Episode 22 · A coffee, on me

Welcome back to Sahet el-Teeneh. It's a gorgeous morning in the square, and you've been working hard on your verbs all week.

You're at Abu Naji's café, sitting at the table he now officially calls 'yours'. Until today, you've just been pointing at the espresso machine and smiling. Today, you're going to use your words.

Look at you! Let's break that down. You know from before how to say please, which is law sama7t. And now we're adding I want, which is baddé, and coffee, 2ahwe. Notice that little catch in the throat at the start of 2ahwe. Say it with me: baddé 2ahwe, law sama7t.

بدّي قهوة، لو سمحت — I want a coffee, please · baddé 2ahwe, law sama7t

Let's try it again, a little slower, making sure we get that throat catch. Ready? Say: baddé 2ahwe, law sama7t.

بدّي قهوة، لو سمحت — I want a coffee, please · baddé 2ahwe, law sama7t

"Ahlan wa sahlan, min 3youné!" Abu Naji replies warmly. Welcome, from my eyes!

Perfect. Just as he turns to make it, Jad plops down in the chair opposite you. He looks like he hasn't slept, probably up late studying. You should offer him something.

Since Jad is a guy, we change our I want to you want by adding a K sound, making it baddak. Then we recycle the verb to drink from our earlier lessons, tishrab, and add the word for something, shi. Try asking him: baddak tishrab shi?

بدّك تشرب شي؟ — Do you want something to drink? · baddak tishrab shi?

Ask him one more time naturally, as a friend: baddak tishrab shi?

بدّك تشرب شي؟ — Do you want something to drink? · baddak tishrab shi?

"Eh wallah, baddé 2ahwe," Jad says, holding up one finger to Abu Naji. Yes honestly, I want a coffee.

Let's pause and review. To say I want a coffee, please, you say: baddé 2ahwe, law sama7t. Again: baddé 2ahwe, law sama7t. And to ask a guy if he wants something to drink, it's: baddak tishrab shi? One more time: baddak tishrab shi?

Abu Naji comes over with a tray carrying two beautiful, dark coffees. Naturally, you reach into your pocket for your wallet.

Put the wallet away, you're not paying today. He's saying your coffee is on me. The word for on me is 3aleyyé. Listen for that deep, throaty sound at the beginning. Try it: 2ahwtak 3aleyyé.

قهوتك عليّي — Your coffee's on me · 2ahwtak 3aleyyé

It's a very common phrase of hospitality. Say it like you mean it: 2ahwtak 3aleyyé.

قهوتك عليّي — Your coffee's on me · 2ahwtak 3aleyyé

You can't just accept a free coffee on the first offer! You have to do the polite refusal dance. You say no, on the contrary, it's on me. The word for on the contrary is bil-3aks. Give it a try: la2, bil-3aks, 3aleyyé.

لأ، بالعكس، عليّي — No, on the contrary — it's on me · la2, bil-3aks, 3aleyyé

This back-and-forth can go on for minutes in Lebanon, so say it with some gentle insistence. Say: la2, bil-3aks, 3aleyyé.

لأ، بالعكس، عليّي — No, on the contrary — it's on me · la2, bil-3aks, 3aleyyé

"La2 la2, 3aleyyé ana!" Jad suddenly insists, pointing to himself. No no, on me!

And now Jad is trying to pay too! It's a three-way standoff. But Abu Naji is the king of this café, and he has the final word. He waves you both off.

He won the argument, as usual. When he sets the coffee down, he says the Lebanese equivalent of bon appetit, which literally means double health. Listen to that heavy, breathy H in the middle, like you're fogging up a mirror. Say it with me: sa7tein.

صحتين — To your health · sa7tein

You will hear this every single time you eat or drink anything in Lebanon. Let's practice that deep H one more time: sa7tein.

صحتين — To your health · sa7tein

You and Jad both put your wallets away, defeated but happy. Free coffee tastes pretty good.

"Jeyé 3al-3asha bukra?" Jad asks over his cup. Are you coming to dinner tomorrow?

Oh, right. Maya is organizing a big neighborhood dinner tomorrow night. You're definitely invited. But... are you ready to handle a whole dinner party in Lebanese?

Let's review our whole coffee shop adventure. I want a coffee, please: baddé 2ahwe, law sama7t. Again: baddé 2ahwe, law sama7t. Do you want something to drink: baddak tishrab shi? Again: baddak tishrab shi? Your coffee is on me: 2ahwtak 3aleyyé. Again: 2ahwtak 3aleyyé. No, on the contrary, it's on me: la2, bil-3aks, 3aleyyé. Again: la2, bil-3aks, 3aleyyé. And to your health: sa7tein. Again: sa7tein.

You survived the Lebanese polite refusal, and you got a free coffee out of it! We'll see how you do at Maya's dinner next time. Remember, new lessons drop every Tuesday and Friday. See you in the ḥayy!