Lebanese people are pretty unique! Apart from mixing 3 languages, they also tend to use expressions that are funny… and sometimes weird.
Here’s our version of the Urban Dictionary!
#1 Rouh ballett el bahher
Literal translation: go tile the sea.
Meaning: get lost!
#2 El-ered bi 3ein emmo ghazel
Literal translation: the monkey is a deer in his mother’s eyes.
Meaning: mothers will always see their children as beautiful.
#3 Baselto/Baselta mahrou’a
Literal translation: his/her onion is burned.
Meaning: said of someone acting very impatient.
#4 El-tekrar bi 3allim el-ehmar
Literal translation: repetition teaches a donkey.
Meaning: practice makes perfect.
#5 Tanjra w la’yet ghataha
Literal translation: a pot finally found its own cover.
Meaning: said of two people who click, aka a good match (whatever that match could be!)
#6 Atal el-ateel w meshe bi jnezto
Literal translation: He/she killed the victim and walked in his/her funeral.
Meaning: said of a person who causes the damage then acts innocent.
#7 Qadi el-weled chana2 halo
Literal translation: the kids’ judge hung himself.
Meaning: usually said when people try to intervene in a fight between kids and can’t figure out what they are fighting about and how to handle it. In other words, it’s always impossible to play the judge in a kids’ fight.
#8 El-3ein basira w el-eed asira
Literal translation: the eye can see but the hand is short.
Meaning: We can see what’s going on but can’t do anything about it. It is also used to say no when asked for financial help.
#9 Fi baynetna khebez w meleh
Literal translation: there’s bread and salt between us.
Meaning: said of two people who go way back.
#10 Ma ta3tee wej
Literal translation: don’t give him a face.
Meaning: Ignore him, don’t give him any attention, set boundaries.
#11 Ye’berni shou tayeb!
Literal translation: may he bury me how delicious. (brutally weird, isn’t it?)
Meaning: said about a person “How cute!”
#12 Farjeeni A3rd Ektefek
Literal translation: show me the width of your shoulders.
Meaning: Get lost!
#13 Fekk A3neh!
Literal translation: unhook yourself from me
Meaning: Leave me alone!
#14 Kol Hawa
Literal translation: Eat wind.
Meaning: said to a person to shut up when talking nonsense or unpleasant things.
#15 Rehna esslata
Literal translation: we went salad.
Meaning: We’re screwed.