Syrian Arabic Phrases: Arabic may sound tricky at first, but don’t worry, it won’t stop you from communicating! Syrians are friendly and understanding. They won’t get upset if you make mistakes; instead, they encourage you to keep trying. So, enjoy learning these Syrian Arabic words and phrases without stressing about sounding perfect.

Modern Arabic has two types: formal Modern Standard Arabic (MSA or fušħa) used in writing and shared across the Arab world, and colloquial dialects (ʿāmiyya) specific to certain places. MSA is for literature, media, and formal occasions, while colloquials are for daily life.

This guide focuses on simple Arabic expressions in the Levant (Shami) dialect, spoken in Syria and Lebanon. You’ll find phrases in English and Arabic, along with easy-to-read phonetic spelling. Explore and enjoy learning!

Greetings in Syrian Arabic

EnglishArabicPhonetic Spelling
Helloمرحباmarħaba
Good morningالخیر صباحšabaħil khair
Good afternoon/Good eveningالخیر مساmasal khair
Good nightخیر على تصبحtešbaħ/~i ʿala khair
Welcome to the UK.فیكي/فیك وسھلا أھلاahla w sahla fiik/~i bibriŧania
How are you?كیفك؟ (m.)kifak?
كیفك؟ (f.)kifek?
I’m fineأنا منیح/~aana mniih/~a
Thank youشكراshukran
Pleaseبتريدي/بتريد إذاiza bitriid/~i
Goodbyeالسلامة معmaʿ esalamé
  1. ~i is added to verbs when talking to a female person.
  2. (m.) is for masculine.
  3. (f.) is for feminine.

Meetings New People

EnglishArabicPhonetic Spelling
What’s your name?إسمك؟ شو ismak (m.)shu ismek (f.)
My name is……اسمي ismi
Do you want…?؟…بدك biddak (m.)biddik (f.)
Do you want anything?بدك شيbiddik (f.) shi?
Do you need anything?شي؟ لازمك lāzmak shi? (m.)lāzmik shi? (f.)
Do you need help?مساعدة؟ لازمك lāzmak (m.)musaʿadé? (f.)
Let’s goنروح يا yallah nrūħ
Maybeممكن يمكن إن شاء اللهmumkin yemkin inshallah
Yesأيه eh
Noلا la’
Not possibleممكن مو mumkin mū
It is okمعلیش maʿ laish
It is allowedمسموح masmūħ

Family

EnglishArabicPhonetic Spelling
Familyعائلةʿailé
Motherأمim
Fatherأبab
Brotherأخʾakh
Sisterأختʾukht
Husbandزوجzawj
Wifeزوجةzawjé
Sonابنibn
Daughterبنتbint
Childطفلŧifl/~é

Question Words in Syrian Arabic

EnglishArabicPhonetic Spelling
What?شوshū
When?إيمتىaimta?
Where?وينwain?
Where from?منينminain?
Who?مينmeen?
Why?ليشlaish?
How much/many?كمkam

Useful vocabulary

EnglishArabicPhonetic Spelling
Ticket (train, theatre…)تذكرةtazkara
Card (Oyster, Bank, …)كرتkart
Carسيارةsayyāra
Planeطيارةŧeyyāra
Taxiتكسيtaksi
Schoolمدرسةmadrasé
Bankبنكbank
Hospitalمستشفىmistashfa
Pharmacyصيدليةšedaliyyé
Job Centreالعمل مركزmarkaz el ʿamal
GP (General Practitioner)دكتورdoktour
Surgery/clinicعيادةʿyādé
Moneyمصاريmašāri

Useful Nouns in Syrian Arabic

EnglishArabicPhonetic Spelling
Coffeeقهوةqahwé
Policeشرطةshurŧa
Teaشايshāy
Todayاليومilyawm
Tomorrowبكرةbukra
Yesterdayمبارحembareħ
There is/areفيfii
There is/are notفي ماma fii
Volunteerمتطوعmiŧŧawweʿ/~a
Community Sponsorship Groupالراعية الأهلية اللجنةel lijné elahaleyé ilraʿyé
UK Governmentالبريطانية الحكومةel hukumé elbriŧaniyyé
Local authorityمحلية إدارةidāra maħaliyyé
Emergencyطوارئŧawariʾ
Complaintشكوىshakwa
Interpreterمترجمmutarjim

Numbers in Syrian Arabic

EnglishArabicPhonetic Spelling
Oneواحدwaħid
Twoتنينtnain
Threeتلاتةtlaté
Fourأربعةʾarbʿa
Fiveخمسةkhamsé
Sixستةsitté
Sevenسبعةsabʿa
Eightتمانةtmané
Nineتسعةtesʿa
Tenعشرةʿashra
Elevenحدعشħdash
Twelveطنعشŧnash
Thirteenتلطعشtlaŧash
Fourteenاربطعشʾarbaŧash
Fifteenخمسطعشkhamstash
Sixteenستطعشsiŧŧash
Seventeenسبطعشsabaŧash
Eighteenتمنطعشtminŧash
Nineteenتسطعشtasŧash
Twentyعشرينʿishriin
Thirtyتلاتينtlatiin
Fortyاربعينʾarbaʿiin
Fiftyخمسينkhamsiin
Sixtyستينsittiin
Seventyسبعينsabʿiin
Eightyتمانينtmaniin
Ninetyتسعينtisʿiin
One Hundredميةmiyé
One Thousandألفalf

This Arabic resource encourages learners to embrace practicing Syrian Arabic without fear of making mistakes. Syrians are supportive and welcoming, fostering a positive learning environment. The guide covers basic expressions, emphasizing the joy of learning over perfection.