Water > Taste > An Introduction to Lebanese > Lexicon: Adjectives

In the table used for this lexicon, the Lebanese form is given in its masculine/feminine, plural forms. The progressive form is only included when applicable: (see Adjectives).

The lexicons will mostly grow on demand, therefore please let me know what words you would like to see in there.



Big 

kbeer/kbeere, kbár 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 kabeer

akbar
kebrán
We also use this word in the expression kbeer/kbeere bil3omr, meaning "big of age", "elder", which can be applied from the 40s onwards I would say.


 Black

aswad/sawda, sood 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 aswad



 Blonde (but also redhair)

ash'ar/sha'ra, sho'r 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 ashqar

ash'arán
shu'eyra: "blondette" – I can't imagine the masculine being used.


Blue 

azra'/zar'a, zer' 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 azraq

zer'án
Dark greyish blue is ko7le (the colour of eyeliner).



 Brown

benne 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 bonnyy

If I'm not mistaken it literally means "coffee-coloured".


Brown-haired 

asmar/samra, somr (asmar) 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 asmar

asmarán
sumeyra: "brunette".


Close 

'areeb/'areebe, 'ráb 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 qareeb

'a'rab
'ráybeen or "close ones" means "relatives".


Good (to eat), delicious 

tayyeb/taybe, taybeen 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 tayyeb

atyab
tayyoob/tayyoobe: denotes a teddy-bear-like disposition.
We also use the word "tayyeb" to ask if or say somebody's still alive - it's more delicate to ask "Is your grandfather still good?" than "Is he still alive?"


Green 

akhdar/khadra, khodr 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 akhdar

Dark, bottle green is neele ("Nile-coloured").


 Heavy

t'eel/t'eele, t'ál

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 thaqeel

at'al
te'lén


Light (weight) 

khafeef/khafeefe, khféf

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

khafeef 

akhaff


Red 

a7mar/7amra, 7omr 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 a7mar



Short 

'aseer/'aseere, 'sár 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

qaseer 

'a'sar


 Small

zgheer/zgheere, zghár 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 sagheer

azghar
zaghtoor/zaghtoora: kind of like "ickle"


Tall 

taweel/taweele, twál 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 taweel

atwal


Thick 

 smeek/smeeke, smék

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 sameek

asmak


Thin 

r'ee'/r'ee'a, r'á' 

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 raqeeq

ara''


White 

abyad/bayda, beed

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 abyad



Yellow 

asfar/safra, sefr

Arabic

Comparative

Progressive

Diminutive

 asfar

asfarán (usually in sickness)


HomeFireWaterAirCentreContact
Tutorials and articles © Joumana Medlej