150+ Palestinian Arabic Phrases: The Ultimate Phrase Book
Every phrase below is real Palestinian dialect — the Arabic you would actually hear in Ramallah, Nablus, Gaza, Haifa, or your teta’s kitchen — not the Standard Arabic nobody speaks at a dinner table. Each card gives you the script, a transliteration you can say out loud, the English, and a note on how Palestinians actually use it. Tap the speaker on any card to hear it.
How to Use This Phrase Book
Every card follows the same pattern: Arabic script on top, a transliteration underneath, the English meaning, and — where it matters — a Palestinian note explaining what textbooks leave out. Tap the speaker icon on any card to hear the phrase. In the transliterations, 3 stands for the throaty ع (ayn) and ’ marks the glottal stop urban Palestinians use where written Arabic has a ق (q) — so قهوة comes out ’ahwe, not qahwa.
The phrases are grouped by real-world situation, so use the contents above — or Cmd+F the word you half-remember. Where a phrase deserves its own deep dive, we link the full guide next to its card. If you are wondering how Palestinian Arabic sits inside the wider Levantine family, start with our dialects guide; and when you are ready to stop reading and start speaking, the Yalla Ni7ki app drills these exact phrases with real Palestinian audio, fifteen minutes at a time.
Essential Greetings
A Palestinian conversation never opens with business — it opens with a volley of greetings, each one returned with interest. Master these ten and you will survive the first minute of any encounter. For the longer stories, we have full guides to saying hello, good morning, how are you, and welcome the Palestinian way.
مرحبا
marhaba
Hello
Palestinian note: The all-purpose hello. The warm reply is marhabtein — “two hellos” — because a greeting always gets returned with interest.
أهلاً وسهلاً
ahlan w sahlan
Welcome / hello
Palestinian note: Literally “you’ve arrived among family, on level ground.” Shortened to ahla or ahlein in quick replies.
السلام عليكم
as-salamu 3aleikum
Peace be upon you
Palestinian note: The reply is wa 3aleikum is-salam. Works with everyone, at any hour, in any register.
كيفك؟
kifak? / kifik?
How are you? (to a man / to a woman)
Palestinian note: The Palestinian default — not the MSA kayfa haluka, which nobody says on an actual street.
شو أخبارك؟
shu akhbarak?
What’s your news? / what’s up?
Palestinian note: Usually fired right after kifak, before you’ve had a chance to answer the first question.
منيح، الحمد لله
mnih, il-hamdilla
Good, thank God
Palestinian note: mnih is the Levantine “good.” The hamdilla comes automatically — even on a terrible day.
صباح الخير
sabah il-kheir
Good morning
Palestinian note: Reply with sabah in-nur — “a morning of light.”
مسا الخير
masa il-kheir
Good evening
Palestinian note: Anytime from late afternoon onward. The reply is masa in-nur.
شو في ما في؟
shu fi ma fi?
What’s up? (lit. what’s there, what’s not?)
Palestinian note: Pure Levantine street greeting between friends. The honest answer is usually wala ishi — nothing.
نوّرتوا
nawwartu
You lit the place up (said to arriving guests)
Palestinian note: The standard reply is minawwar bi-ahlo — “it’s lit by its own people.” Hospitality in one exchange.
Introducing Yourself
Once the greetings settle, people will want to know who you are — and answering in dialect, however haltingly, changes the temperature of the whole conversation. Nobody expects perfection; they expect effort, and they reward it lavishly.
أنا اسمي...
ana ismi...
My name is...
شو اسمك؟
shu ismak? / ismik?
What’s your name? (m / f)
من وين إنت؟
min wein inta? / inti?
Where are you from? (m / f)
Palestinian note: wein is the Levantine “where” — you’ll hear it a hundred times a day.
أنا من فلسطين
ana min falastin
I’m from Palestine
تشرّفنا
tsharrafna
Pleased to meet you (lit. we’ve been honored)
Palestinian note: The graceful reply is ish-sharaf ilna — the honor is ours.
بحكي شوي عربي
bahki shwayy 3arabi
I speak a little Arabic
Palestinian note: That b- prefix marks the Levantine present tense — bahki, not the MSA atakallamu.
عم بتعلّم عربي
3am bat3allam 3arabi
I’m learning Arabic
Palestinian note: Guaranteed to earn you a delighted mashalla and a free pronunciation lesson.
ممكن تحكي على مهلك؟
mumkin tihki 3ala mahlak?
Can you speak slowly?
Palestinian note: 3ala mahlak — “at your ease.” Add law samaht for extra politeness.
