chami) is a spoken dialect, distinct from Modern Standard Arabic (fusha) used in writing and official media. Chami subdivides into Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian and Palestinian variants, all mutually intelligible.
In Lebanon, mixing Arabic, French and English is common among the young: "Hi, kifak, ça va?" sums up Beirut well. Don't be surprised if a conversation switches from one language to another in seconds.
Levantine hospitality is legendary. Refusing Arabic coffee or tea can be perceived as an affront. Accept at least a symbolic glass, it's a strong gesture of respect.
The greeting "Marhaba" traditionally calls for the response "Marhabtain" (two hellos). It's a typically Levantine warm touch that locals greatly appreciate from visitors.
Bargaining is expected in the souks of Damascus, Aleppo, old Jerusalem or Amman. Counter at roughly half the asked price and negotiate politely over a tea offered by the merchant.
Levantine cuisine is shared: hummus, tabbouleh, falafel, manakish, fattoush. Tasting mezze together remains the essential culinary experience of the region.
Modest dress is appreciated, especially outside Beirut's cosmopolitan neighborhoods. Cover shoulders and knees in religious places and traditional villages.
Friday is the Muslim holy day, Sunday the Christian one, Saturday the Jewish one. The Levant hosts the three religions and the three rhythms can slow some businesses depending on the region.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
Ahlan
hi / welcome
Hala
welcome / hi (Lebanon)
Kifak
how are you? (to a man)
Kifek
how are you? (to a woman)
Mnih
well / good
El-hamdellah
thanks be to God / praise be to God
Shukran
thank you
Shukran ktir
thank you very much
3afwan
you're welcome / pardon
Min fadlak
please (to a man)
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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