Grammar of the Beirutian

Language




Alexander Hourani












2005
Forward


This is a grammar of the common language spoken in Beirut, hence I call it Grammar of
the Beirutian Language. This grammar is based precisely on the language that I speak.










Dialects:


1. Mount Lebanon or Lebanese proper:

Spoken by the Christians of Mount Lebanon, mainly the Maronites, including the Shiites
too.

Consonants:

Same as in Beirut.

In some areas, d is pronounced emphatic.

In some mixed Druze-Christian areas, q is pronounced as Arabic q not as .

Vowels:

Emphatic long becomes . E.g.: Beiruti cml becomes cmil.

Final becomes i. E.g.: Beiruti hayd is haydi.

Diphthongs:

aw and ay remain as such. E.g.: Beiruti hn is hawn.



2. Druze:

Spoken by the Druzes in Mount Lebanon and Wd al-Taym.

Almost the same as the Mount Lebanon Christian dialect, but q is pronounced as in
Arabic.

In some areas, t and d are pronounced as in Arabic.



3. Iqlm al-Xarrb:

Spoken by the Sunnites of Iqlm al-Xarrb. It is close to the Mount Lebanon, Sidon and
South dialects.



4. Sidon:

Very close to the Beiruti dialect, but contains influence from the South and Palestine.

or aw becomes sometimes . E.g.: Beiruti hn is hn.


5. South:

Spoken by the Shiites of Southern Lebanon.

Consonants:

Same as in Beirut with some variations.

Emphatic t, d, s, and q are pronounced in some areas as t, d, s, and k.

Vowels:

becomes . E.g.: Beruti debbn is dibbn.

becomes . E.g.: Beiruti bx is tabx.

becomes . E.g.: Beiruti macml is macml.



6. Biq:

Spoken by Christians, Sunnites and Shiites of the Biq. It contains wide variations
within it.

Very close to the Mount Lebanon dialect, it is characterized by i instead of at the end,
by ayn instead of n, and by strong stress.

In some places, j is pronounced as in Arabic, i.e. English j.



7. North:

Spoken by Sunnites and Christians in the Northern Lebanon.

Characterized mainly by transforming emphatic into . E.g.: rbls becomes rblis.

Final becomes soft a. E.g.: rbuls becomes rbulsa.



8. Marj-Uyn and Arqb:

Spoken by Christians and Sunnites.

It is diverse and contains elements from Palestine, the South, Mount Lebanon, the Biq
and Hauran.

The people of Jdaydet-Marjeyn speak a different dialect, deriving directly from the
dialect of Hauran, in Syria.


B L D Sd St Bq N M
m
badd
a baddi a baddi ma badd ma badd ma
badday
a baddi ma badd
macml macml macml macml macml macmawl macml macml
ebbk ebbk ebbk ebbk ebbk ebbayk ebbk ebbk
cml cmil cmil cmil cmil cmel cmel cmel
r ri, qri qri r ri ri r
jt jt jt jt jt jayt jt jt


Phonetics:

1. Consonants:

The following is a list of Arabic consonants (in Arabic script and Latin transcription
followed here) and of Beirutian consonants corresponding to them.

Arabic Latin transcription Beirutian

[?] [?]
b [b] b [b]
t [t] t [t]
t [0] t [t], s [s]
j [] j []
[] []
x [x] x [x]
d [d] d [d]
d [] d [d], z [z]
r [r] r [r]
z [z] z [z]
s [s] s [s]
[j] [j]
[s] [s]
[]/[[] [d]
[t] [t]
[] [z], [d]
c [\] c [\]
[y] [y]
f [f] f [f]
q [q] [?]
k [k] k [k]
l [l] l [l]
m [m] m [m]
n [n] n [n]
h [h] h [h]
w [w] w [w]
y [j] y [j]
g [g]
p [p]
v [v]


Every word beginning with a vowel begins in reality with a followed by a vowel. Thus,
akal he ate is in reality akal. Initial followed by a vowel will not be marked during
the course of this grammar except in transliterating Arabic.


In general, all Arabic dental fricative sounds (pronounced by placing the tongue between
the front teeth) become alveolar plosive (pronounced by placing the tongue behind the
teeth) in Beirutian:
Arabic Beirutian
t t
d d


However, under the influence of Turkish, which transforms these into alveoloar
fricatives, and after the spread of Arabic teaching through schools, these sounds are also
pronounced as alveolar plosives:
Arabic Beirutian
t s
d z


The sign q is used here for etymological purposes. It is pronounced as . Vowels before
and after it are pronounced either emphatic or soft. falling after it is always emphatic.
Other long vowels falling after it are often emphatic. There are no strict rules for
pronouncing the vowels either emphatic or soft, after or before q.
In some areas of Beirut, like Mazraca and ar el-Jdd, it is strictly pronounced emphatic. E.g.: lb my
heart.


2. Vowels:

a. Short:

[u]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants, x, , r, and sometimes l, q, , c)
E.g.: rb ['duiub] he hit
rb [iub] lord
ber ['ub+i] grave
s ['yul+s] diving
cber ['\uboi] through
mc [mu?'lu:\] cut
xrf [xu'iu:!] goat
ll ['uu] God

a []
(before and after the other consonants)
E.g.: jabal ['bI] mountain
balad ['bId] country
Mammad ['mhmmd]
Amad ['hmd]
Cal ['\Ic]

[I]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants, x, , r, and sometimes l, q, , c)
E.g.: Bcyy [b?u:'\Ijjc] of the B

i [i]
(before and after the other consonants)
E.g.: Bayrtiyy [bIiu:'lIjjc] of Beirut
miyy ['mIjjc] hundred

e [o]
E.g.: jebet ['obol] I brought
cabed ['\bod] slave
elem ['hoIom] dream

[i]
E.g.: cml ['\u:miI] doer, doing


[+]
E.g.: s [yul+s] diving

[c], [c]

[]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants, x, , r, and sometimes l, q, , c)
E.g.: r gang
mr red
Cmr

o [o]
(before and after the other consonants)
E.g.: bacdo after him

[u]
E.g.: bektb [boLlub] I write


u [u]
E.g.: huww he


b. Long:

[u:]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants, x, , r, and sometimes l, q, , c)
E.g.: cml doer, doing
xdm servant
ry going
ml meeting
judge
yr flying
mm advocate
yr becoming
s diving
rb hitting

[:]
E.g.: hy this

[I:]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants)
E.g.: r become
r fly
hardship

[I:]
(before and after the other consonants)
E.g.: mn who

[c:]
E.g.: m walking
jy coming
nahrn two rivers

[+:]

[:]
(after and sometimes before emphatic consonants, x, , r, and sometimes l, q, , c)
E.g.: xd take
l saying

[o:]
(before and after the other consonants)
E.g.: hn here
tr bull

[u:]
E.g.: marm deprived
maml done




I/I: I/I: u/u:
i u
c o/o:
o
c/c: + /:

u/u:





3. Diphthongs:

If Arabic ay and aw are contained in a close syllable, which is closed by a consonant
other than the y and w, they becomes and consecutively. E.g.: bt house < Ar.
baytu; ln < Ar. lawnu. In the case of bt, the t closes the syllable bayt hence ay reverts to
.

If a vowel is suffixed to this syllable, thus creating two syllables, and revert to ay and
aw. E.g.: bayt my house; lawn my color. In the case of bt, the suffixed pronouns
create two syllables: b and t, of which the first reverts to bay.

This rule is applied in verbs ending with a vowel or with a geminated consonant, like
ama to protect and cadd to count. When the stem of the verb (am- and cadd-) is
closed by a consonant (E.g.: amt I protected, caddt I counted), the final stem
vowel stays . When a syllable is suffixed to the stem (E.g.: amayna we protected,
caddayna we counted), the stem vowel reverts to ay.

The rule does not apply in some pronouns and adverbs like hnk there, hlk those.

If ay and aw close a syllable in an Arabic word, they stay constant in the Beirutian
derivate. E.g.: maw-jd > Ar. maw-jdu; may-mn > Ar. may-mnu. In the case of
mawjd, the syllable maw is closed by the w, hence it stays maw.

The pattern here is not to close a syllable with two consecutive consonants, as y and t in
bayt. Thus, in bt, when ay of bayt shifts to , the t remains the only consonant to close
the syllable instead of yt. In mawjd, the w of maw is the only consonant to close the
syllable hence it does not revert to because there is no other consonant fpllowing it and
closing the syllable.

In the Biq, Druze and Mount Lebanon dialects, strong accentuation of the diphtongs ay
and aw allows them to stay constant in all cases.

Diphthong ew and uw contracts usually into . E.g.: bewrat > brat I inherit.

Diphthong iy contracts usually into i or e. E.g.: biyo > bio he puts.


4. Stress or tonic accent:

Stress refers to the phonetic emphasis made on a syllable in a word; this syllable is
pronounced stronger than the other syllables of the word. E.g.: in the word pho-to-gra-
phy, the second syllable to is the one stressed.

A syllable situated directly after a stressed syllable is called post-tonic. E.g.: the syllable gra in pho-to-gra-
phy is post-tonic.
A syllable situated directly before a stressed syllable is called pre-tonic, and the syllable siutuated before it
is called pre-pre-tonic. E.g.: in pho-to-gra-phi-cal, to is pre-tonic and pho is pre-pre-tonic.

In monosyllabic words, stress falls always on the only existing syllable. E.g.: skt, bayy,
emm.

In duosyllabic words, stress falls usually on the first syllable. E.g.: cabed, kaleb, eker,
walad, sera, akwa, atal, katab, sakat, akal, werit.

In duosyllabic and plurisyllabic words containing one long vowel, stress usually falls on
the syllable containing the long vowel. E.g.: cmel, rye, sul, ym, cemln, ml,
euwn, talta, maber.

In duosyllabic and plurisyllabic words containing two long vowels, stress usually falls on
the syllable containing the last long vowel. E.g.: cra, cmd, ws, mft, cmln,
tmsl, cfrt, ndl. This however has the effect of shortening the first long vowel
especially in fast speech.

In participles beginning with m, stress always falls on the verb stem if the participle is
duosyllabic and on the first syllable of the verb stem if the participle is trisyllabic. E.g:
maktb, mettkal, metammil, metcmil, meftecil, memarr, metfarra, mestnwil,
mestmd, mestacmil, mestarj, metcd.

Particples of verbs beginning with a- (like ajbar) stress the first syllable. E.g: mejbir,
memsik.





5. Consonant changes:

Colliding consonants of close pronunciation assimilate with each other.

The l of the article el assimilates with the consonant following it. These consonants are:
t
j
d
r
z
s





l
n
E.g: el-ames is pronounced eames.

Verbal prefix b-, be- changes:
to m-, me- before an n. E.g.: bnacmul we do becomes mnacmul; benr we become becomes
menr.


6. Vowel changes:

The weak vowel e is dropped in a word when it is not stressd, when it is situated in a
closed last syllable and when a vowel is suffixed to its own syllable. E.g: cabed slave,
cabdo his slave; trek (m. active participle of tarak to leave), trk (f.); macmel
factories, macmlo his factories; kteb el-maktb becomes ktb el-maktb and it is
pronounced ktbelmaktb.

The same rule applies to i, o and u. E.g.: werit he inherited, werto they inherited;
ptektob you write, ptektbo you write; byejbur he compells, byejbro they compell.

The weak vowel e may be inserted whenever three consonants collide after a stressed
syllable to relief the unease of pronunciation created by the successive consonants. It is
usually inserted between the first and second consonant. E.g.: ptektbo > pteketbo you
write.

A weak vowel e is usually orally inserted between words when three or more consonants
collide. E.g.: f ktb blo there is a book in front of him, here an e is inserted between
the thre colliding consonants b and b leading to the following pronunciation: ktbeblo.

The e in the article el, being always unstressed, is dropped in the following cases:
when it is preceded by another vowel, hence assimilating with it. E.g.: darbo el-walad
they hit the boy is pronounced darabol walad.
when it comes at the beginning of a sentence or in suspention. In this case, el becomes l.
E.g.: el-walad is pronounced lwalad; el-kteb is pronounced lkteb. If the consonant
following it assimilates with the l, the e may still be pronounced to easen the discomfort
created by pronouncing an initial geminated consonant. E.g.: el-ames may be
pronounced as ames and eames.
when a syllable beginning with two consonant follows it, hence an e is inserted between
the l and the two consonants. E.g.: el-ktb is pronounced lektb.
Any consonant preceding el connects with it in speech, thus making el as a suffix to the
preceding word. An exception is when el is followed by two of three consonants. E.g.: w
el-walad is pronounced wel walad; f el-walad he saw the kid is pronounced fel
walad; f el-ktb he saw the book is pronounced f lektb.

The vowel a may be dropped whenever it falls:
in a pre-pre-tonic syllable before a syllable ending with a long vowel. E.g.: mwcd <
mawcd.
in a pre-tonic syllable, when the stressed syllable is closed or ends in a short vowel. E.g.:
katabet > ktabet I wrote; katabt > ktabt you wrote.
It is preserved whenever:
it is stressed. E.g.: walad boy, walado his son.
it falls in a pre-tonic position, when the stressed syllable ends in a long vowel. E.g:
awjiz barriers.
It falls in a pre-pre-tonic position before a syllable ending with a short vowel or before a
closed syllable. E.g.: alamn.









Morphology



Word formation:


1. Arabic word formation:


a. Word formation according to traditional grammar:


According to traditional Arabic grammar, words (kalimt) are based on roots or stems,
which are made of three letters (hurf) represented by the model (mzn) f--l, where f
represent the first letter, the second and l the third. To these letters are added directions
or movements (harakt), i.e. vowels, by which the meaning and type of word (noun,
adjective, verb etc.) is designated. E.g.: the verb qatala belongs to the model faala and
the noun qatlu belongs to the model falu; the vowels of faala and falu separates the
meaning of the two and designates the first as a verb and the second as an infinitif. a
(fathah), i (kasrah) and u (dammah) are considered vowels. (alif), (y) and (ww)
are considered letters. The absence of any vowel after a consonant is called sukn
calmness, immobility.


Words are divided into two types:

1. Simple (mujarrad), whose letters are all original, i.e. whose letters are the
letters of the root modeled on f--l. Simple nouns can be:
Triletter: formed of three letters
Quadriletter: formed of four letters
Quintaletter: formed of five letters
Verbs can be trilleter and quadriletter only.
E.g.: ilmu is a trilleter whose letters are -l-m and whose root model is filu;
jafaru is a quadriletter whose letters are j--f-r and whose root model is falalu.

2. Augmented (mazd), for whom other letters are added besides the root letters.
Augmentation occurs as such:
1. Augmenting the root letters f--l: (a) . E.g.: karrama (faala). (b) l.
E.g.: ihmarra (ifalla). (c) Both l and . E.g.: aramramu (faalalu). (d)
Both f and . E.g.: marmartu (fafalu).
2. Augmentation by addition of a letter into the root: (a) (hamzah). E.g.:
akbaru (afalu); intalaqa (infaala); amalu (faalu); hamru
(falu). (b) (alif). E.g.: qtala (fala); salm (fal); masjidu
(mafilu). (c) and y (y). E.g.: yarmau (yafalu) (n.); yaktubu (yafulu)
(v.); sayrafu (fayalu); jaddu (falu). (d) and w (ww). E.g.: jadwalu
(fawalu); ajzu (falu); iawaba (ifawala). (e) m. E.g.: maqtalu
(mafalu); suthumu (fulumu). (f) n. E.g.: nuqtilu (nufilu); inkasara
(infaala). (g) t. E.g.: taktubu (tafulu); taqaddum (tafaul); iatu
(filatu). (h) h. E.g.: hizabru (hifalu). (i) s. E.g.: istahmala (istafala).
(j) l. E.g.: zaydalu (falalu).


Following these rules, words are divided into five categories for which there are specific
formation models:

1. Infinitifs (masdir):

The forms of the infinitifs are irregular and for some forms of verbs there may
exist many forms of infinitifs. With the infinitives are counted also the supines
(masdir mmiyyah) which begins with an m. These are the infinitif forms
with the verbs they derive from:

falu faala yafulu
faala yafilu
faala yafalu
faila yafalu
faila yafilu
falah faala
faila
faula
filah faala
faila
faula
fulu faala yafulu
faala yafilu
faala yafalu
filu faala yafulu
faala yafilu
faala yafalu
faalnu faala yafalu
faala yafilu
faala yafalu
fulu faala yafulu
faala yafilu
faala yafalu
falu faala yafulu
faala yafilu
faala yafalu
filah faala yafalu
faala yafilu
faala yafulu
faula yafulu
faila yafilu
maf alu faala yafalu
faala yafilu
faala yafulu
faila yafalu
mafilu faala yafilu
faalu faila
falah faula
iflu afala
iflah afala
mufalu afala
taflu faala
taflah faala
mufaalu faala
tafilah faala
mufalah fala
mufalu fala
iftilu iftaala
iftilah iftaala
muftaalu iftaala
infilu infaala
infilah infaala
munfaalu infaala
ifillu ifalla
ifillah ifalla
mufallu ifalla
tafaulu tafaala
tafaulah tafaala
mutafaalu tafaala
tafulu tafala
tafulah tafala
mutafalu tafala
istiflu istafala
istiflah istafala
mustafalu istafala
ifllu iflla
ifllah iflla
mufllu iflla
iflu ifawala
iflah ifawala
mufawalu ifawala
ifuwwlu ifawwala
ifuwwlah ifawwala
mufawwalu ifawwala
falalah falala
mufalalu falala
tafalulu tafalala
tafalulah tafalala
mutafalalu tafalala
ifinllu ifanlala
ifinllah ifanlala
mufanlalu ifanlala
ifilllu ifalalla
ifilllah ifalalla
mufalallu ifalalla

To these are added another long list of forms of infinitifs which have to be
memorized with the verbs. E.g.: falu, faalu, failu, fulu, fualu, filu, fialu,
falah, faalah, failah, fulah, filah, fulu, fulah, filu, filah, falu,
falah, fulu, falnu, faalnu, filnu, fulnu, falu, tiflu, infilu,
fayallah, ful, fil, filu, tifilu, flu, filu, fal, iflu etc.

2. Derivates (mutaqqt):

a. Active participles (asm al-fil):

filu faala
faila
faula
afala
istafala
failu faila
faula
afalu (m.), falu (f.) faila
faula
falnu (m.), fal / falnah (f.) faila
faala
falu faula
faala
faila
falu afala
falu faula
faalu faula
falu faula
fulu faula
mufalu afala
mufilu afala
mufailu faala
mufilu fala
mutafilu tafala
mutafailu tafaala
munfailu infaala
muftailu iftaala
mufallu ifalla
mufallalu ifallala
mustafilu istafala
mufllu iflla
mufawilu ifawala
mufawwilu ifawwala
mufalilu falala
mutafalilu tafalala
mufanlilu ifanlala
mufalillu ifalalla

b. Intensive forms (siya al-mublaah):

These are active participles indicating intensive action.

falu
filu
fulu
faulu
falu
falu
miflu
miflu
mifalu
fualah
falah
falah
filah
fulah
miflah
filu
fualu
fuaylu
falu
failu

c. Passive participles (asm al-mafl):

maflu fuila
falu fuila
failu fuila
fulu fuila
mufalu ufila
mufaalu fuila
mufalu fila
muftaalu uftuila
munfaalu infuila
mufallu ufulla
mutafaalu tufuila
mutafalu tufila
mustafalu ustufila
mufllu uflla
mufawalu ufila
mufawwalu ufuwwila
mufalalu fulila
mutafalalu tufulila
mufanlalu ufunlila
mufalallu ufulilla

d. Comparative and superlative adjectives (asm al-tafdl):

There is one form for the comparative and superlative:

afalu

e. Forms indicating place and time (ism al-makn wa al-zamn):

mafalu faala - yafalu
faila yafalu
faala yafulu
faala yafilu
mafilu faala yafilu
mufalu afala
mufaalu faala
mufalu fala
muftaalu iftaala
munfaalu infaala
mufallu ifalla
mutafaalu tafaala
mutafalu tafala
mustafalu istafala
mufllu iflla
mufawalu ifawala
mufawwalu ifawwala
mufalalu falala
mutafalalu tafalala
mufanlalu ifanlala
mufalallu ifalalla


f. Forms indicating the agent (ism al-lah):

mifalu
miflu
mifalah
mufulu
mufulah

3. Irregular Plurals (jum taksr):



4. Diminutifs (tasr):

fuaylu
fiaylu
fuayilu
fuaylu

5. Verbs:

faala yafulu
faala yafalu
faala yafilu
faila yafilu
faila yafalu
faula yafulu
falala yufalilu




b. Correlation between Arabic forms and Beirutian derivates:


Most of the irregularities in Arabic forms, as the infinitive forms, originate from phonetic
dialectic variations inside the Arabic language.

Beirutian inherited only a part of these form, abandoning most of the complexities.
However, the irregularities of Arabic were inherited in Beirutian and this is shown clearly
in the infinitives and in irregular plurals.

Infinitives and plurals have to be memorized as they occur.

Most of the original designations of the Arabic forms were lost due to different factors
like meaning changes, leading to the impossibility of building new words based on these
forms although words built on the same models were inherited in the vocabulary. E.g.:
the form mafalu which indicates place cannot be used anymore to create new words of
this form, however Arabic words of its form are used in Beirutian as maktab office.


Although the etymology of most Beirutian words is known, especially those deriving
directly from Arabic, it is not possible to give a classification of their forms as it is done
with the classification of Arabic words. The only forms which follow a regular pattern
are:
1. Verbal forms and verbal conjugation
2. Active and passive participles
3. Some infinitive forms
4. Dual nouns ending with n and tn
5. Feminine plural nouns ending with t
6. Masculine and feminine nouns ending with n
7. Comparatives and superlative of the form aCCaC

Most of the Arabic forms had crystallized in Beirutian leaving the language with words
which cannot correlate with each others due to changes of original meaning and form
designation. E.g.: the two words mamal factory and maktab office, although
belonging to the common Arabic form mafalu indicating place, had lost their link with
the original menaing which is place of work for the first and place of writing for the
second due to their acquisition of a secondary meaning.

In general, while most Arabic form are deverbal, in the sense that from a simple verb
stem we can derive a multiplicity of verbs, nouns and adjectives all having multiple
designations and meanings, the only regular forms which can be be derived from
Beirutian verbs are intensive verbs, causative verbs, reciprocal verbs, passive verbs,
participles and some infinitives. Although many words of deverbal origin exist in
Beirutian, no special form of specific designation and meaning can be assigned to them.
E.g.: ktb derives from kitbu which is an infinitive of the verb kataba; however, while
kitbu can be assigned to a form filu which designates the infinitive mood and on
which other forms are modeled and while its derivation from the verb kataba can be
asserted through this form, no specific form with a specific designation can be assigned
to ktb because it had lost its infinitive designation and because the form CCC cannot be
used to derive and create any word from any verb. The word ktb has to be taken with the
meaning it has without any concern over its form.


The list given below shows the phonetic correlation between Arabic words and their
direct Beirutian derivates. They illustrate the patterns of translation between the two
languages including the possibilities of variation.

falu kalbu kaleb
filu jidu jedec
fulu murru murr
faalu jabalu jabal
failu katifu ketef
fualu Umaru Comar
fuulu udunu eden
fialu iwadu cawad
falalu Jafaru Jacfar
filalu zibaqu zaybaq
afalu aswadu aswad
ifalu isbau esba
iflu islmu eslm
iflu ikllu ekll
uflu uslbu eslb
aflu (p.) awldu wld
amlu aml
afilu (p.) amkinu amken
aflu (p.) akdbu akdb
afulnu aqhuwnu eqhuwn
ifilu irbiu orba, erba
afilu arbiu orba, erba
afulu arbuu orba, erba
ufalu urbau orba, erba
ufulu urbuu orba, erba
filu ktibu kteb
falu lamu lam
flu twsu tws
flu ru ra
falu jabnu jabn
filu himru hmr
fulu urbu urb
fal (p.) sakr sakra
falu taltu talta
fuwilu (p.) suwiqu zawiq
fuliyah qursiyah qarsya
faliyah karhiyah karhiyy
mafilu (p.) maqbiru maqber
maflu (p.) mafth mfth
fawilu (p.) hawjiz hawjiz
fawlu (p.) qawrru qwrr
failu (p.) sallimu sallim
falin (p.) sahrin sahr
fall (p.) jalbbu jlbb
fawilu (p.) jadwilu jadwil
failu (p.) rasilu rasyel
taflu (p.) tamtlu tmsl
faltu (p.) afrtu frt
fanilu (p.) jandibu jandib
fal Salm Salma
fil dikr dekra
ful humm hemm
fillu jilbbu jelbb
miflu mihrbu mehrb
tiflu timtlu temsl
falu najjru najjr
filu hirbu herby
falu sawdu sawda
fualu ulamu ulam
falnu atnu atn
faalnu tawafnu tawafn
fuln urynu eryn
filnu insnu ensn
faylu baytru btr
fuwlu unwnu enwn
funalu xunfasu xenefs
fayaln saysabnu saysabn
fuluwnu unfuwnu enfewn
filiyu kibriyu kibriya
yaflu yaqtnu yaqtn
fayalu Zaynabu Zaynab
fayilu mayyitu meyyet
falu baru br
qadbu qadb
sadu sad
addu dd
fil sikknu sekkn
bittxu battx
fuaylu ullayqu ellq
miflu misknu maskn
fillu xinzru xanzr
taflu tahsnu tehsn
tafilah taziyah taziy
tafaulu tahammulu tahammul
maflu mahmlu mahml
mafalu maqtalu maqtal
mifalu minbaru manbar
mafilu masjidu masjed
mufalu mushafu mushaf
mufulu munxulu manxal
muf ilu mujbiru mejbir
mafalah mazraah mazraa
fawalu kawkabu kawkab
falu xarfu xarf
fawalu jadwalu jadwal
fiwalu xirwau xarwa
fiawlu sinnawru sannr
fulu quddsu qudds
fullu buhllu bahll
fualu sullamu sellom
fiilu himmisu hemmos
fillu zilzlu zelzl
fallu zalzlu zelzl
fullu qurtsu qerts
falalnu zafarnu zafarn
fallu qandlu qndl
faanlulu qaranfulu qrenful
fullu usfru asfr
faallu qalamnu qalamn
filawlu firdawsu fards
falaltu ankabtu ankabt
fillu qindlu qandl



c. Translation of words from Arabic to Beirutian:

Translation of words from Arabic to Beirutian follows the phonetic rules discussed in the
phonetics section.

Based on the list given above the following translation pattern can be deducted, which
pattern is a model for the translation of any Arabic word into Beirutian, with the presence
of some exceptions.

CaCCu CaCeC
CaCCaCu CaCCaC
CaCaCu CaCaC
CaCiCu CeCeC
CaCCu CaCC
CaCC (p.) CaCCa
CaCCu CaCCa
CaCCiyah CaCCiyy
CiCCu CeCeC
CiCaCu CaCaC
CiCCu CCC
CiCCaCu CaCCaC
CuC
2
u CuC
2
CuCaCu CoCaC
CuCuCu CeCeC
CuCCiCu (p.) CaCCiC
CuCCiyah CaCCya
CuCCu CuCC
CCaCu CCaC
CCiCu CCeC
CCCu CCC
CCCu CCCa

aCCaCu aCCaC
aCCCu (p.) CCC
aCCC
aCCiCu oCCCa, eCCCa
aCCuCnu eCCuCn
aCCuCu oCCCa, eCCCa
aCCuCu (p.)
aCCiCu (p.) aCCeC
aCCCu (p.) aCCC
iCCaCu eCCaC
iCCiCu oCCCa, eCCCa
iCCCu eCCC
iCCCu eCCC
uCCCu eCCC
uCCaCu oCCCa, eCCCa
uCCuCu oCCCa, eCCCa

maCCiCu (p.) maCCeC
maCCCu (p.) mCCC
maCCaCu maCCaC
maCCaCah maCCaCa
maCCCu maCCC
maCCiCu maCCeC
miCCaCu maCCaC
miCCCu meCCC
miCCCu maCCC
muCCaCu muCCaC
muCCiCu meCCiC
muCCuCu maCCaC

taCaC
2
uCu taCaCCuC
taCCCu (p.) tCCC
taCCiyah taCCiy
taCCCu teCCC
tiCCCu teCCC

yaCCCu yaCCC

CaCCiCu (p.) CaCCiC
CaCCCu (p.) CCCC
CaCCiC (p.) CaCCiC
CaCCin (p.) CaCC
CaCCC (p.) CCCC
CaCCiCu (p.) CaCCiC
CaCCiCu (p.) CaCCeC
CaCCtu (p.) CCCt
CaCCiCu (p.) CaCCiC
CaCCl CaCCa
CiCC CeCCa
CuCC CeCC
CiCCCu CeCCC
CaC
2
Cu CaC
2
C
CiCCu CeCCy
CaCCu CaCCa
CuCaCu CuCaC
CaCCnu CaCCn
CaCaCnu CaCaCn
CuCCnu CeCCn
CiCCnu CeCCn
CayCCu CCC
CuCCCu CeCCn
CuCCaCu CeCCC, CeCeCC
CayCaCn CayCaCn
CuCCuCnu CeCCeCn
CiCCiyu CiCCiya
CayCaCu CayCaC
CaCCiCu CeCCeC
CaCCu CCC
CaCC
CiC
2
C CeC
2
C
CaC
2
C
CuC
2
ayCu CeC
2
C
CiCCCu CaCCC
CaCCaCu CaCCaC
CaCCu CaCC
CaCCaCu CaCCaC
CiCCaCu CaCCaC
CiC
2
awCu CaC
2
C
CuC
2
Cu CuC
2
C
CuCCCu CaCCC
CuC
2
aCu CeCCoC
CiC
2
iCu CeC
2
oC
CiCCCu CeCCC
CaCCCu CeCCC
CuCCCu CeCCC
CaCCaCnu CaCCaCn
CaCCCu CCCC
CaCaCCuCu CCeCCuC
CuCCCu CaCCC
CaCaCnu CaCaCn
CiCCawCu CaCCC
CaCCaCtu CaCCaCt
CiCCCu CaCCC



2. Beirutian word formation


a. Simple and compound words:

The majority of words are simple formed of a single stem except for loans from
languages other than Arabic. E.g.: ktb book.

Compound words are rare, except for loans from languages other than Arabic. E.g.:
resml capital from rs head and ml money.


b. Deverbal and denominative words:

Many words are deverbal (i.e. deriving from a verb), especially infinitifs and participles.
This pattern concerns mainly all nouns, adjectives, participles, infinitifs and verbs
directly deriving from Arabic. E.g.: katab has the following deverbal words: kteb, ktb,
katb, kitb, maktb, maktab etc. But some words deriving from other languages have
deverbal derivates which do not exist in the original language. E.g.: fara to disperse
from Syriac pra to cut, to separate has fra and fare (inf.), fre (act. part.), mafr
(pas. part.). Also, talfan to call, to phone from telefn or talifn telephon has mtalfin
(act. part.).

