Episode 36 · Mraja3a: Morning at home

Welcome back to the neighbourhood. It's a brisk, chilly morning in Beirut, and you're making your first coffee of the day in Téta Nabiha's kitchen.

You're finally starting to feel settled. The flat doesn't just feel like a memory anymore; it's starting to feel like yours.

Until, that is, a very loud, very confident knock at the door breaks the silence. You open it to find little Lili standing there, holding a tablet and a backpack.

Jad is halfway down the stairs, waving apologetically. He shouts up that he needs to grab something from his place, and asks if Lili can wait with you for five minutes.

Before you can even answer, Lili marches right past you, drops her bag in the hallway, and heads straight for the salon sofa like she owns the place.

hayda béte, hayy ghurfté.

هيدا بيتي، هيّي غرفتي — This is my house, this is my room · hayda béte, hayy ghurfté

She's really claiming her territory! Let's review this. She says hayda béte, meaning 'this is my house'.

هيدا بيتي، هيّي غرفتي — This is my house, this is my room · hayda béte, hayy ghurfté

Because the word for house, béte, is masculine, she uses the masculine word for 'this', which is hayda. But notice what she uses for the room.

هيدا بيتي، هيّي غرفتي — This is my house, this is my room · hayda béte, hayy ghurfté

She says hayy ghurfté. The word for room, ghurfa, is feminine. So she uses hayy for 'this'. You'll also hear people say hayde, but hayy is very common in spoken Beiruti.

هيدا بيتي، هيّي غرفتي — This is my house, this is my room · hayda béte, hayy ghurfté

Say the whole thing with me. Let's claim the space. hayda béte, hayy ghurfté.

هيدا بيتي، هيّي غرفتي — This is my house, this is my room · hayda béte, hayy ghurfté

A little more naturally now: hayda béte, hayy ghurfté.

هيدا بيتي، هيّي غرفتي — This is my house, this is my room · hayda béte, hayy ghurfté

hayda béte, hayy ghurfté.

هيدا بيتي، هيّي غرفتي — This is my house, this is my room · hayda béte, hayy ghurfté

Lili crosses her arms back at you, but then she shivers. Old Beirut flats don't have central heating, and the stone floors hold the winter cold.

3am bilbes, bardéné!

عم بلبس، بردانة — I'm getting dressed — I'm cold · 3am bilbes, bardéné

She says 3am bilbes, meaning 'I'm getting dressed' or 'I'm putting clothes on'. It comes from the verb to wear.

عم بلبس، بردانة — I'm getting dressed — I'm cold · 3am bilbes, bardéné

And then she gives her reason: bardéné. This means 'I am cold' for a female. Notice that nice soft ending.

عم بلبس، بردانة — I'm getting dressed — I'm cold · 3am bilbes, bardéné

If you identify as male, you would drop that ending and just say bardén. But since we're quoting Lili right now, let's practice her exact words.

عم بلبس، بردانة — I'm getting dressed — I'm cold · 3am bilbes, bardéné

Say it with me. I'm getting dressed, I'm cold: 3am bilbes, bardéné.

عم بلبس، بردانة — I'm getting dressed — I'm cold · 3am bilbes, bardéné

Let's pause and review what we've heard in the flat so far this morning. First, claiming your space: hayda béte, hayy ghurfté. hayda béte, hayy ghurfté. This is my house, this is my room. Then, layering up for the chill: 3am bilbes, bardéné. 3am bilbes, bardéné. I'm getting dressed, I'm cold.

Just as Lili gets fully cocooned in her layers, the front door swings open. Jad walks in, rubbing his arms. He looks around, confused.

el-jakét el-azra2 ile!

الجاكيت الأزرق إلي — The blue jacket is mine · el-jakét el-azra2 ile

Ah. It seems one of Lili's layers belongs to her uncle. Jad says el-jakét el-azra2, meaning 'the blue jacket'.

الجاكيت الأزرق إلي — The blue jacket is mine · el-jakét el-azra2 ile

And then he adds a very useful little word: ile. This simply means 'is mine' or 'belongs to me'.

الجاكيت الأزرق إلي — The blue jacket is mine · el-jakét el-azra2 ile

Remember that heavy catch in the throat for the colour blue, el-azra2. Listen to it pop at the end.

الجاكيت الأزرق إلي — The blue jacket is mine · el-jakét el-azra2 ile

Try it with me. Be a little indignant, like Jad. el-jakét el-azra2 ile.

الجاكيت الأزرق إلي — The blue jacket is mine · el-jakét el-azra2 ile

Once more: el-jakét el-azra2 ile.

الجاكيت الأزرق إلي — The blue jacket is mine · el-jakét el-azra2 ile

Jad puts his jacket on and tells Lili to grab her bag. It's time to head down to the café, and then off to school.

But Lili doesn't want to leave the warm sofa. She suddenly slumps back, placing the back of her hand dramatically against her forehead.

rase 3am yuja3né shwayy.

راسي عم يوجعني شوي — My head hurts a bit · rase 3am yuja3né shwayy

You've heard this one before! She's using the exact same excuse she tried on Dr. Hala at the pharmacy.

راسي عم يوجعني شوي — My head hurts a bit · rase 3am yuja3né shwayy

Let's review her very theatrical complaint. rase means 'my head'. And 3am yuja3né means 'is hurting me'.

راسي عم يوجعني شوي — My head hurts a bit · rase 3am yuja3né shwayy

She tacks on shwayy at the end, meaning 'a little bit', just to make it sound more realistic. It's not working.

راسي عم يوجعني شوي — My head hurts a bit · rase 3am yuja3né shwayy

Say it with me, and give it some drama. My head hurts a bit: rase 3am yuja3né shwayy.

راسي عم يوجعني شوي — My head hurts a bit · rase 3am yuja3né shwayy

Jad isn't falling for it. He tells her that if her head hurts, she probably shouldn't have the hot za'atar man'oushe Abu Naji just pulled out of the oven downstairs.

Miraculously, Lili's headache vanishes instantly. She grabs her backpack and bolts out the door before Jad even has a chance to say goodbye.

Jad waves, pulls the door shut behind him, and the flat is quiet again. You take a sip of your coffee. It's cold outside, but in here, it really is starting to feel like home.

Before we finish, let's review all the ways we talked about home and getting ready today. Claiming the space: hayda béte, hayy ghurfté. hayda béte, hayy ghurfté. Layering up: 3am bilbes, bardéné. 3am bilbes, bardéné. Claiming a jacket: el-jakét el-azra2 ile. el-jakét el-azra2 ile. And faking a headache: rase 3am yuja3né shwayy. rase 3am yuja3né shwayy.

You've survived the morning rush! We have new lessons every Tuesday and Friday, so you can keep building your life here in the neighbourhood. I'll see you next time.