At the Café
Coffee in Palestine is hospitality, ceremony, and occasionally a negotiation tactic. These are the phrases that get you fed and caffeinated, along with the courtesies that should travel with them — law samaht chief among them (our guide to saying please covers the rest), plus the many ways to say thank you when the plates are cleared.
بدي قهوة، لو سمحت
biddi ’ahwe, law samaht
I’d like a coffee, please
Palestinian note: biddi (I want) is the most useful word on this page. Urban Palestinians drop the q: ’ahwe, not qahwa.
شو في عندكم؟
shu fi 3indkum?
What do you have?
شو بتنصحنا؟
shu btinsahna?
What do you recommend?
واحد شاي بنعنع
wahad shay bi-na3na3
One mint tea
Palestinian note: Mint is the default. On a cold day, ask for shay bi-maramiyye — sage tea, a deeply Palestinian habit.
سادة، وسط، ولا زيادة؟
sada, wasat, willa ziyade?
Unsweetened, medium, or extra sweet?
Palestinian note: The three answers to “how do you take your coffee?” Sugar is decided at brewing, never stirred in after.
صحتين
sahtein
Bon appétit (lit. two healths)
Palestinian note: Said before, during, or after someone eats. The reply is 3ala albak — “to your heart.”
على قلبك
3ala albak
And to your heart (the reply to sahtein)
زاكي كتير!
zaki ktir!
Delicious!
Palestinian note: zaki is the Palestinian word for tasty — Lebanese and Syrians say tayyeb. Using it marks you instantly.
الحساب، لو سمحت
il-hisab, law samaht
The bill, please
يسلمو إيديك
yislamu ideik / ideiki
Bless your hands (m / f — to whoever cooked)
Palestinian note: The highest compliment for food. On its own, yislamo is an everyday thank-you.
Shopping in the Market
In a Palestinian souq, the listed price is an opening argument, not a verdict. Bargaining is social theater played with a smile, and walking away politely — a firm la, shukran (see our guide to saying no) — is part of the choreography too.
قديش هاد؟
addeish hada?
How much is this?
Palestinian note: addeish is the Palestinian “how much.” In the villages you’ll hear gaddeish, with a hard g.
غالي كتير!
ghali ktir!
Too expensive!
Palestinian note: Step one of bargaining. Deliver it with theatrical disbelief — it’s expected, not rude.
ممكن أحسن سعر؟
mumkin ahsan si3ir?
Can you give a better price?
بس عم بتفرج
bas 3am batfarraj
I’m just looking
في عندك...؟
fi 3indak...?
Do you have...?
عطيني كيلو بندورة
a3tini kilo bandora
Give me a kilo of tomatoes
Palestinian note: bandora (from the Italian pomodoro) is the Levantine tomato. Say tamatim and you’ve outed yourself as a textbook.
قديش الكيلو؟
addeish il-kilo?
How much per kilo?
بآخده
bakhdo
I’ll take it
لأ، شكراً
la, shukran
No, thank you
Palestinian note: Firm but polite — essential equipment for walking through any souq.
يعطيك العافية
ya3tik il-3afye
God give you strength (to anyone working)
Palestinian note: Said to shopkeepers, drivers, laborers — anyone mid-task. The reply: Allah y3afik.
Directions & Taxi
Between shared taxis, checkpoints, and streets that locals navigate by landmark rather than name, asking for directions is a daily sport. These eight phrases cover most of it — and when a conversation outruns your vocabulary, the Palestinian Arabic translator can catch you.
وين...؟
wein...?
Where is...?
بدي أروح على...
biddi aruh 3ala...
I want to go to...
دغري
dughri
Straight ahead
Palestinian note: A Levantine signature, borrowed from Turkish. Also means honest — insan dughri is a straight shooter.
عالشمال / عاليمين
3ash-shmal / 3al-yamin
To the left / to the right
وقّف هون، لو سمحت
wa’’if hon, law samaht
Stop here, please
Palestinian note: hon means here. The doubled glottal stop in wa’’if is the urban Palestinian q at work.
قديش بدك؟
addeish biddak?
How much do you want? (the fare)
Palestinian note: Agree on the fare before the wheels move — standard practice, and nobody is offended.
قريب ولا بعيد؟
’arib willa ba3id?
Is it near or far?
أنا ضايع
ana dayi3 / day3a
I’m lost (m / f)
Family & Relationships
Family is the center of gravity in Palestinian life, and the vocabulary is correspondingly precise — eight different words for cousin, separate calls for mom and dad, and a duty to ask after everyone. Our full guide to family words in Arabic goes deeper, and when a birthday rolls around, here is how to wish someone a happy birthday in Arabic.
عيلة
3eile
Family
Palestinian note: The dialect word — il-3eile kullha, the whole family. The MSA usra stays in textbooks.
