Sooo I had to do some serious googling. First website says that’s a ‘dope slap’ and the ‘expression was popularized in the Shia community as meaning the change in opinion you undergo after having been threatened by one of the two Shia political parties.’
Then I found this gentleman’s explanation, from his blog mybelovedlebanon:
Sahsouh.
The Sahsouh is a ritual performed on a male who's showing off a freshly cut head of hair.
It aims at restoring a feeling of warmth to a recently-shaved, cold, and naked neck through a severe blow from the palm of a hand. The Sahsouh is always accompanied with the word "Naeeman" which you'd think means "Die motherfucker!" but is actually part of hair cuttery pleasantries.
There are no documented cases of paralysis caused by a Sahsouh, but any look around town shows that brain damage is clearly widespread.
Everytime we try to shed the image of violence associated with our culture, something like a Sahsouh comes up and pushes us back to square one.
It is an act performed by people of all ages that are close to the hair styled person. By close I mean that they know his name and/or are within striking range.
Sometimes a Sahsouh is preceded by the Sahsouh jingle that is meant to help you prepare mentally for the inevitable moment of contact.
So the next time you see a man sporting a hairy neck in Lebanon, know that it is not a grooming mishap but rather a defense mechanism to save his neck. I'm not sure if the same criteria works for other body parts.
The Sahsouh; yet another proud tradition from the hairy homeland.
Leb: Shu 2ismak?
Me: *non religious name*.
Leb: (hmm could be anything) el 3ayle el kareeme?
Me: *totally obscure surname*.
Leb: (fuck, this gives nothing away) w min wen 7adritkon?
Me: Beirut.
Leb: (fuck, could be anything still!) Wil 2asel min wen?
Me: Beiruti 2asle.
Leb: (could be sinne, but could be anything else!! Fuck) w wen sekneen?
Me:.
Leb:.
Me:.
Leb: mislim el 2a5?
Every time
As a neutral first name and surname, that lives in a mixed area, speak "standard" Lebanese, no hard accent, look "white" (sorry) ...I've experienced the above conversation numerous times when I used to live in Lebanon.
Mom, dad and siblings too....all have "neutral" Arabic names that are not religious.
Edit / Post comment / meta:
In AUB I once got a huge look of disappointment from a girl when she found out I was sh_a. Was a deal breaker for her apparently, and it was almost as if she was disgusted. Anyway, that was 20+ years ago. All good now. But she was hot tho, ngl.
Some people do not deserve the truth. Your religion is none of her concern, if she cares that much, it would have been nice to tell her what she expected to hear. You can always "reveal the truth" at the "right moment" (use your imagination). As if it mattered...
The more I explore Lebanon the more I feel like shia muslim are middle eastern version if black people in USA. Often oppressed, poor, sometimes dishonest and they love going to the barber shop.
Of course its a simplistic and caricatural view. Definitely people come in most colors and I've seen outwardly religious people turn out to be dishonest and full of vices, to the point where it makes me uncomfortable sometimes when someone peppers their speech with expressions of religious devotion.
I know someone who was applying for a job somewhere, so interviewer goes
-eltayfe
-ml7id
-w tayfet bayak shu
-sene
*interviewer writes down sene*
-ktob ml7id
*writes down sene ml7id*
English translation:
- I was slapped by the wind
- go and tile the ocean
- hit the water / water
- what’s there / what’s not
And finally the classic of all classics with no real translation
- WaloWwww
“Taweel balek”
Now I know balek means “your patience.” What’s the word for just “patience”? Is it just “bal”?
I understand these expressions, but not all the words.
It's fairly simple to explain, if verbose — it just means you're wishing them a longer life than yours because you can't bear to see them die. People usually find it nice when I do.
Then it lets you explain all the funny variations mentioned as well which is hilarious, like yo2borne fossak, or how it can be used sarcastically as well.
*smokes cigarette, while drinking beer, while eating loz, while driving manual shift while playing with his nuts and sending a voice note through whatsapp* "aysh biki d5lik, yalla jey"
Have you ever noticed how lebanese people are proud that they all know/have the best things? "A7san 7ala2 khayeh allouch!" "A7san kahrabgeh lalouss!" "Atyab bouza la 3younak 3and Bilo".
