Phrases

Common Phrases in Levantine Arabic

Everything You Need for Daily Use

على ضَمانتي – You have my word

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🟡 متى بنستخدم هاي العبارة؟ | When do we use this phrase?

We use this phrase when we want to reassure someone or take personal responsibility for something. It’s often used to emphasize that you’re confident about what you’re saying or offering, and you’re willing to vouch for it personally.

This phrase is very common in the Levant (Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon), and people across the Arab world can easily understand it, because the word “ضمانة” comes from the Arabic root ض-م-ن, which means to guarantee or to ensure.

  • The present tense verb بضمن is widely used and means “I guarantee.”
  • The passive participle مضمون (guaranteed) and its opposite مش مضمون (not guaranteed) are also very common.
      Examples:
      - هاد الشغل مضمون = This job is guaranteed
      - المستقبل مش مضمون = The future is not guaranteed

🔵 ملاحظة

(Literal translation: on my guarantee)

Usually, this phrase is used with the first-person possessive pronoun (-ي), like:
على ضمانتي = It’s on me / I take full responsibility.

But it can also be used with second-person pronouns either in a statement or a question:

  • على ضمانتَك؟ = Are you vouching for it? (to a male)
  • على ضمانتِك؟ = Are you vouching for it? (to a female)
  • على ضمانتكم؟ = Are you all vouching for it?

And in statements:

  • على ضمانتَك = It’s on you (male)
  • على ضمانتِك = It’s on you (female)
  • على ضمانتكم = It’s on you all

Other pronouns (like: ضمانته، ضمانتها…) are possible, but they are less common in everyday speech.

🟣 أمثلة | Examples

  1. هاد أزكى مطعم في عمّان، على ضمانتي.
      This is the best restaurant in Amman, you have my word.
  2. ادرس مع “ممكن عربي” وعلى ضمانتي رح تتحسّن كتير بالعربي.
      Study with “Mumken Arabi” and I guarantee you’ll improve a lot in Arabic.

  إذا بدّك تشتري ساعة تضلّ معك لسنوات وما تخرب، اشتري هاي.
  – على ضمانتك؟
  – مليون بالميّة.
  – If you want a watch that’ll last for years and won’t break, buy this one.
  – You vouch for it?
  – 100%.

🟠 عبارات تانية بنفس المعنى | Other similar phrases

عندي
  (Depending on tone and context, “عندي” can imply responsibility or reassurance: Don’t worry, I’ve got this.)

بضمنلَك
  (Verb + attached object pronoun. The verb and the pronoun can change depending on context.)

فَما بالك – Let alone

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🟡 متى بنستخدم هاي العبارة؟ | When do we use this phrase?

We use this phrase when we want to emphasize the contrast between something that is already difficult or extreme, and something that is even more so. It’s often used to show that the second situation is much more difficult, extreme, or surprising compared to the first.

This phrase is very common in the Levant (Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon), and people across the Arab world can easily understand it, because the words فما بالك come from a simple structure:

  • فما (so, what about)
  • بالك (your mind/thoughts), which is a possessive pronoun referring to the person you’re talking to.

You can also use the phrase in different structures:

  • فما بالك + (بِ: optional) + Noun
  • فما بالك + لو / إذا + sentence

It’s not common to start a sentence with فما بالك. It’s usually used after a statement to emphasize the contrast.

🔵 ملاحظة

(Literal translation: so what about your condition)

We can change the attached pronoun for فما بالك, and the most common pronouns are:

  • فما بالك = (Addressing a male)
  • فما بالِك = (Addressing a female)
  • فما بالكُم = (Addressing more than one person)

Other pronouns (like فما باله, فما بالها, etc.) are possible but less common in everyday speech.

🟣 أمثلة | Examples

  1. إذا الأستاذ ما قدر يحلّ السؤال، فما بالك بالطلاب؟
    If the teacher couldn’t solve the question, imagine how hard it is for the students!
  2. بدنا نروح على الزّرقا ورح ياخُد منّا الطّريق ساعة ونصّ، فما بالك لو بدنا نروح على البحر الميّت! رح ياخُد منّا أكتر من ساعتين ونُصّ
    We’re going to Zarqa and the road will take us an hour and a half — let alone if we head to the Dead Sea! That’ll take more than two and a half hours.
  3. إذا أنا ما فهمت، فما بالك هو؟
    If I didn’t understand, imagine how he feels!

🟠 عبارات تانية بنفس المعنى | Other similar phrases

  • تخيّل لو/إذا
      (Imagine if)

عَلى الأبواب – Around the corner

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🟡 متى بنستخدم هاي العبارة؟ | When do we use this phrase?