Denominative words (i.e. deriving from a noun or adjective) exist, part of which have
their origins in Arabic. Part of these derive also from loan words. E.g.: talfan to phone
from telefn telephon.








Noun:


1. Gender:

There are two genders: masculine and feminine.

The singular neuter (inanimate objects) is usually designated by the masculine and
sometimes by the feminine depending on the gender of the word in the original language.
E.g.: twl table < Italian tavola (f.).

The neuter plural words take usually the feminine ending especially if the word is
borrowed from a language other than Arabic. E.g.: motr motor, motrt motors.

The masculine has no case endings.

The feminine ends usually in a/, except in certain words which in Arabic are feminine
but do not end in ah, and in certain words borrowed from other languages. E.g.: beseklt
bicycle < French bicyclette, besekltt bicycles.


2. Number:

There are three numbers: singular, dual and plural.

The singular has no case endings.

The dual masculine ends in n, and feminine ends in tn.

The dual comes rare;y in a direct genitive construction as bt el-malek the house of the
king. E.g.: baytn el-malek the two houses of the king. An indirect genitive
construction is more frequent. E.g.: el-kalbn tab abk your fathers two dogs.

The masculine plural is irregular and has to be memorized by heart.

The feminine plural ends in t. Stress always falls on t.

Adjectives of belongingness have this pattern:
F M
S -iyy -iyyet - -, -
D -iytn -iyyn
P -iyyt -iyyt -iyy, -iyyn -iyyet, -iyyn

But irregular plurals can occur. E.g.: Bayrt Beirutis (m. and f.).


3. Paradigms:

Here are presented examples of words with their dual and plural forms, as well as
singular and plural construct forms. Thus for ab, abu and ab are the construct forms.

Stress is shown in bold letters.


ab, bayy father (m.)
S ab abu, ab
S bayy bayy
D bayyn
P bayyt bayyt

emm mother (f.)
S emm emm
D emmn
P emmaht, emmt emmaht, emmt

jedd grandfather, ancestor (m.)
S jedd jedd
D jeddn
P ajdd, jdd ajdd, jdd

sett grandmother (f.)
S sett sett
D settn
P settt settt

ax brother (m.)
S ax axu, ax
D axxn
P axawt axawt
P exwt exwt, exwet

xayy brother (m.)
S xayy xayy
D xayyn
P xayyt xayyt


exet sister (f.)
S exet ext
D extn
P exwt exwt, exwet
P xayyt xayyt


amm paternal uncle (m.)
S amm amm
D ammn
P mm mmet, mmt, mmet

amm paternal aunt (f.)
S amm ammt, ammet
D ammtn
P ammt ammt

xl maternal uncle (m.)
S xl xl
D xln
P xwl xwl

xl maternal aunt (f.)
S xl xlt, xlet
D xltn
P xlt xlt

eben son, child (m.)
S eben ebn, eben
D ebnn, waladn
P wld wld

walad boy, child (m.)
S walad walad
D waladn
P wld wld

benet girl, daughter (f.)
S benet bent
D bentn
P bant bant

abed slave (m.)
S abed abd
D abdn
P abd abd

abd slave (f.)
S adb abdet, abedt
D abedtn
P abd abd

sul question (m.)
S sul sul
D suln
P asil aselt, asilet

ym resurrection (f.)
S ym ymet, ymt
D ymtn
P ymt ymt

awafn flood (m.)
S awafn awafn
D awafnn
P awafnt awafnt

ana conviction (f.)
S ana ant, anet
D antn
P ant ant

ml cargo, load, burden (f.)
S ml mlet, mlt
D mltn
P mlt mlt

al thing, issue, affair (f.)
S al alet, alet, aelt
D aeltn
P alt alt

sera theft (f.)
S sera seret, seret, seret
D seretn
P sert sert

akwa complaint (f.)
S akwa akwa, akw-
D akewtn
P akwa akwa, akw-

arm thief, robber, crook (m.)
S arm arm, arm
P armiyy armiyyet, armt

armiyy thief, robber, crook (f.)
S armiyy armiyyet, armt
P armiyy armiyyet, armt

mel doing (act. part. of emil to do); doer
M S mel mel, ml
1

P mln mln
F S ml ml, melt, mlet
P mln mln

kelm word (f.)
S kelm kelmet, kelemt, kelmet
D kelemtn
P kelmt kelmt

t voice, sound, vote (m.)
S t awt
2
, t
D awtn
P awt awt

zamn time (m.)
S zamn zamn
P azmin azmin, azment, azminet

sall basket (f.)
S sall sallet, sallt
D salltn
P sallt, selal, sll sallt, selal, sll

jamal camel (m.)
S jamal jamal
D jamaln
P jml jml

rab neck (f.)
S rab raebt, rabet, rabt
D rabtn, raebtn
P rb, rabt rb, rabt

br well (m.)
S br br
D brn
P byr byr

1
With suffixed pronouns if stress is on the pronoun. E.g.: mlo doing it.
2
With suffixed pronouns. E.g.: sawto his voice.

neser eagle (m.)
S neser nesr
D nesrn
P nsr nsr

bt house, family (m.)
S bt bt, bayt
3

D baytn
P byt byt

asad lion (m.)
S asad asad
D asadn
P sd sd

t whale (m.)
S t t
D tn
P tn tn

urb crow (m.)
S urb urb
D urbn
P erbn erbn

erf room (f.)
S erf erfet, ereft, erft
D ereftn
P eraf eraf

a room (f.)
S a t, et
D tn
P uwa uwa

dawl state (f.)
S dawl dawlet, dawelt, dawlt
D daweltn
P dewal dewal

jema Friday; week (f.)
S jema jemet, jemet
D jemetn
P jema jema

3
With suffixed pronouns. E.g.: bayto his house

ley beard (f.)
S ley leyet, leeyt
D leeytn
P leyt, lea leyt, lea

ktb book (m.)
S ktb ktb
D ktbn
P ketub ketub

abya white (adj.)
M S abya
F S baya
C P b

aswad black (adj.)
M S aswad
F S sawda
C P sd

amar red (adj.)
M S amar
F S amra
C P omer

axdar green (adj.)
M S axdar
F S xadra
C P xoder

afar yellow (adj.)
M S afar
F S afra
C P ofer

azra blue (adj.)
M S azra
F S zara
C P zere

ebla pregnant (f. adj.)
S ebla
P abla

abl tribe (f.)
S abl ablt, ablet
D abltn
P abyel abyel

jhel ignorant
M S jhel jhel, jhl
F S jhl jhelt, jhlet
C P jehhl jehhl

xyen traitor
M S xyen xyen, xyn
F S xyn xyent, xynet
C P xawan xawanet, xawant

judge
M S ,
4

F S y yet
C P ut ut

jez barrier, checkpoint (m.)
S jez jez, jz
D jzn
P awjez awjez

akm doctor
M S akm akm
F S akm akmet, akmt
M D akmn
F D akmtn
C P ekama ekama

an rich
M S an an, an
5

F S aniyy aniyyet
M D aniyyn
F D aniyytn
C P aniya, anya

atl killed
M S atl atl
F S atl atlet
C P atla

xanjar knife (m.)

4
With suffixed pronouns. E.g.: qdna our judge.
5
With suffixed pronouns.
S xanjar xanjar
D xanjarn
P xanjer xanjer

kawkab planet (m.)
S kawkab kawkab
D kawkabn
P kawkeb kawkeb

sellom ladder (m.)
S sellom sellm
D selmn
P sallem sallem

andl light, lamp (m.)
S andl andl
D andln
P ndl ndl

wd valley (m.)
S wd wd, wd
6

D wdyn
P wedyn wdyn

ankabt spider (m.)
S ankabt ankabt
D ankabtn
P ankbt, ankeb ankbt, ankeb

Bayrt Beiruti
M S Bayrt
F S Bayrtiyy
M D Bayrtiyyn
F D Bayrtiytn
C P Bayrt, Bayrtiyy
M P Bayrtiyy, Bayrtiyyn
F P Bayrtiyyt


Lebnn Lebanese
M S Lebnn
F S Lebnniyy
M D Lebnniyyn
F D Lebnniytn
C P Lebnniyy

6
With suffixed pronouns.
M P Lebnniyy, Lebnniyyn
F P Lebnniyyt



4. Collective nouns:

There are collective nouns which indicate a kind of things. These dont have plurals.
They have derivates which indicate an item of that kind, which are constructed by
suffixing a/ or y/y to the original word.
Thus, laymn refers to orange in general as in the expression bena laymn we sold
orange. When we want to refer to an orange, i.e. one item of the species, we say laymn
an orange and el-laymn the orange (dual laymntn two oranges; pl. laynt
oranges and el-laymnt the oranges).

banadra tomato (col.)
banadry a tomato (f.)
D bandrtn
P bandrt











Articles:



a. Definite:

el- the

It is placed before the noun.



b. Indefinite:

Singular: a; some
ada / adan someone
i ada / adan someone
wad / wed someone
Plural: ns / lam indefinite plural (lit. people)
kam few; some
kam wad / wed few ones
i kam some; a few

e.g: bt a house; house
byt houses
i bt a house
some house
kam bt few houses
some houses
kam rejjl some men
few men
ns al workmen
ada jy someone coming
i ada jy someone coming
wad rye someone going
kam wad rye few ones going
i kam walad a few kids
some kids
Pronouns:


1. Personal Pronouns:


a. Nominative:

S P
1 ana; an nena; nen
I we
2 m. enta; ent ento
you, thou you
f. ent
you, thou
3 m. huww henn
he, it they
f. hiyy
she, it


b. Accusative:

eyy-, yy- y- is added to the suffixed pronouns to give an accusative designation.

S P
1 eyyn eyyna
me us
2 m. eyyk eyykon
you, thou you
f. eyyk
you, thou
3 m. eyy eyyhon
him, it them
f. eyyha
her, it


c. Suffixed to verbs and participles:

S P
1 -n -na
me us
2 m. -ak
7
; -k
8
-kon
you, thou you
f. -ik
9
; -k
10

you, thou
3 m. -o
11
; - /
12
-on; -hon
13

him, it them
f. -a; -ha
14

her, it


E.g.:

1. With a verb ending in a vowel ama (am-) / em (em-, emiy-) to protect:
S P
1 amn / emn amna / emna
he protected me he protected us
2 m. amk / emk amkon / emkon
he protected you he protected you
f. amk / emk
he protected you
3 m. am / em amhon / emiyon, emhon
he protected him he protected them
f. amha / emiya, emha
he protected her


2. With a verb ending in a consonant arab to hit:
S P
1 arabn arabna
he hit me he hit us
2 m. arabak arabkon
he hit you he hit you
f. arabik
he hit you
3 m. arabo arabon; arabhon
he hit him he hit them
f. araba; arabha

7
After consonant.
8
After vowel.
9
After consonant.
10
After vowel.
11
After consonant.
12
After vowel.
13
Less frequent form.
14
Less frequent form.
he hit her

d. Suffixed to prepositions:

S P
1 - -na
me us
2 m. -ak
15
; -k
16
-kon
you, thou you
f. -ik
17
; -k
18

you, thou
3 m. -o
19
; - /
20
-on; -hon
21

him, it them
f. -a; -ha
22

her, it


E.g.:

1. With el- to, for:
S P
1 el elna
to me to us
2 m. elak elkon
to you, to thou to you
f. elik
to you, to thou
3 m. elo elon; elhon
to him, to it to them
f. ela; elha
to her, to it

2. With ma- with:
S P
1 ma mana
with me with us
2 m. maak makon
with you, with thou with you

15
After consonant.
16
After vowel.
17
After consonant.
18
After vowel.
19
After consonant.
20
After vowel.
21
Less frequent form.
22
Less frequent form.
f. maik
with you, with thou
3 m. mao maon; mahon
with him, with it with them
f. maa
with her, with it

3. With f (fiyy-; fiy-) in:
S P
1 fiyy fna
in me in us
2 m. fk fkon
in you, in thou in you
f. fk
in you, in thou
3 m. f; fiyo fiyon; fhon
in him, in it in them
f. fiya; fha
in her, in it

4. With al (lay-; l-) on:
S P
1 layy layna
on me on us
2 m. lk laykon
on you, on thou on you
f. layk
on you, on thou
3 m. l layon; layhon
on him, on it on them
f. laya; layha
on her, on it




2. Demonstrative Pronouns:

Near (this, these):
M. hayda
F. hayd; hy; h; h
P. hl; hl; haydl; haydl

Far (that, those):
M. haydk; haydk
F. haydk; haydk
P. hlk; hlk; haydlk; haydlk

E.g: hayda hn this is here
eja hayda this came
hl ejo thesecame



3. Reflexive pronouns:

l- self
la-l- by ()self
menn- la-hl- by ()self
l-wad- on () own; alone
nafs- the same
zt the same
bnafs- by () self

E.g.: xbaet l I hit myself
ktabton la-l I wrote these by myself
melton l-wad I did them on my own
kenet ed l-wad I was sitting alone
katab el-al nafsa he wrote the samething
hayda huww nafso this is it, the same
jt bnafs I came by myself


4. Possessive pronouns:

The suffixed pronouns are added to el- to and la-el.to.

S P
1 el elna
la-el la-elna
mine ours
2 m. elak elkon
la-elak la-elkon
yours, thine yours
f. elik
la-elik
yours, thine
3 m. elo elon; elhon
la-elo la-elon; la-elhon
his, its theirs
f. ela; elha
la-ela; la-elha
hers, its

taba- belonging to may be used in this sense.

S P
1 taba tabana
mine ours
2 m. tabaak tabakon
yours, thine yours
f. tabaik
yours, thine
3 m. tabao tabaon
his, its theirs
f. tabaa
hers, its


E.g.: hayda el; hayda la-el this is mine
hayda taba this is mine
hayda el-ktb elak; hayda el-ktb la-elak this book is yours

5. Relative Pronouns:

ell; el; l; lle; le; yall; hall
what, that, who, whom, that who, that what, that which, the one who, the
one which

Note: The initial e in ell assimilates with the preceding vowel. E.g.: ell is
pronounced ll. Ell is usually abbreviated into l after a vowel, e.g.: l, and as el after
a consonant, e.g.: f el.

E.g: ell ambtaml what is that you are doing
l ambtaml what is that you are doing
f ell kn nyem the one who was asleep, woke up
f el kn nyem the one who was asleep, woke up
f le kn nyem the one who was asleep, woke up

6. Interrogative Pronouns:


; what

Responses: ma nothing
something; anything (with
negation)

E.g.: hayda?Hayda ma. What is this?This is nothing.
hayda?Hayda . What is this?This is something.
Hayda ?Hayda . What is this?This is something.
hayda?Hayda ma. What is this?This is nothing.
ambtamel?Ma ambamel . What are you doing?I am not
doing anything.
f?Ma f . What is there?There is
nothing.
ambtkol ?Teffa. What are you eating?An apple.
ambtkol?Teffa. What are you eating?An apple.

b- ; eb- is there anything with ()

E.g.: ebak ? Is there anything with you?
behon ? Is there anything with them?

eb-; b- what is wrong with (); what do () have

E.g.: ebak? What is wrong with you?
u bk? What is wrong with you?

f () is there ( ) ?

E.g.: F ?, f . Is there anything / something?
Yes, there is something?
F ?La, ma f. Is there anything / something?
No, there isnt?
F endak akel?, f. Do you have any food? (li.t Is
there any food at you?)Yes,
there is.
F endak akel?La, ma f. Do you have any food? (li.t Is
there any food at you?)No,
there isnt.
F ada hn?. Is there anybody here?Yes.

mn who; whom

Responses: maada; maadan no one; nobody
ada; adan someone; somebody; anybody
(with negation); anybody (with
negation)
ada; adan someone; somebody

E.g.: Mn?Ana. Who? / Who is there?Me.
Mn enta?Ana ab. Who are you?Im his father.
Mn f hn?F ana hn. Who is there?There is me here.
Mn f hn?Ma f hada. Who is there?There is nobody.
Mn rabet?rabto elo. Whom did you hit?I hit him.
Mn nm?Maada nm. Who did sleep?No one did
sleep.
Mn emil hayda el-? ada. Who did this thing?Someone.
ammtek ma mn?Ma ambek ma ada.
With whom are you talking?I
am not talking with anybody.

lamn whose; to whom; for whom

Responses: la-el-; el- (possessive pronouns); to
(pronoun); for (pronoun)

E.g.: Lamn hayda?Ma la-ada. To whom is this?To no one.
Lamn hayda?La-el. To whom is this?To me.
Lamn hayda?Hayda la-el. To whom is this?This is mine.
Hayda lamn?Hayda la-el. To whom is this?This is mine.
Lamn t hayda?La-elo. To whom did you give this?To
him.

menmn from whom; by whom

Response: men- from -; by -

E.g.: Menmn namal hayda?Menno. By whom was this done?By
him.
Menmn jebton?Menno. Whom did you bringh these
form?From him.

kf how

Responses: hk; hk; haykk; haykk as such; in this manner; thus;
like that
la hk w la haykk neither this way nor the other

E.g.: Kf?Hk. How?As such.
Kfak?Mn. How are you?Fine
Kf lkon?Mn. How are you? / How is your
state?Fine.
Kf melet hayda?Hk. How did you do this?Like that.
Kf knet el-madras?l. How was school?Excellent.

wn (wayn-) where

Responses: hn; hn here
honk; honk there
wlamara; walamara nowhere

E.g.: Wn el-ktb?Hn. Where is the book?Here.
Wn kento?Kenna b-el-bt. Where were you?We were at
home.

lawn whither; where to

Responses: a - to
lahn here; to here; hither
lahonk there; to there

E.g.: Lawn ryn?a Bayrt. Where are you going to?To
Beirut.
Lawn?Lahn. Where to?Here.

menwn whence; where from

Responses: men - from -

E.g.: Menwn jy?Men rblus. Where are you coming from?
From Tripoli.
Menwn hayda?Men hn. Where is this from?From here.

mta when

Responses: el-ym today
halla now
mbre yesterday
abel mbre the day before yesterday
bukra tomorrow
baed bukra the day after tomorrow
abel; men abel before
badn; men baed after
baed not yet

E.g.: mta jt?Halla. When did you come?Now.
mta jt?El-ym. When did you come?Today.
mta ra tej?Baed bukra. When shall you come?The day
after tomorrow.

men mta since when; when

Responses: men el-ym since today
men mbre since yesterday
men abl mbre since the day before yesterday
men bukra since tomorrow
men baed bukra since the day after tomorrow
men zamn a long time ago

E,g,: Men mta ptamel hk?Men zamn.
Since when you do so?A long
time ago.
Men mta ballato tederso?Men el-talta.
Since when did you start
study?Since Tuesday.

La-mta until when; when

E.g.: La-mta a talkon hk?Ma mnarif.
Until when are you going to stay
in this manner?We dont know.

ayya; ayye which; what sort of

E.g.: Ayya ensn byamel hk?Hk ns. What sort of persons would do
so?Such persons.
Ayya ktb nat?Hayda. Which book did you choose?
This one.
La-ayya axe t el-ktb?La-el-mallem.
To which person did you give the
book?To the teacher.
Men-ayya axe axadet el-ktb?Men el-mallem.
From which person did you takee
the book?From the teacher.

ayya wad which one

E.g.: Ayya wad eja?Akbar wad
. Which one came?The biggest
one.
Ayya wad ra txdo?Awwal wad.
Which one are you going to
take?The first one.

ayya wad men which one of

E.g.: Ayya wad men hl ra yej?Haydk.
Which one of these is coming?
That one.

ayy-
23
; ayyh-
24
(with the suffixed pronouns) which of; which one
E.g.: Ayy?Hayda. Which one?This one.
Ayyna ptextr?Enta. Which one of us?You.
Ayyhon?Huww. Which one of them?Him.

add; add how much
b-add; b-add for how much

Responses: haladd that much

E.g.: Add baddak?Badd ktr. How much do you want?I want
many.
B-add ambetb hl?B-ern alef lra.
For how much are you selling
these?For 20000 liras.
Add a hayda?ao alef.
What is the price of this?1000.

kam; kem how many
kam wad; kam wed how many
Responses: haladd that many

E.g.: Kam afr f al-sajra?ara. How many bird is there on the
tree?Ten.
Kam wad ra txod?Tnn. How many are you going to
take?Two.

l; l; la why;what for

Responses: hk; hk for no reason (lit. as such)

E.g.: L amptamel hk?Ma baref. Why are you doing so?I dont
know.
La hal-?Wala la-ayya . What is this for?Not for
anything.

an; aan why; for what purpose

Responses: an; aan so that; for
an enn-; aan enn- so that
an ma; ma an for nothing; for no reason;
for no purpose

E.g.: aan hk melet?aan edar erja ej bukra.

23
Before consonant.
24
Before vowel.
Why did you do so?So that I
would be able to come back
tomorrow.

ala why; what for

Responses: alaan because
wala ala for nothing; for no reason;
for no purpose

E.g.: ala kel hal-aw?alaan rebe Lebnn b-el-basket.
Why all this noise?Because
Lebanon won the basketball
game.

menn why; what for

Responses: menn enn- because
la-ann- because
mamenn; ma menn for nothing

E.g.: menn jt?la-ann be-j ta amol .
Why did you come?Because I
am in need to do something.


7. Indefinite Pronouns:


ada; adan someone; somebody
wad (m.); wed (f.) one; someone; somebody
fln someone; somebody
a person; a certain person
maada; maada; maadan; maadan no one; nobody
kell wad; kell wed everyone
kell el-ns everybody; all people
el-kell everybody; all
kellon everybody; all of them
ayye ada; ayye adan; ayye wad (m.); ayye wed (f.) anybody; anyone
mn makn everybody; anyone; whoever;
whosoever
ba el-ns some; some people
ns; lam some people; people
kam wad (m.); kam wed (f.) few; few ones; some

something
ayalla anything
ayya anything
u makn anything; whatever
ma nothing
kel everything
kello all of it
el-kel everything; all

ktr many; a lot

kam few; some; not much

kfy much; enough

way little; a little
way zr a few litle

tn (m.); tny (f.); tnyn (pl.) other; the other; the others
wad tn(m.); wed tny (f.); ns tnyn (pl.) another; another one; others
ada tn; adan tn another; another one




E.g.: f ada hn there is someone here
f wad ambyesal annak there is someone who is asking for
you
eja ada someone came
maada ref u ambir nobody knows what is happening
kel wad menkon axad jto
everyone of you got what he needs
kel el-ns mabsn everyone is happy
el-kel mabs everyone is happy
kellon mabsn everyone is happy; all of them are
happy
ayya ada byedor yamel hal-al
anybody is able to to do this thing
mn makn r baddo yerba everybody now wants to win
bxod mn makn I take whosoever
ba el-ns biyfalo hy some people prefer this
f ns byaerfo b-hal- there are some who know about this
eja kam wad mennon some of them came; few of them
came
f i hn there is something here
ayya i ptaemlo mn anything you do is fine
ayalla i ptaemlo mn anything you do is fine
mai ptaemlo mn nohing you do is fine
kel i ptaemlo mn everything you do is fine
u makn ykn whatever may it be
badd yy kello I want it all (lit. I want it, all of it)
badd el-kell I want everything
f ktr there is many
taalna ktr we worked a lot
f kam there is few
f kfy there is enough; there is much
f way there is a little
f way zr there is a few little
me hayda, el-tn not this one, the other
ambesal an haa tn I am asking for another one



Adjectives:



1. Qualificative:

It is added after the qualified noun, except for superlative adjectives and for numeral
adjectives which come before the noun if not used with the definite article.
E.g.: ktb aswad a black book
awwal ktb the first book
awal essa the longest story

Added after indefinite nouns, it takes no article.
E.g.: balad zr a small country; small country

Added after definite nouns, the article el is added to it.
E.g.: el-balad el-zr the small country

If using the definite article the numeral and superlative adjectives may be added after the
noun.
E.g.: el-balad el-akbar the biggest country
el-balad el-tn the second country

In direct genitive constructions, the adjective is added after the genitive noun.
E.g.: ras el-jumhriyy el-metaram
the honorablepresident of the republic

ras jumhriyy metaram
a honorablepresident of republic

In indirect genitive constructions, the adjective follows the noun it qualifies or precede it
if it is a superlative or numeral.
E.g.: awwal ras lal-jumhriyy
the first president of the republic

ktb zr tabana
a small book of us









2. Comparison:

a. aCCaC form:

The aCCaC form is used for both comparatives and superlatives. E.g.: akbar bigger,
biggest.

When it qualifies a noun, the comparative is placed after it without the use of the definite
article for both.
E.g.: balad akbar a bigger country
men is used to express than.
E.g.: wad akbar menn someone bigger than me
ktb akbar men el-tn a book bigger than the other one
When it is used as predicate, the subject is always definite and takes el. The adjective
doesnt take el. The third person pronoun may be added as a copula between the subject
and predicate. In this case, the definite article can be added to the comparative.
E.g.: hayda el-balad akbar this country is bigger
hayda el-ktb akbar men haydk
this book is bigger than that
hayda el-ktb huww akbar men haydk
this book is bigger than that
hayda el-ktb huww el-akbar men haydk
this book is bigger than that

When the superlative qualifies a noun:
it is placed after it and both take el-.
E.g.: el-balad el-ala the most beautiful country
it is placed before it and none take el-.
E.g.: ala balad the most beautiful country
bn and baynt are used to express the relation with others expressed in English by of,
among.
E.g.: el-balad el-ala bn kell el-beldn
the most beautiful country of all
(countries)
asan telmz baynton the best student among them
As a predicate, the superlative is always definite. The third person pronoun is added as a
copula between the subject and predicate agreeing in gender and number with the subject,
except when the pronoun is the subject.
E.g.: ana el-akbar I am the biggest
huww el-akbar he is the biggest
ento el-akbar you are the biggest
hayda huww el-akbar that is the biggest
haydl henn el- asan there are the best
el-aww huww el-asra light is the fastest
hayda el-balad huww el-ala bn kell el-beldn
this country is the most beautiful of
all (countries)
When expressing relation to others (expressed by of, among) the superlative may take
the suffixed pronouns, instead of using bn and baynt. The definite article is dropped.
The third person copula may be dropped too.
E.g.: hayda akbarna this is the biggest one of us
hayda huww akbaron this is the biggest one of them


b. aktar, aal:

Instead of the aCCaC form, aktar more and aal less may be used to express
comparisons of inferiority and superiority.

As comparatives, aktar and aal are placed after the adjective. It is used more when the
adjective is a predicate.
E.g.: balad an aktar b-el-petrol a coutry richer in petrolium
hayda mn aktar this is better (lit. this is more good)
hayda mn aal this is less good
men is used to express relation.
E.g.: rejjl an aktar menno a man richer than him
rejjl an aal menno a man less rich than him
hayda mn aktar men haydk
this is better than that
hayda mn aal men haydk this is less good than that

As superlatives, aktar most (lit. the thing that is the most) and aal least (lit. the
thing that is the least) are placed before the adjective in subject or predicate positions. If
the third person is added as a copula, they take the definite article in a predicate position.
Bn and baynt are used to express relation.
E.g.: hayda aktar kbr this is the biggest
hayda el-akm huww el-aktar marf
this doctor is the most known
hayda el-akm huww el-aal marf
this doctor is the least known
hayda el-akm huww el-aktar marf bn el-okama
this doctor is the most known among
doctors
hayda el-akm huww el-aal marf bn el-okama
this doctor is the least known among
doctors
aktar malb huww hayda the most wanted thing is this
aal malb huww hayda the least wanted thing is this
aktar malb bn hl huww hayda
the most wanted thing among these is
aal malb bn hl huww hayda
the least wanted thing among these is
this

aktar memma more than and aall memma less than are used before verbs.
E.g.: balad an aktar memma ptetawwar
a country rich morethan you imagine
balad elo aal memma byenaka anno
a country beautiful less than it is
spoken about

c. add, metel:

For quantity and quality equation, add as as is used after the adjective. metel as can
be used instead of add.
E.g.: walad awl add ab a boy as tall as his father
walad awl metel ab a boy as tall as his father (lit. a boy
tall as his father)
hayda el-walad awl add ab
this boy is as tall as his father

3. Demonstrative:

Near (this, these):
M. hayda
F. hayd; hy; h; h
P. hl; hl; haydl; haydl
Common hal- (ha + el-)

Far (that, those):
M. haydk; haydk
F. haydk; haydk
P. hlk; hlk; haydlk; haydlk

The demonstratives can be placed before or after the noun. They agree in gender and
number with the noun they qualify except for hal- which is common.


E.g.: hal-balad this country
hal-bld these countries
hal-benet this girl
hayda el-rejjl this man
el-rejjl hayda this man
haydk el-rejjl that man
hayd el-mara this woman
el-mara hayd this woman
haydk el-mara that woman
4. Possessive:

S P
1 -; -y
25
/ -y
26
-na
my our
2 m. -ak
27
; -k
28
-kon
your, thy your
f. -ik
29
; -k
30

your, thy
3 m. -o
31
; - /
32
-on; -hon
33

his, its their
f. -a; -ha
34

her, its


E.g.:

1. ab (ab-), bay father:

S P
1 aby; aby abna
bayy bayna
my father our father
2 m. abk abkon
bayyak baykon
your father, thy father your father
f. abk
bayyik
your father, thy father
3 m. ab abuwon; abhon
bayyo bayyon; bayhon
his father their father
f. abuwa; abha
bayya; bayha
her father

2. em mother:

25
After vowels.
26
Lightening of y.
27
After consonant.
28
After vowel.
29
After consonant.
30
After vowel.
31
After consonant.
32
After vowel.
33
After vowel.
34
After vowel.