يما
yamma
Mom
Palestinian note: The quintessential Palestinian call to your mother — and mothers call their children yamma right back.
يابا
yaba
Dad
Palestinian note: Pairs with yamma, and fathers call their kids yaba too. A very Palestinian sound.
سيدي وستي
sidi w sitti
My grandpa and my grandma
Palestinian note: Where Lebanese say jiddo and teta, Palestinians traditionally say sidi and sitti.
خالي / عمي
khali / 3ammi
My uncle (maternal / paternal)
Palestinian note: 3ammo is also how any child politely addresses an older man — related or not.
ابن عمي / بنت خالتي
ibn 3ammi / bint khalti
My cousin (father’s side / mother’s side)
Palestinian note: Arabic has eight words for cousin. Palestinians use all eight, precisely.
جوزي / مرتي
jozi / marti
My husband / my wife
الولاد
il-wlad
The kids
Palestinian note: kif il-wlad? — how are the kids? — is a required line in any phone call home.
أهلي
ahli
My family / my folks
كيف الأهل؟
kif il-ahel?
How is the family?
Palestinian note: Asking after the family is what turns small talk into a real Palestinian greeting.
Time, Days & Numbers
Dialect numbers are softer than their textbook cousins, and time itself is negotiable — bukra may mean tomorrow, and it may mean when God wills it. If you want to read the numerals and dates in script too, the Arabic alphabet trainer will get you there.
قديش الساعة؟
addeish is-sa3a?
What time is it?
اليوم / بكرا / مبارح
il-yom / bukra / mbareh
Today / tomorrow / yesterday
Palestinian note: bukra also does the work of “someday” — bukra, inshalla can mean anything from tomorrow to never.
هلأ
halla’
Now / right now
Palestinian note: Pure dialect — the MSA al-aan vanishes the moment people actually talk.
بعدين
ba3dein
Later / afterwards
دقيقة!
da’i’a!
One minute! / hold on
واحد، اثنين، ثلاثة
wahad, tnein, talate
One, two, three
Palestinian note: tnein and talate, not the MSA ithnan and thalatha — dialect numbers are softer all the way up.
أربعة، خمسة، ستة
arba3a, khamse, sitte
Four, five, six
سبعة، ثمانية، تسعة، عشرة
sab3a, tamanye, tis3a, 3ashara
Seven, eight, nine, ten
نص
nuss
Half
Palestinian note: is-sa3a tnein u nuss — half past two. Also nuss nuss: so-so.
يوم الجمعة
yom il-jum3a
Friday
Palestinian note: The Palestinian weekend runs Friday–Saturday, and Friday lunch is the immovable family institution.
Emotions & Reactions
This is where Arabic earns its reputation for expressiveness. Three of these words are so rich they have their own pages — see what wallah, mashallah, and alhamdulillah really mean — but the short versions are all here.
والله؟!
wallah?!
Really?! / I swear
Palestinian note: Oath, question, and exclamation in one word — it all depends on the intonation.
ما شاء الله
mashalla
Wow — God has willed it
Palestinian note: Said over anything admirable — babies, grades, gardens — to admire without inviting the evil eye.
الحمد لله
il-hamdilla
Thank God
Palestinian note: Good news, bad news, the end of a meal, a near-miss in traffic — all of it gets a hamdilla.
حرام!
haram!
What a shame / poor thing
Palestinian note: In dialect, haram is mostly sympathy, not prohibition — haram, miskin: the poor guy.
ولك!
walak! / walki!
Hey! / you! (m / f — surprise or scolding)
Palestinian note: Affectionate between friends, sharp from a parent. Calibrate carefully.
يا سلام!
ya salam!
How wonderful! / wow
Palestinian note: Genuine delight — or, delivered flat, dry sarcasm. Exact same words.
فش مشكلة
fish mushkile
No problem
Palestinian note: fish (“there isn’t”) is one of the clearest Palestinian markers — Lebanese say ma fi instead.
انبسطت كتير
inbasatt ktir
I had a great time / I’m so happy
زهقت
zhi’t
I’m bored / fed up
يا ريت
ya reit
I wish / if only
Palestinian note: Carries a whole register of longing — the title of half the sad songs in the Levant.
Travel & Hotel
Checking in, finding the servees, getting the wifi password — the practical layer of any trip. And because every visit ends, learn the leaving words properly: our guide to saying goodbye in Arabic covers the whole farewell ritual.
عندي حجز
3indi hajz
I have a reservation
في غرفة فاضية؟
fi ghurfe fadye?
Is there a room available?
قديش الليلة؟
addeish il-leile?
How much per night?
ممكن المفتاح؟
mumkin il-muftah?
Can I have the key?
