Episode 39 · Can I?

Welcome back to Beirut! We are really settling into the neighbourhood now.

After Dr. Hala sent us home last time with strict orders to take it easy, we've had a nice rest and are finally feeling better.

Which is good, because there is still a massive, heavy wooden crate in Téta Nabiha's hallway that we really need to move out of the way.

But we shouldn't lift it alone. Down at Abu Naji's café, Jad is sipping an espresso and scrolling on his phone. Let's see if we can get his attention.

We walk up and try to string together a very formal, textbook sentence to ask for his assistance.

Jad shakes his head and tells us to drop the dictionary. He's happy to teach us the real Beiruti way to ask a guy for help.

fik tsé3edné?

فيك تساعدني؟ — Can you help me? · fik tsé3edné?

fik tsé3edné? This is the perfect, natural way to ask. fik means 'can you' when talking to a male.

فيك تساعدني؟ — Can you help me? · fik tsé3edné?

And tsé3edné means 'help me'. Listen to that deep, throaty 3 right in the middle. It's a tight squeeze in the throat. tsé3edné. Say the whole phrase with me... fik tsé3edné?

فيك تساعدني؟ — Can you help me? · fik tsé3edné?

Try it again, naturally. fik tsé3edné?

فيك تساعدني؟ — Can you help me? · fik tsé3edné?

Jad doesn't just say yes. He gives us the most classic Lebanese response possible.

akid, walaw!

أكيد، ولو — Of course — don't mention it · akid, walaw

akid, walaw. akid means 'sure' or 'of course'. But walaw is the magic word here.

أكيد، ولو — Of course — don't mention it · akid, walaw

It means 'come on' or 'don't even mention it'. It's all warmth and reassurance. walaw. Say it with me. akid, walaw.

أكيد، ولو — Of course — don't mention it · akid, walaw

One more time, just like you mean it. akid, walaw.

أكيد، ولو — Of course — don't mention it · akid, walaw

Abu Naji walks by with a tray. We need someone to hold the downstairs door open, so we try our new phrase on him. fik tsé3edné?

akid, walaw!

We've built quite the crew. Let's review what we just learned. fik tsé3edné? Can you help me? And the best reply... akid, walaw. Of course, don't mention it.

Up in the flat, Abu Naji holds the door while Jad helps us drag the giant wooden box into the spare room.

Just as we set it down, Jad's phone buzzes. He reads a text, looks up, and asks a question.

fiyyé rou7?

فيّي روح؟ — Can I go? · fiyyé rou7?

fiyyé rou7? We know rou7 means 'go' from a few weeks ago. But look at the first word.

فيّي روح؟ — Can I go? · fiyyé rou7?

When asking 'can you' to a guy, it was fik. But to say 'I can' or 'can I', it's fiyyé. Say it with me. fiyyé rou7?

فيّي روح؟ — Can I go? · fiyyé rou7?

A little faster now. fiyyé rou7?

فيّي روح؟ — Can I go? · fiyyé rou7?

We nod and tell him to go ahead. He pauses and asks if we want to come down and get a coffee with him.

We look at the mountain of dusty things still left to sort inside the box. We need to say we can't, because we have work.

ma fiyyé, 3inde shughel.

ما فيّي، عندي شغل — I can't — I've got work · ma fiyyé, 3inde shughel

ma fiyyé, 3inde shughel. By adding ma to the front, fiyyé becomes 'I can't'.

ما فيّي، عندي شغل — I can't — I've got work · ma fiyyé, 3inde shughel

And we remember 3inde shughel from a few weeks ago. Put it together. Say it with me. ma fiyyé, 3inde shughel.

ما فيّي، عندي شغل — I can't — I've got work · ma fiyyé, 3inde shughel

Again, naturally. ma fiyyé, 3inde shughel.

ما فيّي، عندي شغل — I can't — I've got work · ma fiyyé, 3inde shughel

Jad feels bad leaving us with the mess. He puts his phone away, rolls up his sleeves, and says 'come on, five minutes'.

We blitz through the rest of the sorting together. He tapes the last small box shut, dusts off his hands, and declares it complete.

mni7, khalas.

منيح، خلص — Good — done · mni7, khalas

mni7, khalas. mni7 means 'good'. And khalas is that satisfying word for 'finished' or 'done'.

منيح، خلص — Good — done · mni7, khalas

Listen to the word for 'done'. The first sound is the raspy kh, and the last sound is a heavy, deep s. khalas. Try it. mni7, khalas.

منيح، خلص — Good — done · mni7, khalas

One more time, with the satisfaction of a job well done. mni7, khalas.

منيح، خلص — Good — done · mni7, khalas

As Jad grabs his jacket, we hear a voice from the street below calling up to the balcony.

Jad! jéhez?

It's Maya, asking if he's ready. Wait, where are those two going? Jad grins at us and heads for the stairs. Looks like we'll have to find out next time.

Before we go, let's review everything. fik tsé3edné? Can you help me? akid, walaw. Of course, don't mention it. fiyyé rou7? Can I go? ma fiyyé, 3inde shughel. I can't, I have work. mni7, khalas. Good, done.

Great job today. The flat is looking better already! Remember, we're here every Tuesday and Friday. See you next time!