Lebanese Arabic (el libnénïet)

Lebanese Arabic or Lebanese is a dialect of Levantine Arabic, though some people consider it a language in its own right. It is spoken mainly in Lebanon by about 4 million people, and includes some vocabulary comes from Aramaic, Greek, French, and Turkish.

Lebanese is rarely written, except in some novels and poetry. When it is written, the Arabic alphabet is usually used, though in informal situations, such as online chat, the Latin alphabet is sometimes used.

Pronunciation of Lebanese Arabic

Consonants

Pronunciation of Lebanese Arabic consonants

Vowels

Pronunciation of Lebanese Arabic vowels

Here is a method of writing Lebanese Arabic using the Latin alphabet devised by Elias Chakkour, a Lebanese living in Canada.

Lebanese alphabet (El abjadïet el libnénïet)

Lebanese alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

C + a u or w = [k]
C + e i y = [ʧ]
G + a u o w = [g]
G + e i or = [ʒ]
Ğ is used when words are put in plural or feminine form
J = [y] at the end of words
Y = [i] at the end of words

Sample text in Lebanese

Kill el ba¡ar byechlaqò aħrár w mütasévyín bil carámet w'el ħoqúq. W hinné nwahabò xaqel w đamír, w xleyun y'xémlò baxdon el baxed b'rúħ el ochuẅet.
(el baned el aẅal min'el exlén el xálamé la ħoqúq el insén)

Hear a recording of this text by Hadi El-Khoury

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Information about Lebanese Arabic pronunciation compiled by Wolfgang Siegel