S P
1 emm emna
my mother our mother
2 m. emmak emkon
your mother, thy mother your mother
f. emmik
your mother, thy mother
3 m. emmo emmon; emhon
his mother their mother
f. emma; emha
her mother



5. Indefinite Adjectives:


kel (with plural definite noun) all; all of
kel (with indefinite singular noun) every; each
kel wad (wed) men- each of; every one of
ayye, ayya any; whichever
bae some; few
ktr (after the noun) many; much
ktr men- many of; much of
eddet many
kam few; some
kfy (after the noun) much; enough
kfy men- much of; enough of
men- (+ suffixed pronoun) mn much of
way few
way men few of
wayyet few
tn (m.); tny (f.); tnyn (pl.) other
hk (with nouns) such

E.g.: kell el-ketob all the books
kellon all of them
ktabet ala kel ktb I wrote on each book
kel whad mennon ra yej every one of them is coming
kellon hn all of them are here
ayya ktb biykn mn any book would be fine
baon biyfalo hl some of them prefer these
f zewwr ktr hn there are many visitors here
f eddet tajreb felit there are many experiences
which failed
ktabna kam saer we wrote few lines / some lines
kalna fwk kfy we ate enough fruits
f ktr mennon there is many of them
f way ns hn there are few people here
f wayyet ns hn there are few people here
tn ktb the other book
el-ktb el-tn the other book
ktb tn another book
hk lam such people
hk el-ns such people
f menna mn there is much of it
Adverbs:

1. Place:

Near (here): hn; hn
Far (there): hnk; hnk

juwwa inside; within
men juwwa from within
barra outside
men barra from the outside
f up; over
laf up; over
taet down; under; below
lataet downwards
wala mara; wlamara nowhere
wala maall nowhere
mara somewhere
maall somewhere
b- mara somewhere
b- maall somewhere
ayya mara anywhere; wherever
ayya mahall anywhere; wherever
b-ayya mara anywhere; wherever
b-ayya mahall anywhere; wherever
ayalla mara anywhere; any place whatsoever; wherever
ayalla maall anywhere; any place whatsoever; wherever
b-ayalla mara anywhere; any place whatsoever; wherever
b-ayalla maall anywhere; any place whatsoever; wherever
b-kell el-mare everywhere
b-kell el-maallt everywhere
wara behind
men wara from behind
lawara back
an janab sidewards
eddm in front
arb close; near
men arb from a close distance
bd far
men bd from a far distance






2. Time:

el-ym today
kell ym every day
yawmiyyan daily
b-el-aher monthly
b-el-sen yearly
kell sen each year
halla now
bass halla; halla bass just now
marra once; once upon a time
E.g.: kenet marra ambem hn I was once walking here
kn yamakn once upon a time
wala marra; abadan never
kel marra all the times
dyman always
amrr sometimes; often; occasionally
datan frequently; often; usually
b-ayya waet at any time
aktar mostly
all; all ma (with verbs) rarely
E.g.: ambamel hal- all I am rarely doing this thing
all ma ambamel hal- I am rarely doing this thing
mbre yesterday
abel mbre the day before yesterday
bukra tomorrow
baed bukra the day after tomorrow
abel; men abel before; earlier
badn; men baed after; later; afterwards; in the future
baed yet; still; not yet
E.g.: baed ma wolo they didnt arrive yet
bad- (with the suffixed pronouns)
still
E.g.: badn ambamelon I am still doing them
an jdd recently
maxxar (m.); maxxara (f.); maxxarn (pl.)
late
e.g.: eja maxxar he came late
mbakkar (m.); mbakkara (f.); mbakkrn (pl.)
early
bakkr soon; early
fard marra at once
awwal first of all
b-el-awwal first; at the beginning
b-el-axr at last; finally
la-addt halla up to now; until now
kamn; marra tny again; also
E.g.: kamn ml hayd! do this again!
bass only
E.g.: ml hayd bass! do this only!
wata then; back then
men wata since
lal-abad for ever
be-asna meanwhile
xala already
E.g.: melta xala I already did it
men ym w rye henceforth
daraj daraj step by step
way way gradually
faja suddenly
der instantly; straightway
bel-waet in time

ya there he is
S P
1
2 m.
f.
3 m. yah, yahuww yahenn
f. yaha, yahiyy


hiyy there he is
S P
1 hiyyn hiyyna
2 m. hiyyk hiyykon
f. hiyyk
3 m. hiyy hiyyhon
f. hiyyha




3. Manner:

hk; hk; haykk; haykk so; as such; in this manner; thus; like that
E.g.: hk namal it was done as such
way somewhat; somehow; nearly
E.g.: huww way zr he is somehow small
yan somewhat; somehow; nearly
E.g.: huww zr yan he is somehow small
la hk w la haykk neither that way nor the other
bel-aa actually; in reality
bel-we actually; in reality
aban naturally
datan usually
bel-d usually
adan on purpose
an aed on purpose


4. Quantity:

halad that much; that many
E.g.: badd halad I want that much
ktr much; too much; very; too
E.g.: ma f ktr there is not much
f ktr there is too much
bass only
kfy enough
way little
way ktr too little
aall less
aktar more
bel-kmel completely
jeziyyan partly



5. Addirmation, negation, doubt:

yes
naam yes
an jadd seriously; truly
akd certainly; for sure; surely; sure
bel-feel indeed; in fact
bel-aa in reality; actually
men dn akk no doubt
yemken; yemken enn- (with verbs)
maybe; probably; possibly; perhaps
momken; momken enn- (with verbs)
maybe; probably; possibly; perhaps
aeb hardly
la; la no
akd la not at all; surely no
al-f in vain; vainly
abadan never


Negation:


ma; me
35
not
wala no; any
wala ayy; wala ayya; wala ayye no; not a single; any whatsoever

mann- to be not
S P
1 mann manna
I am not we are not
2 m. mannak mankon
you are not you are not
f. mannik
you are not
3 m. manno mannon; manhon
he is not they are not
f. manna; manha
she is not

E.g.: ma kbr; me kbr not big
ma ana; me ana not me
ma eja he did not come
me ra ektob I shall not write
me ambektob I am not writing
ma hk; me hk not like that
ma addam wala ayye sabab he didnt offered any excuse whatsoever
wala ayya wad not a singleone; no one
mann hn I am not here
ell manno hn, ma byetlalo tn marra
he that who is not here, doesnt get
anything next time
ma layna wala maall fte we didnt find any store open


35
With verbs, only before ra and am.
Numerals:

Cardinal Card. construct Ordinal
1 wad (m.) awwal; awwaln (m.)
wed (f.) awl; la; awlniyy (f.)
awyel; awel; uwal (p.)
2 tnn tn (m.)
tny (f.)
tnyn (p.)
3 tlt tlat / tlet tlet (m.)
tlt (f.)
tltn (p.)
4 arba arba rbe (m.)
rba (f.)
rbn (p.)
5 xams xams / xames xmes (m.)
xms (f.)
xmsn (p.)
6 sett set / sett sdes (m.)
sds (f.)
sdsn (p.)
7 saba sab / sabe sbe (m.)
sba (f.)
sbn (p.)
8 tmn tmen / tman tmen (m.)
tmn (f.)
tmnn (p.)
9 tesa tese tse (m.)
tsa (f.)
tsn (p.)
10 ara aer er (m.)
ra (f.)
rn (p.)
11 dae daar el-dae
12 nae naar el-nae
13 tlatae tlataar el-tlatae
14 arbaae arbaaar el-arbaae
15 xamesae xamsaar el-xamesae
16 setae setaar el-setae
17 sabeae sabeaar el- sabeae
18 tmenae tmenaar el-tmenae
19 tesaae tesaaar el- tesaae
20 ern el-ern
21 wad w ern el-wad w ern
wad w ern el-wad w ern
22 tnn w ern el-tnn w ern
23 tlt w ern el-tlt w ern
tlt w ern el-tlt w ern
24 arb w ern el-arb w ern
arba w ern el-arba w ern
25 xams w ern el- xams w ern
26 sett w ern el- sett w ern
27 sab w ern el- sab w ern
28 tmn w ern el-tmn w ern
tmn w ern el-tmn w ern
29 tes w ern el- tes w ern
tesa w ern el- tesa w ern
30 tltn el-tltn
31 wad w tltn el-wad w tltn
40 arbn el-arbn
50 xamsn el-xamsn
60 settn el-settn
70 sabn el-sabn
80 tmnn el-tmnn
90 tesn el-tesn
91 wad w tesn el-wad w tesn
100 miyy mt / miyyet el-miyy
101 miyy w wad el-miyy w wad
110 miyy w ara el-miyy w ara
121 miyy w wad w ern el-miyy w wad w ern
200 mitn el-mitn
300 tltmiyy tletmt el-tltmiyy
400 arbamiyy arbamt el-arbamiyy
500 xamesmiyy xamesmt el-xamesmiyy
600 setmiyy setmt el-setmiyy
700 sabemiyy sabemt el-sabemiyy
800 tmenmiyy tmenmt el-tmenmiyy
900 tesemiyy tesemt el-tesemiyy
1000 alef el-alef
1001 alf w wad el-alf w wad
1021 alf w wad w ern el-alf w wad w ern
1121 alf w miyy w wad w ern el-alf w miyy w wad w ern
2000 alfn el-alfn
3000 tlettalf el-tlettalf
4000 arbatalf el-arbatalf
5000 xamestalf el-xamestalf
6000 settalf el-settalf
7000 sabetalf el-sabetalf
8000 tmentalf el-tmentalf
9000 tesatalf el-tesatalf
10000 aertalf el-aertalf
20000 ern alf el-ern alf
100000 mt / miyyet alf el-mt / miyyet alf
1000000 milyn / malyn el-milyn / malyn
2000000 milyonn / malyunn el-milynn / malynn
3000000 tlat mlyn el- tlat mlyn


wad and wed come after the noun they qualify. E.g.: rejjl wad one man.

tnn is rarely used instead of the dual form. It is placed after the noun it qualifies without
taking the definite article and sometimes before it. Its qualified noun takes the plural.
E.g.: klb tnn 2 dogs
tnn klb 2 dogs

Numbers from 3 to 19 have two form: a separate and a construct form. The separate form
is used after the noun it qualifies and takes the definite article. The qualified noun takes
the plural. E.g.: el-neswn el-tlt the 3 women. The separate forms of 11 to 19 are used
as ordinal adjectives.
The construct form is used before the noun with no article. The noun is put in the plural
from 3 to 10, e.g.: ar rjl 10 men; and in the singular from 11 to 19, e.g.: daar rejjl
11 men.

Numbers 20 to 99 are placed before the singular noun.
E.g.: ern rejjl 20 men
tesa w tesn mara 99 women

100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 are used with the construct form which takes
a singular noun. E.g.: mt rejjl 100 men.


awwal is common when it is placed before the noun it qualifies. E.g.: awwal rejjl the
first man; awwal mara the first woman; awwal lbn the first players. When placed after
the noun it qualifies it takes the definite article and it is only used with the masculine.
E.g.: el-rejjl el-awwal the first man. The other ordinals of 1 are placed after the nouns
they qualify and take the definite article. E.g.: el-mara el-awl the first woman.

The rest of the ordinals from 2 to 10 use the masculine forms as common forms placed
before their qualified nouns in the same manner as awwal. Whenever placed after the
noun, the ordinals take the definite article and agree in gender and number.
E.g.: tn kaleb the second dog
tn benet the second girl
el-benet el-tny the second girl
From 11 and up, there is one form for the ordinal which is the same form as the cardinal
placed after their qualified noun and taking the definite article.
E.g.: el-ras el-dae the 11
th
president


Adverbial numerals:

Question: kam marra? how many times?

marra; marra wed once; one time
marrtn twice; two times
tlet marrt
arba marrt
xames marrt
set marrt
sabe marrt
tmen marrt
tese marrt
aer marrt
daar marra
naar marra
ern marra
wad w ern marrah
tesn marra
mt marra
tletmt marra
alf marra
tlettalf marra
aertalf marra
milyn marra

Verbs:


1. Verbs stems:

1. Etymology of stems:

a. Original Arabic stems:

CaCaCa, yaCCiCu, uCCuC > CaCaC, yeCCo/uC, eCCo/uC
> CaCC, yCeCC, CeCC
CaCaCa, yaCCuCu, uCCuC > CaCaC, yeCCo/uC, eCCo/uC
> CaCC, yCeCC, CeCC
CaCaCa, yaCCaCu, iCCaC > CaCaC, yeCCaC, eCCaC
CaCiCa, yaCCaCu, iCCaC > CeCiC, yeCCaC, eCCaC
CaCuCa, yaCCuCu, iCCaC > CeCiC, yeCCaC, eCCaC
aCCaCa, yuCCiCu, aCCiC > aCCaC
CaCCaCa, yuCaCCiCu, CaCCiC > CaCCaC, yCaCCiC, CaCCiC
CCaCa, yuCCiCu, CCiC > C/CaC, yC/CiC, C/CiC
taCaCCaCa, yataCaCCaCu, taCaCCaC > tCaCCaC, yetCaCCaC, tCaCCaC
taCCaCa, yataCCaCu, taCCaC > tC/CaC, yetC/CaC, tC/CaC
iCtaCaCa, yaCtaCiCu, iCtaCiC > CtaCaC, yeCteCiC, CteCiC
inCaCaCa, yanCaCiCu, inCaCiC > nCaCaC, yenCeCiC, nCeCiC
iCCaCCa, yaCCaCCu, iCCaCC > CCaCC, yeCCaCC, CCaCC
istaCCaCa, yastaCCiCu, istaCCiC > staCCaC, yestaCCiC, staCCiC
CaCCaCa, yeCaCCiCu, CaCCiC > CaCCaC, yCaCCiC, CaCCiC

b. New stems:

stC/CaC, yestC/CaC, stC/CaC
ttCaC, yettCaC, ttCaC < ttaCCaC, yettaCCaC, ttaCCaC


2. Tense stem:

CaCaC: CaCaC, CaCaC; VCCo/uC, VCCC
CaCaC: CaCaC, CaCaC; VCCaC
CaC: CaC, CaCay, CaC, CaC; VCC, VCC
CeC: CC, CeC, CeCy; VCC/, VCC
CeCiC: CCeC, CeCiC, CeCC; VCCaC
CaCC: CaCC, CaCCay, CaCC; CeCC
aCaC: aCaC, aCaC; CuC, CC

CaCCaC: CaCCaC, CaCCaC; CaCCiC, CaCCC
CaCC: CaCC, CaCCay, CaCC, CaCC; CaCC, CaCC


C/C: CeC, C/C; CC
C/C: CeC, C/C; CC

C/CaC: C/CaC, C/CaC; C/CiC, C/CC
CaC: CaC, CaC; CiC, CC
C/C: C/C, C/Cay, C/C, C/C; C/C, C/C

aCCaC: aCCaC, aCCaC

nCaCaC: nCaCaC, nCaCaC; nCeCiC, nCeCC
nC/C: nCeC, nC/C; nC/C
nCaCC: nCaCC, nCaCCay, nCaCC; nCaCC
nCaC: nCaC, nCaCay, nCaC, nCaC; nCeC, nCeC

ttCaC: ttCaC, ttCaC; ttCaC

tCaCCaC: tCaCCaC, tCaCCaC; tCaCCaC
tC/CaC: tC/CaC, tC/CaC; tC/CaC
tC/C: tC/C, tC/Cay, tC/C, tC/C; tC/C, tC/C
tCaCC: tCaCC, tCaCCay, tCaCC, tCaCC; tCaCC, tCaCC

CtaCaC: CtaCaC, CtaCaC; CteCiC, CteCC

CCaCC: CCaCC, CcaCCay, CCaCC; CCaCC

stC/CaC: stC/CaC, stC/CaC; stC/CaC
stC/C: stC/C, stC/Cay, stC/C, stC/C; stC/C, stC/C
staCCaC: staCCaC, staCCaC; staCCiC, staCCC
staCC: staCC, staCCay, staCC, staCC; staCC, staCC

3. Stress in the stems:

CVC:
CVC: CVC, CVC; CVC
CVCV:
1. CVCV: CVCV, CVCV, CVCV, CVC; VCCV, VCC
2. CVCV: CCV, CVCV, CVC; VCCV, VCC
3. CVCV: CVCV, CVCV, CVCV, CVC; CVCV, CVC
CVCVC:
1. CVCVC: CVCVC, CVCVC; VCCVC, VCCC
2. CVCVC: CVCVC, CVCVC; VCCVC
3. CVCVC: CCVC, CVCVC, CVCC; VCCVC
4. CVCVC: CVCVC, CVCVC; CVCVC, CVCC
CVCC:
CVCC: CVCCV, CVCCV, CVCC; CVCC
CVCCV:
CVCCV: CVCCV, CVCCV, CVCCV, CVCC; CVCCV, CVCC
CVCCVC:
CVCCVC: CVCCVC, CVCCVC; CVCCVC, CVCCC
CCVC:
CCVC: CCVC, CCVC; CCVC
CCVCV:
CCVCV: CCVCV, CCVCV, CCVCV, CCVC; CCVCV, CCVC
CCVCV: CCVCV, CCVCV, CCVCV, CCVC; CCVCV, CCVC
CCVCVC:
CCVCVC: CCVCVC, CCVCVC; CCVCVC, CCVCC
CCVCVC: CCVCVC, CCVCVC; CCVCaC
CCVCVC: CCVCVC, CCVCVC; CCVCVC
CCVCVC: CCVCVC, CCVCVC; CCVCVC, CCVCC
CCVCC:
CCVCC: CCVCCV, CCVCCV, CCVCC; CCVCC
CCVCCV:
CCVCCV: CCVCCV, CCVCCV, CCVCCV, CCVCC; CCVCCV, CCVCC
CCVCCVC:
CCVCCVC: CCVCCVC, CCVCCVC; CCVCCVC
CCVCCVC: CCVCCVC, CCVCCVC; CCVCCVC, CCVCCC
CCCVCV:
CCCVCV: CCCVCV, CCCVCV, CCCVCV, CCCVC; CCCVCV, CCCVC
CCCVCVC:
CCCVCVC: CCCVCVC, CCCVCVC; CCCVCVC
VCVC:
VCVC: VCVC, VCVC; VCVC, VCC
VCCVC:
VCCVC: VCCVC, VCCVC

















2. Personal prefixes and suffixes:

a. Perfect:

1
st
type: After stems ending in consonants. E.g.: katab.

S P
1 -et -na
2 m. -et -to
f. -t
3 m. -o
f. -it


2
nd
type: After stems ending in vowels and geminated consonants. E.g.: er, add.

S P
1 -t -na
2 m. -t -to
f. -t
3 m. -o
f. -it


b. Present:

1st type: Before syllable beginning with two or three consonants. E.g.: yenketib,
yestnwal.

S P
1 e- ne-
2 m. te- te o
f. te
3 m. ye- ye o
f. te-


2
nd
type: Before long vowels, and syllables beginning with one consonat and closed with
a consonant or ending with a long vowel. E.g.: ytil, ym, yedd, yazz, ybaysi,
yfarri, ymin.

S P
1 n-
2 m. t- t o
f. t
3 m. y- y o
f. t-


c. Imperatif:

1
st
type: Used with monosyllable beginning with two or three consonants. E.g.: ektob.
The initial e may be dropped; this leads to the elongation of the stem consonant in the 2
nd

person masculine. E.g.: ektob > ktob > ktb; ewrat > wrat > wrt .

e >
e > -
e o > -o


2
nd
type: Used with the rest of forms.


-
-o


3. Verbal classes and their inflection:

The verbal classes are divided according to their stem form. There are two stems: the
perfect stem and the present stem. The present stem is used to construct the indicative and
subjunctive present, the imperative and some participles.

The stems of the verb are represented in this manner:
katab: katab; kto/ub, ktb
katab the form of the 3
rd
masculine singular perfect, from which derives the 3
rd

feminine and 3
rd
plural. In this form the stress is on the first a. This is the
form by which all verbs are cited.
katab the form of the 1
st
and 2
nd
persons perfect. Stress here falls on the second a.
kto/ub the form of all persons of the present and imperative to which no vowel is
suffixed. The stress falls on the vowel which preceeds the stem.
ktb the form of all persons of the present and imperative to which a vowel is
suffixed. The stress falls on the vowel which preceeds the stem.

A more extended representation of the stems is:
azza: azz, azz, azzay; azz, azz
azza the form of the 3
rd
masculine singular perfect
azz the form of the 3
rd
feminine and plural perfect to which a vowel is suffixed.
azz the form of the 1
st
singular and 2
nd
singular masculine perfect which are
closed by the consonant t.
azzay the form of the 1
st
plural, 2
nd
feminine and 2
nd
plural perfect to which are
suffixed the syllables na, t, to.
azz the form of all persons of the present and imperative to which no vowel is
suffixed.
azz the form of all persons of the present and imperative to which a vowel is
suffixed.

For each class a set of personal endings is assigned. Thus for katab: katab; kto/ub, ktb,
the personal endings are assigned as such (1,1,1) where the first number represent the
first type of persons for the perfect, the second number the first type for the present and
the third number the first type of the imperative.

class:

Active: CaCaC: CaCaC; CCo/uC, CCC (1, 1, 1)
Passive: nCaCaC: nCaCaC; nCeCiC, nCeCC (1, 1, 2)


katab to write

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 katabet
36
> ktabet katabna > ktabna
2 m. katabet
37
> ktabet katabto > ktabto
f. katabt > ktabt
3 m. katab katabo > katbo
f. katabit > katbit

(Present)

S P
1 ektob nektob
2 m. tektob tektbo > teketbo
f. tektb > teketb
3 m. yektob yektbo > yeketbo
f. tektob

(Imperative)

ektob > ktb ma tektob
kteb ma tektb
ktebo ma tektbo


36
Originally, katabt.
37
Originally, katabt.
(Infinitive)

kitb

(Participle)

kteb (m.)
ktb (f.)
ktbn (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 nkatabet nkatabna
2 m. nkatabet nkatabto
f. nkatabt
3 m. nkatab nkatabo
f. nkatabit

(Present)

S P
1 enketib nenketib
2 m. tenketib tenketbo
f. tenketb
3 m. yenketib yenketbo
f. tenketib

(Imperative)

nketib ma tenketib
nketb ma tenketb
nketbo ma tenketbo

(Participle)

maktb (m.)
maktb (f.)
maktbn (p.)


sakat to be silent, to shut up

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 sakatet > skatet sakatna > skatna
2 m. sakatet > skatet sakato > skatto
f. sakatt > skatt
3 m. sakat sakato > sakto
f. sakatit > saktit

(Present)

S P
1 eskot neskot
2 m. teskot teskto > tesekto
f. teskt > tesekt
3 m. yeskot yeskto > yesekto
f. teskot

(Imperative)

eskot > skt ma teskot
sket ma teskt
sketo ma teskto

(Infinitive)

skt

(Participle)

sket (m.)
skt (f.)
sktn (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 nsakatet nsakatna
2 m. nsakatet nsakatto
f. nsakatt
3 m. nsakat nsakato
f. nsakatit

(Present)

S P
1 ensekit nensekit
2 m. tensekit tensekto
f. tensekt
3 m. yensekit yensekto
f. tensekit

(Imperative)

nsekit ma tensekit
nsekt ma tensekt
nsekto ma tensekto

(Participle)

maskt (m.)
maskt (f.)
masktn (p.)


2
nd
class:

Active: CaCaC: CaCaC; CCaC (1,1,1)
Passive: nCaCaC: nCaCaC; nCeCiC, nCeCC (1, 1, 2)


maza to joke

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 mazaet > mzaet mazana > mzana
2 m. mazaet > mzaet mazato > mzato
f. mazat > mzat
3 m. maza mazao > mazo
f. mazait > mazit

(Present)

S P
1 emza nemza
2 m. temza temzao
f. temza
3 m. yemza yemzao
f. temza

(Imperative)

emza > mz ma temza
mza ma temza
mzao ma temzao

(Infinitive)

maze

(Participle)

mze (m.)
mza (f.)
mzn (p.)



nmasa to be wiped up

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 nmasaet nmasana
2 m. nmasaet nmasato
f. nmasat
3 m. nmasa nmasao
f. nmasait

(Present)

S P
1 enmesi nenmesi
2 m. tenmesi tenmeso
f. tenmes
3 m. yenmesi yenmeso
f. tenmesi

(Imperative)

nmesi ma tenmesi
nmes ma tenmes
nmeso ma tenmeso

(Participle)

mams (m.)
mamsa (f.)
mamsn (p.)



3
rd
class:

Active: aCaC: aCaC; CuC, CC (1,1,1)
Passive: nCaCaC: nCaCaC (1)
ttCaC: ttCaC, ttCaC; ttCaC (1,1,2)


akal to eat

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 akalet > kalet akalna > kalna
2 m. akalet > kalet akalto > kalto
f. akalt > kalt
3 m. akal akalo > aklo
f. akalit > aklit

(Present)

S P
1 kul nkul
2 m. tkul tklo
f. tkl
3 m. ykul yklo
f. tkul

(Imperative)

kl ma tkul
kel ma tkl
kelo ma tklo

(Infinitive)

akel

(Participle)

kel (m.)
kl (f.)
kln (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 ttkalet ttkalna
2 m. ttkalet ttkalto
f. ttkalt
3 m. ttkal ttkalo
f. ttkalit

1 nakalet nakalna
2 m. nakalet nakalto
f. nakalt
3 m. nakal nakalo > naklo
f. nakalit > naklit

(Present)

S P
1 ettkal nettkal
2 m. tettkal tettkalo
f. ttkal
3 m. yettkal yettkalo
f. tettkal

(Imperative)

ttkal ma tettkal
ttkal ma tettkal
ttkalo ma tettkalo

(Participle)

mettkal (m.)
mettkal > mettkl (f.)
mettkaln > mettkln (p.)

makl (m.)
makl (f.)
makln (p.)


4
th
class:

Active: CeCiC: CeCC, CCeC; CCaC (1,1,1)
Passive: nCaCaC: nCaCaC; nCeCiC, nCeCC (1, 1, 2)


werit to inherit

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 wretet wretna
2 m. wretet wretto
f. wrett
3 m. werit werto
f. wertit

(Present)

S P
1 ewrat > rat newrat > nrat
2 m. tewrat > trat tewrato > trato
f. tewrat > trat
3 m. yewrat > yrat yewrato > yrato
f. tewrat > trat

(Imperative)

ewrat > rat; wrt ma trat
wrat ma trat
wrato ma trato

(Infinitive)

wert

(Participle)

wret (m.)
wrt (f.)
wrtn (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 nwaratet nwaratna
2 m. nwaratet nwaratto
f. nwaratt
3 m. nwarat nwarato
f. nwaratit

(Present)

S P
1 enwerit nenwerit
2 m. tenwerit tenwerto
f. tenwert
3 m. yenwerit yenwerto
f. tenwerit

(Imperative)

nwerit ma tenwerit
nwert ma tenwert
nwerto ma tenwerto

(Participle)

mawrt (m.)
mawrt (f.)
mawrtn (p.)


5
th
class:

Active: CeCiC: CeCC, CCeC; CCaC / CCo/uC, CCC (1,1,1)
Passive: nCaCaC: nCaCaC; nCeCiC, nCeCC (1, 1, 2)

The present and imperative active have two forms:
CCaC conjugated as the 4
th
class
CCo/uC, CCC conjugated as the 1
st
class with the addition of a form which
replaces e of the personal prefixes by a

emil:

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 melet melna
2 m. melet melto
f. melt
3 m. emil emlo
f. emlit

(Present)

S P
1 emal, emol, amul nemal, nemol, namul
2 m. temal, temol, tamul temalo, temlo, tamlo
f. temal, teml, taml
3 m. yemal, yemol, yamul yemalo, yemlo, yamlo
f. temal, temol, tamul

(Imperative)

emal > ml; emul > ml ma temal
mal ma temal
malo ma temalo

(Infinitive)

emln

(Participle)

mel
ml
mln

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 namalet namalna
2 m. namalet namalto
f. namalt
3 m. namal namalo
f. namalit

(Present)

S P
1 enemil nenemil
2 m. tenemil tenemlo
f. teneml
3 m. yenemil yenemlo
f. tenemil

(Imperative)

nemil ma tenemil
neml ma teneml
nemlo ma tenemlo

(Participle)

maml (m.)
maml (f.)
mamln (p.)


6
th
class:

Active: C/C: CeC; CC (1, 2, 2)
C/C: CeC; CC (1, 2, 2)
Passive: nC/C: nCeC; nC/C (1, 1, 2)


m active to take off, to remove

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 emet emna
2 m. emet emto
f. emt
3 m. m mo
f. mit

(Present)

S P
1 m nm
2 m. tm tmo
f. tm
3 m. ym ymo
f. tm

(Imperative)

m ma tm
m ma tm
mo ma tmo

(Participle)

yem (m.)
ym (f.)
ymn (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 nemet nemna
2 m. nemet nmo
f. nemt
3 m. nm nmo
f. nmit

(Present)

S P
1 enm nenm
2 m. tenm tenmo
f. tenm
3 m. yenm yenmo
f. tenm

(Imperative)

nm
nm
nmo

(Participle)

menm (m.)
menm (f.)
menmn (p.)


7
th
class:

Active: CaCa: CaC, CaC, CaCay; CC/a, CC (2, 1, 1)
CeC: CeCy, CC; CC/a, CC (2, 1, 1)
Passive: nCaCa: nCaC, nCaC, nCaCay; nCeC, nCeC (2, 1, 2)

In this class both forms CaCa and CeC can be used without change of meaning.


em, ama to protect

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 mt mna
2 m. mt mto
f. mt
3 m. em emyo > emo
f. emyit > emit

S P
1 amt amayna
2 m. amt amayto
f. amayt
3 m. ama amo
f. amit

(Present)

S P
1 em nem
2 m. tem temo
f. tem
3 m. yem yemo
f. tem

(Imperative)

em > m ma tem (m., f.)
emo > m ma temo (p.)

(Infinitive)

imy

(Participle)

m (m.)
my (f.)
mn (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 namt namayna
2 m. namt namayto
f. namayt
3 m. nama namo
f. namit

(Present)
S P
1 enem nenem
2 m. tenem tenemo
f. tenem
3 m. yenem yenemo
f. tenem

(Imperative)

nem ma tenem (m., f.)
nemo ma tenemo (p.)

(Participle)

mem (m.)
memiyy (f.)
memiyyn / memn (p.)

er, ara to read

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 rt rna
2 m. rt rto
f. rt
3 m. er eryo
f. eryit

S P
1 art arayna
2 m. art arayto
f. arayt
3 m. ara aro
f. arit

(Present)

S P
1 era nera
2 m. tera tero
f. ter
3 m. yera yero
f. tera

(Imperative)

era > r ma tera
er > r ma ter
ero > r ma tero

(Infinitive)

ry

(Participle)

r (m.)
ry (f.)
rn (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 nart narayna
2 m. nart narayto
f. narayt
3 m. nara naro
f. narit

(Present)
S P
1 ener nener
2 m. tener tenero
f. tener
3 m. yener yenero
f. tener

(Imperative)

ner ma tener (m., f.)
nero ma tenero (p.)

(Participle)

mer (m.)
meriyy (f.)
meriyyn (p.)


8
th
class:

Active: CaC
2
: CaCC, CaCCay; Ce/aC
2
(2, 2, 2)
Passive: nCaC
2
: nCaCC, nCaCCay; nCaC
2
(2, 1, 1)


add to count

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 addt addayna
2 m. addt addayto
f. addayt
3 m. add addo
f. addit

(Present)

S P
1 edd nedd
2 m. tedd teddo
f. tedd
3 m. yedd yeddo
f. tedd

(Imperative)

edd ma tedd
edd ma tedd
eddo ma teddo

(Infinitive)

add

(Participle)

ded (m.)
dd (f.)
ddn (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 naddt naddayna
2 m. naddt naddayto
f. naddayt
3 m. nadd naddo
f. naddit

(Present)

S P
1 enadd nenadd
2 m. tenadd tenaddo
f. tenadd
3 m. yenadd yenaddo
f. tenadd

(Imperative)

nadd ma tenadd
nadd ma tenadd
naddo ma tenaddo

(Participle)

menadd (m.)
menadd (f.)
menaddn (p.)

madd (m.)
madd (f.)
maddn (p.)


9
th
class:

Active: CaCCaC: CaCCaC; CaCCiC, CaCCC (1, 2, 2)
Passive: tCaCCaC: tCaCCaC; tCaCCaC (1, 1, 2)


baysa to spread, to separate

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 baysaet baysana
2 m. baysaet baysato
f. baysat
3 m. baysa baysao
f. baysait

(Present)

S P
1 baysi nbaysi
2 m. tbaysi tbayso
f. tbays
3 m. ybaysi ybayso
f. tbaysi

(Imperative)

baysi ma tbaysi (m.)
bays ma tbays (f.)
bayso ma tbayso (p.)

