Arabic Language and Culture Blog
ماشي الحال (mashi el-hal) — The “it’s okay” that says a lot
Suppose you spend time in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, or Palestine. In that case, you’ll quickly hear people say ماشي الحال. It literally means “the situation
خير انشالله (khair inshallah) — The many shades of a classic Levantine phrase
If you spend time with people from Syria, Lebanon, or Palestine, Jordan, you’ll hear خير انشالله often. Literally, it means “Good, God willing” — but
فيه إيه؟ (fih eh) — The Egyptian Way to Say “What’s Going On?”
If you’ve spent any time around Egyptians, you’ve almost certainly heard فيه ايه — a short, catchy phrase that Egyptians use all the time. It
Understanding Colloquial Arabic: A Beginner’s Guide
If you’ve started learning Arabic, you may have faced a common surprise: after months of studying Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), you realize that Arabs don’t
What’s the Best Online Resource for Learning Levantine Arabic?
If you have ever attempted to learn Arabic, you have undoubtedly observed that the majority of available resources concentrate on Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) or
Expressing Condolences in Arabic: A Comprehensive Guide
When it comes to تعزية (giving condolences), language is much more than just words—it’s a heartfelt bridge connecting individuals in times of grief. The Arabic
Tracing the Echoes: French Influence on Arabic (and Vice Versa)
Imagine walking through the busy streets of Beirut or Casablanca, where the smell of freshly baked croissants mixes with the rich scent of Arabic coffee.
Arabic Roots: Their Importance and How to Identify Them
Arabic is a language built on a system of roots, offering both structure and elegance. The concept of roots is central to understanding both standard
Mutual Intelligibility of Arabic Dialects: Can They Understand Each Other?
When people talk about the Arabic language, they often imagine a single, unified tongue spoken from Morocco to Iraq. But anyone who’s actually tried to