Locution

Literally

Meaning and use

Inshalla…

“God willing…”

The sense is “Let’s/I hope…” and is followed by a proposition either in the past or in the true present (meaning the present tense without the usual b-; see the Verb). 

Inshalla ma yet’akhkhar: Let’s hope he won’t be late. 

Inshalla woselet bser3a: I hope you arrived quickly. 

With the proper intonation this can be used with dripping irony. For instance, “She spent the day at the mall? Inshalla she busted her budget like last time…” The final sentence is simultaneously a question (“Did she bust her budget?”) and a sarcastic statement (“She always busts her budget and even though I’m asking, I’m pretty sure she did again.”). It can be stated humorously or imply real criticism of the person, depending on the tone of voice.

The shortest version of an inshalla locution is Inshalla kheir, where kheir refers to a situation where everything’s fine. So Inshalla kheir (or Kheir inshalla) means something like “Is everything ok?”

Then of course the word Inshalla can be used alone as:
- a non-committal answer (“Can you get this done by tomorrow?” “Inshalla”), basically putting the responsibility for getting the job done on God’s whim;
- an expression of hope with the meaning “I hope so”.

Emphatic repetition

Even though superlative can be used to emphasize an adjective, like in English (kteer 7elwe for ”very beautiful”), the adjective can also be repeated for a more colloquial sort of emphasis. This carries a nuance whereas the speaker is pounding the fact that he means it (given the local habit of exaggeration, the necessity for this device is obvious).

M3assab m3assab: He’s angry and no joke.

7elwe 7elwe: She’s really beautiful, I’m not using the word lightly.

‘oomo n…

Ta3o n...

Emsho n...

“Get up we…”

"Come we..."

"Walk we..."

This is a suggestion sentence (“Let’s…”), most often heard when a group is deciding on something to do. This is our equivalent of the imperative form for "we". The n here is the one that begins any verb in the true present for “we”, so this locution is immediately followed by the full verb and the rest of the sentence.

‘oomo nroo7 3al ba7r: Let’s go to the beach.

‘oomo n’arrer hella': Let's decide now (literally "Get up we decide now")

 Naturally, this can be applied in the singular, with 'oome if addressing a woman and 'oom if addressing a man.

Hét ta…

“Give so that…”

Same as above, but this is the male singular form. Female would be Héte ta… and plural Héto ta…

 A frequent use of this is the expression Hét tanshoof meaning “Here, let me see”.

Kell ma…

This is our equivalent to English "Every time…" Both verbs in a sentence that begins this way are in the same tense.

A proverbial example is Kell ma tde'' el kooz beljarra: "Everytime the mortar hits the pestle".

Teb lék…

"Well to you"

Lék, "to you" is used the same way "look" or "listen" are used in English, this sentence means something like "Here's an idea", or "OK, look…" 

If addressing a female we say "teb leyke", more than one person "teb leyko". Teb is actually optional.

Keef laken?

“How then?”

This can be used literally with the meaning of “If not this way, then how?” or if intoned as a statement rather than a question, it takes on the meaning of “naturally, of course”.

Meen ma kén

“Whoever that was”

This means “anybody”, as in “Anybody will tell you that.”

Kell meen

“Every who”

Related to the above, this means “everybody”.

Wala mumken

“And no possible”

“No way, impossible, not a chance”. This is a strong statement and not to be used when you need to be diplomatic or moderate.

Mesh ma3'ool

Ma ma3'ool

“Not said”,something like “unheard of”

Although the -sh is usually provincial, mesh is widely used, especially in this expression that can mean ”It can’t be”, “I can’t believe it!” or “This is intolerable!”

3ajabak?

“Like it?”

We use this after telling someone surprising, unexpected, or shocking news. As they take it in with the appropriate expression, we express both our empathy with their emotion and our satisfaction at having caused the emotion: ”3ajabak?” 

If talking to a female the word is 3ajabik?

Sheyef?

“You see?”

Very close to the above,but this time the connotation is more of an asking the other person to empathize with you, than extending your empathy towards them. It pretty much implies “You see what I have to put up with?” 

If talking to a female the word is sheyfe?

Baléha

“Without it”

This means “Let’s do without it”, "Let's drop the idea", ”Forget it”.

3abéna…

3a'sés…

?

These interchangeable terms are used somewhat in the sense "I thought…" Though not offensive or hostile (depending how you use them), they are however more assertive than "I thought", which is docile in comparison.

Here's a scenario: X knows full well that Y can't stand dogs, but sees Y fawning on a dog in obvious efforts to kiss up to the animal's beautiful owner. Owner moves away and X can comment: "3abéna you hate dogs!"

Another one (very common in this country): X and Y decide to meet up at 8 for dinner. Y shows up at 9:30. X: "3a'sés we're going to meet at 8 so we can eat early?!"

Eza…

"If…"

This is the "if" that refers to probable or real situations.

Eza baddak, menroo7 3al seenema: If you want, we'll go to the cinema.

Eza fhemta hék, fhemta ghalat: If you understood it this way, you understood it wrong

Law…

"If…"

This is the "if" that refers to improbable or too-late situations.

 Law 'alle hék ma kent natarto: if he had told me this I wouldn't have waited for him.

Law byesma3 belsaff bijeeb 3alemét: If he listened in class he would bring in good grades.

 This is also used, with a different intonation, to mean "even if", "even though" or even "so what if":

Law bta3rfee, ma ta3tee masareh: Even if you know him, don't give him money.

Law mnervze, ma tfeshshe khel'ik 3aleyye: So what if you're unnerved, don't take it out on me.

Wa7ad wa7ad

"One one"

"One by one". This pattern can be applied as widely as the English by using different words (step by step, person by person, etc)

3abéle…

“On my conscience…”

We use this the way English speakers use”I feel like”as in “I feel like sleeping”. The implication is that whatever it is is nagging at one's mind.

3abéle shawarma: I feel like having shawarma.

Ma 3abéle esshar lyóm: I don't feel like going out tonight.

Badde…

"I want…"

Same as above. Also used before a (true present) verb to mean "I am going to...", but this usage is ambiguous as it can also mean that the speaker wants to do something but can't.

Baddo yeb3atle l-ghrád: He's going to send me the stuff.

Badde oosal 3al bét! I want to reach home! (often uttered in traffic jam)

7ajj …

Equivalent to "quit" in "Quit doing that", except that this can be followed by third person verbs. The verb is always in the true present.

7ajj t'elle hék: Quit telling me this.

7ajj ya3melle harakét: Let him quit these manners with me.

Bihemmak…?

"Does … matter to you?"

This is the format we use where an English speaker would say: "Are you interested in such-and-such?" Don't forget to adjust the pronoun –ak accordingly.