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
Olives hold a significant role in Lebanese culture due to their agricultural, culinary, and health benefits. The harvesting and storing of olives still follows centuries-old processes and is a popular social activity. In this episode, Leen tells us about the role of olives in Lebanese culture and takes us with her and her family on … Continue reading Episode 20 – Olive picking
Back in the day, the streets of Beirut’s neighborhoods were often watched over and protected by men known as “Qabadayat”, which roughly translates as valiant men. They often helped people in their community and resolved local disputes. Qabadayat were pillars of tradition and social customs. They often played important roles in organizing celebrations and funerals … Continue reading Episode 19 – Beirut’s “Qabadayat”
Folktales and other story telling traditions are found all over the world. Lebanese culture is especially rich with folktales that have been passed down for generations. Often, these folktales evolve with each generation’s telling. In this episode, Dareen shares with us three folk tales from her childhood which she grew up listening to and that … Continue reading Episode 18 – Folktales from once upon a time
Faraya is a famous Lebanese village and winter sport destination located high in the mountains. Its snowy winters and mild summers make it a popular destination year-round. Faraya and neighboring villages such as Kfardebiane offer visitors great dinning, skiing, and hiking opportunities. In this episode, Leen tells us about the village and its surroundings. She … Continue reading Episode 17 – Faraya and nearby attractions
Common proverbs and their origin stories provide a perspective to understand a country’s culture, values, and sometimes their old customs. In this episode, Mariam tells us about two popular proverbs and the stories behind them. The proverb “The story is not a pomegranate, but it is heavy hearts” explains people's passive-aggressive behaviors when they hold … Continue reading Episode 15 – Two common proverbs
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
Hamra Street is one of the liveliest areas in Beirut. It has a storied history as a center of commerce, performing arts, and social activity. The street (and surrounding neighborhood which is also called Hamra) is filled with retail stores, cafes, restaurants, theaters, murals, and offices. Hamra Street is constantly bustling with people and no … Continue reading Episode 12 – Hamra Street
The names of months and seasons of the year are used a lot in Lebanese conversations. We talk about them when discussing and planning trips, outings, events, and work. They also feature heavily when we discuss the weather. In this episode, Mariam introduces us to the Lebanese Arabic names of months and seasons and tells … Continue reading Episode 11 – Months and seasons of the year
Salwa Al Katrib was a Lebanese singer and stage actress best known for her roles in Emerald Princess and Mountain Girl ('Bent Al Jabal'). She was born in Al Mina, Tripoli, in 1950 before moving to Beirut to complete her schooling and launch her career. She enjoyed most of her fame in the theatrical circle … Continue reading Episode 8 – Salwa Al Katrib
In this episode we will be speaking about a few common proverbs used in Lebanon. Proverbs are used a lot in the Lebanese dialect and daily conversations, and many of them are hard to understand without knowing the story behind them or at least learning their explanation. The proverbs we will speak about in this … Continue reading Episode 7 – Four common proverbs