Levantine Arabic Made Easier is a podcast designed for people who understand enough Arabic to want engaging content, but who may get lost listening to a full episode in only Arabic. The creator and host of the show, Carol Haidar (aka Nasma of New York), talks to various guests about topics ranging from careers to mental health to food to face yoga. The interviews and conversations are in Levantine Arabic but she hops in at a few points each episode to give a quick summary, in English, of what’s going on. There’s also a script to go along with each episode. Unfortunately, the scripts are written phonetically in English letters but can be helpful if there are a few words you didn’t catch.

Two of my favorite episodes so far are Episode 14: “10 Lebanese Proverbs” and Episode 15: “10 Useful/Funny Phrases we use in Arabic”. As Carol says, a phrase is worth a thousand words! In these episodes, Carol and her student Malak, discuss a bunch of common sayings in Arabic, then Carol repeats the phrase in Arabic and translates it into English.

We’ve typed out some general vocab words from the episodes below, along with a few of our favorite phrases. Some are useful, some are funny, some are both.

These episodes are based on chapters of Carol’s book Nawartona.

Episode 14 Vocabulary/مفردات

2:05
بيغنو عن ألف كلمة
It’s worth a thousand words

2:13
طب الجرة عتمها، تطلع البنت لأمها
Like mother, like daughter
Literal translation: turn the jar on its mouth (as in the top or the opening of the jar), the girl comes out like her mother

3:15
مرة العم / حماة
Mother-in-law
Literal translation: woman, or wife of the uncle

4:41
خاي
Lebanese way to say اخ (brother)

6:07
!شو بلا زوق
They have no class! How rude!
Literal translation: without class or without taste

8:28
الدنيي دولاب، يوم الك و يوم عليك
What goes around, comes around or you win some, you lose some
Literal translation: the world is a wheel, one day for you, one day on you (one day it’s helping you out and another, it’s running you over)

12:42
سد بوسك
Shut your mouth or shut up

14:22
لطش
To criticize in an indirect or passive-aggressive way

16:24
بدها تبرر (برر)
She wants to justify

16:40
عم بحكيكي يا جارة، سمعي يا كنّة
Note: Anyone can say or be on the receiving end of this phrase, it doesn’t have to be a literal neighbor or daughter-in-law

18:30
عملي/ة خبزك للخباز لو يأكل نصه
You get what you pay for
Literal translation: take your bread to the baker even if he eats half of it

Episode 15 Vocabulary/مفردات

2:15
ماخد(ة) موقف
S/he is taking a stand
Can also mean giving someone the silent treatment

3:10
روح بلط البحر
Go to Hell, but in a slightly politer way
Literal translation: go pave the ocean

3:50
مهذبة
Polite

5:00
تعى كل يوم
You’re very welcome; anytime
Literal translation: come every day

7:25
عمرك ما ترجع
You deserve it
Literal translation: your age doesn’t return

8:50
لرجلي / رجلي ب (رجلي بوشك، رجلي بالمصاري...)
I don’t care or I couldn’t care less
Literal translation: to my leg or my leg in

11:35
ورا
Behind

11:55
عايش/ة بالخسة
S/he is oblivious or delusional
Literal translation: S/he is living in lettuce

13:36
واقع
Reality

15:13
طار عقله
He’s out of his mind
Literal translation: his mind flew

16:03
!ولو؟
Really
Can be positive: “Really?! That’s great!” or negative: “Really?! I can’t believe you just did that!”