Episode 24 · What do you want to do tomorrow?

Welcome back to the neighbourhood. It's been a busy few days here in Beirut. You've navigated your first coffee orders, learned how to say you don't understand, and even started a running tab at Sett Sana's shop.

Right now, you're enjoying the late afternoon breeze at Abu Naji's. You're finally catching your breath. But in this neighbourhood, quiet moments never last long. Especially not when Maya is around.

Maya loves a plan. She can't help it. She pulls out a chair opposite you, tapping her pen against her chin, and asks the ultimate planner's question.

shu baddak ta3mel bukra?

شو بدّك تعمل بكرا؟ — What do you want to do tomorrow? · shu baddak ta3mel bukra?

She wants to know what you're doing tomorrow! Let's break this down. She starts with shu baddak, which means 'what do you want?'. We learned baddé for 'I want', but since she's talking to you, it becomes baddak.

Then she adds the action: ta3mel, which means 'to do'. And finally, the star of the sentence, the word for tomorrow: bukra. Try saying tomorrow with me. The R is a gentle tap at the roof of your mouth. bukra.

Now let's put it all together. Repeat after Maya: shu baddak ta3mel bukra?

شو بدّك تعمل بكرا؟ — What do you want to do tomorrow? · shu baddak ta3mel bukra?

shu baddak ta3mel bukra?

شو بدّك تعمل بكرا؟ — What do you want to do tomorrow? · shu baddak ta3mel bukra?

Well, you've had a lot of grammar and coffee lately. You look out past the buildings and think... you just want to relax by the water.

baddé rou7 3a-l-ba7r

بدّي روح عالبحر — I want to go to the sea · baddé rou7 3a-l-ba7r

Perfect. You used our old friend baddé, 'I want'. Then you added rou7, 'to go'. Notice that heavy breathy H at the end? rou7. Like fogging up a mirror.

And where are you going? 3a-l-ba7r, meaning 'to the sea'. It has another heavy H in the middle. 3a-l-ba7r. Say the whole sentence with me. I want to go to the sea: baddé rou7 3a-l-ba7r.

بدّي روح عالبحر — I want to go to the sea · baddé rou7 3a-l-ba7r

Before Maya can reply, little Lili wanders over from the square. She's been running around all afternoon playing tag, and she looks absolutely exhausted. She leans her head against your table.

badda tném.

بدّها تنام — She wants to sleep · badda tném

Maya says, 'She wants to sleep.' Notice how the want word changes again! For 'she wants', it's badda. And the verb 'to sleep' is tném.

Try it. If you want to say she wants to sleep, say: badda tném.

بدّها تنام — She wants to sleep · badda tném

Let's pause and lock in what we've just learned. We asked about tomorrow: shu baddak ta3mel bukra?... shu baddak ta3mel bukra? You answered: baddé rou7 3a-l-ba7r... baddé rou7 3a-l-ba7r. And about tired Lili, we said: badda tném... badda tném.

Abu Naji comes over and gently guides the sleepy Lili home. Maya turns back to you. She heard your solo beach plan, but Maya doesn't really do 'solo'. She taps her pen again.

la2, bukra badna nitla3.

بكرا بدنا نطلع — Tomorrow we want to go out · bukra badna nitla3

She says, 'Tomorrow we want to go out.' She used bukra for tomorrow. But listen to how she changed the 'want'. She said badna. That means 'we want'.

And the verb is nitla3, which means to go out, or to go up. It has that deep throat catch in the middle with the 3ayn sound. nitla3. Try saying the whole phrase. Tomorrow we want to go out: bukra badna nitla3.

بكرا بدنا نطلع — Tomorrow we want to go out · bukra badna nitla3

bukra badna nitla3?

بكرا بدنا نطلع — Tomorrow we want to go out · bukra badna nitla3

You repeat it back, half-asking if you actually agreed to this. Maya smiles. She's got you now.

yalla, mnrou7 sawa.

يلّا، منروح سوا — Come on, let's go together · yalla, mnrou7 sawa

Ah, there's the magic phrase. yalla means 'come on' or 'let's go'. Then she says mnrou7, 'we go'. And sawa means 'together'.

It's such a lovely way to make a plan. Let's practice it so you can agree. Say: yalla, mnrou7 sawa.

يلّا، منروح سوا — Come on, let's go together · yalla, mnrou7 sawa

sawa.

You agreed! Maya looks quite pleased with herself. She waves goodbye and walks across the square. You wanted a quiet day at the beach, but now you're going out. Together. Where exactly are you going? I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

Let's review today's plans. Maya asked: shu baddak ta3mel bukra?... shu baddak ta3mel bukra? You said: baddé rou7 3a-l-ba7r... baddé rou7 3a-l-ba7r. We saw tired Lili: badda tném... badda tném. Maya changed the plan: bukra badna nitla3... bukra badna nitla3. And sealed the deal: yalla, mnrou7 sawa... yalla, mnrou7 sawa.

You've officially made your first weekend plan in Lebanese Arabic! We'll see how this outing goes. Remember, we're here twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday. See you next time!