Arabic Language and Culture Blog
How Egyptians Say “Happy Holiday”, “Happy Birthday”, and More
كل سنة وإنت طيب is one of the most common Egyptian Arabic expressions. You’ll hear it in many celebrations throughout the year, and its meaning
Common Arabic Holiday Greeting
كل عام وأنت بخير is one of the most common Arabic holiday greetings you’ll hear across the Arab world. It’s widely used in Levantine varieties
تفضّل (Tafaddal) — The Arabic Word That Opens Doors, Seats, and Conversations
If you spend time in Arabic-speaking communities, you’ll hear تفضل everywhere. It’s one of those words that instantly sounds polite, welcoming, and smooth. It’s a
عن جد؟ — A Levantine Way to Say “Really?”
If you spend time around Levantine speakers (Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian, or Jordanian), you’ll hear عن جد؟ all the time. It’s a short, everyday reaction used
بالله — A Levantine Expression for “Really?” and “Please”
If you spend time listening to Levantine speakers (Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian, or Jordanian), you’ll almost certainly hear بالله؟ — a short, expressive word used to
!يا لهوي (Ya Lahwi) — The Egyptian Cry of Shock, Fear, and Sudden Surprise
If you spend any time around Egyptians, you’ll quickly hear يا لهوي — a loud, expressive exclamation used in moments of shock, fear, sudden panic,
شو في؟ — The Levantine Way to Ask “What’s Wrong?” or “What’s Going On?”
If you spend any time around Syrian, Palestinian, Jordanian, or Lebanese speakers, you’ll almost certainly hear شو في؟ — a short, emotional question used for
Inshallah — More Than Just “God Willing”
You’ll often hear Arabic speakers say إن شاء الله — one of the most common and deeply meaningful expressions in the language. If you’re looking
أهلًا وسهلًا (Ahlan wa Sahlan) — The Classic Arabic Welcome
If you spend any time around Arabic speakers, you’ll often hear أهلًا وسهلًا — a timeless, elegant way to say “Welcome!” in Modern Standard, Levantine,