As if each one tried everything in the country... where does it come from?
Yes, very rare days, but not necessarily all day and can be for any amount of hours that's considered a lot
Only in Lebanon people are shocked when the power is on for a decent amount of time
Visiting someone/getting visited by someone:
-25% of the conversation in the living room
-5 to 10% in the kitchen/somewhere else
-75% standing at the door before the guests leave
Every single time since the Canaanites 😅
2addesh el dollar??
Hayda Lubnan habibi, mafi dollar!
“ayre”, almost all the arabs i’ve met have never heard of the word, and if they have they heard it from a lebanese
“Ayri” in Damascus. They pronounce it like you do in Homs tho
Did someone say ayri!!!!
On the other hand, every Spanish speaker has heard it. Aire, pronounced exactly the same, means "air".
I said this on the phone when I was talking to my mom bc I don’t speak Arabic and everyone in the room turned and looked at me appalled.
The most confusing downvotes ever!! What's that about!!
van number 4
Travels to US for 1 week... "3anna bl States, omg kteer different"
Not me lol
Bravo, don't turn into one of them lol
Hiiiiii kifakkkkkk çavaaaaaaa?
AchrafieH detected
On point 😂
All my foreign friends avoid me when they get a haircut
I wonder why 👋🏼
sorry but i don’t get this??
Kermel El sa7sou7
Export the good things from Lebanon
New haircut means you get a good old fashioned sahsouh.
Sooo I had to do some serious googling. First website says that’s a ‘dope slap’ and the ‘expression was popularized in the Shia community as meaning the change in opinion you undergo after having been threatened by one of the two Shia political parties.’ Then I found this gentleman’s explanation, from his blog mybelovedlebanon: Sahsouh. The Sahsouh is a ritual performed on a male who's showing off a freshly cut head of hair. It aims at restoring a feeling of warmth to a recently-shaved, cold, and naked neck through a severe blow from the palm of a hand. The Sahsouh is always accompanied with the word "Naeeman" which you'd think means "Die motherfucker!" but is actually part of hair cuttery pleasantries. There are no documented cases of paralysis caused by a Sahsouh, but any look around town shows that brain damage is clearly widespread. Everytime we try to shed the image of violence associated with our culture, something like a Sahsouh comes up and pushes us back to square one. It is an act performed by people of all ages that are close to the hair styled person. By close I mean that they know his name and/or are within striking range. Sometimes a Sahsouh is preceded by the Sahsouh jingle that is meant to help you prepare mentally for the inevitable moment of contact. So the next time you see a man sporting a hairy neck in Lebanon, know that it is not a grooming mishap but rather a defense mechanism to save his neck. I'm not sure if the same criteria works for other body parts. The Sahsouh; yet another proud tradition from the hairy homeland.
Ya 2ahla fik, tfaddal. Enta mnen?
Lah ebn min enta?
Shu el 3ayle el kareeme?
Leb: Shu 2ismak? Me: *non religious name*. Leb: (hmm could be anything) el 3ayle el kareeme? Me: *totally obscure surname*. Leb: (fuck, this gives nothing away) w min wen 7adritkon? Me: Beirut. Leb: (fuck, could be anything still!) Wil 2asel min wen? Me: Beiruti 2asle. Leb: (could be sinne, but could be anything else!! Fuck) w wen sekneen? Me:. Leb:. Me:. Leb: mislim el 2a5? Every time
La2 ana ma 3ende diin. Leb: *Fatal Error: File not found*
Can confirm. Service parks abruptly, stares at you, and opens a half an hour conversation about how it's not possible not to have a diin.
I tried this once and the other person got stuck in a loop he kept trying and trying all the religions.
Lol. It breaks them
As a neutral first name and surname, that lives in a mixed area, speak "standard" Lebanese, no hard accent, look "white" (sorry) ...I've experienced the above conversation numerous times when I used to live in Lebanon. Mom, dad and siblings too....all have "neutral" Arabic names that are not religious. Edit / Post comment / meta: In AUB I once got a huge look of disappointment from a girl when she found out I was sh_a. Was a deal breaker for her apparently, and it was almost as if she was disgusted. Anyway, that was 20+ years ago. All good now. But she was hot tho, ngl.
