Episode 32 · My house, your house

Welcome back to Sahet el-Teeneh. Last time, you managed a whole shopping trip by yourself with Sett Sana, working out the change and the directions.

Today, you're back in Téta Nabiha's flat, trying to organize the last of the living room boxes. But Abu Naji's daughter, Lili, has decided to 'help' by dragging all the sofa cushions into a circle.

hayda béte.

هيدا بيتي — This is my house · hayda béte

She just claimed that corner for herself. She said hayda béte. This is my house.

Lebanese makes ownership very simple. You just take the word for house, bét, and add a long 'ee' sound at the end to make it yours. béte. My house.

Say it with me: hayda béte.

هيدا بيتي — This is my house · hayda béte

Once more, nice and natural: hayda béte.

هيدا بيتي — This is my house · hayda béte

el ghurfa sghiré.

You remember that from our tour of the flat. el ghurfa sghiré. The room is small. But she seems happy enough with it. Then she looks up at you, curious.

wein bétak?

وين بيتك؟ — Where's your house? · wein bétak?

She wants to know where you belong! wein bétak? Where is your house?

To say 'your house', we add a 'k' sound to bét. If you're a guy, it's bétak. If you're a woman, it's bétik.

Let's practice the masculine form she just used. Say: wein bétak?

وين بيتك؟ — Where's your house? · wein bétak?

Again, a little slower: wein bétak?

وين بيتك؟ — Where's your house? · wein bétak?

béte hon.

Nice. béte hon. My house is here. Lili nods approvingly, then starts adjusting a blue pillow in her fort, comparing it to her real bedroom downstairs.

ghurfté zar2a.

غرفتي زرقا — My room is blue · ghurfté zar2a

She says ghurfté zar2a. My room is blue. Here's a great little trick: the word for room is ghurfa. But when a word ends in that short 'a' sound, we have to close it up before we add the 'my' ending.

So ghurfa becomes ghurfté. It connects beautifully. Try it: ghurfté zar2a.

غرفتي زرقا — My room is blue · ghurfté zar2a

One more time, smoothly: ghurfté zar2a.

غرفتي زرقا — My room is blue · ghurfté zar2a

Let's pause and lock these in. Just listen and repeat.

This is my house: hayda béte. hayda béte.

هيدا بيتي — This is my house · hayda béte

Where is your house: wein bétak? wein bétak?

وين بيتك؟ — Where's your house? · wein bétak?

And my room is blue: ghurfté zar2a. ghurfté zar2a.

غرفتي زرقا — My room is blue · ghurfté zar2a

You reach into the box you were unpacking and pull out a small, silver-framed photograph. It's Téta Nabiha, standing right by this very window, years ago.

Lili abandons her fort and comes over. She remembers Téta perfectly. She points to the picture, then looks around the living room.

béta 7ilo.

بيتها حلو — Her house is nice · béta 7ilo

béta 7ilo. Her house is nice. We took bét and added a simple 'a' sound for 'her'. béta.

Try it with me: béta 7ilo.

بيتها حلو — Her house is nice · béta 7ilo

Again, letting it flow together: béta 7ilo.

بيتها حلو — Her house is nice · béta 7ilo

éh, béta 7ilo ktir.

Suddenly, you hear a familiar booming voice from the café downstairs. It's Abu Naji, calling up from the street, wondering where his daughter vanished to.

ya lili! weinik?

Lili runs to the window and leans out. She could say she's at your house. But she doesn't.

bétna fo2!

بيتنا فوق — Our house is upstairs · bétna fo2

Did you catch that? She said bétna fo2. Our house is upstairs. She just officially adopted your apartment into the family.

To say 'our house', we add na to the end. bétna. Say it with me: bétna fo2.

بيتنا فوق — Our house is upstairs · bétna fo2

Again, with confidence: bétna fo2.

بيتنا فوق — Our house is upstairs · bétna fo2

Abu Naji laughs from below, waving her off. The flat doesn't just feel like a box of memories anymore. It's starting to feel like part of the neighbourhood again.

Before we go, let's review our new possessive endings one last time.

This is my house: hayda béte. hayda béte.

هيدا بيتي — This is my house · hayda béte

Where is your house: wein bétak? wein bétak?

وين بيتك؟ — Where's your house? · wein bétak?

My room is blue: ghurfté zar2a. ghurfté zar2a.

غرفتي زرقا — My room is blue · ghurfté zar2a

Her house is nice: béta 7ilo. béta 7ilo.

بيتها حلو — Her house is nice · béta 7ilo

And our house is upstairs: bétna fo2. bétna fo2.

بيتنا فوق — Our house is upstairs · bétna fo2

You're really settling in now, but tomorrow, Maya has plans for you. Very specific plans. We'll see what she's plotting next time. Join us every Tuesday and Friday for a new episode of Fablingo Lebanese. See you then!