(Infinitive)

tbeyso

(Participle)

mbaysi (m.)
mbaysa (f.)
mbaysn (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 tbaysaet tbaysana
2 m. tbaysaet tbaysato
f. tbaysat
3 m. tbaysa tbaysao
f. tbaysait

(Present)

S P
1 etbaysa netbaysa
2 m. tetbaysa tetbaysao
f. tetbaysa
3 m. yetbaysa yetbaysao
f. tetbaysa

(Imperative)

tbaysa ma tetbaysa
tbaysa ma tetbaysa
tbaysao ma tetbaysao

(Participle)

mbaysa
mbaysaa
mbaysan


10
th
class:

CCaC
2
: CCaCC, CcaCCay; CCaC
2


marr to become red

(Perfect)

S P
1 marrt marrayna
2 m. marrt marrayto
f. marrayt
3 m. marr marro
f. marrit

(Present)

S P
1 emarr nemarr
2 m. temarr temarro
f. temarr
3 m. yemarr yemarro
f. temarr

(Imperative)

marr ma temarr
marr ma temarr
marro ma temarro

(Infinitive)

emerr

(Participle)

memarr (m.)
memarra (f.)
memarrn (p.)



11
th
class:

Active: CaC
2
aC: CaC
2
aC; CaC
2
iC, CaC
2
C (1, 2, 2)
Passive: tCaC
2
aC: tCaC
2
aC; tCaC
2
aC (1, 2, 2)

This class has a causative or intensive designation.


farra to disperse

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 farraet farrana
2 m. farraet farrato
f. farrat
3 m. farra farrao
f. farrait

(Present)

S P
1 farri nfarri
2 m. tfarri tfarro
f. tfarr
3 m. yfarri yfarro
f. tfarri

(Imperative)

farri ma tfarri (m.)
farr ma tfarr (f.)
farro ma tfarro (p.)

(Infinitive)

tefr

(Participle)

mfarri (m.)
mfarra (f.)
mfarrn (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 tfarraet tfarrana
2 m. tfarraet tfarrato
f. tfarrat
3 m. tfarra tfarrao
f. tfarrat

(Present)

S P
1 etfarra netfarra
2 m. tetfarra tetfarrao
f. tetfarra
3 m. yetfarra yetfarrao
f. tetfarra

(Imperative)

tfarra ma tetfarra
tfarra ma tetfarra
tfarrao ma tetfarrao

(Participle)

mfarra (m.)
mfarraa (f.)
mfarran (p.)

metfarra (m.)
metfarra (f.)
metfarrn (p.)


12
th
class:

Active: CaC
2
a: CaC
2
, CaC
2
, CaC
2
ay; CaC
2
, CaC
2
(2, 2, 2)
Passive: tCaC
2
a: tCaC
2
, tCaC
2
, tCaC
2
ay; tCaC
2
a, tCaC
2
(2, 1, 2)

This class has a causative and intensive designation.


affa to purify, to filter

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 afft affayna
2 m. afft affayto
f. affayt
3 m. affa affo
f. affit

(Present)

S P
1 aff naff
2 m. taff taffo
f. taff
3 m. yaff yaffo
f. taff

(Imperative)

aff ma taff (m., f.)
affo ma taffo (p.)

(Infinitive)

tefy

(Participle)

maff (m.)
maffiyy (f.)
maffn (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 tafft taffayna
2 m. tafft taffayto
f. taffayt
3 m. taffa taffo
f. taffit

(Present)

S P
1 etaffa netaffa
2 m. tetaffa tetaffo
f. tetaff
3 m. yetaffa yetaffo
f. tetaffa

(Imperative)

taffa ma tetaffa
taff ma tetaff
taffo ma tetaffo

(Participle)

metaff (m.)
metaffiyy (f.)
metaffn (p.)

maffa (m.)
maffy (f.)
maffyn (p.)


13
th
class:

Active: C/CaC: C/CaC; C/CiC, C/CC (1, 2, 2)
Passive: tC/CaC: tC/CaC; tC/CaC (1, 1, 2)

This class has a reciprocal, durative and intensive designation.


mal to treat

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 malet malna
2 m. malet malto
f. malt
3 m. mal malo
f. malit

(Present)

S P
1 mil nmil
2 m. tmil tmlo
f. tml
3 m. ymil ymlo
f. tmil

(Imperative)

mil ma tmil
ml ma tml
mlo ma tmlo

(Infinitive)

mmal


(Participle)

mmil (m.)
mml (f.)
mmln (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 tmalet tmalna
2 m. tmalet tmalto
f. tmalt
3 m. tmal tmalo
f. tmalit

(Present)

S P
1 etmal netmal
2 m. tetmal tetmalo
f. tetmal
3 m. yetmal yetmalo
f. tetmal

(Imperative)

tmal ma tetmal
tmal ma tetmal
tmalo ma tetmalo

(Participle)

metmil (m.)
metml (f.)
metmln (p.)


14
th
class:

Active: C/C: C/C, C/C, C/Cay; C/C, C/C (2, 2, 2)
Passive: tC/C: tC/C, tC/C, tC/Cay; tC/C, tC/C (2, 1, 2)

This class has a reciprocal, durative and intensive designation.


da to be hostile to, to aggress

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 dt dayna
2 m. dt dayto
f. dayt
3 m. da do
f. dit

(Present)

S P
1 d nd
2 m. td tdo
f. td
3 m. yd ydo
f. td

(Imperative)

d ma td (m., f.)
do ma tdo (p.)

(Infinitive)

adw

(Participle)

md (m.)
mdiyy (f.)
mdn (p.)

b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 tdt tdayna
2 m. tdt tdayto
f. tdayt
3 m. tda tdo
f. tdit

(Present)

S P
1 etda netda
2 m. tetda tetdo
f. tetd
3 m. yetda yetdo
f. tetda

(Imperative)

tda ma tetda
td ma tetd
tdo ma tetdo

(Participle)

metd (m.)
metdiyy (f.)
metdn (p.)

15
th
class:

Active: aCCaC: aCCaC (1)
CaCaC: CaCaC; CCo/uC, CCC (1, 1, 1)
Passive: nCaCaC: nCaCaC; nCeCiC, nCeCC (1, 1, 2)

This class is the same as the 1
st
class except that in the active perfect it has an additional
form to which a- is suffixed.

This class has a causative designation in general.


jabar and ajbar:

a. [Active]

(Perfect)

S P
1 ajbaret ajbarna
2 m. ajbaret ajbarto
f. ajbart
3 m. ajbar ajbaro
f. ajbarit

S P
1 jabaret > jbaret jabarna > jbarna
2 m. jabaret > jbaret jabarto > jbarto
f. jabart > jbart
3 m. jabar jabaro
f. jabarit

(Present)

S P
1 ejbur nejbur
2 m. tejbur tejbro > tejebro
f. tejbr > tejebr
3 m. yejbur yejbro > yejebro
f. tejbur

(Imperative)

ejbur > jbr ma tejbur
jber ma tejbr
jbero ma tejbro

(Infinitive)

ejbr

(Participle)

jber (m.)
jbra (f.)
jbrn (p.)

mejbir
mejbra
mejbrn


b. [Passive]

(Perfect)

S P
1 njabaret njabarna
2 m. njabaret njabarto
f. njabart
3 m. njabar njabaro
f. njabarit

(Present)

S P
1 enjebir nenjebir
2 m. tenjebir tenjebro
f. tenjebr
3 m. yenjebir yenjebro
f. tenjebir

(Imperative)

njebir ma tenjebir
njebr ma tenjebr
njebro ma tenjebro

(Participle)

majbr (m.)
majbra (f.)
majbrn (p.)


16
th
class:

CaC: CaC; CiC, CC (1, 2, 2)


man to believe

(Perfect)

S P
1 manet manna
2 m. manet manto
f. mant
3 m. man mano
f. manit

(Present)

S P
1 min nmin
2 m. tmin tmno
f. tmn
3 m. ymin ymno
f. tmin

(Imperative)

min ma tmin (m.)
mn ma tmn (f.)
mno ma tmno (p.)

(Infinitive)

mn

(Participle)

mmin (m.)
mmn (f.)
mmnn (p.)

17
th
class:

CtaCaC: CtaCaC; CteCiC, CteCC (1, 2, 2)


ftaal to make, to activate, to start, to begin

(Perfect)

S P
1 ftaalet ftaalna
2 m. ftaalet ftaalto
f. ftaalt
3 m. ftaal ftaalo
f. ftaalit

(Present)

S P
1 efteil nefteil
2 m. tefteil teftelo
f. teftel
3 m. yefteil yeftelo
f. tefteil

(Imperative)

fteil ma tefteil
ftel ma teftel
ftelo ma teftelo

(Infinitive)

eftil

(Participle)

mefteil (m.)
meftel (f.)
mefteln (p.)






18
th
class:

staCCaC: staCCaC, staCCaC; staCCiC, staCCC
staCCa: staCC, staCC, staCCay; staCC, staCC
stC/CaC: stC/CaC; stC/CaC
stC/Ca: stC/C, stC/C, stC/Cay; stC/Ca, stC/C


stamal to use

(Perfect)

S P
1 stamalet stamalna
2 m. stamalet stamalto
f. stamalt
3 m. stamal stamalo
f. stamalit

(Present)

S P
1 estamil nestamil
2 m. testamil testamlo
f. testaml
3 m. yestamil yestamlo
f. testamil

(Imperative)

stamil ma testamil (m.)
staml ma testaml (f.)
stamlo ma testamlo (p.)

(Infinitive)

esteml

(Act. Participle)

mestamil (m.)
mestaml (f.)
mestamln (p.)

(Pass. Participle)

mestamal (m.)
mestamal (f.)
mestamaln (p.)


starja to dare to

(Perfect)

S P
1 starjt starjayna
2 m. starjt starjayto
f. starjayt
3 m. starja starjo
f. starjit

(Present)

S P
1 estarj nestarj
2 m. testarj testarjo
f. testarj
3 m. yestarj yestarjo
f. testarj

(Imperative)

starj ma testarj (m., f.)
starjo ma testarjo (p.)

(Participle)

mestarj (m.)
mestarjiyy / mestarjy (f.)
mestarjn (p.)



stnwal to handle, to receive, to sieze, to catch

(Perfect)

S P
1 stnwalet stnwalna
2 m. stnwalet stnwalto
f. stnwalt
3 m. stnwal stnwalo
f. stnwalit

(Present)

S P
1 estnwal nestnwal
2 m. testnwal testnwalo
f. testnwal
3 m. yestnwal yestnwalo
f. testnwal

(Imperative)

stnwal ma testnwal
stnwal ma testnwal
stnwalo ma testnwalo

(Infinitive)

mnwal

(Participle)

mestnwil (m.)
mestnwl (f.)
mestnwln (p.)


stmda to persist, to go far, to keep on, to cross the limits

(Perfect)

S P
1 stmdt stmdayna
2 m. stmdt stmdayto
f. stmdayt
3 m. stmda stmdo
f. stmdit

(Present)

S P
1 estmda nestmda
2 m. testmda testmdo
f. testmd
3 m. yestmda yestmdo
f. testmda

(Imperative)

stmda ma testmda
stmd ma testmd
stmdo ma testmdo

(Infinitive)

tamd

(Participle)

mestmd (m.)
mestmdiyy / mestmdy (f.)
mestmdn (p.)



19
th
class:

This class consist of irregular verbs.


E.g.: eja to come is conjugate as the 7
th
class but it takes an initial e- in the 3
rd
persons
of the perfect. Its imperative is different: taa, ta, tao.

eja to come

(Perfect)

S P
1 jt jna
2 m. jt jto
f. jt
3 m. eja ejo
f. ejit

(Present)

S P
1 ej nej
2 m. tej tejo
f. tej
3 m. yej yejo
f. tej

(Imperative)

taa ma tej
ta ma tej
tao ma tejo

(Infinitive)

majy

(Participle)

jy(m., f.)
jyn (p.)





4. Verbal inflection with suffixed accusative and dative pronouns:

a. Accusative pronouns:


S P
1 -n -na
me us
2 m. -ak
38
; -k
39
-kon
you, thou you
f. -ik
40
; -k
41

you, thou
3 m. -o
42
; - /
43
-on; -hon
44

him, it them
f. -a; -ha
45

her, it


When these pronouns are suffixed to the verbs, certain phonetic changes occur in the
form of the verb.

Personal endings change as such:

Perfect:

1
st
type:

et > t na > n
et > t to > t / tuw
46

t > t / tiy
47

> o > / uw
48

it > et

2
nd
type:

t > ayt ayna > ayn

38
After consonant.
39
After vowel.
40
After consonant.
41
After vowel.
42
After consonant.
43
After vowel.
44
Less frequent form.
45
Less frequent form.
46
Before vowels.
47
Before vowels.
48
Before vowels.
t > ayt ayto > ayt / aytuw
49

ayt > ayt / aytiy
50

> o > / uw
51

it > et

t > t na > n
t > t to > t / tuw
52

t > t / tiy
53

> o > / uw
54

it > et


Present:

1st type:

e- > e- ne- > ne-
te- > te- te o > te / uw
55

te > te / iy
56

ye- > ye- ye o > ye / uw
57

te- > te-

2
nd
type:

> n- > n-
t- > t- t o > t / uw
58

t > t / iy
59

y- > y- y o > y / uw
60

t- > t-


Imperatif:

>

49
Before vowels.
50
Before vowels.
51
Before vowels.
52
Before vowels.
53
Before vowels.
54
Before vowels.
55
Before vowels.
56
Before vowels.
57
Before vowels.
58
Before vowels.
59
Before vowels.
60
Before vowels.
>
o >


Final vowels a, , o of the personal endings and of the verb stem change into , ,
respectively which are always stressed. E.g.: ktabt you wrote, ktabthon you wrote
them; er he read, er he read it.

Stems change due to the addition of the suffixes. The weak vowels e, i and o/u drop if
unstressed. E.g.: katabet I wrote, katabton I wrote it; ektob I write, ektbo I write it.

When stress fall on the vowels o/u and i they change to e; e stays e. E.g.: ektob I write,
ektebon I write them; werit he inherited, wereton he inherited them. In the
imperative masculine the long vowels or change into e, while remains . E.g.: ml
do, melon do them; ktb write, ktebon write them.

Stress changes are as such:
1. Perfect:
1 sg.: no stress change
1 pl.: stress on
2 m.: no change
2 pl.: stress on / uw
2 f.: stress on / iy
3 m.: n, na, kon, on/hon, a/ha move the stress forward. E.g.: katab > katabon.
3 pl.: stress on / uw
3 f.: stress moves on et. E.g.: emlit > emletn.
2. Present:
1 sg.: kon, on/hon, a/ha move the stress forward. E.g.: ektob > ektebon.
1 pl.: kon, on/hon, a/ha move the stress forward. E.g.: nektob > nektebon.
2 m.: n, na, on/hon, a/ha move the stress forward. E.g.: tektob > tektebon.
2 pl.: stress on / uw.
2 f.: stress on / iy.
3 m.: n, na, kon, on/hon, a/ha move the stress forward. E.g.: yektob > yektebon.
3 pl.: stress on / uw.
3 f.: n, na, kon, on/hon, a/ha move the stress forward. E.g.: tektob > tektebon.
3. Imperative:
2 m.: n, na, on/hon, a/ha move the stress forward. E.g.: ktb > ktebon.
2 f.: stress on / iy.
2 pl.: stress on / uw.



Verb ending in a consonant katab

Perfect:

katabet (1 sg.)
1
2 m. katabtak katabtkon
f. katabtik
3 m. katabto katabton
f. katabta

katabna (1 pl.)
1
2 m. katabnk katabnkon
f. katabnk
3 m. katabn katabnhon
f. katabnha

katabet (2 m.)
1 katabtn katabtna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabto katabton
f. katabta

katabto (2 pl.)
1 katabtn katabtna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabt katabthon / katabtuwon
f. katabtha / katabtuwa

katabt (2 f.)
1 katabtn katabtna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabt katabthon / katabtiyon
f. katabtha / katabtiya

katab (3 m.)
1 katabn katabna
2 m. katabak katabkon
f. katabik
3 m. katabo katabon / katabhon
f. kataba / katabha

katabo (3 pl.)
1 katabn katabna
2 m. katabk katabkon
f. katabk
3 m. katab katabhon / katabuwon
f. katabha / katabuwon

katabit (3 f.)
1 katabetn katabetna
2 m. katabetak katabetkon
f. katabetik
3 m. katabeto katabeton / katabethon
f. katabeta / katabetha

Present:

ektob (1 sg.)
1
m. ektbak ektebkon
f. ektbik
3 m. ektbo ektebon
f. ekteba

nektob (1 pl.)
1
m. nektbak nektebkon
f. nektbik
3 m. nektbo nektebon
f. nekteba

tektob (2 m.)
1 tektebn tektebna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tektbo tektebon
f. tekteba

tektbo (2 pl.)
1 tektbn tektbna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tektb tektbhon / tektbuwon
f. tektbha / tektbuwa

tektb (2 f.)
1 tektbn tektbna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tektb tektbhon / tektbiyon
f. tektbha / tektbiya

yektob (3 m.)
1 yektebn yektebna
2 m. yektbak yektebkon
f. yektbik
3 m. yektbo yektebon
f. yekteba

yektbo (3 pl.)
1 yektbn yektbna
2 m. yektbk yektbkon
f. yektbk
3 m. yektb yektbhon / yektbuwon
f. yektbha / yektbuwa

tektob (3 f.)
1 tektebn tektebna
2 m. tektbak tektebkon
f. tektbik
3 m. tektbo tektebon
f. tekteba

Imperative:

ktb (m.)
1 ktebn ktebna
2 m.
f.
3 m. ktebo ktebon
f. kteba

kteb (f.)
1 ktebn ktebna
2 m.
f.
3 m. kteb ktebhon / ktebiyon
f. ktebha / ktebiya

ktebo (pl.)
1 ktebn ktebna
2 m.
f.
3 m. kteb ktebhon / ktebuwon
f. ktebha / ktebiya


Verb ending in a vowel da

da (3 m.)
1 dn dna
2 m. dk dkon
f. dk
3 m. d dhon
f. dha

yd (3 m.)
1 ydn ydna
2 m. ydk ydkon
f. ydk
3 m. yd ydhon / ydiyon
f. ydha / ydiya



b. Dative pronouns:

1. After verbs ending in a vowel or an l (E.g.: er; emil):

S P
1 -l -lna
to me; for me to us; for us
2 m. -lak -lkon
to you; for you to you; for you
f. -lik
to you; for you
3 m. -lo -lon; -lhon
to him, it; for him, it to them; for them
f. -la; -lha
to her, it; for her, it

E.g.: er he read erlak he read to you
erlon, erlhon he read to them
emil he made emellak he made to you
emellon, emellhon he made to them

With the verbs ending in vowels, stress falls on the final consonant of the verbs. E.g.:
katabt you wrote, ktabtl you wrote to me.

With verbs ending in l, stress moves always forward in the verbal stem. E.g.: kammal he
completed, kammall he completed to me.


2. After verbs ending in one consonant (E.g.: katab):

S P
1 -l -elna
to me; for me to us; for us
2 m. -lak -elkon
to you; for you to you; for you
f. -lik
to you; for you
3 m. -lo -lon; -elhon
to him, it; for him, it to them; for them
f. -la; -elha
to her, it; for her, it

These suffixes drive the stress forward in the verb stem.
E.g.: katab he wrote katablak he wrote to you
katablon, katabelhon he wrote to them
With the 3
rd
f. sg. personal ending et, stress always falls on it. E.g.: katabit she wrote,
katabetl she wrote to me.



3. After verbs ending in two consonants (E.g.: katabt- from katabet):

S P
1 -ell -elna
to me; for me to us; for us
2 m. -ellak -elkon
to you; for you to you; for you
f. -ellik
to you; for you
3 m. -ello -ellon; -elhon
to him, it; for him, it to them; for them
f. -ella; -elha
to her, it; for her, it

Stress falls always on the initial e of these suffixes.
E.g.: katabet I wrote katabtellak I wrote to you
katabtello I wrote to him

Changes in the personal endings and verb stem are the same as with the accusative
suffixes. However and of the personal endings do not take the additional forms iy and
uw.


Verb katab:

Perfect:

katabet (1 sg.)
1
2 m. katabtellak katabtelkon
f. katabtellik
3 m. katabtello katabtellon
f. katabtella

katabna (1 pl.)
1
2 m. katabnlak katabnlkon
f. katabnlik
3 m. katabnlo katabnlon
f. katabnla

katabet (2 m.)
1 katabtell katabtelna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabtello katabtellon
f. katabtella

katabto (2 pl.)
1 katabtl katabtlna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabtlo katabtlhon
f. katabtla

katabt (2 f.)
1 katabtl katabtlna
2 m.
f.
3 m. katabtlo katabtlon
f. katabtla

katab (3 m.)
1 katabl katabelna
2 m. katablak katabelkon
f. katablik
3 m. katablo katablon
f. katabla

katabo (3 pl.)
1 katabl katablna
2 m. katablak katablkon
f. katablik
3 m. katablo katablon
f. katabla

katabit (3 f.)
1 katabetl katabetelna
2 m. katabetlak katabetelkon
f. katabetlik
3 m. katabetlo katabetlon
f. katabetla

Present:

ektob (1 sg.)
1
m. ekteblak ektebelkon
f. ekteblik
3 m. ekteblo ekteblon
f. ektebla

nektob (1 pl.)
1
m. nekteblak nektebelkon
f. nekteblik
3 m. nekteblo nekteblon
f. nektebla

tektob (2 m.)
1 tektebl tektebelna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tekteblo tekteblon
f. tektebla

tektbo (2 pl.)
1 tektbl tektblna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tektblo tektblon
f. tektbla

tektb (2 f.)
1 tektbl tektblna
2 m.
f.
3 m. tektblo tektblon
f. tektbla

yektob (3 m.)
1 yektebl yektebelna
2 m. yekteblak yektebelkon
f. yekteblik
3 m. yekteblo yekteblon
f. yektebla

yektbo (3 pl.)
1 yektbl yektblna
2 m. yektblak yektblkon
f. yektblik
3 m. yektblo yektblon
f. yektbla

tektob (3 f.)
1 tektebl tektebelna
2 m. tekteblak tektebelkon
f. tekteblik
3 m. tekteblo tekteblon
f. tektebla

Imperative:

ktb (m.)
1 ktebl ktebelna
2 m.
f.
3 m. kteblo kteblon
f. ktebla

kteb (f.)
1 ktebl kteblna
2 m.
f.
3 m. kteblo kteblon
f. ktebla

ktebo (pl.)
1 ktebl kteblna
2 m.
f.
3 m. kteblo kteblon
f. ktebla



Verb er:

Perfect:

rt (1 sg.)
1
2 m. rtellak rtelkon
f. rtellik
3 m. rtello rtellon
f. rtella

er (2 m.)
1 erl erlna
2 m. erlak erlkon
f. erlik
3 m. erlo erlon
f. erla

























3. Tenses and moods:

a. Indicative:

1. Present I (aorist and perfect):

This tense indicates:
1. an habitual repeated act:
byeteil kel ym he works every day
2. a general truth:
el-ames ptela men el-are
the sun rises from the east
3. a future designation:
eza baddak, halla bej if you want, I comenow

This tense is formed by adding b- to the present stem.
b- becomes be- before 2 consonants.
b- and be- changes to m- and me- before n.
bey- of verbs beginning with two consonants may contract into bi-. e.g.: beym > bim.

Verb katab
S P
1 bektob mnektob
2 m. ptektob ptektbo > pteketbo
f. ptektb > pteketb
3 m. byektob byektbo > byeketbo
f. ptektob

Verb m
S P
1 bm menm
2 m. betm betmo
f. betm
3 m. beym beymo
f. betm











2. Present II (imperfect):

This is the present continuous. It indicates an on going action.
E.g.: ambkol hl I am eating these

This tense is formed by adding am- to the Present I. am- is the abbreviation of amml
being in the process of. amml as such is rarely used, but when used the present stem is
added after it.
E.g.: ambektob I am writing
amml ektob I am writing; I am in the process of writing

Before mn-, am- may drop the m. E.g.: amnamul from ammnamul.
It may also assimilate with a following b. E.g.: amptektob may be pronounced
amtektob.

Verb katab
S P
1 ambektob amnektob
2 m. amptektob amptektbo > ampteketbo
f. amptektb > ampteketb
3 m. ambyektob ambyektbo > ambyeketbo
f. amptektob


3. Past I (perfect and aorist):

This past designates an action occurring in the past or accomplished in the near past. Both
past aorist and perfect are designated by the perfect stem.
E.g.: katab he wrote; he has written


4. Past II (pluperfect):

This past designates an action accomplished in the remote past.
E.g.: haydl kn katabon men zamn he had written these a long time ago

It is formed by adding the auxiliary verb kn before the perfect stem. The two agree in
gender, person and number.

Verb katab
S P
1 kenet katabet kenna katabna
2 m. kenet katabet kento katabto
f. kent katabt
3 m. kn katab kno katabo
f. knit katabit

5. Past III (imperfect I):

This designates an action happening continuously in the past.
E.g.: kenet ambektob I was writing

It is formed by adding the auxiliary verb kn before the present II (imperfect). The two
agree in gender, person and number.

Verb katab
S P
1 kenet ambektob kenna amnektob
2 m. kenet amptektob kento amptektbo
f. kent amptektb
3 m. kn ambyektob kno ambyektbo
f. knit amptektob


6. Past IV (imperfect II):

This designates an action of habit in the past.
E.g.: kenet ektob men abel I used to write before

It if formed by adding the auxiliary verb kn to the present stem. The two agree in
gender, number and person.

Verb katab
S P
1 kenet ektob kenna nektob
2 m. kenet tektob kento tektbo
f. kent tektb
3 m. kn yektob kno yektbo
f. knit tektob


7. Future I:

This designates an action which is going to happen in the future.
E.g.: ra ektob I shall write; I will write; I am going to write

It may indicate a sort of obligation.
E.g.: ra tektebon halla you shall write them now

It is formed by adding the invariable particles ra, r or a before the present stem. r
is an abbreviation of rye going to.

Verb katab
S P
1 ra ektob ra nektob
2 m. ra tektob ra tektbo
f. ra tektb
3 m. ra yektob ra yektbo
f. ra tektob


8. Future II (volitive):

This indicates an action that someone wants to happen in the future. It may however give
the same meaning as the future I.
E.g.: badd ektob I want to write

It may indicate a sort of obligation.
E.g.: baddak tektebon halla you shall write them now


It is formed by adding the auxiliary semi-verb badd to want before the present stem.
The two agree in gender, number and person.

Verb katab
S P
1 badd ektob baddna nektob
2 m. baddak tektob baddkon tektbo
f. baddik tektb
3 m. baddo yektob baddon yektbo
f. badda tektob

















9. Future III (perfect):

This indicates an action that will be found to be accomplished in the future.
E.g.: ra kn katabton I will/shall have written them
badd kn katabton I will/shall have written them

It may indicate a future obligation where the action has to be accomplished in the future.
Often used with the 2
nd
persons.
E.g.: ra tkn katabton you shall have written them
baddak tkn katabton you shall have written them

It is formed by adding the future I or II of the auxiliary kn before the past stem. The
auxiliary and the main verb agree in gender, number and person. Semi-verb badd agree
also with them, while ra is invariable.

Verb katab
S P
1 ra kn katabet ra nkn katabna
2 m. ra tkn katabet ra tkno katabto
f. ra tkn katabt
3 m. ra ykn katab ra ykno katabo
f. ra tkn katabit

S P
1 badd kn katabet baddna nkn katabna
2 m. baddak tkn katabet baddkon tkno katabto
f. baddik tkn katabt
3 m. baddo ykn katab baddon ykno katabo
f. badda tkn katabit



10. Future IV (imperfect):

This indicates an action that will be found to be continuous in the future.
E.g.: ra kn ambektob I will/shall be writing them
badd kn ambektob I will/shall be writing them

It may indicate a future obligation where the action should be continuous in the future.
Often used with the 2
nd
persons.
E.g.: ra tkn ambektob you shall be writing them
baddak tkn ambektob you shall be writing them

It is formed by adding the future I or II of the auxiliary kn before the present II. The
auxiliary and the main verb agree in gender, number and person. Semi-verb badd agree
also with them, while ra is invariable.


Verb katab
S P
1 ra kn ambektob ra nkn amnektob
2 m. ra tkn amptektob ra tkno amptektbo
f. ra tkn amptektb
3 m. ra ykn ambyektob ra ykno ambyektbo
f. ra tkn amptektob

S P
1 badd kn ambektob baddna nkn amnektob
2 m. baddak tkn amptektob baddkon tkno amptektbo
f. baddik tkn amptektb
3 m. baddo ykn ambyektob baddon ykno ambyektbo
f. badda tkn amptektob


11. Future V (future I in the past):

This designates an action which was going to happen in the future.
E.g.: kenet ra ektob I was going to write

It is formed by adding the auxiliary kn before the future I. The auxiliary and the main
verb agree in gender, number and person.

Verb katab
S P
1 kenet ra ektob kenna ra nektob
2 m. kenet ra tektob kento ra tektbo
f. kent ra tektb
3 m. kn ra yektob kno ra yektbo
f. knit ra tektob


12. Future VI (future II in the past):

This indicates an action that someone wanted to happen in the future. It may however
give the same meaning as the future V.
E.g.: kenet badd ektob I wanted to write; I was going to write
kn badd ektob I wanted to write; I was going to write

It is formed in two ways:
by adding the auxiliary kn before the future II. The two agree in gender, number
and person.
by adding kn before the future II, with kn staying invariable.


Verb katab
S P
1 kenet badd ektob kenna baddna nektob
2 m. kenet baddak tektob kento baddkon tektbo
f. kent baddik tektb
3 m. kn baddo yektob kno baddon yektbo
f. knit badda tektob

S P
1 kn badd ektob kn baddna nektob
2 m. kn baddak tektob kn baddkon tektbo
f. kn baddik tektb
3 m. kn baddo yektob kn baddon yektbo
f. kn badda tektob



























b. Subjunctive:


The present stem is used in subjunctive constructions. Its tense changes according to the
combinations of auxiliaries with the verbs.

It is used also with the auxiliaries and semi-verbs to construct the tenses. E.g.: badd
ektob I want to write; ra ektob I used to write. In these instances, it is identical in
designation with the infinitive. Thus, badd ektob, which literally means my will is that I
write, can be translated as my will is to write hence I want to write or I will write.