شو باسوورد الواي فاي؟
shu basword il-wifi?
What’s the wifi password?
Palestinian note: Exactly as practical as it looks — English loanwords slot straight into dialect.
وين بوقف السرفيس؟
wein biwa’’if is-servees?
Where does the service taxi stop?
Palestinian note: The servees — shared taxi — is how Palestinians actually travel between cities.
وين الباص على رام الله؟
wein il-bas 3ala Ramallah?
Where is the bus to Ramallah?
مع السلامة
ma3 is-salame
Goodbye (go with safety)
Palestinian note: Said to the person leaving. They answer Allah ysallmak — God keep you safe.
Emergency & Medical
Six phrases you will hopefully never need. Learn them anyway — they are short, they are clear, and in a hard moment people will move mountains to help a stranger who asks in Arabic.
ساعدوني!
sa3duni!
Help me!
بدي دكتور
biddi doktor
I need a doctor
وين أقرب صيدلية؟
wein a’rab saydaliyye?
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
اتصلوا بالإسعاف!
ittaslu bil-is3af!
Call an ambulance!
أنا مريض
ana marid / marida
I’m sick (m / f)
مش حاسس حالي منيح
mish hasis hali mnih
I don’t feel well
Palestinian note: mish is the Palestinian “not.” A woman says mish hasse hali mnih.
Romance & Terms of Endearment
Arabic affection is anatomical: you offer someone your eyes, your soul, your heart, your remaining years. Start with the essentials — our full guides to saying I love you, the meaning of habibi (and habibti), and ya hayati — then graduate to the heavy artillery below.
بحبك
bahibbak / bahibbik
I love you (to a man / to a woman)
Palestinian note: The dialect form — the MSA uhibbuka exists only in subtitles and poetry.
حبيبي / حبيبتي
habibi / habibti
My love / my darling (m / f)
Palestinian note: Romantic, parental, friendly, or aimed at a stranger blocking traffic — context is everything.
يا حياتي
ya hayati
My life
يا روحي
ya rouhi
My soul
يا عيوني
ya 3yuni
My eyes
Palestinian note: In Arabic affection, the eyes are the most precious thing you can offer.
يا قلبي
ya albi
My heart
يا عمري
ya 3omri
My life(time) / my dearest
اشتقتلك
ishta’tillak / ishta’tillik
I miss you (m / f)
تقبرني
tu’burni
May you bury me
Palestinian note: The famous Levantine one: love so deep you’d rather die first. Grandmothers say it to grandchildren constantly.
من عيوني
min 3yuni
From my eyes — gladly, with pleasure
Palestinian note: The warmest possible yes to any request. Not strictly romantic — use it freely.
Everyday Filler Expressions
The honest section. Strip away the grammar and most Palestinian conversation runs on a dozen little words — yalla, khalas, inshallah — stitched together with aywa and la (we have full guides to yes and no, which hold more nuance than you would guess). Learn these twelve and you will sound fluent long before you are.
يلا
yalla
Let’s go / come on / hurry up
Palestinian note: From ya Allah — “oh God.” Opener, closer, and everything in between.
خلص
khalas
Done / enough / stop / fine
Palestinian note: One word, a dozen meanings. khalas? khalas. — Are we done? We’re done.
يعني
ya3ni
I mean / like / sort of
Palestinian note: The great Arabic hesitation word. Kif ish-shughul? Ya3ni... — work is, you know, meh.
إن شاء الله
inshalla
God willing / hopefully
Palestinian note: Covers everything from sincere hope to a polite, smiling never.
طبعاً
tab3an
Of course
أكيد
akid
Sure / definitely
معلش
ma3lesh
Never mind / it’s okay
Palestinian note: The all-purpose social shock absorber — apology, consolation, and permission in one.
طيب
tayyib
Okay / fine / well then...
Palestinian note: Starts half the sentences in any Palestinian conversation.
بلكي
balki
Maybe / perhaps
Palestinian note: Distinctly Levantine, borrowed from the Turkish belki. balki bukra — maybe tomorrow.
ولو
walaw
Come on! / of course / don’t mention it
Palestinian note: Untranslatable. Thank a Palestinian and they’ll wave it off with a single walaw.
بصراحة
bisaraha
Honestly / frankly
فهمت عليّ؟
fhimt 3alayy?
You know what I mean? (lit. did you understand me?)
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important Palestinian Arabic phrase to learn?
How do Palestinians say “hi” differently from Lebanese?
Is it rude to say “yalla” to a stranger?
What does “ya habibi” literally mean?
Which phrases are specifically Palestinian and wouldn’t be understood elsewhere?
How do I pronounce the guttural “ع” sound in these phrases?
Are these phrases safe to use in formal settings?
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