We use this phrase when something is very close to happening or about to arrive — whether it’s an event, a deadline, a season, or any moment in time.

It adds a sense of immediacy or anticipation, and it’s common in everyday speech.

Sometimes, people might associate this phrase with the physical meaning (like someone standing at the door), but in this context, the meaning is figurative.

🔵 ملاحظة

(Literal translation: at the doors)

This phrase is usually used with time-related words, like:

  • الشتا على الأبواب = Winter is around the corner
  • الامتحانات على الأبواب = Exams are coming soon

It’s also very common to use this phrase in the plural form even if the subject is singular. You’ll rarely hear “على الباب” in this context.

🟣 أمثلة | Examples

  1. الصيف على الأبواب، لازم نبلّش نخطط للعطلة.
      Summer is around the corner — we need to start planning the vacation.
  2. العيد على الأبواب، ولسّا ما اشترينا ولا إشي!
      The holiday is almost here, and we still haven’t bought anything!
  3. الفصل الجديد على الأبواب، ولازم أرجع أنظّم وقتي.
      The new semester is just around the corner — I need to get my schedule back on track.

🟠 عبارات تانية بنفس المعنى | Other similar phrases

  • قاب قوسين أو أدنى (more formal and poetic)
  • قَرَّب = “to get close” / “to approach”
     This is a verb that changes based on the subject.

 We say:
 - العيد قرّب = The holiday is almost here
 - الامتحانات قرّبت = The exams are just around the corner

ما بقدَر أوعِدَك – I can’t make promises

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🟡 متى بنستخدم هاي العبارة؟ | When do we use this phrase?

We use this phrase when we don’t want to make a promise or commitment, especially when we’re not 100% sure if we can do something. It’s a polite and indirect way to manage expectations without saying “no” directly.

Sometimes, it’s also used when we want to do something, but we’re not in control of the situation or there’s uncertainty involved.

This expression is often said with a soft tone to avoid disappointing someone.

🔵 ملاحظة

(Literal translation: I can’t promise you)

The verb أوعد comes from the root وَعَد _ بوعِد, which means to promise.

  • The phrase often appears in the first-person form:
      ما بقدر أوعدك = I can’t promise you
  • But it can be changed to match other pronouns:
      ما بقدر أوعدكم = I can’t promise you all
      ما بقدر أوعده = I can’t promise him
      ما بقدر أوعدها = I can’t promise her

🟣 أمثلة | Examples

  1. رح أحاول أخلّص الشغل اليوم، بس ما بقدر أوعدك.
      I’ll try to finish the work today, but I can’t promise.
  2. ممكن نروح عالسّينما، بس ما بقدر أوعدكم.
      We might go to the movies, but I can’t make any promises.
  3. الشغل كتير، وما بعرف إذا رح أفضى، فما بقدر أوعدك.
      Work is a lot and I don’t know if I’ll have time, so I can’t promise.

🟠 عبارات تانية بنفس المعنى | Other similar phrases

رح أحاول
  (I’ll try)

إن شاء الله
  (God willing)

هاد اللي إجاك – Take it or leave it

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🟡 متى بنستخدم هاي العبارة؟ | When do we use this phrase?

We use this phrase to say: “That’s the offer — accept it or walk away.”
It’s often said in a firm or final tone, when negotiation is not an option.

It can also imply “you have no choice” — especially if said with a strong attitude.

🔵 ملاحظة

The phrase literally means “This is what came to you” —
It’s made of:

  • هاد = this
  • اللي= that which
  • إجاك = came to you

The pronoun at the end can change:

  • هاد اللي إجاك (to a male)
  • هاد اللي إجاكِ (to a female)
  • هاد اللي إجاكم (to a group)

But the phrase is usually kept short and fixed: هاد اللي إجاك

🟣 أمثلة | Examples

  1. هاد الطبق الوحيد اللي ضل، إذا بدّك كُل، وإذا ما بدّك بلاش.. هاد اللي إجاك.
      This is the only dish left — if you want, eat it, and if you don’t, then forget it. That’s what you got.
  2. ما عندي غير هاد القميص، إذا مو عاجبك شو أعمللك؟ هاد اللي إجاك.
      This is the only shirt I’ve got. If you don’t like it, what can I do? That’s what you got.
  3. يا سامر، حكيتلك من قبل انك لازم تحجز مقاعد بكّير، إنت تأخرت، وهلأ ما في مقاعد قُدّام! هاد اللي إجاك!
      Samer, I told you to book the seats early. You were late — now there are no front seats! That’s what you got!