The present stem is used with the following conjunctions:

enn- that
E.g.: alabet menno enno yamelon I asked him to do them (that he might do
them)

men enn- lest
E.g.: men enno yamelon lest he does them

atta; laatta; la; ta so that; that
E.g: jt atta amelon I came so that I do them

law if
E.g.: law amel hk , kno ma sman
If I did such a thing, they wouldnt have
forgiven me

an;an enn- menn; menn enn-;alan; alan enn-
so that
E.g.: jbon an ykelon he brought them so that he mignt eat
them
abel ma; men abel ma before
E.g.: men abel ma yamel hk before he had done such a thing

laadd ma; laaddt ma until; till; when
E.g.: ra al war laadd ma yamelon I will keep pushing him until he does
them

ala are enn- provided
E.g: ala are enno yamela provided he does it





c. Auxiliariy verbs:


1. Verb kn:

6
th
class, kn: ken; kn. to be.

a. Perfect stem and Past I:

Identical with the past of verb to be.
E.g.: kn he was

When added to other tenses it gives a designation of a past action, i.e. the action is placed
in the past. It gives also a designation of possibility.

1. kn + past stem:
It has two designations depending on context:
1. Pluperfect: E.g.: kn katab he had written
2. Past perfect possibility where the action could have been accomplished in
the past.
E.g.: kn katabon, lawma enta katabton he would/might/could
have written them,
hadnt you written
them

2. kn + present stem:
It designates the past IV.
E.g: kn yektob he used to write

3. kn + present I:
It designates a general possibility where the act could be done at any time.
E.g.: kn byektebon eza baddak he would/might/could write them
if you want

4. kn + present II:
It designates the past III.
E.g.: kn ambyektob he was writing

5. kn + future I:
It designates the future V.
E.g.: kenet ra ektob I was going to write

6. kn + future II:
It designates the future VI.
E.g.: kenet badd ektob I wanted to write; I was going to write

b. Present stem:

Used in subjunctive clauses in the sense of may be. It can also have a necessitative future
designation, i.e. shall be.
E.g.: eja der atta ykn el-awwal he came directly so that he may bethe first;

It is added to the other tenses in subjunctive constructions.

1. ykn + past stem:
It designates a past perfect subjunctive action.
E.g.: ala are enno ykn katabon provided taht he would have written
them

2. ykn + present stem:
It designates a present subjunctive action.
E.g: el-mohemm huww enno ykn yektob
what is important is that he may
write

3. ykn + present I:
It is identical in designation as the preceeding construction except that it is often used in
relative clauses after nouns. Both forms are interchangeable due to phonetication between
the n of kn and the initial b-.
E.g.: jebl alam ykn byektob get me a pen that may write

4. ykn + present II:
It designates a present continuous subjunctive.
E.g.: el-mohemm huww enno ykn ambyektob
what is important is that he may
be writing

5. ykn + future I:
It designates a future subjunctive.
E.g.: el-mohemm huww enno ykn ra yektebon
what is important is that he may
be going to write

6. ykn + future II:
It designates a future volitive subjunctive.
E.g.: el-mohemm huww enno ykn baddo yektob
what is important is that he may
want to write

7. ykn + pluperfect:
Identical with ykn + past stem, but with a more complete and remote past designation.
E.g.: ala are enno ykn kn katabon provided that he would have had
written them

8. ykn + past imperfect I:
It designates a past continuous subjunctive.
E.g.: el-mohemm huww enno ykn kn ambyektob
what is important is that he may
have been writing

9. ykn + past imperfect II:
It designates a past habitual subjunctive action.
E.g: el-mohemm huww enno ykn kn yektob
what is important is that he may be
used to write

c. Imperative:

Identical to the imperative of verb to be.
E.g.: kn be

d. Participle:

Identical with the active participle of verb to be, i.e. being or having been.
E.g.: kyen being; having been

e. Present I:

It designates a probable or possible of action. Thus it is not identical with the present of
verb to be (is, am, are).
E.g.: beykn
61
he would be; he might be; he could be

When added to other tenses it gives a designation of possibility or probability whose time
and aspect is defined according to the combination of verbs.

1. bikn + past stem:
It designates a past perfect possible action.
E.g.: bikn katab he might/would have written; maybe he wrote

2. bikn + present stem:
It designates a general present possible action. It is used in relative clauses. It is similar in
designation as the combination of ykn with the present I, but it has more uncertainty in
it.
E.g: badd alam bikn yektob I want a pen that might/would write


3. bikn + present I:
It designates a probable present habitual action.

61
beykn contracts into bikn.
E.g.: bikn byektob he might write; he might be used to
write; maybe he writes

4. bikn + present II:
It designates a continuous present or future probable action.
E.g.: bikn ambyektob he may/might be writing; he
will/would be writing; maybe he
will/would write

5. bikn + future I:
It designates a future probable action.
E.g.: bikn ra yektebon he may/might be going to write
them; maybe he will write

6. bikn + future II:
It designates a future probable volitive action.
E.g.: bikn baddo yektob he may/might want to write; maybe
he wants to write

7. bikn + pluperfect:
Identical with bikn + past stem, but with a more complete and remote past designation.
E.g.: bikn kn katabon he might/would have had written
them; maybe he had written them

8. bikn + past imperfect I:
It designates a probable past continuous action.
E.g.: bikn kn ambyektob he might/would have been writing;
maybe he was writing

9. bikn + past imperfect II:
It designates a past habitual probable action.
E.g: bikn kn yektob he might/would be used to write;
maybe he was used to write


f. Present II:

It designates a continuous state of being. It is identical to the present continuous of verb
to be.
E.g.: ambeykn
62
he is being

When added to other tenses it gives a designation of a usual repetitive action.

1. ambikn + past stem or + pluperfect:
It designates a past perfect repetitive action.

62
ambeykn contracts into ambikn.
E.g.: ambikn katab he would have written; he is having
been written
kell marra ambej la-endo, ambikn katabon
every time I pass by him, he would
be already having written them

2. ambikn + present II:
It designates a repetitive present action.
E.g.: ambikn ambyektob hal-eyym he is writing the days; he is being
in the process of writing these
days

3. bikn + future I or future II:
It designates a repetitive future action.
E.g.: ambikn baddo/ra yektebon kell marra
he would be going to write them
every time

g. Past Imperfect II:

It designates a past usual action.
E.g.: kn ykn he used to be
kn ykn kbr he used to be big

It is identical in meaning as kn yeba (lit. he used to stay).

It is rarely added to the present stem and to the futures I and II to designates a habitual
action in the past.
E.g.: kn ykn/yeba yektebon he used to write them
kn ykn/yeba ra/baddo yektebon he used to be about to write them

h. Future I and II:

It designates a future action, identical to the future of verb to be. It may refer to an
obligative action especially with baddo.
E.g.: ra ykn hn he will/shall be here
baddo ykn kbr it should be big

Verb kn in his future designation is similar in meaning to verb r to become.

It is added:
to the present continuous to indicate a future imperfect action.
E.g.: ra ykn ambyektob he shall be writing

to the perfect stem to indicate a future perfect action.
E.g.: ra ykn katab he shall have written

i. Future V and VI:

They designate an action which was going to happen or which was wanted in the past.
E.g.: kn ra ykn he was going to be
kn baddo ykn he wanted to be

Verb kn in his future designation is similar in meaning to verb r to become.



2. Verb r:

6
th
class, r: er; r. to become; to happen.

a. Perfect stem and Past I:

Identical with the past of verbs to become and to happen. In the sense of to become, the
predicate is usually an adjective. In the sense of to happen, the predicate is usually an
event.
E.g.: r kbr hebecamebig
r des an accident happened

When added to other tenses it gives a designation of an action which has started or is
starting to occur.

1. r + present stem or present II:
It designates an action which started to become a habit.
E.g: tallam el-kitb w r yektob / ambyektob kell ym
he learned writing and
started writing / became to
write / happened to write
every day

2. r + future I or future II:
It designates an action which is on the verge of occurring in the future.
E.g.: r ra / baddo yektob he became about to write; he was
on the verge of writing

b. Present stem:

Used in subjunctive clauses in the sense of may become or may happen.
It has a necessitative future designation, i.e. shall become or shall happen.
Also, it has an optative designation.

E.g.: eja der atta yr el-awwal he came directly so that he may becomethe
first
mal enno yr it is possible that something may happen
nlla yr hk let us hope that such thing mayhappen

It is added to the other tenses in subjunctive constructions.

1. yr + present stem:
It designates an action which started becoming an habit in subjunctive clauses.
E.g: badd yy yr yektob I want him to start writing / to become to write

2. yr + future I or future II:
It designates an action which is on the verge of occurring in the future in
subjunctive clauses.
E.g.: badd all l ta yr ra / baddo yektob
I will keep pushing him until he may become
about to write

c. Imperative:

Identical to the imperative of verb to become.
E.g.: r become

d. Participle:

Identical with the active participle of verb to become (becoming / having become) or to
happen (happening / having happened).
E.g.: yer becoming; having become; happening; having happened

e. Pluperfect:

Identical with the pluperfect of verbs to become and to happen.
E.g.: kn r kbr hehad becomebig
kn r des an accident had happened

It comes in the sense of could have become or could have happened.
E.g.: kn r des, law kento mrato men hn
an accident could havehappened, had you passed from here

When added to other tenses it gives a designation of an action which has started or is
starting to occur in the far past. Rarely used.

f. Past Imperfect I:

Identical with the past continuous of verbs to become and to happen.
E.g.: kn ambir kbr it was becoming big
f kn ambir there was something which was happening

g. Past Imperfect II:

It designates a past usual action of verb to happen.
E.g.: hk eya knet tr such things used to happen

h. Present I:

Identical with the present of verb to become or to happen.
E.g.: wa ella beyr
63
metel hayda
else hebecomes like this one
kell ym, bir hdes everyday, an accident happens

It has a designation of probability and possibility.
E.g.: bir hk, l la it would/might/could become as such, why not
wa ella bir else something might happen
eza ptamelon, ma bir if you do them, nothing would happen

When added to other tenses it gives a designation of an action starting to happen. This
action may have a probable or possible designation.

1. bir + present stem or present II:
It designates an action which started happening in the present. bisr + present II is rare.
E.g: w faja, bir yektebon / ambyektebon and suddenly, he starts
writing them
w ella bir yektob or else he maight start
writing

2. bir + future I or future II:
It designates an action which is on the verge of occurring in the future. The action can be
probable or possible.
E.g.: bukra bir ra / baddo yektob tomorrow he might become about
to write

i. Present II:

It is identical to the present continuous of verb to become or to happen.
E.g.: ambir abya he is becoming white
ambir something is happening

h. Future I and II:

It designates a future action, identical to the future of verb to become and to happen.
E.g.: ra yr akbar it shall become bigger

63
beyr contracts into bir.
f ra yr there is something which is going to happen

It is added:
to the present continuous to indicate a future imperfect action of verbs to become
or to happen. Rarely used.
E.g.: ra ykn ambr abya he shall be becoming white
to the perfect stem to indicate a future perfect action of verbs to become or to
happen.
E.g.: ra ykn r makal a fight shall have happened

i. Future V and VI:

They designate an action of verb to become or to happen which was going to happen or
which was wanted in the past.
E.g.: kn ra yr hk such thing was going to happen
kn baddo yr akm he wanted / was going to becomea doctor

j. kn + bir:

It comes in the sense of an action that could become / have become or could happen /
have happened.
E.g.: kn bir des, law jt men hn
an accident could happen / have happened, were you to
come from here

It may also come in the sense of kn yr.



3. Verb m:

6
th
class. m: em; m. to stand; to rise.

The primary meanings of m are to rise and to stand, however when used as an auxiliary
it looses these meanings.

This auxiliary is added usually before the verb, and rarely after the verb it modifies.

1. m + perfect stem:

When added to the perfect stem of a verb, it puts emphasis on the action of the verb and
gives the following designations:
that the action happened suddenly in the past, often unexpected. It may be tanslated
by adding particles like suddenly etc.
E.g.: kn ambyek mao, fa m arabo he was taling to him and
suddenly he hit him
kn ambyek mao, fa arabo m he was taling to him and
suddenly he hit him
that the action happened in the past, succeeding to another action, with or without
any causal relation between both actions. Here, particles like then, therefore,
thus can be used in translation.
E.g.: arabo, fa m bek he hit him, therefore he cried
kn nyem w emet waayto he was asleep and I woke him up
w emet melet? And what did you do then?
l r hk?laanno m emela. Why did this happen?Because he
did it.

The auxiliary puts an emphasis on the entrance into the action and may be omitted.
Originally, it meant to stand and make the act. Thus, m arabo originally meant he
rose and hit him.

The coordinative conunction w can be added between the auxiliary and its verb. E.g.: fa
m w arabo instead of fa m arabo.

However, with the insertion of w, m may be used in its original meaning. Thus, m w
arabo means he rose and hit him.

It is identical with rh + perfect stem.

2. m + ta / atta / laatta / la + present stem:

This construction has two possible designations:
one similar in meaning to r + (ta) + present stem. It indicates a specific situation
where someone goes away with the intention to do or start doing something. There
are no indication however whether the person really started doing the act or not.
E.g.: wayno?m (ta) yektob. Where is he?He went to write.
another having the literary meaning of m. In this case, the person stands or rises to
be able and with the intention to do something, regardless whether he started doing
it or not.
E.g.: wayno?m (ta) yektob. Where is he?He rose and went to
write.

3. m + present stem (+ fi- / be-):

It indicates a continuous action which started in the past. Identical to r + present stem
and to nezil + present stem + fi- / be-.
E.g.: aab mennon w m yerebon he became angry at them and started
hitting them
aab mennon w m yerob fiyon he became angry at them and started
hitting them

This construction, as well as nezil + present stem + fi- / be-, is usually used with
compound verbs which take the prepositions be- / fi-. These compound verbs are used
with these modal auxiliaries, i.e. m, r and nezil. Used without these, these coumpound
verbs get another meaning or no meaning at all. E.g.: arab fiyon means he bumped into
them, m / r / nezil yerob fiyon means he started hitting them. m ykol b-hal-kebb
means he started eating this kebb, ambykol b-hal-kebb means he is eating this
kebb, while akal b-hal-kebb is not used. fi- and be- are used in these cases to designate
a continuous action.

4. ym + present stem:

This has a present and future subjunctive and optative designation. It emphasizes and
concentrates on the entrance into the action which is to be done. Eliminating it would not
change the meaning.
E.g.: labet menno (enno) ym yektob I asked him to write
a ym yerbo beware that he may hit him
nlla ym yamela I hope he may do it

When w is inserted between ym and the verb, the original meaning of ym may be
restored. Thus, nlla ym w yamela means I hope he may rise and do it and I hope
he may do it.

The construction ym + ta / atta / laatta / la + present stem gives the original meaning
of ym, that is to stand / rise to. Thus, xall ym ta ykol means let him stand to eat.

5. bim + Present I:

As with ym + present stem, this construction emphasizes the entrance into the action to
be done. It designates an action which started and was completed in the present, or a
possible future action.
E.g.: kenna amnera, w faja bim bisakkir el-ktb
we were reading and suddenly he closes the book
a tm tello, wa ella bim byamela
beware that you may tell him, else he would do it

w may be inserted without change of designation.

6. ra / baddo ym + present stem:

As with ym + present stem, this construction emphasizes the entrance into the action to
be done. It designates a future and volitive action.
E.g.: rah ym yamelon he will do them

w may be inserted without change of designation.

7. kn baddo / ra ym + present stem:

It emphasizes the entrance into an action which was going to happen.
E.g.: kn baddo ym yerbo he was going to hit him

w may be inserted without change of designation.

8. kn m + prefect stem:

Identical with m + perfect stem but with two designation:
a past perfect designation.
E.g.: kn m arabo he had hit him
a probable past designation.
E.g.: kn m arabo he could have hit him

w may be inserted without change of designation.

9. kn bim + present I:

Identical with the designation of possibility of bim + present I, but with a past
indication.
E.g.: mn enno ma eltello, wa ella kn bim byamela
it was good that you didnt tell him, else he would have done it

w may be inserted without change of designation.

10. m + imperative:

Imperative m comes in the meaning of go ahead, also in the original sense of rise,
stand, get up especially if w is inserted.
E.g.: m melon go ahead, do them



4. Verb r:

6
th
class. r: re; r. to go.

When added to other verbs it can be translated as to go and to do an act or to go to do
an act.

1. r + perfect stem:

This construction means literary to go and to do something.
E.g.: r emelon badal ma yxallna namelon
he went and did theminstead of letting us do them

But it usually comes in the sense of m + perfect stem, especially if the context implies
an unexpected action or an action opposite to what was going to happen. Thus, instead of
r emelon badal ma yxallna namelon, m emelon badal ma yxallna namelon can
be used with the same nuance.

2. r + present stem:

This construction is used in the same sense as m + present stem (+ fi- / be-), but without
use of the prepositions. Thus, instead of aab mennon w m yerob fiyon he became
angry at them and started hitting them, we can use aab mennon w r yerebon.

This construction can come in the sense of to go to do something. Thus, r yerebon
may mean he went to hit them.

3. r + ta / atta / laatta / la + present stem:

This construction comes in the sense of to go to do something.
E.g.: r ta yerebon he went to hit them

4. yr + present stem:

Used in subjunctive and optative clauses, it is similar in meaning with ym + present
stem. Thus instead of a ym yerbo beware that he may hit him, we can say a
yr yerbo.

This construction may come also in the meaning of to go and to do something. Here, w
may be inserted.
E.g.: nalla yr (w) yamela let us hope he goes and does it

Insertion of ta / la / atta / laatta gives the meaning of to go to do something.
E.g.: nalla yr la yamela let us hope he goes to do it

5. bir + Present I:

Identical with the construction bim + Present I. Thus, instead of kenna amnera, w
faja bim bisakkir el-ktb we were reading and suddenly he closes the book, we may
say kenna amnera, w faja bir bisakkir el-ktb.

This construction may come also in the meaning of to go and to do something. Here, w
may be inserted.
E.g.: bir (w) byamela he goes and does it

6. bir + ta / la / atta / laatta + present stem:

This construction has the meaning of to go to do something.
E.g.: bir la yamela he goes to do it

6. ra / baddo yr + present stem:

Identical to baddo / ra ym + present stem.
E.g.: ra yr yamelon he will do them; he will go and do them

7. kn baddo / ra yr + present stem:

Identical to kn baddo / ra ym + present stem.
E.g.: kn baddo yr yerbo he was going to hit him; he was going to go
and do them

8. kn r + prefect stem:

Identical with kn m + perfect stem. It has two designations also:
a past perfect designation.
E.g.: kn r arabo he had hit him; he had gone and hit him
a probable past designation.
E.g.: kn r arabo he could have hit him; he could have gone and
hit him

9. kn bir + present I:

Identical with kn bim + present I.
E.g.: mn enno ma eltello, wa ella kn bir byamela
it was good that you didnt tell him, else he would have done it / else
he would have gone and done it

10. r + imperative:

It means to go and to do something. Close in designation to m + imperative.
E.g.: r melon go and do them




5. Verb d:

6
th
class. d: ed; d.

Originally meaning to return, to come back, it is no more used in this sense.
It is used as an auxiliary which gives a designation of a repetitive action.

1. d + perfect stem:

It indicates a repeated and accomplished action in the past. Usually this action was
interrupted and the new action is its completion. It may be translated by adding the
particles back or again to the verb.
E.g.: edet katabton men bad ma waafet la-sa
I went back and wrote them after
having stopped for an hour

This auxiliary can indicate a case where the action has been refused by the person for a
time and then accepted back.
E.g.: kn ktr yerfel hal-alab, bass badn d ebil
he used to refuse this demand for
me, but later he went back and
accepted it

It can also indicate an action which is the consclusion of another set of actions or the
development of events. There is no need to have any causal relation between the final
action and the previous actions.
E.g.: ma barif eza d tzawwaj I dont know if he got married (at the end / as
a consequence)

It can be placed after or before the verb it modifies, sometimes separated by the direct
object of that verb. E.g.: ebil el-hdiyy d he went back and accepted the gift; he
accepted the gift at the end.

w can be inserted between the two verbs with no changes of meaning.

2. yd + present stem:

Used in subjunctive and optative clauses, it designates an action which is to be repeated
again, having been completed in the past. Here, again should be used in translation.
E.g.: ello yd yektebon tell him to write them again
a td tamela beware that you might do it again

3. bid + present stem or Present I:

It designates an action which is to be repeated in the future or which might be repeatd at
any time.
E.g.: bid byektebon, l la he might write them again, why not
halla bd ektebon I will write them again now

4. ambid + present stem:

It designates an action at the moment of its repetition.
E.g.: ambd ektebon I am writing them again


5. ra / baddo yd + present stem:

It designates an action to be repeated again in the future.
E.g.: ra / baddo yd yektebon he will write them again


6. kn d + perfect stem:

Pluperfect action of d + perfect stem, with the same designation.
E.g.: kenet edet katabton men bad ma kenet waafet la-sa
I had written them back after having had
stopped for an hour

Past probable action of bid + present stem or present I.
E.g.: kenet edet katabton you could have written them again



6. Verb reji:

4
th
class. reji: rej, rje; rja. to go back, to come back, to return.

While conserving its original meaning, as an auxiliary it is used with the same
designations as d.

It may be placed after the verb it modifies.
E.g.: rjeet ktabton I went back and wrote them; I finally wrote them
ktabton rjeet I went back and wrote them; I finally wrote them



7. Verb be:

7
th
class: be: bey, b; ba, b. to stay, to remain.

1. be + present stem:

This construction designates a continuous uninterrupted past action, in the meaning of to
keep on doing something.
E.g.: be yektebon l el-ll he kept on writing them all night long; he stayed
all night long writing them

2. yeba + present stem:

Used in subjunctive clauses, it indicates a sort of polite order or obligation which has to
happen in the future.
E.g.: ello yeba yjbon tn marra tell him that he has to bring them next time

3. byeba + present stem or Present I:

It indicates a future action which will happen but at an uncertain time.
E.g.: beba bamelon marra I will / would do themone day

4. kn yeba + present stem:

It indicates an habitual action in the past. Identical with kn ykn + present stem and kn
+ present stem.
E.g.: kn yeba yektob men zamn he used to writebefore

5. ra / baddo yeba + present stem:

Identical to byeba + present stem or Present I.
E.g.: baddo yeba yamelon bass me halla he will do thembut not now



8. Verb all:

8
th
class: all: all, allay; all. to stay, to remain.

The originally meaning of this verb is to stay, to remain. When added as an auxiliary to
other verbs it means to keep on doing something, to keep doing something.

1. all + present stem:

This construction designates a continuous uninterrupted action in the past. Identical to
be + present stem.
E.g.: all yek anno he kept on talking about him

2. yall + present stem:

This is used in subjunctive and optative construction.
E.g.: me mal enno yall yektob it is not possible that he keeps on writing

3. biall + present stem:

This indicates an habitual action.
E.g.: biall yektob dyman he keeps on writing all the time

4. ambiall + present stem:

This indicates an action which keeps on happening. Translated as to keep doing.
E.g.: ambiall ya it keeps falling

5. ra / baddo yall + present stem:

This indicates a future action.
E.g.: baddo yall yamel hk he will keep on doing this

6. kn yall + present stem:

This indicates a habitual action in the past.
E.g.: kn yall yektob he used to keep on writing



9. Verb nezil:

The meaning of this verb is to go down, to descent. The past form (nezil) is usually
added to the present stem or infinitive followed by be- / fi- + direct object, in the sense of
to start doing something often in an abrupt manner.
E.g.: kn ktr jn fa nezil akel fiyon he was so hungry, so he started eating them
kn ktr jn fa nezil ykol fiyon he was so hungry, so he started eating them



10. Verb balla:

The meaning of the verb is to start. Used as an auxiliary with the present stem or
infinitive it means to start to do something.
E.g.: balla areb fiyon he started hitting them
balla yerebon he started hitting them
kn balla yerebon he already had started hitting them
ello yballi yektob tell him to start writing
halla biballi yektob now he will start writing
baddo yballi yektob he will start writing



11. Verb axad:

axad + present stem indicates an action started by someone in the past. It is identical to
r + present stem.
E.g.: axad yeklna anno he started talking to us about him



12. Verb aad:

aad + present stem is identical to r + present stem.
E.g.: aad yeklna anno he started talking to us about him



13. Verb yemken:

Used only with this invariable form, it indicates possibility or probability.

1. yemken + perfect stem or pluperfect: This indicates an action which possibly happened
and was completed in the past or remote past.
E.g.: yemken katab he might have written
yemken kn katab he might have had written

2. ymeken + present stem or present I: This indicates a possible present or near future
action.
E.g.: yemken yektob he might write
yemken byektob he might write

3. yemken + present II: This indicates a possible present continuous action.
E.g.: yemken ambyektob he might be writing

4. yemken + future I or II: This indicates a possible future action.
E.g.: yemken ra yektob he might be about to write



14. Vebr xalla:

12
th
class: xalla: xall, xall, xallay; xall, xall. to leave, to let, to allow.

This verb when used as an auxiliary, followed by the present stem, means to let / allow
someone do something. The direct object is usually placed between the auxiliary and th
everb.
E.g.: xallk tamlo he let you do it; he allowed you to do it
bixallk tamlo he lets you do it; he allows you to do it
baddo yxallk tamlo he will let you do it; he will allow you to do it
xallna namlo let us do it; allow us to do it

xallna with the present stem means also let us do somehting.
E.g.: xallna namlo let us do it

This auxiliary can be used also in the sense of to make someone do something.
E.g.: efet xallaytn amol? did you see what you made me do?
xalln a bel-br it made me fall into the well


15. Verb edir:

The meaning of this verb is to be able. Thus as an auxiliary it is used in the sense of
can and could.

1. edir + past stem or present stem:

This indicates an accomplished ability situated in the past.
E.g.: edir emela he was able to do it; he could do it
edir yamela he was able to do it; he could do it

enn- may be inserted between edir and the present stem. E.g.: deret tamela or deret
enno tamela or deret ennak tamela.

2. yedar + present stem:

Used in subjunctive and optative clauses to indicate a present, future or general ability.
E.g.: nlla yedar yamela lets hope he may be able to do it

3. byedar + present stem:

This designates a present, future or general ability.
E.g.: byedar yamela he can do it; he is able to do it

4. ambyedar + present stem:

This designates a present ability.
E.g.: ma barif eza ambyedar yamela I dont know if he is being able to do it

5. ra yedar + present stem:

This designates a future ability.
E.g.: ra yedar yamela he will be able to do it

6. kn edir + past stem or present stem:

This indicates a probable ability situated in the remote past.
E.g.: kn edir emela he could have been able to do it; he could have done it
kn edir yamela he could have been able to do it; he could have done it

7. kn byedar + present stem:

This indicates a general ability situated in the past.
E.g.: kn byedar yamela he had been able to do it



16. Verb z:

This verb means to need, to want. Used as an auxiliary it means to need / want to do
something.

1. z + present stem:

It indicates a past need.
E.g.: z yamela he needed to do it

2. yz + present stem:

Used in subjunctive and optative clauses, it indicates a present, future or general need.
E.g.: nlla yz yamela lets hope he may need to do it

3. biz or ambiz + present stem:

This indicates a present need.
E.g.: dyman biz yamela healways needs to do it

4. rah yz + present stem:

This indicates a future need.
E.g.: ra yz yamela badn he will need to do it after



17. Verb abb:

This verb means to love, to like. When used as an auxiliary it means to want to do
something or to love / like to do something.

1. abb + present stem:

This construction means to want to do something. It designates a past desired action.
E.g.: abb yektebon he wanted to write them

2. yebb + present stem:

Used in subjunctive and optative clauses, it means to love / like to do something.
E.g.: mal enno yebb yamela it is possible that he may like to do it

3. biebb + present stem:

Designating an habitual action, it means to like / love to do something.
E.g.: biebb yektob hk mw he likes to writesuch subjects

4. ambiebb + present stem:

It designates a desire starting to emerge in the present time.
E.g.: ambiebb yera hk ketob he is starting to like reading such books

5. kn yebb + present stem:

This designates an habitual past desired action.
E.g.: kn yebb yamol hk eya he used to like to do such stuff



18. Verbs jabar and njabar:

This verb means to force, to oblige; njabar is its passive. When used as an auxiliary it
means to force / oblige someone to do something as an active and to be forced /
obliged to do something as a passive.
jabar takes the suffixed accusative pronouns, that is its direct object, followed by the
present stem. The relative conjunction enn- may be added between the auxiliary and the
verb.
E.g.: jabaro (enno) yamela he forced him to do it
jabarak (enno) tamela he forced you to do it
njabar (enno) yamela he was obliged to do it
ra yenjebir (enno) yamela he will be obliged to do it



19. Verb em:

This is the imperative of verb me to walk. When used as an auxiliary followed by the
present stem at the 1
st
pl. person, it means lets do something.
em (m. and f.) is used when there are two persons, one of which is addressing the other.
emo (pl.) is used when there are more than two persons, one of which is addressing all
the others.
E.g.: em namela lets do it
emo namela lets do it




20. Verb eja:

eja means to come.

1. eja + perfect stem:

Used in the sense of r + perfect stem. It designates mostly an action which is a
consequence or culmination to other actions.
E.g.: fa jt ktabton metel ma ll so I wrote them, as they said to me

It also comes in the literary sense of to come and to do something.

2. eja + (ta / la / laatta / atta) + present stem:

Similar in meaning to r + present stem, it indicates mostly an action which was going
to happen but did not. It is interchangeable also with kn rah / baddo + present stem.
E.g.: eja ta yektebon fa m lhon maktbn he was going to write them but he
found them already written


Other tenses and moods of eja come in the sense of to go / come to do something.


21. Verb ht:

The verb ht (m.), ht (f.) and hto (pl.) is an imperative which may be translated as
give me/us or pass to me/us. The masculine form is used when addressing the speech
to a maculine person, the feminine to a feminine person, and the plural to more than one
person.
E.g.: ht hal-ktb give me this book

When used as an auxiliary followed by the present stem at the 1st pl. person, it can be
translated as lets do. The subjunctive conjunctions ta, la, atta, laatta can be placed
after the auxiliary.
E.g.: ht (ta) nektebon lets write them



22. Prohibiton particles a and oa:

Both of them are imperatives of verbs we and eh which mean to wake up. Used
separately, they mean wake up.
Used as auxiliaries followed by the present stem, they indicate an order of prohibition or
awareness from something.
The two common forms a and oa can be used with all persons.
E.g.: a tamela do not do it; beware that you might do it
a namela let us not do it; beware that we might do it
a yamela let him not do it; beware that he might do it

These two forms can be conjugated with the 2nd and 3rd personal endings, each agreeing
with its verb in person.

S P
2 m. ak kon
f. ik
3 m. o on; hon
f. a; ha

S P
2 m. oak oekon
f. oik
3 m. oo oon
f. oa

E.g.: ak tamela do not do it; beware that you might do it
o yamela let him not do it; beware that he might do it
a tamela let her not do it; beware that she might do it
ik tamliya do not do it; beware that you might do it



23. Verb tmanna:

This verb means to wish. It is used as an auxiliary followed by the present stem, with or
without the conjunction enn-, too to indicate a wishful action, i.e. to wish to do
something.
E.g.: tmannt enno amelon I wished to do them
byetmanna yamelon he wishes to do them



24. Verb affa:

Used as an auxiliary in the same sense as r.



