Episode 27 · Half a kilo

Welcome back to the neighborhood. Last time, Maya invited you to the sea, and your social life here finally started taking shape.

If you are going to the sea, you need snacks. You head to Sett Sana's little grocery shop, the dekkéné. It is packed to the ceiling with everything you could possibly imagine.

ahla! shu baddak el-yom?

You spot a crate of gorgeous red apples. Time to buy like a local—by weight.

baddé noss kilo tiffé7.

بدّي نصّ كيلو تفّاح — I want half a kilo of apples · baddé noss kilo tiffé7

That is exactly how you order produce in Lebanon. You say baddé, which we know means 'I want', followed by noss kilo, half a kilo, and then the item, tiffé7.

The word for apple is tiffé7. Listen to that heavy breathy sound at the very end. Like you are fogging up a mirror.

Try asking for it. Say: baddé noss kilo tiffé7.

بدّي نصّ كيلو تفّاح — I want half a kilo of apples · baddé noss kilo tiffé7

Sett Sana nods and starts grabbing apples. While she does, you remember you need supplies for the road.

3indak khebez?

akid! taza.

She sets the apples on her old metal scale. You realize you haven't checked the price yet.

2addesh el-kilo?

قدّيش الكيلو؟ — How much is a kilo? · 2addesh el-kilo?

2addesh means 'how much'. It is the single most important word for shopping in Beirut.

Notice the start of the word. In Beirut, that formal letter is pronounced as a catch in the throat, like the pause in 'uh-oh'. Listen: 2addesh.

Try asking her. Say it naturally: 2addesh el-kilo?

قدّيش الكيلو؟ — How much is a kilo? · 2addesh el-kilo?

b-alfein lira.

بألفين ليرة — For two thousand lira · b-alfein lira

She says b-alfein lira. The little letter b at the front just means 'for'. So she is saying 'for two thousand lira'.

Lebanese currency uses big numbers! The word for a thousand is alef. To make it exactly two thousand, we add the dual ending, making it alfein.

Practice saying the price. Say: b-alfein lira.

بألفين ليرة — For two thousand lira · b-alfein lira

Let's pause and lock these in. Listen and repeat: baddé noss kilo tiffé7. I want half a kilo of apples.

بدّي نصّ كيلو تفّاح — I want half a kilo of apples · baddé noss kilo tiffé7

2addesh el-kilo? How much is a kilo?

قدّيش الكيلو؟ — How much is a kilo? · 2addesh el-kilo?

b-alfein lira. For two thousand lira.

بألفين ليرة — For two thousand lira · b-alfein lira

Back at the counter, Sett Sana looks at the scale. The needle is hovering just under the half-kilo mark. She picks up one small apple and raises an eyebrow at you.

kamén shwayy.

كمان شوي — A little more · kamén shwayy

This phrase is pure magic. kamén means 'also' or 'more'. And shwayy means 'a little'.

You will use this everywhere. When someone pours you coffee, when they scoop hummus onto your plate, or when adding weight. Say it with me: kamén shwayy.

كمان شوي — A little more · kamén shwayy

She drops the apple in. Perfect. She hands you the paper bag. You hand her a larger bill, and she starts hunting for a massive stack of small coins and notes for your change.

You want to be polite and save her the trouble. You decide to tell her to keep the change.

khod el-be2é.

خود الباقي — Keep the change · khod el-be2é

Okay, let's break this down! khod means 'take'. el-be2é means 'the rest', which we use for change. This is exactly what you say to a man.

But wait! Sett Sana is a woman. When talking to a woman, the command 'take' gets a feminine ending, making it khodé. So you actually should have said khodé el-be2é.

Say the standard phrase first, to lock it in: khod el-be2é.

خود الباقي — Keep the change · khod el-be2é

la2 ya rou7é! khodé enté el-be2é.

She absolutely refuses the tip, pressing the change into your hand. Then, out of habit, she pulls out her famous battered notebook.

3al daftar?

la2, kash el-yom.

You step out of the shop, victorious, holding your bread and apples. Suddenly, Jad comes zooming by. He spots the bag, grabs an apple without asking, and takes a huge bite.

yalla! maya natra!

Well, it looks like that trip to the sea is happening right now!

Before we hit the beach, let's recap today's shop. baddé noss kilo tiffé7. I want half a kilo of apples.

بدّي نصّ كيلو تفّاح — I want half a kilo of apples · baddé noss kilo tiffé7

2addesh el-kilo? How much is a kilo?

قدّيش الكيلو؟ — How much is a kilo? · 2addesh el-kilo?

b-alfein lira. For two thousand lira.

بألفين ليرة — For two thousand lira · b-alfein lira

kamén shwayy. A little more.

كمان شوي — A little more · kamén shwayy

And finally, khod el-be2é. Keep the change.

خود الباقي — Keep the change · khod el-be2é

Amazing job today. We are back in the neighborhood with a new episode every Tuesday and Friday. Bring your sunglasses next time!