Learn Lebanese Arabic - Your Guide to Mastering the Lebanese Dialect

Lebanese is considered one of the most comprehensible languages among the Arab States*. Over the past fifty years, numerous songs, poems, books, and many plays and screenplays have been crafted in Lebanese.

What is Lebanese Arabic:

Lebanese Arabic,  also called Lebanese العامية الُبْنَانِيّة, a type of Levantine Arabic, is the spoken language in Lebanon. It carries the influence of both French and English. Many Lebanese individuals are multilingual, smoothly switching between Lebanese Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, French, and English in their daily conversations. Lebanese Arabic is a dialect of Arabic, specifically of Levantine Arabic, spoken in Lebanon.

How Many Speak Lebanese Arabic?

Lebanese Arabic is used by over 5.5 million people in Lebanon and 8 to 14 million in the broader global Lebanese community. In the United States, almost half a million individuals identify as Lebanese Americans, and there could be an additional half a million with Lebanese roots.

Where Did Lebanese Arabic come from?

Lebanese Arabic traces its origins to Aramaic and Phoenician roots. While Lebanese Arabic shares some similarities with Modern Standard Arabic, Lebanese Arabic is a spoken language that flexibly adjusts to cultural and historical shifts. Modern Standard Arabic is reserved for formal writing and Many Lebanese speakers are proficient in French or English, leading to a mix of words from these languages in Lebanese. Additionally, Lebanese Arabic incorporates elements from Aramaic and Turkish. It is a common practice for people to use “Arabic language” terminology to identify all of the Semitic languages of the Middle East that use Arabic letters for writing.

Should I learn Modern Standard Arabic or Lebanese Dialect First?

The key to speaking Lebanese is to specifically learn the "Lebanese Dialect” First. Simply learning Modern Standard Arabic ( الُّلغة الفُصْحى) will not equip Arabic Learners to understand or communicate in Lebanese. Trying to grasp Modern Standard Arabic before mastering Lebanese could even make the latter appear more difficult. Moreover, referring to both languages as Arabic may confuse Arabic language learners, leading them to believe that Arabic is spoken in the country. This misunderstanding might prompt them to learn Modern Standard Arabic, causing difficulties when they visit Lebanon as they may struggle to understand both spoken conversations and broadcasts on Lebanese television and radio.

 Lebanese language VS Modern Standard Arabic

Modern Standard Arabic functions primarily as a formal language. It finds usage in documentation, publishing, formal speeches, and certain religious rituals. Over the past 1,500 years, Arabic has evolved since its spoken use in parts of the Arabian Peninsula. In Lebanon, many people are proficient in Modern Standard Arabic (الُّلغة الفُصْحى) alongside their native Lebanese. They acquire Lebanese from their parents and daily interactions, while also studying Arabic Language and Literature in schools.

What Arabic script is Used in Lebanese Dialect

Lebanese people use the Arabic script for both Lebanese and Modern Standard Arabic. They employ Lebanese in writing, reading, and speaking for various creative expressions such as songs, poems, television productions, and letters. On the other hand, Modern Standard Arabic is used in Arabic Literature, legal proceedings, and specific formal religious rituals. This practice is similar to using Latin letters to write both English and Spanish languages.

To conclude, Lebanese Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic are two different languages yet of same Semitic roots. Calling the language spoken in Lebanon, Arabic or a dialect of Arabic has proved to confuse those who want to learn Lebanese by pushing them to learn a different language than their intended one.

The standard approach is to emulate the practices in Lebanon: start by learning the native Lebanese language. After achieving proficiency in Lebanese, individuals can consider studying Modern Standard Arabic.