Episode 34 · Getting dressed

Welcome back to Beirut. It is officially winter in the ḥayy, and those old stone walls in Téta Nabiha's flat? They hold the cold like a fridge.

You are currently doing the winter morning dance—hopping on one foot trying to get dressed quickly before the chill sets in.

Which is exactly when Jad and little Lili decide to let themselves in, carrying a bag of fresh man'ousheh from Sett Sana.

shoubak 3am btnott?

3am bilbes el-kanzé!

عم بلبس الكنزة — I'm putting on the sweater · 3am bilbes el-kanzé

You're putting on the sweater, right in this exact moment. Let's break that down.

Remember our word 3am from a few weeks ago? It means you're doing something right now. You pair it with bilbes, the action of putting clothes on.

And the sweater itself is el-kanzé. Listen to how Jad and the learner say it: el-kanzé. Say the whole thing with me: 3am bilbes el-kanzé.

عم بلبس الكنزة — I'm putting on the sweater · 3am bilbes el-kanzé

A little smoother this time. Imagine you're shivering. 3am bilbes el-kanzé.

enta 3am tilbes kanzé, bas Jad majnoun.

ana mesh majnoun! lébes bantalon azra2, stayl.

لابس بنطلون أزرق — Wearing blue trousers · lébes bantalon azra2

Did you hear the difference there? You were actively putting your sweater on, but Jad is already wearing his trousers.

When you are already dressed in something, you don't use the action word. You use the state of wearing: lébes.

He's wearing bantalon azra2. Blue trousers. Remember the word for blue from when Lili showed us the flat? Catch that deep 2 at the very end. azra2.

Try it with me, saying what Jad is wearing: lébes bantalon azra2.

لابس بنطلون أزرق — Wearing blue trousers · lébes bantalon azra2

If a woman is wearing it, she adds an eh sound: lébsé. But Jad is a guy, so just lébes. One more time: lébes bantalon azra2.

Right, time to leave this freezing flat and get down to Abu Naji's café where the heater is on. But there's a pile of shoes by the door.

hal-jazmé ile!

هالجزمة إلي — These shoes are mine · hal-jazmé ile

She claimed her winter boots. jazmé is used for heavy shoes or boots. And remember how Lili taught us to say 'this' by attaching el to the front?

So 'these boots' becomes hal-jazmé. And the word for 'mine' is ile. Put it together. Say it with me: hal-jazmé ile.

هالجزمة إلي — These shoes are mine · hal-jazmé ile

Nice and natural, claiming what's yours. hal-jazmé ile.

Let's make sure we've packed everything before we head into the cold stairway. We learned: 3am bilbes el-kanzé. I'm putting on the sweater.

Then we noticed what Jad is already wearing: lébes bantalon azra2. Wearing blue trousers.

And Lili claimed her winter boots: hal-jazmé ile. These boots are mine. Alright, let's step outside.

You pull the heavy wooden door shut, and instantly, a bitter draft sweeps up the stairwell from the street.

bardéné, baddé jakét!

بردانة، بدّي جاكيت — I'm cold — I want a jacket · bardéné, baddé jakét

She really is! Lili says she's cold: bardéné. Because she's a girl, it ends in that eh sound. If a guy is cold, he says bardén.

And what does she want? You know the word baddé for 'I want'. And she wants a jakét. Yes, it sounds just like jacket, but with a Beiruti spin.

Try it as Lili said it. Say: bardéné, baddé jakét.

بردانة، بدّي جاكيت — I'm cold — I want a jacket · bardéné, baddé jakét

And if you're a guy, drop the ending on cold. Try it: bardén, baddé jakét.

tfaddalé.

Meanwhile, Jad takes a good look at you. In your rush to get warm, you've put Téta's giant wool sweater over a completely mismatched shirt.

shu lébes?

شو لابس؟ — What are you wearing? · shu lébes?

He's judging your fashion. shu is our everyday word for 'what'. And there's that word for wearing again: lébes.

If he were asking a girl, he'd say shu lébsé. But he's talking to a guy here. Ask someone what they're wearing. Say: shu lébes?

شو لابس؟ — What are you wearing? · shu lébes?

Just let it roll together. shu lébes?

You finally make it down to Abu Naji's. The heater is glowing orange in the corner, and sitting at the best table is Maya, with two hot coffees waiting.

She did say she wanted to take you to the sea. Maybe she hasn't noticed your terrible sweater yet.

Before we grab that coffee, let's review today's winter survival phrases. I'm putting on the sweater: 3am bilbes el-kanzé... 3am bilbes el-kanzé.

Wearing blue trousers: lébes bantalon azra2... lébes bantalon azra2.

These shoes are mine: hal-jazmé ile... hal-jazmé ile.

I'm cold, I want a jacket: bardéné, baddé jakét... bardéné, baddé jakét.

And finally, what are you wearing? shu lébes?... shu lébes?

You are officially dressed for the ḥayy. Now, let's see where Maya's planning to take us. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday. I'll see you at the café!