25. lezim:



26. baal:



27. lei:




28. laa:


d. Semi-verbs:


1. Semi-verb baddo:

This semi-verb mens to want.
Its present is conjugated as such:
S P
1 badd badna
I want we want
2 m. baddak badkon
you want you want
f. baddik
you want
3 m. baddo baddon; badhon
he wants they want
f. badda; badha
she wants

E.g.: badd hl I want these

kn baddo is the past form.
E.g.: kn badd hl I wanted these

ykn baddo is the subjunctive and optative form.
E.g.: yemken ykn baddo hk it is possible that he wants this

bikn baddo designates a probable want.
E.g.: bikn baddo hl he might want these


When added as an auxiliary to the present stem of a verb, it designates a wanted action or
an action going to happen.

baddo + present stem: this is the future II tense.

kn baddo + present stem: this is the future VI tense.

ykn baddo + present: this is the subjunctive and optative form of baddo + present stem.
baddo + present stem can also be used in subjunctive clauses.
E.g.: yemken baddo yamelon it is possible that he wants to do them
yemken ykn baddo yamelon it is possible that he wants to do them

bikn baddo + present: this indicates a future possibility.
E.g.: bikn baddo yamelon he might want to do them

2. Semi-verb endo:

endo is not used as an auxiliary although it means to have, to possess, to get.

The present si conjugated as such:
S P
1 end endna, cenna
I have we have
2 m. endak endkon
you have you have
f. endik
you have
3 m. endo endon; endhon
he has they have
f. enda; endha
she has

E.g.: endo akel he has food

kn endo is the past form.
E.g.: kn endo akel he had food

ykn endo is the subjunctive and optative form.
E.g.: yemken ykn endo hk eya it is possible that he possesses such
things

bikn endo designates a probable possession.
E.g.: bikn endo he might have something



3. Semi-verb fiyo:

fiyo is the preposition fi- in with the suffixed pronouns. However, when used as an
auxiliary it designates ability or possibility.

fiyo + present stem: this indicates a present ability or possibility. It is conjugated as such:

S P
1 fiyy, fn fna
2 m. fk fkon
f. fk
3 m. f, fiyo fiyon; fhon
f. fiya; fha

E.g.: fiyy amelon I can do them; I may do them

kn fiyo + present stem: this indicates a past probability or ability.
E.g.: kn f yektebon he could have written them

ykn fiyo + present stem: this is the subjunctive and optative form.
E.g.: nlla ykn f yektebon I hope he might be able to write them

bikn fiyo + present stem: this designates a probable ability.
E.g.: bikn fiyo yamelon he might be able to do them



4. Semi-verb arlo:

This semi-verb is conjugated as such:
S P
1 arl arelna
2 m. arlak arelkon
f. arlik
3 m. arlo arlon
f. arla

When used alone, it means has been, that is it designates an action which was occurring
in the past and which is still occurring at the time of speech.
E.g.: arl hn arba st I have been here for 4 hours

When used as an auxiliary it refers to the same aspect of action. It is usually followed by
the present I or II.
E.g.: arlo ambyektob men mbre he has been writing since yesterday



4. Semi-verb allo:

S P
1 all alna
2 m. allak alkon
f. allik
3 m. allo allon; alhon
f. alla; alha

When used as an auxiliary followed by the present stem it means it is time for someone
to do something. In general it expresses a situation where someone could have done and
accomplished an act a long time before.
E.g.: allo yamela it is time for him to do it; by now he could have done it

e. Auxiliary participles:


1. Participle kyen:

kyen + present stem: this is identical as kn + present stem.
E.g.: kyen yektob he used to write

2. Participle lzem:

lzem + present stem: this indicates a present or future obligation.
E.g.: lzem amela I have to do it; I should do it

kn lzem + present stem: this indicates a past obligation.
E.g.: kn lzem amela I should have done it

lzemlo + infinitive: .
E.g.: lzemlo

kn lzemlo + infinitive: .
E.g.: kn lzemlo

3. Participles der:

der + present stem: this is identical to byedor + present stem.
E.g.: der yamela he can do it; he is able to do it

kn der + present stem: this is identical to kn byedor + present stem.
E.g.: kn der yamela he could do it; he was able to do it

4. Participles momken:

momken + (enn-) + modified verb is identical to yemken + modified verb.
E.g.: momken (enno) yamela he may do it
kn momken (enno) yamel he might have done it; he was able to do it

5. Participles rye:

rye + (ta / la / laatta / atta ) + present stem is identical to r + (ta / la / laatta / atta
) + present stem.

6. Participles jber and majbr:

jber + suffixed accusative pronoun + present stem is identical to ambyejbor + suffixed
accusative pronoun + present stem. kn jber is identical to kn ambyejbor.

majbr + (enn-) + present stem is identical to ambyenjebir or byenjebir + present stem.
kn majbr is identical to njabar.


f. Catenatives:




g. Negation:


ma byeswa
ma bir
h. Other verbs:


lk


daxlo, daxlo

i. Imperatives:


j. Infinitives:

The infinitive is less used in a verbal meaning than it is used as an ordinary substantive.
Thus, akel eating, to eat is used generally in the sense of food. E.g.: f akel mao there
is food with him.

Unlike in English where the infinitive is used with the auxiliaries, the infinitive is used
only with the auxiliaries nezil, baddo, balla and lzemlo.

Instead of the infinitive, the subjunctive is used, that is the present stem.
E.g.: njabar (enno) yektob he was obliged to write

The passive infinitive is usually expressed by the subjunctive.

The following is a list of cases where the infinitive is used:

1. with the auxiliaries nezil, baddo, balla and lzemlo.
E.g.: balla akel fiyon he started eating them

2. as a subject of a sentence.
E.g.: kitbeton ptxod waet writing themtakes time

3. as a predicate where it takes the definite article.
E.g.: asan endo huww el-akel the best thing for him is to eat

4. as an object to a verb. But the subjunctive is used more than the infinitive here.
E.g.: alab menn kitbeton he asked me to write them
kammal kitbeton he continued writing them

5. as an object to verb new to intend and as a genitive with niyy intention. With
niyy, the preposition b- may preceed the infinitive.
E.g.: kn nw emlnon he has intended to do them
niyyet emlnon the intention to do them
endo niyy be-emlnon he has an intention to do them

6. after prepositions related to compound verbs or other nouns.
E.g.: htamm be-emlnon he was interested in doing them
endo xf men emlnon he has fear from doing them








k. Participles:

The participle can be used as a substantive.
E.g.: kteb 1. writing
2. writer
maktb 1. written
2. letter
It can occur as a subject with the suffixed pronouns as its object. In this case it is
translated as the one doing something or the one who did something. It may be
introduced by the relative ell, yall.
E.g.: ktebon kn hn the one who wrote themwas here

Or as a predicte. Here it takes often the relative conjunction.
E.g.: hayda huww ell ktebon this is the one who wrote them

In answers to questions or other sentences, the participles, often after yes, comes
alone in the sense of the present I or past I.
E.g.: , rfo! Yes, I know him!
, ktbo w xle! Yes, I wrote it and am done!

The participle often comes as a qualificative adjective.
E.g.: el-saer el-maktb the written line
el-zalam el-jy the coming person

But as a predicate:
The active comes in the sense of the present continuous, depending on the
meaning of the verb.
E.g.: hayda el-rejjl jy this man is coming
The passive comes in the sense of the past.
E.g.: hayda el-saer maktb this line is written

The auxiliary kn can be added with all its tenses to the participles to modify its time and
aspect.
E.g.: hayda el-rejjl kn jy this man was coming
hayda el-rejjl bikn jy this man would be coming
hayda el-rejjl rah ykn jy this man will be coming
hayda el-saer kn maktb this line was written
hayda el-saer bikn maktb this line might be written

5. Gerund:

The gerund can be expressed by the participles or by the verb.

1. To construct a clause of the form of while doing . expressing the present, the
pronoun of the subject is placed followed by w then by the participle. To express while
he was doing , the present continuous verb is placed instead of the participle.
E.g.: efto, huww w melon I saw him while doing it
efto, huww w ambyamelon I saw him while he was doing it

2. To express the past gerund, in the form of having done ., the conjunctions men
bad ma after is used.
E.g.: men baed ma emela, sallamn yyha
(after) having done this, he submitted it to me

3. The pronoun + w + passive participle indicates the state of the object after the action
was applied on it. The clause is adverbial.
E.g.: efto, huww w maktb I saw it, having been written





6. Voices:

There are three voices: active, middle and passive. The usual passive forms have an n-
prefixed to them. Other passive and middle forms take t- as a prefix.
E.g.: Active: katab to write
Passive: nkatab to be written
Active: kattab to make someone write
Passive: tkattab to be made to write
Middle:



















Prepositions:


be-, b- in; at; with; within
E.g.: be-Bayrt in Beirut
bel-bt at home
nkatab b-eber it was written with ink
f-, fiy- (with suffixed pronouns only) in; within
E.g.: biyy in me; within me
ala, al-, al-, l-, alay-, lay-, on; upon; above; over; against; at
E.g.: ala el-are on ground
al above him; on him; over him
ala alab upon my request
ala el- against the wall
taet under; below; beneath; underneath
E.g.: tat el-twl under the table
tat el-are beneath the surface
lataet under; beneath; underneath
E.g.: latato underneath him
f over; above; beyond
E.g.: f el-may over water
laf over; above; up on
E.g.: allato laf el-sae I moved it up on the roof
la-, le- to; for; into
E.g.: la-hl el-ns to these people
fawwto lal-da take it into the room
el- (with suffixed pronouns only) to; for
la-el-(with suffixed pronouns only) to; for
-l-, -el- (suffixed to verbs; with pronouns only) to; for
E.g.: mell (mel-l) hal- do this for me
lobelna (lob-elna) hayda order this for us
laadd till; until
E.g.: laadd el-sa tnn until 2:00
laaddt till; until
E.g.: laaddt hn til here
ma with
end at; by
E.g.: end el-bb at the door; by the door
an of; from; about
E.g.: ambek anno I am talking about him
axadto anno I took it from him
r other than
E.g.: ada ayro someone other than him
bn, baynt between; among
E.g.: bn el-tnn between the two
baynton among them; between them
add near; beside
E.g.: add beside me; near me
men of; from;out of; by
E.g.: men hn from here
namal menn it was done by me
aber by; through; throughout; across;
via
E.g.: abr el-naher across the river
abr through me; by me
l, awl-, awl around
E.g.: l el-bt around the house
awl el-sa 10:00 around 10:00
naew. naw- toward; towards; in the direction
of; about
E.g.: naew el-madn toward the city
naew 2000 about 2000

sb, sawb- toward; towards; in the direction
of

juwwa, juwwt inside; within
E.g.: juwwa el-bt inside the house
juwwt el-bt inside the house
men juwwa, men juwwt from within
E.g.: men juwwton from within them
lajuwwa, lajuwwt into; inside
E.g.: lajuwwa el-da into the room
barra, barrt outside; without
E.g.: barra el-balad outside the country
men barra, men barrt from outside
E.g.: men barrt el-bld from outside the country
wara behind
E.g.: wark behind you
men wara from behind
E.g.: men wara el-ebbk from behind the window
bjneb on the side of
E.g.: bjnb on my side
eddm in front of; before
E.g.: eddm in front of me
arb men close to; near
E.g.: arb menn close to me
bd an far from
E.g.: bd ann far from me
baed after; beyond
E.g.: bad after me
bad el-ajrt beyond the trees; after the trees
abad men farther than; beyond; past
E.g.: abad menno farther than him
abel before
E.g.: abl el-sa 11:00 before 11:00
odd against
E.g.: odd el-nem against order
bwejj against; opposite to; in front of
E.g.: m bwejj el-feer he rose against poverty
no bwejjo they are putting it in front of him
alal along
E.g.: alal el-ar along the road
bno in the middle of
E.g.: bno el-marak in the middle of the fight
bewjd in the presence of
E.g.: bewjdo in his presence
awa men below; farther down than
E.g.: eja awa menn it came below me
ella with exception of; but; save
E.g.: kell ella el-akel everything save eating
bex concerning; regarding; respecting;
touching
E.g.: bex hal-masal concerning this issue
bel-reem an despite; notwithstanding
E.g.: bel-reem an kell el-taab notwithstanding all the pain
bel-naar la- considering
E.g.: bel-naar la-lto considering his situation
waet during
E.g.: wat el-nm during sleep
metel like
E.g.: metl like me
bala, bal- without
E.g.: baly without me
bala wala without anything
men dn without
E.g.: men dn akel without eating
men ebal from the part of; by
E.g.: tmalna mn men ebalo we were well treated by him
kerml- for the sake of
E.g.: jna kermlak we came for your sake






Conjunctions:

w and
bas but; however; only; still; yet
w ma hayda still
ayya ell such as
hk enn- such as
men than
men enn- than
aw or
atta even; so that; than
laatta so that; that
la so that; that
ta so that; that
fa so; thus
eza if; whether
eza aw whether or
eza yan / fa yan / ezan if then
en, n if
ezan so; thus; hence; then
fa ezan consequently; then
am or
emma or
law if
lawla if it wasnt for
lawma if it wasnt for
enn- that
kaann- as if
ya ya either or
ya aw either or
wella or
emma emma either or
yamma yamma / aw either or
yaemma yaemma / aw either or
aw aw either or
la w la neither nor
no nor
not nor
me bas kamn not only but also
ma bas kamn not only but also
laann- because; as; for; forasmuch as; since
w laann- nothwithstanding
bema enn- since; because
ma enn- although; notwithstanding; though; whereas
ma enn- bas / ennama / bas kamn although yet; though yet
bnma while; whereas
kawn- as; since; because; forasmuch as
kawn- . ezan / fa yan as therefore
kawn- an hk since therefore
laann- an hk since therefore
bema enn- an hk since therefore
an because; so that
an enn- because; so that
menn because; so that
menn enn- because; so that
alan because; so that
alan enn- because; so that
an hk hence; that is why; therefore
alan hk hence; that is why; therefore
menn hk hence; that is why; therefore
w men hn hence
men halla henceforth; henceforward
men ym w rye henceforth; henceforward
lemmen when; as; whenever
lemmen as so
lemmen wata / seta / hnk when then
men lemmen ma since
kel marra whenever
waet ma as; while; when
bel-wat ell; bwat ell f while
metel as
metel kaann- as if
metel ma as
metel ma kamn as so
metel hk likewise
ma dm ma as long as
add ma as much as; as many as
mara ma where; wherever; wherein; whereinto; whither
maal ma where; wherever; wherein; whereinto; whither
mara ma hnk where there
maal ma hnk where there
wn ma where; wherever
kamn also
w kamn furthermore; moreover
w bel-ef furthermore
w zyd (a hayda) moreover
w badn and then
w hk; w hk thus; hence; consequently; so; whereupon
w ala hayda whereupon
baed ma after
men baed ma after
abel ma before
men abel ma before
laadd ma until; till; when
laaddt ma until; till; when
yan that is; i.e.; this means; then
bel in case
ennama yet; but; however
w a fawa; a fawa kamn besides
tnaynton both
ma ella not but
wa ella else; or else; otherwise
ella eza except; except if; unless
add how
kf how
men enn- lest
ala kell l nevertheless; anyway
fa halla now
ala are enn- provided
ada an (enn-) save
ktr atta enn- so that
w men hn thence
w men hayda thence
w men hk thence; that is why
w men wata thence; thenceforth
balk maybe

Interjections:


h
x
hk lakan
; naam
l; la
bala; mbala
aywa; wa; aywah
tf
eff
f; f
ya wayl
y
y
y layna
y aa
walla
balla
Syntax



Use of Cases:


a. Accusative:

No case endings.

Use of preposition la, le to, for to indicate a direct and indirect object. In this case, a
suffixed accusative pronoun is attached to the verb.
E.g: axad el-daftar he took the notebook
axado la-el-daftar he took the notebook (lit. he took it, to the notebook)


b. Genitive:

1. - Simple construction:

E.g.: bt el-malek the house of the king
bt malek a kings house

2. Complex constructions with la-; la-el-; ell la- etc.:

E.g: bayto lal-mallim the teachers house
the house of the teacher
(lit. his house, of the teacher)
bt lal-mallim a house of the teacher
bt lal-mallim a house of the teacher
one of the teachers house
el-bt ell lal-mallim the teachers house
the house of the teacher
(lit. the house which is to the teacher)
bayt el my house
my own house
(lit. my house, mine)
el-bt ell el my house
my own house
(lit. the house which is mine)
el-bt ell la-el my house
my own house
(lit. the house which is mine;
the house which is to me)
bayt ell el my house
my own house
(lit. my house which is mine)
bayt ell la-el my house
my own house
(lit. my house which is mine;
my house which is to me)

3. Complex constructions with taba etc.:

Literary meaning belonging to.

Singular and common: taba
bt
mt
t
tl
tabn
tabl
Feminine singular: tt
Common plural: tn

E.g: bt taba a house of mine
(lit. a house belonging to me)
el-bt taba my house
the house of me
(lit. the house belonging to me)
el-bt ell taba my house
my own house
the house which is mine
tabao his; his own
mto his; his own
bto his; his own
to his; his own
tto his; his own
tablo his; his own
tto his; his own
tno his; his own
tabno his; his own
bton / mton theirs; their own
el-bt taba el-wazr the house of the minister
ministers house
el-bt ell bt el-wazr the house of the minister
the house
bt taba wad someones house
(lit. a house belonging to someone)
btna taba el-jabal our mountain house
our house of the mountain
el-bt ell bt my house
the house that belongs to me
el-bt elle mt my house
the house that belongs to me
hl tna these are ours
these belong to us
hayd ttna this (f.) is ours
this (f.) belongs to us
el-al taba el-mallim the masters workers
the workers of the master


c. Dative:

Use of preposition la, le to, for.
E.g.: e hy la-abk give this to your father


d. Ablative:

Use of preposition men from, of.
E.g.: eja men Bayrt he came from Beirut


e. Instrumental:

Use of prepositions: men by
abr through

E.g.: hayda el- namal menn this thing was done by me
kemlet ha-l-mmal abro this transaction was completed through him










Conditional:

The following are the conjunction used to introduce the conditional clauses:
eza if
eza yan / fa yan / ezan if then
law if
lawla if it wasnt for
lawma if it wasnt for
ella eza except; except if; unless
en, n if

1. eza:

This introduces an open conditional clause, where it is uncertain whether the condition
will be fulfilled or not. Present and future tenses are used often here in the conditional
clause and in the independent clause.
Present I Present I:
eza ptamela, bak mar if you do it, I give you money

Present II Future I or II:
eza amptamela, rah ak mar if you do it, I give you money

Future I or II Future I or II
eza ra tamela, badd ak mar if you will do it, I will give you money

2. law, lawla, lawma:

These introduces hypothetical conditions, were the condition is expected not to be
fulfilled. Past tenses are used in these clauses. Verbs designating probability or possibility
are used too.
Past I or Pluperfect Pluperfect or Future in the past
law melta, kent aytak mar if you did it, I would have given you money
law kenet melta, kent aytak mar if you had done it, I would have given you money
law kenet melta, kn badd ak mar
if you had done it, I would have given you money

lawla, lawma are used with the subjunctive. The main clause take a negative pluperfect.
E.g.: lawma enta tamela, ma kenna wolna lahn
if it wasnt for you doing it, we wouldnt have arrived at this

3. ella eza:

The main clause takes a negative Present I or future, while the conditional clause takes
the present I.
E.g.: ma ra amela, ella eza ptektob I will not do it, unless you write
ma bamela, ella eza ptektob I will not do it, unless you write

4. en, n:





Other subordinate clauses:


1. Purpose clauses:

Purpose clauses are introduced by the following conjunction followed by the subjunctive
in the form of the present stem:

atta so that; that
laatta so that; that
la so that; that
ta so that; that
an so that
an enn- so that
menn so that
menn enn- so that
alan so that
alan enn- so that

E.g.: sfaret la etallam I traveled so that I may study
sfaret an etallam I traveled so that I may study


2. Relative clauses:

enn- that

S P
1 enn enna
that I that we
2 m. ennak enkon
that you that you
f. ennik
that you
3 m. enno ennon; enhon
that he that they
f. enna; enha
that she

The relative conjunction can be used with the suffixed pronoun to express the subject of
the clause. enno can be used for all persons.

E.g.: all ennak nyem he told me that you were asleep
all enno enta nyem he told me that you were asleep


After an indefinite noun, the relative clauses drop their relative pronoun.
E.g.: eja rejjl mnaerfo a man, that we know, came
As opposed to a definite noun which preserves the relative pronoun.
E.g.: eja el-rejjl ell mnaerfo the man, that we know, came


3. Causal clauses:

laann- because; as; for; forasmuch as; since
w laann- nothwithstanding
bema enn- since; because
kawn- as; since; because; forasmuch as
kawn- . ezan / fa yan as therefore
kawn- an hk since therefore
laann- an hk since therefore
bema enn- an hk since therefore
an because; so that
an enn- because; so that
menn because; so that
menn enn- because; so that
alan because; so that
alan enn- because; so that

E.g.: ma eja laanno ma f adan hn he didnt come because there is no on here


4. Concessive clauses:

ma enn- although; notwithstanding; though; whereas
ma enn- bas / ennama / bas kamn although yet; though yet
wa ella else; or else; otherwise

E.g.: ma enno kn jbo el-ktb, baal yera
although he liked the book, he stopped reading








Time:


Months:

Knn el-tn
bt
dr
Nsn
Ayyr
Hzayrn
Tammz
b
Ayll
Tirn el-awwal
Tirn el-tn
Knn el-awwal


Days of the week:

Tann
Talta
Orba
Xams
Joma
Sabet
Ahad




Ethnonyms:

Rm (pl. Rm) Greek, Roman
Seryn (pl. Seryn) Syriac
Arman (pl. Arman) Armenian
Obt (pl. Abt) Copt
Keldn (pl. Keldn) Chaldaean
Ar (pl. Ariyy) Assyrian
aba (pl. aba) Ethiopian
Arab (pl. Arab, Erbn) Arab
Kerd (pl. Krd) Kurd
Terk (pl. Trk) Turk
Terkmn (pl. Terkmn) Turkman
Nr (pl. Nawar); ajar (pl. ajar) Gypsie
Morab (pl. Marb) Maghreban
Franj (pl. Franj) Frank
Ajam (pl. Ajam); Irn (pl. Irniyy) Iranian
Mas (pl. Masiiyy); Narn (pl. Nara)
Christian
Ortodoks, Ortodoks (pl. Ortodoks, Ortodoksiyyn, Ortodoksiyy)
Orthodox
Katolk, Katolk (pl. Katolk) Catholic
Mrn (pl. Mawrn) Maronite
Yab (pl. Yab) Jacobite
Ltn (pl. Ltn) Latin
Protestant, Protestn Protestant
Meslim (pl. Meselmn, Eslm) Muslim
Senn (pl. Senniyy, Senna); Eslm Sunni
(pl. a, iyy) Shii
Derz (pl. Drz) Druze
Alaw (pl. Alawiyy) Alaouite
Esmal (pl. Esmaliyy) Ismaelite
Yazd (pl. Yazdiyy) Yazidi



Vegetables xodra:

adas lentil
ardawk artichoke
banadra tomato
badnes parsley
bal rhododendron
baal onion
baa potato
batenjn aubegine
bazella geen pea
bmy okra
flya kidney bean
fejel radish
flayfl arra pepper
flayfl elw green pepper
fl beans
halyn asparagus
me, laymn lemon
hendb chicory
ommo chick-pea
xass lettuce
xyr cucumber
jazar carrot
ksa courgette
lefet turnip
lby been
malff cabbage
meta
nana mint
are marrow
arnab cauliflower
rezz rice
sele
sbnex spinach
tm garlic
zatar thyme
zaytn olive







Fruits fwk:

enab grapes
ennb
afand orange
anans pineapple
avok avocat
bala dates
bax water melon
berdn, laymn orange
bmal a type of orange
bufr bitter orange
derr peach
ekkden medlar
festo pistachio
frz strawberry
gewwfa, gawwfa guava
griffn grapefruit
xarma
ayn
xx plum
janrek green plum
jz walnut
karaz cherry
kastana chestnut
lz almond
manga mango
memo apricot
mz banana
nj pear
ata
remmn pomegranate
emmm melon
sfarjal quince
mandar beet
obbr cactus
nbar pine
tamer dates
teff apple
tn fig
tt mulberry
yan, lan squash




Kitchen tools adawt el-mabax:

ara juicer
kafkr big spoon
kassrl cooking pot
mabra
mala, malea spoon
manxal sieve
maan grinder
mely frying vessel
mefy strainer
leb mold
eme funnel
awbak rolling pin
awk fork
sekkn cutter
iniyy tray
anjara cooking pot












Spices bhrt:

felfol amar cayenne
felfol arr chili powder
felfol elow allspice
aba basil
hl cardamom
jzt el-tb nutmeg
kammn cumin
kari curry
kezbra coriander
mardak marjoram
paprika paprika
erf cinnamon
semm sumac
semsom sesame
mar fennel
wara r bay leaves
yansn anise
zafarn saffron
zanjabl ginger




Most common verbs:

1. Movement:

abar [1]: to cross. abaro el-naher, they
crossed the river.

ajjal [11]: to hasten, to hurry. ajjal be-
emlnon, he hurried in doing them.

alla [12]: to increase, to raise. alla
ertefo, he raised its height.

'm [6]: to float. m ala wejj el-mayy,
it floated on the face of water.

baa [12]: to keep. ba endo, he kept
it with him.

baram [1]: to turn. baramo 90 daraj, he
turned it 90 degrees.

be [7]: to stay, to remain. be bel-bt,
he stayed home.

ahar [2]: to go out, to exit. ahar men
el-da, he went out of the room.

dr [6]: (1) to turn. dr awl nafso, he
turned around himself. (2) to tour. dr
el-balad kello, he toured all the country.

eja [19]: to come back. eja al-bt, he
came home

el [7]: to go up, to rise. el awto, his
voice rose. amptela el-nabt, the plant
is rising.

ft [6]: to penetrate, to enter. ft
lajuwwa, he entered inside.

aas [1]: to dive. byeos la-eme 10
mtr, he dives 10 meter deep.

a [8]: to dip, to immerse. aon b-xall,
he dipped them in vinegar.

a ala [8]: to drop on, to land over.
att el-afr ala el-are, the bird
landed on the surface.

aas [11]: to immerse, to plunge.
aason bel-mayy, he plunged them in
water.

eri [4]: to sink. el-markab eri, the
boat sank.

xalla [12]: to keep, to leave. xalla el-
kanz b-el-sayyra, he left the sweater in
the car. xalla el-kanz mao, he kept the
sweater with him.

harr [8], harhar [9]: to detach) from
somewhere and fall down. ambeyharhir
kell el-dhn an el-, all the paint is
falling down from the wall.

hazz [8]: to shake. kn ambihezz, it was
shaking. hazzo fa wei, he shook it so it
fell.

jb [6]: to bring. jb hal-al, he
brought this thing. jabelna yyhon, he
brought them to us

karaj [1]: to move on, to advance. karajit
el-sayyra, the car moved forward.

karr [8]: to move on, to advance. karrit
el-sayyra, the car moved forward.

karraj [11]: to move, to make s/t to move
on. karraj el-araby, he moved the
chariot.

kawwa [11]: to turn. kawwa men
haydk el-mafra, he turned at that
junction.

laff [8]: (1) to turn. laff men haydk el-
mafra, he turned at that junction. (2)
[also, laflaf] to wrap. laffo b-wara, he
wrapped it with a paper.

mara [1]: to pass, to pass by. mara men
hn halla, he passed by here now.

marra [11]: to let pass. marrao men
hn, he let it pass form here.

maa [12]: to make s/o to
walk. mana mao, he made us walk
with him

mayyal [11]: to make s/t to incline.
mayyalo la-endo, he made it incline into
his direction.

ml [6]: to incline. ambiml la-hal-
mayl, it is inclining to this direction.

me [7]: to walk. me al-raf, he
walked on the sidewalk.

me b- [7]: to follow. me b-hal-fekra,
he followed this idea.

naal [1]: (1) to transport. ambyenol
ba ly, he is transporting expensive
material. (2) to copy. naal el-emten
an ell addo, he copied the test form
the person next to him. (3) to transmit, to
pass on. naall risl, he transmitted a
letter to me.

naal [11]: (1) to transport (many
times). naalon men matra la matra,
he transported them from one place to
another. (2) to make s/o copy. naalto
emten, I made him copy my test.

na [8]: to jump. na men el-korn lal-
baer, he jumped from the cornishe to
the sea.

nazzal [11]: to make s/o to descend.
nazzalo men f, he made it descend
from up.

nezil [5]: to go down, to descend. nezil
men el-ayyra, he went down of the
plane. nezil al-daraj, he descended the
stairs.

d [6]: to lead. don bel-areb, he lead
them in war.

addam [11]: (1) to move forward. addam
la-end, he moved to me. addam el-sa,
he moved the hour forward. (2) to serve.
addamlon samak, he served them fish.

m [6]: to rise, to stand. m men el-nm,
he woke up. m an el-kers, he rose
from the chair.

m ala [6]: to rise against. m ala el-
feer, he rose against poverty.

awwam [11]: to make s/o to
rise/stand/move. awwamo men marao,
he made him move from his place.

aad [1]: to sit. aad al-kers, he sat on
the chair.

aad [11]: to make s/o to sit.
aado ala el-kers, he made him sit on
he chair.

rafa [2]: to raise, to lift. rafa do, he
raised his hand.

r [6]: to go. r a ayda, he went to
Sidon.

rajja [11]: to return back. rajjao la-
bo, he returned it back to it owners.

rakkab [11]: (1) to install. rakkab lamba
bel-da, he installed a lamp in the room.
(2) to assemble. rakkab el-ea be-baa,
he assembled the pieces with each
others. (3) to mount. rakkabo f el-
md, he mounted it over the column.
(4) to let ride. rakkabn mao bel-
sayyra, he let me take a ride with him in
the car.

raa[1]: to dance. beyit tero l el-ll,
she kept dancing all night long.

rawwaj b- [11]: to hasten in. rawwaj be-
emlnon, he hastened in doing them.

rawwa [11]: (1) to loose, to miss.
rawwa asan fora, he missed his best
chance.

reji [5]: to come back, to return. reji
men el-safar, he returned from travel.

rekib [5]: to ride, to mount. rekib al-
n, he rode the horse.

saba [2]: to swim. saba men hn la-
n el-Mrays, he swam from here to
n el-Mrays.

saffar [11]: to make s/o travel, to send
abroad. saffar wldo la-Amrka, he sent
his childen to America.

saat [1]: (1) to fall. (2) to fail. saat b-el-
madras, he failed at school.

alab [9]: to flip, to move. alabon
fn tatn, he flipped them up and
down.

saat [11]: (1) to drop. saat el-xodra
bel-anjara, he dropped the vegetables in
the cooking pot. (2) to make s/o fail.
saato el-estz, the teacher made him
fail.

sarra [11]: to quicken, to hasten, to
hurry. sarra mayo, he hastened his
walking pace.

sfar [13]: to travel. sfar a Fransa, he
traveled to France.

starja [18]: to get back. starja bayto
men ell metallno, he got his house
back from those who were occupying it.

f [6]: (1) to float. f ala sate el-
baer, he floated on the surface of the
sea. (2) to flood. f el-naher, the river
flooded.

r [6]: to fly. el-fr ambetr bel-
sama, birds are flying in the sky.

alla [11], ayla [9]. (1) to kick out, to
throw out. kn ambyek fa allao
labarra el-estz, he was talking, so the
teacher kicked him out. (2) to place up,
to move up, to take up. alla el-anta
al-tetxt, he placed the bag up in the
attic. (3) to take out. alla men jaybto alf
lra, he took out of his pocket a 1000
lira. alla ktr samak men el-baer, he
took out many fishes of the sea.

ayyar [11]: to make s/o to fly, to let s/o
to fly. ayyar el-afr men el-afa, he let
the bird fly out of the cage.

eli [4]: to go up, to ascend. eli la-end
el-jrn, he went up to the neighbours.

eli enn- [4]: it was found that. w bel-
axr eli enno huww el-arm, and
finally it was found that he is the thief.

tmaddad [11]: to lie down. r tmaddad
al taxet, he lied down on the bed.

tmaa [12]: to take a walk. r yetmaa
al-korn, he took a walk on the
corniche.

taddam [11]: (1) to move forward.
taddam la-eddm, he moved forward.
(2) to progress. hal-balad
ambyetaddam, this country is
progressing.

talab [9]: to flip, to roll. talab fn
tatn, he rolled up and down.

tzala [9], tzala [9]: to skate, to glide.
ambyetzala al-jald, he is skating on
ice.

twajjah la- [11]: to head for, to go
towards. twajjah lal-madn, he headed
towards the city.

weil [4]: to arrive. weil a Lebnn, he
arrived to Lebanon.

waa [11]: (1) to drop. waao men
do, he dropped it from his hand. (2) to
sign. waao ala ara, they signed a
petition.

waaf [11]: (1) to raise, to make s/o to
stand. waafo jles, he made it stand
straight. (2) to stop. waafna an el-
ma, we stopped walking. (3) to arrest.
waafeto el-bols, the police arrested
him. (4) to stand. waif bel-aff, stand
in the line.

waal [11]: to conduct, to lead.
waaln al-bt, he conducted me home.

waal la- [11]: to reach. waal lal-axr,
he reached the end.

waa [12]: to decrease, to lower. waa
luwwa, he lowered its height.

wei [4]: to fall. wei an el-sate, he
fell of the roof. wei lataet, he fell
down.

weif [4]: to stand. weif ala el-wl,
he stood on the table.

we [7]: to go down, to drop, to
decrease. we seer el-dolr, the price
of dollar went down.

zaa: to slip. zaa al-are, he slipped
on the floor.

zatt [8]: to throw. zatto men do, he
threw it of his hand.

z [6]: to move, to displace. zo men
hn lahonk, move from here to there.














