Water > Taste > An Introduction to Lebanese > Frequently used words

The list is large, detailed and entertaining. Here's just a sample because I hate leaving this blank while it's being completed.

Lebanese
Literal translation
Meaning and uses
Tayyeb, teb "Good", "well" To announce the end of a phone conversation or of a visit (like "all right").
Tayyeb… time for me to go.

To express acceptance, agreement (like "all right").
Tayyeb, as you wish.

In its abbreviated form, to express urgency, helplessness, outrage.
Teb what am I supposed to do?

When someone is protesting weakly, shyly or for form.
Teb… (like "but…")

Ya3neh "It means", in the sense of "that is to say" This is an extremely versatile word.

In answer to questions such as "how are you?" or "How is your work going?" to express that they're not going so well.
Ya3neh. (as if saying "So-so.")

For reproachful or critical sarcasm
Ya3neh, when it comes to rotten taste, you take the cake! (The connotation is something like this: "Note this and note it well – when it comes to rotten taste…").

To express something one has no words for, either amused, or shocked, etc.
Ya3neh!… (where the rest of the sentece is left in suspense, as in "It was… I mean…").

As a word that announces a reply that we're pondering, for instance during an interview (exactly like starting a sentence with "Well,...")

Yella No literal translation anymore. Etymologically, it is from the expression "ya Allah" ("O God!") that was used as far back as the Crusades as a battlecry, but this meaning is completely lost. All that remains is its rousing connotation: the closest English equivalent to it is "come on" (French "Allez!"). It is also very versatile, but note it always implies some kind of movement.

In the meaning of "Let's go!"
Yella!

The same but the interrogative version
Yella? ("Shall we?")

As an answer to the above
Yella! (I'm coming)

To mean "Coming up!" or "Just a minute!"
"I'm waiting for you!" "Yella, yella!"

As a mock battlecry to imply an "attack" in a sentence
When he won $1000 he went to the bookshop and yellaaaaaaaa!! (implying he pillaged it).

To imply an avalanche of something
Did you see that rain? Yella…
His boss smacked him down good… yellaaa….

As an impatient exhortation to action, implying we've demonstrated enough patience, especially towards someone who's whining
Teb yella, snap out of it already!
Yella, just give me the book, enough excuses! (like "come ON!")

To express that a situation will change
Yella, you'll find another job I'm sure.

To mean "oh come ON, give me a break"
You're not coming to the beach because you think your butt looks too big?? Yella wlo!



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