Learn Lebanese Arabic with transcribed podcast episodes exploring Lebanon and its people | تعلم اللغة العربية باللهجة اللبنانية مع البودكاست الأسبوعي والمكتوب الذي يعرفك على لبنان وشعبه
On August 4, 2020, a huge explosion wiped the Port of Beirut, killed 219 people, and damaged a large part of the city. While evidence suggests that many Lebanese politicians knew about the presence of hazardous explosives at the port, a thorough investigation has not yet occurred. One year after the blast, Rana and Khaled … Continue reading Episode 84 – One year after the Beirut Port explosion
Dabke is a popular Levantine folk dance and often performed at weddings and other happy celebrations. It is a major part of Lebanese heritage that continues to evolve over time. Rana and Khaled both love this traditional dance, despite Khaled having two left feet! Learn more about Dabke as Rana tries to teach Khaled how … Continue reading Episode 72 – Dabke dance
Sursock Museum is one of the most prominent museums in Beirut. It represents an important landmark of the city’s cultural scene. Not only does it have a distinct architecture, but also an impressive interior. In this episode, Rana takes us a journey down memory lane, recounting how the museum evolved from being a beautiful palace … Continue reading Episode 63 – Sursock Museum
Rami and Tala are walking in Beirut on a Sunday morning and decide to explore one of Beirut’s old neighborhoods, Zuqaq Al-Blat. Tala went to school there when she was young, but it has been a long time since she was last there. As they walk through the neighborhood, they discuss its history and pass … Continue reading Episode 52 – Skit: exploring a neighborhood
Rail transport began in Lebanon in the 1890s while it was part of the Ottoman Empire. Over time, rail lines were built along the entire length of the Lebanese coastline. Additional tracks ran east across the country connecting Beirut and the Syrian capital Damascus. The rail system operated for close to a hundred years but … Continue reading Episode 50 – Lebanon’s defunct train system
For generations Lebanese citizens have emigrated across the world to seek better business or job opportunities, higher education, and safety from conflict. Large Lebanese communities can found in North and South America, Europe, West Africa, Australia, and the Arabian Gulf. Almost every household in Lebanon has relatives who live abroad. In this episode, Dareen tells … Continue reading Episode 39 – Lebanese emigration
When Moussa Abdel Karim Al Maamari was a young boy he had a crush on a girl. She said she was not interested in him because he was poor and she was rich and lived in castle. So, Moussa began daydreaming of building a castle. One day, while in school, Moussa’s teacher got irate at … Continue reading Episode 28 – Moussa Castle
Hassan Kamel Al Sabbah was a Lebanese inventor who made significant scientific contributions in the fields of electrical engineering, solar energy, and space technology. He was such a prolific inventor that people called him "Thomas Edison of the East”. He grew up in the Lebanese town of Nabatie. After completing his graduate degree in the … Continue reading Episode 25 – Hassan Kamel Al Sabbah
French words form an integral part of the Lebanese dialect. This influence stems from France's 23 years of mandate rule over Lebanon after World War I. Since then Arabized French words have become a defining feature that you hear sprinkled throughout daily Lebanese conversations. In this episode, Mariam points out several Arabized French words in … Continue reading Episode 21 – Arabized French words
Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire for about 400 years and, naturally, Lebanese people absorbed many Turkish words from that time. Although Ottoman rule in Lebanon ended after World War I, reminders of that time abound if you know how and where to spot them. In this episode, Mariam tells us about Arabized Turkish … Continue reading Episode 13 – Arabized Turkish words