Verb list:

Note: the numbers after the verb indicate the verbal class.


abba [12]: to fill. abba el-ks teff, he
filled the bag with apples

da [14]: to be hostile to someone. w
men wata r ydna, and since then he
started being hostile to us.

addal [11]: to regulate, to modify, to
amend (the constitution). addal el-
arra, he regulated the heat. addalo el-
destr, they modified the constitution.

aal [11]: to have cramps in the
muscles.

afa / ef an [7]: to forgive, to pardon.
afit el-dawl an el-mejermn, the state
pardoned the criminals.

ajab [1]: to please to someone (lit.), to
like. ajabo hal-ktb, he liked thist book
(lit. this book pleased him).

ajjaz [11]: to make someone incapable
of doing something.

laj [13]: to treat, remedy, cure. meri
fa lajo el-akm, he got sick so he was
treated by the doctor.

alak [1]: to chew. kn ambyelok el-
elk, he was chewing the gum.

allam [11]: (1) to teach. allamo yek,
he taught him how to speak. (2) to mark,
to highlight. allamton b-ln amar, I
highlighted them with a red color. (3) to
be apparent on something, to stick to
something, to adhere to something.
allam el-dhn ala tybo, the paint
adhered to his clothes.

ammar [11]: to build. ammar bt, he
built a house.

ann [8]: to moan.

ab [13]: to punish.

aa [1]: to bite. el-nal aaeto, the
bee bit him.

aad [11]: to complicate.

r (r) [6]: to lend, to loan.

ara [1]: (1) to show. arao el-
masraiyy, the showed the play. (2) to
propose. ara laya el-zawj, he
proposed marriage to her.

arak [1]: to fight, to get into a fight.
arakuwa bn baon, the got into a fight
with each other.

arba [9]: to climb. arba al-sajra, he
climbed the tree.

arrab [11]: to sort things according to
their type. arrabon asab el-ln, he
sorted them by color.

arra [11]: to enlarge the width.

arram [11]: to pile. arram el-a, he
piled the hay.

aar [1], aar [11]: to press, to
squeeze. aar laymn, he pressed
oranges.

aab [11]: to become nervous. zaajn
fa aab, we annoyed him so he became
nervous.

aa / e [7]: to give. an ell endo,
he gave me what he has.

aas [1], aas [11]: to sneeze.

attal [11]: to carry. attal el-ba, he
carried the goods.

aal [11]: (1) to disable, to deactivate,
to damage. aal el-motr, he
deactivated the motor. (2) to disrupt, to
interrupt. aalna an eelna, he
interrupted us from our work. (3) to go
on vacation. aalit el-madras la-
yawmn, the school went on vacation for
two days.

attam [11]: to obscure, to darken. rit
el-ames w attamit el-den, the sun set
and it became dark.

attar [11]: to make miserable.

awwa [12]: to howl, to yowl. awwa el-
kaleb, the dog howled.

awwar [11]: to hurt physically.
awwarl ayn, he hurt my eye.

ayyan [11]: to appoint. ayyan mudr,
they appointed him director.

ayya ala [11]: to yell at someone. he
yelled at me.

ayya l-: to call someone, to ask
someone to come. ayyi la-xayyak, cal
your brother.

azz [8]: to cherish (used with the
present tenses). huww biezzak, he
cherishes you.

azza [12]: to offer condolences, to
condole. rena nazz be-mt xayyo, we
went to offer him our condolences for his
brothers death.

azzab [11]: to torture, to make suffer, to
torment. hayda el-eel ambiazzebn,
this work is torenting me.

ejiz [4]: to be incapable, to be impotent.
ejiz an emlno, he became incapable
of doing it.

em [7]: to become blind.

emil [5]: to make.

eil [4]: to become wiser. kebir w eil,
he grew up and became wiser.

eri [4]: to become larger.

eri [4]: to sweat.

e [7]: to rebel, to disobey. e ala el-
dawl, he rebelled against the state.

eil [4]: to break down. kn m w
eil, it was working and then it broke
down.

tabar [17]: to consider. tebern metel
ebnak, consider me as your son.

tamad [17]: to rely on someone. tamad
layy be-emlnon, he relied on me to
do them.

addab [11]: to punish, to rectify the
behaviour of someone.

axad [3]: to take.

a [8]: to cough.

axxar [11]: (1) to let someone be early.
axxarn an el-eel, he made me come
early to work. (2) to delay, to postpone.
axxaron la-badn, he postponed them
until later.

ajjar [11]: to rent out. ajjaro ea be-200
dolar, he rented out an apartment for
200 dollar.

akal [8]: to eat.

allaf [11]: to compose. allaf enniyy, he
composed a song.

amman [11]: (1) to provide. ammanelna
akel, he provided us with food. (2) to
insure, to make sure. amman enno yejo,
he made sure that they will come.

arab [15]: to terrify.

arhab [15]: to terrorize.

arad [15]: to guide.

assar [11]: to touch, to impress. eto
assarit fiyy ktr, his story touched me a
lot.

ayyad [11]: to support, to back.

aza / ez [7]: to harm.

azzan [11]: to call for Muslim prayers, to
pronounce the azn.

baaj [2]: to apply pressure over
something creating cavites in it.

baat [2]: to send. baatl el-mar, he
sent me the money. baatna la-endo, he
sent us to him.

badda [11]: to excel.

baxa [2]:to deceive.

baxa [1]: to pierce.

baa [2], bara [9]: to dig in earth.

bahdal [9]: to scold.

baxx [8], baxbax [9]: to spray.

bakka [12]: to make someone cry.

bakkar [11]: to be early, to come early.

bala [2]: to swallow.

ball [8], ballal [11]: to wet.

balla [11]: to start.

bana [7]: to build.

ba [8]: to throw out through the mouth.

barad [1], berid [5]: (1) to become
colder. (2) to feel colder. (3) to become
cooler.

barak [1]: to sit on the ground.

bara [1]: to flash.

baraz [1]: to be prominent. baraz be-hal-
mehn, he became prominent in this
profession.
barrad [11]: to cool, to make cold.

baa [1]: to make happy.

baba [9]: to observe, to watch.

ba [8]: to observe, to watch.

baar [11]: to tell the future.

baa [11]: to sit on the ground
stretching the legs.

baa [2]: (1) to defeat someone. (2) to
make someone fall on the ground.

bawrad [9]: (1) to become cooler.
bawrad el-aes, the weather became
cooler. (2) to feel cooler. Halla
bawradna, now we are feeling cooler.

bawwal [11]: to urinate.

baysa [9]: to spread.

bayya [11]: to make white.

bayyan [11]: to appear.

baza [1]: to spit.

b (b) [6]: to sell.

bed [7]: to start.

bx (bx) [6]: to fade (used for colors).
bx lawno, its color faded.

bek [7]: to cry.

bya [10]: to become white.

() [6]: to be lost, to get lost.

daak [2]: to mix things with each other
pressing and squeezing them; to crush.
daaket el-asilt atta yenafo, I mixed
abd squeezed the laundry with each
other so that they may become clean.

daam [2]: to support, to back.

daas [2]: to step on, to walk over, to
crush. daaso be-ejro, he crushed it with
his foot.

aaf [11]: (1) to make weaker. (2) to
make thinner.

abb [8], abab [9]: (1) to put
something in its original place. (2) to
pack, to pack up.

dabbar [11]: to arrange.

dafa [2]: to pay.

dafa [1]: to push.

aat [2]: to compress.

daxal [1]: to enter.

dahan [2]: to paint, to coat.

daxxal [11]: to make enter.

dala [1]: to pour, to spill.

all [8]: to remain. to stay.

dall [8]: to guide, to indicate.

allal [11]: to mislead.

dallal [11]: to pamper, to spoil.

amm [8]: to join something with
something else.

damma [12]: to make someone bleed.

dammar [11]: to destroy. el-azyef
dammarit el-binyt, the rockets
destroyed the buildings.

danadal [9]: to dangle something down.

/ d () [6]: to become tight.

daar [2]:to touch. a tedaro, do not
touch it.

da [8]: (1) to knock on something. da
al bb, he knocked on the door. (2) to
hit something. da bel-twl, it hit the
table.

arab ayno ala: to have a crush on
someone.

arab [1]: to hit, to beat.

daras [1]: to study.

arr [8]: to harm, to be harmful. hayda
biorr ma bifd, this is harmful not
useful.

darrab [11]: to train someone.

dass [8]: to feel an object, to touch
something or someone with the hand.

awwa [12]: to light, to open the lights.

dawwax [11]: to make someone dizzy.

dawwar ala [11]: to search for someone,
to look for someone. kn ambidawwir
layna, he was looking for us.
yaq / dya [13]: to bother someone.

ayya [11]: to loose.

ayyaf [11]: to offer something to
someone. ayyafo ahw, he offered him
coffee.

dayyan [11]: to lend. dayyann mar,
he lend me money.

dayya [11]: to tighten.

dazz [8]: to slip something somewhere.

ddaa, dda, dda, ddaay; dde, dde
[19]: to pretend. ddaa enno byarif, he
pretended to know.

eif [4]: to become weak.

db (db) [6]: to melt, to dissolve.

def [7]: (1) to become warm. def el-
taes, the weather became warm. (2) to
feel warm.

dx (dx) [6]: to feel dizzy.

eik [4]: to laugh.

emin [4]: to rent a land, a farm etc.

d (d) [6]: to taste.

der [7]: to know about something.

eris [4]: to feel a sort of pain in the
molars.

f (f) [6]: (1) to spill over, to
overflow. fet el-mayy men el-bnyo,
the water spilled over the bathtub. (2) to
inundate, to flood. f el-naher, the river
overflowed.

faa [12]: to empty something from
something else.

faal [11]: to prefer something or
someone over something or someone
else.

faa [2]: to examine.

faxat [2]: to pierce something creating a
small hole.

fa [8]: to spread, to diffuse (used with
odors). fait ra bea, an nasty odor
spread.

fahham [11]: to make someone
understand.

fajjar [11]: to explode something.

faka [2]: to limp.

fakk [8], fakkak [11], fakfak [9]: to untie
or undo something.

fala [2]: to plough the earth.

fala [1]: to make someone feel bored or
annoyed by insisting on him.

fala [1]: to spread something over a
surface. fala el-tyb al-are, he spread
the clothes on the ground.

falat [1]: to slip. falat men d, it slipped
out of my hand. (2) to let go of
something or someone. falata men do,
he let go of it from his hand.

fall [8]: to leave a place.

fallal [11]: to make someone leave a
place.

fallat [11]: (1) to let go of something or
someone. (2) to let go, to release. fallat
men el-abes, they released him out of
prison.

faa [2], fara [9]: to blow up, to
explode.

faad [1]: to loose something.

faadl- + suffixed pronouns [1]: to feel
the loss of the presence of someone.

faa [1]: to crack something. faqa el-
baya, he cracked the egg.

faas [1]: (1) to crack. faasit el-baya,
the egg cracked. (2) to crack something.

faa [12]: to pick.

faa [11]: to make someone angry.

faar [11]: to make someone poor.

faas [11]: (1) to crack (used when eggs
crack letting the new born animal go out
of it). (2) to be born (used in a
metaphorical and pejorative sense).

faa [11]: to crack something, to be in
the act of cracking things. ambifai
b, he is cracking eggs.

faram [1], farram [11]: to grate
vegetables.

fara [1]: (1) to spread something over a
surface = fara. (2) to furnish a room or
house.

fara [1]: (1) to break down, to fail. (2) to
make fruits fall from the trees.

farja [12]: to show.
farka [9]: to make someone walking fall
down by putting any sort of obstacle in
front of him.

farra [11]: to empty something from its
content.

farra [11]: (1) to separate between two
things or persons. (2) to discriminate
between two things or persons. farra
bn el-sd w el-b, he discriminated
between blacks and whites.

farax [9]: to spread the legs.

fasad [1]: to corrupt someone or
something.

fasax [2]: to split into two parts.

faax [2]: to step, to walk.

fasal [1]: to separate.

fas fas [9]: to separate the meet from the
bones.

fakal [9]: to disarrange, to mess up, to
make a mess of something.

fassax [11]: to crack. ambeyfassix el-
saef, the roof is cracking.

fassar [11]: to explain something.

fa [8]: to release tension after anger,
pressure or depression. fa xelo, (lit.)
he released the tension of his mood.

faax [11]: to walk by making
continuous steps. ambifaix men hn
la-hn, he is walking from this place to
that place.

faa [11]: to lie, to tell incredible
stories.
fata [2], fatta [11]: to open.

fatal [1]: (1) to turn, rotate or twist
something and change its direction. (2)
to go around, to tour.

fatt [8], fatfat [9]: (1) to fragment into
smaller pieces (intransitive). (2) to
fragment something into smaller pieces
(transitive).

fatta [11]: to search.

fayya [11]: to wake up.

fazz [8]: to jump.

fe [7]: to be empty.

fehim [4]: to understand.

felit [4]: to slip. felit men d, it slipped
out of my hand.

f (f) [6]: to wake up.

feir [4]: to become poor.

feri [4]: to be unoccupied with work.

feri [4]: to be happy.

feil [4]: to fail.

fei [4]: (1) to suffocate. (2) to die.

b (b) [6]: to be absent.

abbar [11]: to make something covered
with dust.

a [8]: to deviate sight from
something.

alab [1]: to win over, to defeat.

ala [1]: to close.

amaz [1]: to blink for someone.

amma [11]: to close the eyes.

ammaz [11]: to blink.

anna [12]: to sing.

r (r) [6]: to be jaleous.

aras [1]: to pant.

araz [1]: to insert something into
something else.

garr [8], gargar [9]: to chatter.

asal [1]: to wash.

a [8]: to have difficulty swallowing.

a [8]: to cheat.

assal [11]: to wash.

aa [12]: to cover.

ayyar [11]: to change.

azal [1]: to weave.

ef [7]: to fall asleep.

el / ala [7]: to boil.

en [7]: to become rich.

xaba [1]: (1) to mix things with each
other. (2) to hit and smash something or
someone.

abas [1]: to imprison.

xaba be- / fi-[1]: to hit someone or
something by accident. xabaet bel-, I
hit the wall.

abb [8]: to love, to like.

habb [8]: to burst into flames.

xabba [12]: to hide.

abbab [11]: to make someone love
something or someone.

xabbar [11]: to tell someone something.

xada [2]: to trick and fool someone.

hadam [1], haddam [11]: to demolish
something.

xa [8]: to shake something.

hadda [12]: to hold something, to
support something, to buttress
something.

haddad [11]: to threaten.

addad [11]: (1) to specify. addad
baddo yl, he specified what he wanted
to say. (2) to limit.

haam [11]: to digest.

aar [11]: to prepare.

addas [11]: to speak to someone, to
relate something to someone.

afar [1]: to dig the earth.

afaz [2]: to keep something somewhere.

faz ala [13]: to preserve something
from disintegration.
aff [8]: to rub something.

xaffaf [11]: to lighten, to make lighter.

hajj [8]: to go away of a place.

ajj [8]: to perform pilgrimage.

hajjaj [11]: to make someone go away of
a place.

kam [13]: to judge or try someone.

akam [1]: (1) to rule. (2) to befall
someone (used with pain). akamo
waja, a pain befall him.

akk [8]: to scratch.

akkam [11]: to treat.

xala [2]: to pull out, to tear out, to take
off.

alab [1]: to milk.

halak [1]: to make someone exhausted.

xala [2]: to create.

xala [1]: to mix.

all [8]: (1) to resolve a subject. (2) to
leave someone or a place.

alla [12]: to make beautiful, sweet.

xallaf [11]: to give birth.

xalla [11]: (1) to finish from doing
something. (2) to save someone.

amma [12]: to heat something.

ammal [11]: to make someone to carry
something.
ammam [11]: to wash someone.

ammas [11]: to motivate someone.

amma [11]: to roast a food.

xana [1]: to strangle.

ann ala [8]: to feel compassion over
someone or something.

hanna [12]: to make someone fortunate.

rab [13]: to fight, to make war with
someone.

xarab [1]: to ruin.

xaraj [1]: to excrete.

aram [1]: to deprive.

ara [1]: to burn.

haras [1]: to smash something, to mash
food.

aras [1]: to guard.

xarba [9], xarta [9]: to make irregular
writings and drawings over the surface
of a paper.

arar [9]: to feel the effect of chilly.

arka [9]: to stir hostilities between
people.

xarrab [11]: to destroy, to damage.

arrak [11]: to shake, to agitate, to stir.

arrar [11]: to liberate.

arta [9]:

() [6]: to

aad [1]:

hasad [2]: to envy

aad [1]: to harvest.

haal [1]: to leave

aar [1]:

aar [1]: to

xaxa [9]: to privatize

a [8]: to pick and gather herbs

xa [8]:
ass [8]: to feel, to sense
aal [11]: to get
haal [11]: to make s/o leave
xaa [11]: to specialize, to specify
xaaf [1]: to kidnap
xatam [1]: to seal, to stamp
a [8]: to put
hatt [8]:
awa [7]: to contain.
xawat [1]: to make crazy, mad.
hawwa [12]: to aerate
awwal [11]: to deviate, to transform
xawwar [11]: to be hungry
awwa [11]: to gather, to collect
hayyaj [11]: to excite, to arouse.
xayya [11]: to
xaza [1], xazza [11]: to tear, to rip
apart
xazzan [11]: to store
xarr [10]: to become green
hed [7]: to calm down
e [7]: to get
eir [4]: to be present. to watch
xef [7]: to become hidden, invisible.
ek / aka [7]: to talk
el [7]: to become beautiful, sweet.
xel [7]: to become empty, vacant.
helik [4]: to
xeli [4]: to be born
xeli [4]: to finish
em / ama [7]: to protect. To heat
emil [4]: to lift, to carry. To support
hn (hn) [6]: to become easy
xer [7]: to shit
xerib [4]: to be destroyed
erid [4]: to be upset
xeris [4]: to become
esil [4]: to get
xesir [4]: to loose
hew [7]: to desire, to
xewit [4]: to become mad, crazy.
ezir [4]: to guess.
marr [10]: to become red
xtala [17]: to
tamal [17]: to support
xtana [17]: to suffocate
xtr [17]: to choose
xtara[17]: to invent
xtarab [17]: to be destroyed
tawa [17]: to contain
tl [17]: to trick
jaar [11]:
jadd [8]:
jaff [8]: to dry out.
jaxx [8]: to
jahhaz [11]: to prepare
jala [7]: to wash
jallas [11]: to straighten
jamma [11]: to gather, to collect
jann [8]: to become crazy
jaar [1]: to look at in a
jara [2], jarwa [9]: to wound
jarr [8], jarjar [9]: to drag
jarra [11]:
jass [8]:
jawa / jew [7]: to dirty
jehiz [4]: to be prepared.
kazal [9]: to make round
kabas [1], kabbas [11]: to press
kabas [1]: to make pickles
kabb [8]: to throw
kabbar [11]: to make bigger
kada [1]: to
kadd [8]:
kafar [1]: to blaspheme
kaffa [12]: to continue
kaat [2]: to expel
kall [8]: to be bored, to be tired.
kallaf [11]: 1. to cost. kallafn l, it
cost me much. 2. to charge with
kallam [11]: to address, to speak to.
kama [1]: to hold, to grab
kammal [11]: to complete. To continue
karrah [11]: to make hate.
karrar [11]: to repeat
kasar [1]: to
ka [8]: to
kassar [11]: to
katab [1]: to write
katt [8]:
kattab [11]: to make to write
kawa [8]: to iron
kayyaf [11]: to be happy
kebir [4]: to become bigger, older
kfa [14]: to award.
kef [7]: to suffice, to be enough
kemil [4]: to be complete
kerih [4]: to hate
kes / kasa [7]: to cover
kesib [4]: to acquire
laba [1], labba [11]: to hit
lafa [2]: to
lajj [8]: to insist on
laas [2]: to lick
laxba [9], xalba [9], xarba [9]: to
lamm [8], lamlam [9]: to gather
laa [2], laa [11]: to lay
laa [2]: to catch. to grab
la [8]: to shake
laa [1]: to hit
latt [8]:
lawa [7]: to bend
lawwan [11]: to color
lawwas [11]: to pollute
lazz [8]: to insist on
lazza [11]: to glue
le [7]: to
lebi [4]: to fit, to match
lebis [5]: to dress
lef [7]: to frequent.
lei [4]: to follow.
lei [4], laa [11]: to reach
le [7], la [14]: to find
ltaha [17]: to be
ltazam [17]: to
maas [2]: to squash
madd [8]: to stretch
maa / me [7], maa [12]: to erase
maxxa [11]: to blow ones nose
malak [1]: to own
malas [9], almas [9]: to
mall [8]: to be bored
mann [8]:
mannan [11]:
marma [9]: to
masak [1], mesik [5]: to hold, to grab
mass [8]: to suck
mazaj [1]: to mix
med / mada [7]: to sign
meli [4]: to become salty.
mt (mt) [6]: to die
naba [2], nabba [11]: to spring
naba [1]: to appear
naba [1]: to dig
nadah [2]: to call
naddaf [11]: to clean
nafad [1], naffad [11]: to
nafax [1]: to blow
naffaz [11]: to execute, to implement.
nahab [2]: to pillage
naat [2]: to sculpt
naja / nej [7]: to be saved.
naja [2], neji [4]: to succeed.
najja [11]: to make succeed
naka [1]: to dig
nakaz [1]: to
nakkat [11]: to joke
naar [1]: to pierce
naa [1]: to engrave
naaz [2]: to
na [8]: to complaint
naa [12]:to choose. to clean, purify
narfaz [9]: to be angry
n (n) [6]: to decrease in lighting
naab [1]: to erect
nasaf [2]:
naa [2]: to give an advice, to
recommend
nasax [2]: to copy
na [8]: to leak
naaf [11]: to dry. to make dry
nataf [1]: to
naar [1]: to wait
nata [1]: to
nawfar [9]: to
nawwar [11]: to
nawwa [11]: to lessen the light
nayyam [11]: to make to sleep
naza [2]: to damage
nbahar [1 passive]: to
nbasa men [1 passive]: to be happy
from
neis [4]: to become sleepy
neij [4]: to become mature
nk (nk) [6]: to fuck
nm (nm) [6]: to sleep
neif [4]: to dry out
nei [4]: to become fat
new / nawa [7]: to intend
nfajar [1 pass.]: to explode
nall [8 pass.]: to get loosened
nhazam [1 pass.]: to be defeated
ntaa [17]: to
nafa [17]: to be shut
ntala [7 pass.]: to get filled.
ntaad [17]: to criticize
ntaar [17]: to spread
aba [2]: to pull out
aba [2]: to receive payement
bal [13]: to meet
abb [8]: to lift
abba [11]: to pay the wage
a [14]: to sue
adaf [1]: to eject
ada [2]: to pierce
aa [12]: to spend (with time).
affal [11]: to lock
a [8]: to cough
l (l) [6]: to say, to tell
ala [2]: to take out
alab [1]: to turn upside down
all [8]: to decrease, to lessen
alla [11]: to depart
ana [2]: to convince.
a [14]:
ara [1], ara [9]: to grind, to chew
ara [1]: to pinch
ara [1]: (1) to steal. (2) to hurt a body
part by having it pinched. (3) to fuck
arfa [9]:
arr [8]: to
arra [12]: to make to read
arrar [11]: to decide
s (s) [6]: to measure
asa / es [7]: to be hard on.
aaf [1]: to bombard
aam [1]: to divide
aar [1], aar [11]: to peel
a [13]: to punish
aa [1]: to fall
a [8]: to
a [8], aa [9]: to cut
assa [12]: to harden.
aa [2]: to cut
a [13]: to interrupt. to
aaf [1]: to pick, to reap
tal [13]: to fight
atal [1], attal [11]: to kill
aa [1]: to cut
aa [11]: to cut into pieces. to pass
awwa [12]: to make stronger
awwa [11]: to shoot
ayyad [11]: to note down
ayyas [11]: to measure
elib [5]: to turn.
el / ala [7]: to fry
eni [4], tana [17]: to be convinced.
er / ara [7]: to read
s (s) [6]: to measure
es [7]: to become hard.
ei [4]: to see
etil [4]: to be killed
ew [7]: to get strong
taam [17]: to break in.
tala [17]: to uproot, to pull up
tana [17]: to be convinced.
rabat [1], rabbat [11]: to tie.
rabba [12]: to raise, to educate.
rd (rd) [6]:
ra [7]:
radd [8]: to return, to give back
rafa [1]: to refuse
rhan [13]: to bet
raxxa[11]: to make cheaper
rajaf [1]: to tremble
rajj [8]: to shake, to tremble
raka [2]: to go down on the knees
rakan [1]: to calm down
rakkaz [11]: to fix
rama / rem [7]: to throw
rab [13]: to observe
rasam [1]: to draw
ra [8]: to be hard on
ra [8]: to spray
rattab [11]: to arrange, to order
rawa [7]: to tell a sory, to relate.
rawwab [11]: to transform milk into
yoghurt
reb [7]: to be raised.
rebi [4]: to win
re [7]: to consent, accept.
rexi[4]: to become cheap.
rtawa [17]: to satisfy thirst
rt [17]: to rest
aab [11]: to make harder
aal [11]: to light, to burn
saar [11]: to price
saa [7]: to seek, to ask for
b (b) [6]: to hit
aba [1]: to dye
abak [1]: to interlace, to interconnect
aba [1]:
sabb [8], sabsab [9]: to swear
abb [8]: to pour
abbar [11]: to make hand movements
dar [13]: to
add [8]: to pull. add el-habel, he pulled
the rope
sadd [8]: to close up, to block, to seal
add [8]: to repel
adda [11]: to believe
afa / ef [7]: to cure
safa [1]: to hit
afa [1]: to
aff [8], afaf [9]: to arrange
affa [12]: to become.
affar [11]: to
aal [11]: to make to work
aar, aar [11]: to make smaller
saab [2]: to pull
ab [13]: to befriend
ahad [2]: to witness
aad [2]: to beg
aan [2]: to
axa [2]: to . to injure
aa [2]: to kick out, to fire
a [8]: to become scarce
a [8]: to recover, to get well
axx [8]: to shit
aal [11]: to cut the branches
ahhal [11]: to
sahhal [11]: to make easier
saxxan [11]: to warm
aka / ek [7]: to
sakab [1]: to pour.
akk [8]: to doubt. To
akkal [11]: to vary. To form
sakkar [11]: to close. To make someone
drunk
la [13]: to reconcile
ala [2]: to undress
sala [1]: to boil
alfa [9]: to burn from the effect of
chilly
sall [8]:
all [8]:
sallaf [11]: to loan
alla [11]: to fix
alla [11]: to undress, to take from
alla [11]: to
ama [1]: to place, to pose
sama [2]: to permit
amm [8]: to smell
samma [12]: to name
samma [11]: to make hear
amma [11]: to collect, to save
sammak [11]: to thicken
sammam [11]: to poison
ammar [11]:
amma [11]:
ana [1]: to hang
anda [9]:
anxar [9], axar [1]:
sannaj [11]: to become paralized
aaf [1], aaf [11]: to break up, to cut,
to crack
aal [1]: to lift
alab [9]: to flip
a [8]: to split, to crack
saa [11]: to get cold
ra [13]:
ara [2]: to
arad [1]: to
sarad [1]: to narrate
araf [1]: to spend money
arax [1]: to scream, to shout
ara [2]: to explain
ara [1]: to rise. arait el-ames, the sun
rose
sara [1]: to steel
ra [13]: to bet
arbak [9]: to to complicate
arma [9]: to commit prostitution
ara [9]: to
arr [8]: to spill
sarrab [11]: to
sarraf [11], araf [1]
arraf [11]: to honor. to arrive. Used as
an auxiliary in polite orders or demands.
sarra [11]: to discharge
arra [11]: to dissect
ara [9]: to scandalize
aa [2]: to touch
atab [1], aab [11]: to cross out
ataf [1]: to
satar [1]: to cover
awa / ew [7]: to grill, to roast
sawwa [12]: to fix
awwab ala [11]: to point at
awwab [11]: to feel the heat, to rise in
heat
sawwad [11]: to make black
awwar [11]: to photograph, to take a
picture
awwa [11]: to vote
saysar [9]: to make easy
ayyab [11]:
() [6]: to
eib [4]: to get harder
ef [7]: to become pure.
ef [7]: to recover
sex [7]: to behave generously, to be
generous with.
e [7]: to become clear. to wake up.
saal [2], seil [4]: to cough
b (b) [6]: to
sb (sb) [6]: to leave
ebi [4]: to be full
f (f) [6]: to see
efi [4]: to pity
s (s) [6], sx (sx) [6]: to melt, to
liquify
sehil [4]: to get easier
sexin [5]: to heat, to warm
sehir [4]: to
sekir [4]: to get drunk.
l (l) [6]: to remove. lon men
mahallon, he removed them from their
place.
el [7]: to
selim [4]: to be safe
semi [4]: to hear
erib [4]: to drink
swa [14]:
s farr [10]: to become yellow
emit [4]:
star (star) [18]: to borry
stajar [18]: to rent
stafta [18]: to have as a fortunate
start/opening
taal [17]: to work
taka [17]: to complain
stala [18]: to
tara [17]: to buy
starxa [18]: to relax
stawa [17]: to
strayya [18]: to take a rest
swadd [10]: to become black
tadda [12 pass.]: to
tfa [14 pass.]: to recover
tallam [11 pass.]: to learn, to study
talla [11 pass.]: to get attached to
trak [13 pass.]: to fight with
tarba [9 pass.]: to hang.
tawwa [11 pass.]: to be late
taxxar [11 pass.]: to be late.
taab [1], taab [11]: to tire someone
aam [11]: to pollinize
aaj [2]: to curve, to bend
aba [2]: to print
abax [1]: to cook
aba [1]: to crush. to get crushed
abb [8]: to
abbal [11]: to drum.
abba [11]: to apply
afa [1]: to run away
affa [12]: to shut
taftaf [9]: to spit
aan [2]: to grind
taxtax [9], taxx [9]: to fracture
l (l) [6]: 1. to extend ones hand to
grab something. 2. to become longer.
talaf [1]: to demolish
talfan [9]: to phone
talla [12]: to fill.
tallaj [11]: to freeze
ann [8]: to
() [6]: to support
taal [11]: to make heavy
arab [1]: to
ara [1]: to fire
tarak [1]: to leave
ara [1], arra [11], arta [9]: to splash
ara [1]: to make s/o deaf. to paint
tarjam [9]: to translate
ta [8], tata [9]: to wet
awa [7]: to
awa [1]: to annoy with high sounds
awwal [11]: to make longer. to stay
longer
ayyaz [11]: to turn the ass to s/o
tbassam [11 pass.]: to smile
tdarrab [11 pass.]: to train
teib [4]: to get tired
tebi [4]: to follow
ef / afa [7]: to shut
teil [4]: to become heavy.
er [7]: to become soft, plastic, flexible
eri [4]: to become deaf
faal [11 pass.]: to be kind. Used as an
auxiliary in polite orders or demands.
tfaad [11 pass.]: to check
tfarra [11 pass.]:
tfarraj [11 pass.]: to watch
tadda [12 pass.]: to dine
txabba [12 pass.]: to hide oneself
taddas [11 pass.]: to converse
txalla [11 pass.]: to
tammal [11 pass.]: to support
tammam [11 pass.]: to bathe, to shower
thanna [12 pass.]: to become fortunate
taar b-/fi- [11 pass.]: to hit on, to
harass
tassas [11 pass.]: to touch
tawwal [11 pass.]: to transform
thayya [11 pass.]:
thayyal- + suffixed pronouns: to seem to
someone.
tjarra[11 pass.]: to be scandalized
tlaa [12 pass.], stlaa [18]: to catch
tmanna [12 pass.], stmanna [18]: to
wish.
tmarran [11 pass.]: to exercise oneself
tmaxar ala [9 pass.]: to mock
tmda [14 pass.], stmda [18]:
tnaab [11 pass.]: to commit fraud
tnwal [13 pass.], stnwal [18]:
tra [13 pass.]: to fight, to
trajja [13 pass.]: to beg
tsalla [11 pass.]: to climb
talla [11 pass.]: to
tsamma [11 pass.]: to listen
tannaj [11 pass.]: to
tarda [9 pass.]: to
twar [13 pass.]: to consult with each
other
tawwar [11 pass.]: to imagine
ttabba [11 pass.]: to follow, to pursue
ttafa; ttefi, ttef [19]: to agree, to
consent
alla [11 pass.]: to look
twaa [11 pass.]: to expect
tzakkar [11 pass.]: to remember
tallat [11 pass.]: to get naked
tzarza [9 pass.]: to tremble of fear
waa [12]: to wake up
waad [1]: to promise
wahab [1]: to offer, to endow
waxaz [2]: to
wahhal [11]: to pollute with mud.
wakkal [11]: to
wallad [11]: to give birth.
waa [7]: to protect.
warad [1]: to
warja [12], arja [12]: to show
waaf [1]: to describe
wassa [11]: to widen
wassax [11]: to make dirty
waa [7]:
wawa [9]: to
wazan [1]: to weigh
wazza [11]: to distribute
waaf [11]: to employ
we [7]: to wake up.
wei [4]: to become clear.
wfa [13]: to agree, to have the same
opinion
wef [7]: to be faithful.
weji [4]: to feel pain, to suffer.
weli [4]: to burn, to catch fire
welid [4]: to be born.
werim [4]: to swell
wesi [4]: to become wide, larger.
yeis [4]: to become depressed
yebis [4]: to dry, to stiffen
yeswa (present of sew): to value
yetim [4]: to become orphan
zaab [2]: to expel
zaaj [1]: to annoy, to disturbe
zaa [2]: to scream
abba [11]: to fix
zaffat [11]: to
zaal [2]: to slide
ahar [2]: to appear, to seem.
zakar [1]: to mention
zakkar [11]: to remind
zall [8]: to humiliate.
zall [8], zalzal [9]: to spill, to flow
allat [11]: to denude
zalzal [9]: to tremble
zammar [11]: to
ann [8]: to think
za [8]: to carry, to transport.
zaaf [11]: to clap
zara [2]: to plant, to cultivate
zarab [1]: to
zarak [1]: to
zarra [11]: to urinate
zarza [9]: to make s/o tremble of fear
zawrab [9]: to pass through narrow roads
zawwad [11]: to provide
zawwar [11]: to forge
zayyan [11]: to decorate
ebit [4]: to become correct
zd (zd) [6]: to increase
zeir [4]: to become smaller, younger
zehi [4]: to get bored
zra [10]: to become blue





