🟠 عبارات تانية بنفس المعنى | Other similar phrases

ما عندي غير هيك
  (That’s all I have)

عجَبَك عجَبك، ما عجَبَك بلاش!
  (If you like it, fine — if not, forget it!)

ما بتِفرِق مَعي – Either way is fine with me

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🟡 متى بنستخدم هاي العبارة؟ | When do we use this phrase?

We use this phrase when we don’t have a strong opinion or preference.
It means: “I’m okay with anything” or “I don’t mind either way.”
It’s a chill, flexible response — often used in everyday decisions.

🔵 ملاحظة


The phrase literally means “It doesn’t make a difference to me”.
It’s made of:

  • ما = not
  • بتفرق = makes a difference
  • معي = with me

You can change the pronoun as needed — depending on the context:

  • ما بتفرق معكِ (with you – female)
  • ما بتفرق معها (with her)
  • ما بتفرق معهم (with them)
  • ما بتفرق معنا (with us)

🟣 أمثلة | Examples

  1. شو بتحب تفطر اليوم؟ مناقيش ولا سندويشة حمّص وفلافِل؟
      ما بتفرق معي، إنت قرّر
      What do you want for breakfast — manaqeesh or a hummus sandwich?
      I’m easy, you decide.
  2. شو رايك، نلتقي اليوم ولا بكرة؟
      صراحة ما بتفرق معي، هالأسبوع أنا فاضية
      Should we meet today or tomorrow?
      Honestly, I’m easy — I’m free this week.
  3. ما بتفرق معي إذا رسبت بهاد الامتحان، لإني بقدر أحذفه من المعدّل.
      I don’t care if I fail this exam — I can exclude it from my GPA anyway.

🟠 عبارات تانية بنفس المعنى | Other similar phrases

زي ما بدّك
  (Up to you)

مش فارقة معي / عندي
  (It doesn’t matter to me)

براحتك
  (As you like)

في إنَّ بِالموضوع – I have a feeling something is off

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🟡 متى بنستخدم هاي العبارة؟ | When do we use this phrase?

We use this phrase when we feel suspicious or when we sense something isn’t quite right, even if we don’t have proof.

It’s often said when we feel like there’s something hidden or there’s more to the story.

🔵 ملاحظة

The phrase literally means: “There is ‘inna’ in the matter”

  • في = there is
  • إنَّ = the Arabic word “inna” (used to emphasize a hidden reason)
  • بالموضوع = in the matter

The word “إنَّ” is used here figuratively — it means that something deeper is going on, even if it’s not obvious.

🟣 أمثلة | Examples

  1. ما بعرف ليش المدير فجأة قرّر يوقّف المشروع، بس في إنَّ بالموضوع.
      I don’t know why the manager suddenly decided to stop the project, but I have a feeling something’s off.
  2. ليلى تغيّرت كثير بالفترة الأخيرة، وما عم تحكي معنا زي قبل. في إنَّ بالموضوع.
      Leila has really changed lately and stopped talking to us like before. Something’s definitely going on.
  3. كل هالإطراء؟ وكل هالاهتمام فجأة؟ في إنّ بالموضوع!
      All this praise? And all this sudden attention? Hmm… something’s off!

🟠 عبارات تانية بنفس المعنى | Other similar phrases

في شي غلط بالموضوع
  (Something’s wrong with the matter)

في شي مو طبيعي
  (Something’s not normal)

صار ما صار – Just in case

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🟡 متى بنستخدم هاي العبارة؟ | When do we use this phrase?

We use this phrase to express that we’re taking precautions in case something negative happens—something that we are already familiar with or expect to happen. It’s used when you want to prepare for the worst-case scenario, especially when it involves a situation you’ve experienced before or when you’re trying to prevent something bad from happening.

🔵 ملاحظة | Note

The phrase literally means “Happened what happened”. It’s a shortened version of “If something happens that I already know might happen” and is often used when preparing for something negative or unexpected.

🟣 أمثلة | Examples

  1. حفظت الملفّات على إيميل تاني، صار ما صار، عندي نسخ احتياطيّة.
      I saved the files to another email, just in case, I have a backup.
  2. خلي هاد الدوا معك، صار ما صار، خديه وعطول رنّي عليّ.
      Keep this medicine with you, just in case, take it and call me immediately.
  3. شناتي السّفر جاهزة، صار ما صار، بسافِر عطول.
      My travel bags are ready, just in case, I will travel right away.

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