If you learn the following page of Arabic you will be able to handle most travel situations in Syria and Lebanon with minimal misunderstanding or rip-offs.  For bonus points, speak some French also.  At the very least print this page out and carry it with you.  Please note that this is my own phoneticization of Arabic as spoken by a savvy American native English speaker.

Survival Arabic for Syria and Lebanon

Kam Lira?  - How many Lira?

Adesh? – How many?

Syah - Hour

Sifir/Zero – Zero

Wahid – One

Itneen – Two

Seneseh – Three

Araba – Four

Hamse – Five

Siddeh – Six

Sebah – Seven

Itmaneh – Eight

Tis sah – Nine

Ashrah – Ten

Idash – Eleven

Itnash – Twelve

Ashrin – Twenty

Miyah – 100

Miten – 200

Latmiyah Hamseen – 250

Sarafa – Change (small bills)

Da ih ah – Minute

Yom – Day

Hafte – Week

Sana - Year

Misuf – Half

Rubuh – Quarter

Mar Haba – Hello (secular)

A Salaam Aleikum – Religious Greeting

Wa Aleikum Salaam – Reply to religious greeting

Subah Ala Heyir – Good morning

Laila Saida – Good evening

Tusbah Ala Heyir – Good night

Aiwa / Naam – Yes

Laa – No

Not - Mu

Shukran Jazilan – Thank you very much

Al AAn – Now

Al Yom – Today

Subah - Morning

Lail – Night

Qabl – Before

Ba ad - After

Wai in..? – Where is..?

Ala Tuul – Straight ahead

Yasaar – Left

Yameen – Right

Kam kilometer? – How many kilometers?

Bil mashi – By foot

Bil Baas – By bus

Bil sayara – By car

Passage - Mamar

Fi…? - Do you have … ?

…ma fi. – …we don’t have.

Ana azhabu illeh … - I am going to…

Mahattat al Baas – Bus station

Mahattat al Servees – Service taxi (shared) station/stop

Mahattat al Qitar – Train station

Medina – City center

Funduq – Hotel

Sayidilia – Chemist

Menziruka – Your house

Menziruka – My house

Menzir / Beit – House

Mud Defa’ah – Heater

Maa - Water

Chai / Shai - Tea

Ta ‘ am / Akel - Food

Mansaf - Rice

Laham - Meat

Haruf – Lamb (meat)

Faruj – Chicken

Bazinjan – Eggplant

Kas – Lettuce

Roman – Pomegranite

Tufa – Apple

Figil - Radish

I’m hungry – Ana ju’an

I’m thirsty – Ana at chen

Ana sheb ba’an – I’m full

Shoo ismak (ismik if adressee is female)? - What is your name?

Ma hua ismuka (ismuki if addressee female)  - What is your name?

Ismi… - My name is..

Min Wai in inta (inti is adressee is female)? – Where are you from?

Jensiya – Nationality

Ana siyaha – I’m a tourist

Ghaali – Expensive

Rakhees – Cheap

Khway yis – Good

Khway yis ji den – Very good

Mu Khway yis – Not good

Hallas – Enough

Yallah – Let’s go

Ana Afham – I understand

La Afham – I don’t understand

Lesh? – Why not?

Shuf – Look

Yujad - Find

Yatlab / Orid… – I want…

Kifek? / Keef halek? – Hows it going?

Khway yis – Good

Jamil ji den – Very beautiful

Yamsah – Clean

Schwieya – Some

Kalile – A little or little

Ah’lan wah sah’lan! – Welcome! (to be said when someone else enters room)

Shahus / Insen – Person or human

Rejol – Man

Fatat – Woman or girl

Walid - Boy

Heluah – Sweet girl

Waha jadid – New one

Min shafa – Towel

Ez hu rat – Flower

Warda / Babunaj – Flower

Resala – Letter (post)

Sikh – Penis

Walid himar – Donkey boy (a light insult)