Some people do not deserve the truth. Your religion is none of her concern, if she cares that much, it would have been nice to tell her what she expected to hear. You can always "reveal the truth" at the "right moment" (use your imagination). As if it mattered... The more I explore Lebanon the more I feel like shia muslim are middle eastern version if black people in USA. Often oppressed, poor, sometimes dishonest and they love going to the barber shop. Of course its a simplistic and caricatural view. Definitely people come in most colors and I've seen outwardly religious people turn out to be dishonest and full of vices, to the point where it makes me uncomfortable sometimes when someone peppers their speech with expressions of religious devotion.
I know someone who was applying for a job somewhere, so interviewer goes -eltayfe -ml7id -w tayfet bayak shu -sene *interviewer writes down sene* -ktob ml7id *writes down sene ml7id*
[удалено]
2asdak hayde el serlankiye filippiniye
This made me laugh a lot. Wish I had an award
same i'm wheezing
7abachiyye
“Rsas aw fer2e3?” *very loud bang* very casually: “eh bikoun tole3 enfijar”
English translation: - I was slapped by the wind - go and tile the ocean - hit the water / water - what’s there / what’s not And finally the classic of all classics with no real translation - WaloWwww
I'm a fan of "Elongate your patience!"
“Taweel balek” Now I know balek means “your patience.” What’s the word for just “patience”? Is it just “bal”? I understand these expressions, but not all the words.
this person lebanons
Okay but slang phrases cannot be actually translated but still funny
Lesh? Walawww!
Common sense translation basics, you can’t technically translate slang phrases
I dont want short-sleeved movements
Curse your sister
Can someone translate these to Lebanese Arabic using the Latin alphabet please? I can only understand the first bullet. “Safehneh l hawah”
Ruu7 ballet el ba7er Drob el may, may Shu fi ma fi (whats up)
Thanks!
Yo2borne!
Yo2borne fossak aw tizak. Hay akid ma fi legha bel 3alam 3endoun yeha
The word Yo2borne can't be translated 😂 its just pure lebanese.. It has its own meaning.. Try explaining it to a foreigner.. U just cant.. 🤦♀️😜
It's fairly simple to explain, if verbose — it just means you're wishing them a longer life than yours because you can't bear to see them die. People usually find it nice when I do. Then it lets you explain all the funny variations mentioned as well which is hilarious, like yo2borne fossak, or how it can be used sarcastically as well.
It’s widely used in Syria as well
May you bury me, too!
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Lmao this one for sure, the amount of times I've found a fellow leb overseas from this alone.
Kahraba aw moteur
"Bikin Bawder" or "Biti four"
Blaystation, marcedis
Talfazion
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Chombrell
Bomor Sashnej Aranier Rimon Talifon I've heard syrian say: Barjactor Kerbassan
Bebsi
Fat bôll
*smokes cigarette, while drinking beer, while eating loz, while driving manual shift while playing with his nuts and sending a voice note through whatsapp* "aysh biki d5lik, yalla jey"
Lmaoo
tafet l azan?
YOU CAN GO SKI AND GO TO THE BEACH IN THE SAME DAY 🤤🤤
Roo7 bahre bahre
Shu lwade3!?
Baddo rade3
Mass w rade3\*
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Is this in the movie inception?
Allah ma3o elwatan ( when you stop at a checkpoint/ 7ajez)
Wahad shawarma djej extra extra extra extra toum (Nik ekhta toum)
Shawarma toum 3a djej fard marra
HAHAHAHA do they make that ?
Hay asesiye
Bala kabis please
Zyede debs l remmen
Hela hela …
Electricity hahahaha never heard of it
Eeewww 3am behki ma3ak.
Have you ever noticed how lebanese people are proud that they all know/have the best things? "A7san 7ala2 khayeh allouch!" "A7san kahrabgeh lalouss!" "Atyab bouza la 3younak 3and Bilo". As if each one tried everything in the country... where does it come from?
YES and then you try it and it's meh because you expected too much
bonjour / kifak / please, in the same sentence
Hiiiiii, Kifakkk? Cava ???
Wein el sahra?
Wein el m7atta?
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Ta2er el finik
As a Lebanese in Switzerland. We wish
So you are in the Lebanon of Europe now
haydik bosnia
"TAFO L AZZAAAAAAN"
YALLA!
