Syriac Identity of Lebanon – part 6: Syriac Lebanese vocabulary

By Dr. Amine Jules Iskandar President of the Syriac Maronite Union – Tur Levnon

We have seen in article 2 of this series that the syntax and grammar of the Lebanese dialect are both entirely Syriac. But it is also important to know that the current Lebanese vocabulary still contains a significant amount of Syriac words even after centuries of progressive arabization.

In this article we will provide a sample of words used in everyday life that expresses the Syriac dimension of the Lebanese spoken dialect.

1- A Guard
– Lebanese: natour
– Syriac: notour

– Arabic: ħares

2- Fine. Example: Kifak? mniħ = How are you? I am fine.
– Lebanese: mniħ
– Syriac: m-niħo

– Arabic: jayyid (murtaħ)

3- Tasty (good taste)
– Lebanese: tayeb
– Syriac: tobo

– Arabic: laziz

4- Good, So. Example: tèb ktob el esem = so write down the name.
–   Lebanese: tèb
–   Syriac: tob

– Arabic: ithan, jayyid

5- Beautiful
– Lebanese: ħelo
– Syriac: ħalyo

– Arabic: jamil

6- So, then. Example: ba‘d dén = afterwards.
– Lebanese: dén
– Syriac: dén

– Arabic: ithan: baěda ithin = afterwards

7- For, to. Example: dawwé ta to’ra = put on the light to read.
– Lebanese: ta
– Syriac: da

– Arabic: likay

8- Yes
– Lebanese: é
– Syriac: in – én (the final N is sometimes not pronounced).

– Arabic: naăm

9- More, more and more (used in Lebanese Zajal poetry).
– Lebanese: of of of
– Syriac: of of of

– Arabic: aydan, aydan wa Aydan

– Lebanese: shqol
– Syriac: shqul

– Arabic: erfaă

11- To dig
– Lebanese: bħash
– Syriac: bħash

– Arabic: ħarraka

12- To shiver
– Lebanese: bar‘ét
– Syriac: bar‘ét

– Arabic: yataħarrak, yahtazz

13- To stick
– Lebanese: dabbéq, dabbé’
– Syriac: dabéq, dabé’

– Arabic: youlazzeq

14- To deafen
– Lebanese: tawach
– Syriac: twach

– Arabic: dalla, chawwacha

15-  Time, or time counter (mainly used for irrigation).
– Lebanese: ‘ěddén
– Syriac: ‘ĕdono

– Arabic: waqt

16-  Small: a physically small person.
–  Lebanese:  zghir
–  Syriac: zŏur

– Arabic: çaghir

17- Small: a small personality, a niggardly person.
– Lebanese: zŏur
– Syriac: zŏur small

– Arabic: ħaqyr

18- When?
– Lebanese: émta
– Syriac: émat

– Arabic: mata

19-  Hand
– Lebanese: id
– Syriac: id

– Arabic: yadd

20-  To compose
– Lebanese: rakkeb
– Syriac: rakeb

– Arabic: allef, nasseq

21-  Water
– Lebanese: may
– Syriac: may

– Arabic: ma’

22-  A belly
– Lebanese: kersh
– Syriac: kars

– Arabic: baten

23- Left side
– Lebanese: shmél
– Syriac: sémol

– Arabic: yasar

24- Those, these
– Lebanese: holé: those, these
– Syriac: holén (the final N is sometimes not pronounced).

– Arabic: ha’oula’

25- This
– Lebanese: haydé
– Syriac: hodé

– Arabic: hathihi

26- The 12 months of the solar year.
– Lebanese:  shbat, adar, nissén, ayar, ħzairan, tamouz, éb…
– Syriac: shvot, odor, nisson, iyor, ħziron, tomouz, ov…

– Classical Arabic: Rabi’ al-akhir, Djumada al-ula, Djumada al-akhira, Rdjab, Cha‘ban, Ramadan, Chawwal…(months of the lunar year)

– Modern Arabic: Fabrayer, Mares, Abril, Mayo, Yunyo, Yulyo, Aghoustous…(months of the solar year).

27- Three
– Lebanese: tlété
– Syriac: tloto

– Arabic: thalatha

28- Two
–   Lebanese:  tnén
–   Syriac: trén

– Arabic: ithnan

29- All of you.
– Lebanese: kelkon
– Syriac: koulkoun

– Arabic: koullakoum

30- In Lebanon.
– Lebanese: Bé Lébnén
– Syriac: Bé Lébnon, Bé Lévnon

– Arabic: Fi Loubnan

31- Sir, Lord.
– Lebanese: Mar
– Syriac: Mor, Mar

– Arabic: Sayyidi

32- Lady, spouse of…
– Lebanese: Mart …
– Syriac: Mort …, Mart …

– Arabic: Sayyidat … , ħourmat…

33- Throw. (Only in Syriac Maronite, from French Crusaders origin: jète)
– Lebanese: Zét
– Syriac-maronite: Zét

– Arabic: armi

34- Throw
– Lebanese: Shboq
– Syriac: Shbouq

– Arabic: utruk, armi

35- Tomb
– Lebanese: Qaber, Aber
– Syriac: Qabro, Abro

– Arabic: Madfan

36- Procession
– Lebanese:  Ziyyéħ
– Syriac: Zayoħo

– Arabic: Al-tatwaf

38- Read
– Lebanese: Qri, 2ri
– Syriac: Qri, 2ri

– Arabic: Iqra’a

39- Write
– Lebanese: Ktob
– Syriac: Ktoub

– Arabic: Uktub

40- Professor, Teacher.
– Lebanese: Malfan
– Syriac: Malphono

– Arabic: Mou‘allem

41- Darkness
– Lebanese: 3atmé
– Syriac: 3amtono

– Arabic: Zalam

42- Quickly
– Lebanese: bé3ajalé
– Syriac: ba3gal

– Arabic: bi sour3ah

43- To dive, Baptism.
– Lebanese: 3médé
– Syriac: 3mad

– Arabic: Ghatasa

44- To stand up
– Lebanese: éyém
– Syriac: qoyém, oyém

– Arabic: waqef

45- People
– Lebanese: nés
– Syriac: nosh

– Arabic: jama3ah, ounas

46- Fast, flow.
– Lebanese: mézréb
– Syriac: mézréb (from zribo)

– Arabic: ghazir, sari’

47- Thick hair
– Lebanese: ‘ébé
– Syriac: ‘abyo

–   Arabic: samik