8 Lebanese Words That Have Non-Arabic Origins

While Lebanese is not a language, the Lebanese dialect of Arabic is home to a weird mix of Aramaic-Syriac-and even French words in addition to Arabic. Here are eight words we commonly use in Lebanon that do not have Arabic origins.

1. Aymta

It sounds like the Arabic word mata (متى), but the word actually comes from the equivalent Syriac word emat. So next time you ask aymta ra7een noshrab, pour one out for the Syriac language.

2. T3awa2

Because you’re busy pouring one out, you’re obviously late to the bar meet. Syriac has your back once again, t3awa2 comes from the word “et’aouaq.”

3. Flen, foulan

Flen el foulene ken 3am b2ele keef t3awa2et, aymta saret hay? You just said a very Syriac sentence. Flen comes from the word “flon.”

4. Teez

Unsurprisingly, the word teez comes from the Syriac word “tizo,” which also denotes the ass. It’s interesting to see how this word remains unchanged in the Lebanese vernacular today.

5. Jowa

The word “jaw” was the word for inside in the Syriac language, it’s clearly been transformed by the Lebanese tongue but its origins remain not in Arabic but in Syriac.

6. Barra

Much like “jaw,” the word “bar” denoted outside in the Syriac language. Unclear where the additional “ra” came from.

7. Mazout

For our non-Frenchie brethren, something about mazout sounds powerfully Arabic, but the word is actually French for fuel oil.

8. Hein

Again, Frenchies look away. For the longest time when my grandparents said “ha?” I thought they were just being old and quirky but apparently “hein?” is a legitimate French saying. Weird ass language.