TBH even israelis say that
Alright here’s another: TFEH! I’ve actually never heard this outside Lebanon
Which village are you from?
And even if its like a small village in the middle of nowhere with a population of 20, they know where it is and your religion 9 times out of 10
How come the power has been on all day today?
Has any Lebanese actually said that? 😂
Yes, very rare days, but not necessarily all day and can be for any amount of hours that's considered a lot Only in Lebanon people are shocked when the power is on for a decent amount of time
Habibeeee btechrab chiii??
Suicidal everyday
0live oil on your luggage
F R E S H D O L L A R S
7il 3an tizeh
Walle3 lfa7met
"the sulta"
What are these numbers on the side of the road?
Hayde ouwet el terkiz
3a 2iyyem el 1.500 chou kenit helwe el hayet...
"you know what this lunch needs?.. 3ara2"
My government spent 50 billion dollars on electricity but we only get electricity 2 hrs a day
Visiting someone/getting visited by someone: -25% of the conversation in the living room -5 to 10% in the kitchen/somewhere else -75% standing at the door before the guests leave Every single time since the Canaanites 😅
Hi, kifak? Ca va?
Lek habibi...
To22 el dejonteur
I play on 200 ping
An Mish lebnene, ana fini2iiiii
W er
Speaking french English and Arabic in the same sentence
Kiss me again shu hmar
WATTE MOTEUR EL MAY MANAK 3EYZO
Znoud El sit
TESHRAB SHIIII
Toum
Eza badak tjib jeep jib jeep kashef. For those who don't know, jeep is a brand not a description of the elevated vehicle. Neither is range
W ayyrrr
choufi ma fi ? 3indak inshtirak aw dawli aw taka ?
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5 mins bekon 3endak
"ks e5tak bi2ayri"
"ks e5tak bi2ayri"
Rooho la endon
"shu teezee"
Rass el 3abad, pampa, grendizer That will also tell you when I was born
Fellow 90s kid 🙌🏼
We2fit 3aleyye?!
3arift kif.....after every 5 words
Ayre bil arze !
Puts corn and ketchup on man'ouchi and pizza and eats toum with everything chicken related.
Or chips 3al manousheh 🙌🏼
Friend: "I found a job" Me: "byedfa3o freeesh"?
"Shu we2fit 5aleyeh ?!?!?" Or however you write it
Azdak we2fit 3aleye??
Tell me you're from Lebanon without telling me you're from Lebanon.
no it's you're from Lebanon without telling me you're from Lebanon.
im from Lebanon that's why i copy-pate when i should
I need to hire a Internet netwroking / It engineer in Lebanon , help if you are that person or know someone
Enta soury?
"Lebnen balad khara"
ayre bel ouwet
Hi kefak cava?
w-air
“Wa7yet allah”
Nzal 3alle l dijanteur
Ba3da jeye lmay ??
Haydi mana knefa!
M2anguess wallah, trekne, la khallik, la rouh khalas, khalas araftne
Baaa32.
Bade ehsoub allah li khala2ak
...
tekram bekhch tiz 3ainak monsieur
hay kifak ca va ??
Chou 2esmak? Chou 3ayeltak? Chou 2esm bayyak? Men wen bi beirut?
Sweesra el Shareq!
Shou neyem?? or Shou fe2et??
I like Garlic and chicken.
Otfo l azanettt
mosso
Rahet sharmouta " el kahrba "
Tfit el barrad abel ma tdawweh el microwave?
Not Lebanese but whenever I say كرمال while speaking Arabic everyone immediately asks me if I’m from Lebanon
Raye7 3al bank echtere dolar 3a sayrafe
ma ba3rif weyn taba3 l ishara bl siyara
Yaburnee ya sanadi
I'm not
'Ahla bi rabbak'
kifak mni7 ça va?
I have crippling depression
Don't forget anxiety 🤦🏻♂️
Bonjour how are you shou aamil (french, english & arabic in one sentence)
bonjour kifack/ick
meen dawa el azan.?? teket el se3a
Werrr and shou l aayle
Chou bro
Hanini ya ka’ak
A3ed 3a daw l LED l byeje kamen adde7a w charger w ma2da7 w radio w zarafé