Text


From the play Nazl el-Surr, by Ziad Rahbani, 1974.


2
nd
Scene

[Tino is sleeping. Meanwhile sounds are heard, followed by sounds of broken glass. Two
gunmen, Abbs and Fahed, break in the hotel. One of them wakes Tino up.]
Abbs: Bass wala kelm asan ma neetlak kam axes ento hn? Kam wad wl?
Kam wad?
Tino: Tlat tla tlattae.
Fahed: Tlattae.
Abbs: l addim l ma Fahed ftalo kell el-eraf badd yyhon kellon.
[Tino and Fahed wake up the guests and make them descend into the lobby.]
Fahed: a ada ysammen awto. Yalla wl.
Barakt: Ana eltellak ma benzal.
Fahed: Latat wl. [He push him onto the stairs with the others.]
Abbs: Kfkon ento? l. Sman mn fhamo kell kelm ana esm Abbs, w
huww esmo Fahed, bas ana esm Abbs fhemna? Sman mn wl
sman mn.
Fahed [screaming]: Smao wl.
Abbs: Halla el-sa wed w no abokra betr el-sa sett w no w men
halla laabokra f 5 st, w baddo yr al men aeltn ya menawweskon
wad wara el-tn
The guests: Tawwesna?
Abbs: asab el-tertb ell ra nekon y halla w bel-xer menfajjir el-beny
alayna ana w Fahed ya betlo w menballi men halla nair la-l-sawra
The guests: Sawra?!
Fahed: Sawra, Sawra.
Abbs: u fhemna? B-el-sawra lzem ada yballi w hal-ada me ra yej la-wado
w nena me nesna tankn hal-ada ana Abbs exewt el-tnn el-
bant ambibo elk ala el-ert w dmhon ballalo zz el-sayyart
bayy ra ymt w ma f mestafa byestaeblo b-bal wado el-mt ell
byestaeblo b-bal
Fahed: Xayy el-zr men jema arabeto sayyra ataleto kn amyelab ala el-ar
ma dafalna jeneyto l? El-sayyra ell arabeto kbr w ptelma
Abbs: W nena kellna abra ma mnedar nelma.
Fahed: wassao el-ar w r baytna l? Laanno ktr zr
Abbs: Laanno bo zr.
Fahed and Abbs: baddna nexlamennon, hayd zr w kbr.
Fahed: Mbre men abokra aradna men el-mamal ell kenna amneteil f ana w
Abbs, l tabaho fna ammenarri el-emml ala el-erb kenna
ammenarreon.
Abbs: Wlak baddna narreon.
Fahed: Kf badha tballe el-sawra eza ma arranhon aradna.
Abbs: Halla ento smeto ell elnlkon y hy hy? ll ta f
The guests: [they answer no, by shaking their heads]
Abbs: Badl mraaa alef rea balha asan, omra ma tkn, nena arafelna nmt
ento asan menna ?
The guests: Tst.
Abbs: Metl el-exw nena w eyykon, baddna netelkon w netol lna l ma
baa ten.
Fahed: El-nr eza myetak w baddak texlas menna, zett lak fha, ya ptefha ya
ptefk.
Abbs: Ento kamn me mabsn b-aytkon, ana baref, ana jy rayyekon.
Fahed: Law elkon byt, ma kento nzelto hn, nena eza aadnkon, aadnkon laanno
ma endkon byt w l w l ento mattarn l sktn? Ya xofo nafaskon w
sketo al ya ma txallo ada ayrkon yek badda tej el-sawra wn badda
tr? Ma hiyy menna w fna
Abbs: Add ma ysaffrha badda terja tej
Tino: Sdna sdna sdna sdna ayyib h hayd kl sawra?
Abbs: Nena ma jabarnkon taemlo sawra abadan nena addamnlkon alln
[The guests consult with each other]
Tino: Mal namel sawra ya jama? Sdna sdna lk malla hayt estz
Raf, waynak ent eklak kelm.
Raf: El el el-sawra ana bl, tax, fa ezeb, fa jardet ezeb, fa edd l-el-ray
el-m, fa tahayyu, fa iqtim
Abbs: Fa sedd bzak, mn allak tek enta?
Tino: Sdna, sdna, sdna, sdna, weytak nena ma byetla be-dna nballi b-el-sawra,
laanno kell wad fna b-mt ell.
Abbs: Ana fra ma terab enta w eyyhon .. wn daftar el-asm.
Tino: Hy el-asm.
Fahed: Wafo b-el-aff wafo b-el-aff wl b-el-aff
Barakt: alla eddmak
Fahed: Wf.
Barakt: Hayda ajnab sdna.
Fahed: Skt, alla eddmak.
Aysar: Sdna ana awwesn.
Fahed: Skt.
Aysar: Awwesn xalas.
Fahed: xalas.
Abbs: Halla yall byela esmo bil der w biarreb lahn ta a el-raem. Sa
enno kelkon arar la-l-mujtama, bass me lzem tmto kf ma kn f ns elha el-
awlawiyy. W ra tetraamo ala hal-ass wl . wl ana me ye l kf
yn lkon? [Adb passes out] Ma ada yetarrak men maallo trek, xall
yert way men hal-let el-zefet.
Saed: Ya maskn ya Adb.
Abbs: Barakt el-Malek.
Batakt: Ya laf ans kbr ana. [In a loud voice] der.
Aysar: der.
Barakt: Wlak u bk ana Barakt ana ana Barakt sdna w ma hayda el-mr.
Abbs: Arrib lahn. [Barakt steps one step] Wlak arrib lahn.
Barakt: Ma hal-aab.
Abbs: Xrs Aysar Kadakofka.
Aysar: der.
Abbs: adertak el-mr.
Aysar: Naam.
Abbs: Aysar w Barakt, mlain w moreb, wad w tnn.
Barakt and Aysar: L sdna?
Abbs: Ento afyn el-mujtama ento ento el-aeb mattar w ammetxall yenerib b-
tetro ammetbo al-sawra ktr wad tnn.
Aysar: L sdna l ana wad?
Abbs: Laannak enta ell betlaenlo yemken law ma kenet betlaenlo, ma kn
beyann.
Aysar: Azu b-Ellh sdna ambeyann la-hal-bara Elys el-zr laanlo
lann
Barakt: Hayda ejrm u hal-ak hayda!
Abbs: u elet?
Aysar: Me ana sdna, hayda Barakt.
Abbs: u elet enta?
Barakt: Ana elet ana ana ana ma elet, ana elet u hal- ya kirm.
Abbs: La.
Barakt: u ala el-arm.
Abbs: La.
Barakt: Walla arm sdna adertak betalli ala alt sr bala tam.
Abbs: Xrs. Bema ennak ma ra tl bema ennak moreb w huww mlain me ra
entor laabokra atta etelkon badd tlanl nad el-sawra el-jdd makon
men halla lal-sa tlt w ness ya betsallmn el-nad ya betsallam arwkon
u fhemna?
Aysar: Fhemna walla fhemna.
Abbs: Taiyyt el-Alawz.
Tahiyyt: der.
Abbs: l dra wl ma taeml lik rejjl ent el-raem tlt raa h.
Fahed: Nena rae.
Abbs: Raf Zb.
Raf: Ana der, ezan ana mawjd.
Abbs: Mufakkir?
Raf: Naam.
Abbs: Be betfakkir enta?
Raf: ana bfakkir eh b-el- b-el-mestabal el-sawr, bfakkir b-el-jl el-ye el-
lmutanm, bfakkir, bfakkir bi-tawu el-rasmliyyn el-muxain ma xmil el-
abaa el-rzia, bfakkir h bfakkir bi-tazyf el-mabdi el-assiyya wa kayfiyyat
takyfiha ma al-tayyrt al-maalliyya w al-assiyyt wa axran el naariytn
b-elm el-nabt elm
Fahed: El-nabt.
Raf: elm el-nabt.
Abbs: Bfakkir enno el-raem 4 ansab la-elak, laanno kell ell addayton ak, w ana
ma bebb el-ak
Barakt: Hayda kell omro mellna makel.
Abbs: Zakariyya el-Kel Kel u hy?
Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Abbs: Kellell.
Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Abbs: Arrib la-end taf.
Zakariyya: Zakariyya el-Keklekl.
Abbs: Wl arrib la-end.
Fahed: Arrib la-endo taf.
Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Abbs: Kellell.
Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Abbs: Kellell.
Zakariyya: Zakariyya Keklekl.
Abbs: Wl wai Kellell.
Zakariyya: l Kek.
Abbs: Kek.
Zakariyya: Keklek.
Abbs: Kekkel.
Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Abbs: Kellell.
Zakariyya: Wlak el-Keklekl.
Abbs: Wl u otak enta.
Zakariyya: Kellell.
Abbs: Keklekl.
Zakariyya: Kellell.
Abbs: Wlak el-Keklekl.
Zakariyya: Kellell.
Abbs: Wl l Keklekl.
Zakariyya: Kellell.
Abbs: Wl l wary.
Zakariyya: Wark.
Abbs: Wary.
Zakariyya: Wark.
Abbs and Zakariyya: Keklekl.
Zakariyya: Kellell.
Abbs: Wlak u pteteil.
Zakariyya: Keklekl, abatit, abatit.
Abbs: u pteteil wl, u pteteil? Badd exla nak xale Roberto Telyn ra
bekon 5, 6, ento nymn sawa w hk betallkon nymn sawa 5, 6.
Zakariyya: Ana xams?! L ana 5? Sdna oo elo 5 sdna huww w ana w ana 6
laanno sdna huww arb w ana ebn el-balad hn badn hayda eza awwato
ma bihemmo ma byefham Arab laanno
Abbs: Enta ptefham Arab.
Zakariyya: Ana ana befham Arab, lzem
Abbs: Enta ya ebn el-balad ptefham Arab, 5, w huww arb, ma byefham Arab 6.
Fahed: Halla lau hal-ara, ma el-xams add el-sett, badal ma nokon add
baekon, menokon eddm baekon hk, w menlkon b-fared ra, mn hk?
Zakariyya: , eza hk .
Fahed: .
Zakariyya: Eza hk .
Fahed: Mna hy.
Zakariyya: El-xams add el-sett
Fahed: Treka layna.
Zakariyya: Ya ayn.
Fahed: treka layna, fa fekrak men hal-ny.
Zakariyya: Faayto.
Roberto: Io volo parlare a lambasciatore dItalia.
Fahed: Yalla matraak enta kamn wl.
[Sawsan is crying]
Abbs and Fahed: u beha?
Fahed: Bado anna?
Abbs: Arrb lahn ammo la f.
Fahed: Bado wl.
Abbs: Wl bado wl.
Fahed: Arrb ya ext arrb u f? u ra nkelkon?
[Sawsan and her fiance come closer]
Abbs: u esmak enta? u esma ya?
Jack: Esma Sawsan ya estz w ana xaba.
Abbs: W enta u esmak ya ammr?
Jack: Jack.
Abbs: Jack.
Fahed: Jack ha ha ayyib wl ayyib.
Abbs: Layk ya Sawsan ma txf ma f bifazzi ra nekon xer raem 13
w mesy Jack 7, law ma kn xabik, kenet bawwso halla, laanno lam
tfaal rja la-maallik.
Zakariyya: Aynak tf Jack kf aa, men hn, lahn, lahn, kn hn, r hn, efto
hn, wn huww Jack halla?
Abbs: Ya hnk Jack.
Fahed: Nzl lataet wl nzl lataet.
Zakariyya: Nzel.
Fahed: tarrak balla.
Abbs: Karnk Mawwir ed tawwerl hal-klb?
Fahed: F mawwir kamn?
Abbs: Mn Karnk.
The guests: Wn huww Karnk?
Abbs: Wl wn huww Karnk?
The guests: Wn huww Karnk?
Karnk: Tino mn ambiayyi baba? Tino Tino mn ambiayyi? [He speaks some
Armenian and then appears form up the stairs.] u hayda baba?
Fahed: Wl u badak mabr amtamel f? Nzl lahn wl.
Karnk: Kenna nymn baba.
Fahed: Wl nzl lataet tarrak.
Abbs: Karnk 8.
Karnk: L 8? Kf 8? Ma mn 8?
Abbs: Wl 8.
Karnk: 8 8.
Abbs: Adb el-Rayyis.
Fahed: Rayyis.
Tino: Ya hn Adb.
Abbs: Eza d we llo ramo 9 w 10 Saed el-Mlek mn Saed el-Mlek?
Saed: Ana sdna kattir xayrak ala hal-raem
Abbs: Mn baed ma traam?
Tino: Sdna baed f ana w el-sett Abla, sbet el-otl hn kello.
Abbs: Ptxod enta el-raem 11, w el-sett Abla el-raem 12 ento mefln layna
Tino: Wjbtna.
Abbs: Jamatlna kell hal-jobana hl. Hawd jebtelkon yhon ma men el-bt me
arznn bass bimao el-l way ala el-bb w ala el-zz, ala ma ada
yextor ala blo yehrob men halla laabokra nena me fyn nall nrebkon,
nena baddna nela nert abokra enna eel w hawd mabban tef
aall fatet bb zz zr, awwankon el-barak hadd ya Fahed alleon
ala el-zz.
The guests: Ya mama byefao byefao byefao.
Fahed: W yefao u fha? Nena u jyn namel hn?
Abbs: Hayd el-lya ya betr lyet 15 muwen, nena w ento, zalln madsn
b-ym men el-eyym mnedaso la-l-kem lataet el-are ya betr lyet
aya el-sawra el-orafa, ell kn elhon el-araf enhon yefteto el-sawra
makon 5 st ya sawra ya mt ana le ert abl el-sawra w abl el-
mt.

[A revolutionary song starts playing.]
Jyi ma el-ab el-maskn
Jyi ta arif ari lamn
Lamn ambimtu wldi
B-ar bldi jnn
Jyi ma el-ab el-maskn
Jyi ta arif ari lamn
Lamn ambimtu wldi
B-ar bldi jnn
Sinn bna bla nawm
Arrana na el-yawm
Ya bldi la tlmna
Serna barrt el-lawm
La tlmi el-malmn
Jyi ma el-ab el-maskn

Glossary:

abokra: tomorrow; tomorrow in the morning.
l: interjection = well, good.
ambibo: they are selling (present II of b).
amyelab: he is playing (present II of leib).
elk (pl. elkt, elak): gum, chewing gum.
asan (superl. of mnh): better, best.
asan ma + verb: (1) after a negative clause it comes in the sense of wa ella + verb = or
else + verb. E.g.: wala kelm asan ma neetlak no word or else we kill you. The
literary meaning is: no word is better than killing you. (2) after other clauses it
comes in the sense of badal ma + verb = instead of + infinitive. E.g.: xall yrh
ynm asan ma yeteil let him sleep instead of work.
ballalo: they wet (past 3
rd
pl. of ballal).
bas: but.
b-bal: freely.
bel-xer: at the end.
beny: building.
benzal: I go down (present I of nezil).
betlo: you say (present I of l).
ptelma: it shines (present of lama).
byestaeblo: he receives him (present I of stabal + o him).
dafalna: they payed to us (past 3
rd
pl. of dafa + lna to us).
dama (pl. dm): tear.
arabeto: she hit him (past 3
rd
f. sg. of arab + o him).
dm, pl. of dama.
dmhon: their tears (dm + hon their).
esm: my name (esem + my).
esmo: his name (esem + o his).
fhamo: understand (impert. pl. of fehim).
fhemna: we understood.
ftalo: open to him (imperat. of fatah + lo to him).
eraf, pl. of erf.
erf (pl. eraf): room.
hal-ada: this person.
asab: according to.
jema (pl. jema): week.
jeneyto: his reparation (jeny + o his).
kam: how many. kam axes how many person.
kbr (f. of kbr): big.
kellna abra: we are full of dust; dust is all over us.
kelm (pl. kelmt): word.
kfkon: how are you?
menballi: we start (present I of balla).
menfajjir: we explode (present I of fajjar).
menawwekon: we shoot you (present I of awwa+ kon you).
mestafa (pl. mestafayt): hospital.
nena me nesna tankn hal-ada: we dont lack anything to be this person.
neetlak: (that) we may kill you (subj. of atal + lak you).
nair: (that) we may prepare (subj. of aar).
addim: approach (imperat. of addam).
ataleto: she killed him (past 3
rd
f. sg. of atal + o him).
eltellak: I told you (perfect of l + -ellak you).
zz: glass.
ra nekon: we will give you (future of aa + kon you).
ra ymt: he will die (future of mt).
al (pl. alt): thing.
axe(pl. ax): person.
sawra (pl. sawrt): revolution.
awto: his voice (t + o his).
sayyra (pl. sayyrt): car.
sayyrt, pl. of sayyra.
smao: hear (imper. pl. of semi).
sman: hear me (imper. of semi + n me).
t (pl. wt): voice.
u fhemna: what did we understand?
ar (pl. oro, ert): way, road.
ert, pl. of ar.
tertb: order, arrangement.
tl: go up (imperat. of teli).
tawwena: you shoot us (present I of awwas + na us).
a: beware.
wado el-mt ell byestaeblo b-bal: death is the only one which might receive him
freely.
wala: no. wala kelm no word.
wl: vocative pejorative interjection.
ysammen: (that) he may make me hear (subj. of samma + n me).
zr: young.


Poems by Omar Zenn

Ll w nhr, Night and day,
nhr w ll, day and night,
m f r there is nothing other than
hads el-xl. horse race talk.
B-el-ahw aw b-el-re, In the coffee shop or in the street,
b-el-kns w el-jme, in the church and in the mosque,
el-xawja w el-sne, the merchant and the artisan,
w el-metr w el-bye, the buyer and the seller,
w el-s w el-tye, the disobedient and the obedient
mahmkn be-sb el-xl. are busy in the horse race.
W nbesto w fraho w thanno! So be happy, rejoice, and be fortunate!
Y shb el-xl! O horse owners!


Glossary:

bye buyer
fraho rejoice; be happy
ferih: ferh, freh; frah to rejoice, to be happy
r other; other than
hads talk
xawja merchant, gentelman
xl horses
jme mosque
kns church
ll night
mahmkn busy
mahmk (f. mahmk; pl. mahmkn) busy
m f there is no ()
metr (act. part. of tara) buyer
nbesto be glad, happy (imp.)
nbasat; nbesit, nbest to be glad, happy
nhr day
ahw coffee shop
sne manufacturer, artisan
sb race
shb owners
sheb (f. shb; pl. shb, ashb) owner; master; friend; companion
re street
tye obedient
thanno be fortunate
thanna: thann, thann, thannay; thanna, thann to be fortunate
y O
s disobedient, rebel
Texts



This is a piece of a poem by Paulus Elias Khuri , of Kfar-axn, Caza of
Zgharta. Written in 1939. (Ignatius Tannus Khuri. Mustaf Barbar, Hkim
Tarbulus wa al-Ldiqiyyah 176-1834. Jarrus Press: Tripoli, 1985. Pp. 303-306)

The poem is a story occurring in Tripoli, under the rule of Mustaf Barbar, governor
of Tripoli, between 1801 and 1833. It concerns an army officer who used to spend his
money on drink and gamble and who kept his family in want as a result of that. In this
piece, Barbar questions the family of the officer who tells him that they are poor and
that their father spends the money on the welfare of the army. Barbar sends his slave
to bring the officer so that he pays him his due wage. The officer is brought to the
governor and he is afraid that the truth about him be revealed. He is questioned then and
the governor finds out the reality of his acts, therefore he orders his execution.


Original text








Poetical pronunciation Beiruti pronunciation
64


Awwal m baat yesal ylu, Awwal m baat yesal ylo,
As he
65
sent after his family
66
to question them,
Nena b-lt el-tetr, qlu, Nena b-lt el-tetr, qlo,
they said: We are in a despicable situation;
An men men kr el-edi Amm men men kr el-d
we are living from a job of begging
W h al-askar an biyu mlu. W h al-askar amm biyo mlo.
while he spends his money on the army.
El-kem jann men hk el-ifdi El-kem jann men hk el-ifd
The governor was shocked by such an account,
W qalbu raqq a let aflu. W qalbo raqq a let aflo.
and his heart felt pitty over his childrens situation.
w ql: H akbar ahdi; w ql: H akbar hd;
He shouted and said: This is the biggest testimony
An betfdni s lu. Amm betfdn s lo.
which is proving to me his bad condition.
W : Y abd! al-mamr ndi! W : Y abed! al-mamr nd!
He shouted: O slave! Call the officer!
atta qabbu ejret amlu. atta qabbo ejret amlo.
So that I pay him the wage of his works.
Jbu el-abd, awan l-el-irdi, Jbo el-abed, awan l-el-ird,
The slave brought him following the order,
W, lamm had el-kem qblu, W, lamma had el-kem qblo,
and, when he saw the governor in front of him,
r el-xawf ala meyh bdi r el-xf ala mey bd
fear became visible on his face
W yamnu rt tekk bi-mlu. W yamno rt tekk bi-mlo.
and his right hand started scratching his left hand.
W xf bayt enn el-sekr di W xf bt enn el-seker d
He was afraid because drunkness is an ugly habit
Qaba tb b-el-dn w jamlu. Qaba tb b-el-dn w jamlo.
Which is shameful in religion and its beauty.
W xf bayt l-el-kem siydi W xf bt l-el-kem siyd
He became afraid because the governor has firm authority
Qawiyyi w el-baar texa xaylu. Qawiyy w el-baar texa xaylo.
and humanity fears his shadow.
W xf bayt h xn el-mabdi W xf bt h xn el-mabd
He was afraid because he betrayed the principles
W saa b-meneytu mennu la-lu. W saa b-meneyto menno la-lo.
and he sought after his death by himself.

64
As if pronouncing an ordinary prose text. It should be taken into consideration that the original dialect of
the author is different; his dialect belongs to the North dialect.
65
i.e. the governor.
66
i.e. the family of the officer.
Glossary:

akbar bigger, biggest
aflo his children
efel (pl. afl) child
awwal m when; as
amlo works
amal (pl. aml) work
b- in
baar humans; humanity
baat he sent
baat: bat; bat to send
bd (f. bdy; pl. bdyn) visible
bt since; because
bi- in
dn (pl. adyn) religion
ejret the wage of
ejra (pl. ejar) wage
enn that
hk el- such a
h she (it)
h he
atta so that
kem (f. km; pl. kmn, ekkm)
governor; governing (act. part.)
let (pl. lt) situation
lo his situation
l (pl. awl) situation
xaylo his shadow
xayl (pl. xaylt) shadow
xf he became afraid
xf: xef; xf to become afraid
xn he betrayed
xn: xen; xn to betray
xf fear
ifd (pl. ifdt) account; report; certificate
ird (pl. irdt) will; order
jamlo his (its) beauty
jaml beauty
jann he became crazy
jann men he was shocked by
jann: jann, jannay; jenn to become crazy
jann men: jann, jannay; jenn to be shocked by; to be stupefied by
jbo he brought him
jb: jeb; jb to bring
kr (pl. krt) work; job
l- to; for
lamma when
mabd principles
mabda (pl. mabd) principle
mamr (pl. mamrn) officer
mey his face
meya face
men of; from
meneyto his death
meny death
menno la-lo by himself
menn-() la-l-() by ()self
mlo his money
ml (pl. amwl) money
nena we
nd call (imperative)
nda: nd, nd, nday; nd to call
qaba (pl. qabn) ugly
qabbo I pay him
qabba; qabbi, qabb to pay
qalbo his heart
qaleb (pl. qlb) heart
qawiyy (pl. qawiyyn) strong
ql he said
ql: qel; ql to say
qlo they said
ql: qel; ql to say
qblo in front of him
qbl in front of
raqq he became soft
raqq: raqq, raqqay; reqq to become soft
saa b- he sought after
saa: sa, sa, saa; sa, s to seek
seker drunkness
siyd (pl. siydt) authority; sovereignty
s badness
he shouted
: e; to shout
r he (it) became
r: er; r to become
had he saw; he watched
had; hed to see; to watch
d begging
hd testimony
mlo his left (hand)
ml left
awan l- following
texa she (it) fears
xe: xe, x; xa, x to fear
tetr misery
tekk that she (it) scratch
akk: akk, akkay; ekk to scratch
tb b- she (it) is shameful in
b b-: eb; b to be shameful in
w and
yamno his right (hand)
yamn right
y O
yesal that he asks
saal: sal; sal to ask
a on
abed (f. abd; pl. abd) slave
al- on the
ala on
askar (pl. asker) army
amm betfdn she (it) is benefiting me; she (it) is providing
me
fd: fed; fd to benefit; to provide
amm biyo he is putting
amm biyo a- he is spending
a: a, aay; o to put
a a-: a, aay; o to spend
amm men we are living
: e; to live
d (pl. dt) habit
ylo his family
yl family