When moving from one Arab country to another, you may notice how the countries closest to each other are the ones that seem to understand one another better than those further apart.
Taking Lebanon and Saudi Arabia as an example, these two countries have different dialects and traditions, making it not the easiest task to understand some words in use.
Here are a few terms and the way in which they are said in Lebanon vs. in Saudi Arabia:
1. Lemons
Lebanese: "Hamod"
Saudi: "Laymoun"
2. Tomatoes
Lebanese: "Banadoura"
Saudi: "Tamatem"
3. Pickles
Lebanese: "Kabees"
Saudi: "Mkhallel"
4. Cruising in the car
Lebanese: "Kazdoura"
Saudi: "Hajwala"
5. Turn
Lebanese: "Kou3"
Saudi: "Laffa"
6. Because
Lebanese: "Kermel"
Saudi: "3ashan"
7. "You're over doing it..."
Lebanese: "Njala2et"
Saudi: "Massakhtaha"
8. Argument
Lebanese: "Chari3a"
Saudi: "Mujadala"
9. "I'm feeling a bit cold..."
Lebanese: "Danna2et"
Saudi: "Biridt"
10. "I get ticklish..."
Lebanese: "Betzakzak"
Saudi: "Betdaghdagh"
11. When something is lagging or frozen
Lebanese: "Tallat"
Saudi: "Hannag"
12. Lit
Lebanese: "Wel3ane"
Saudi: "Falla"
13. Window
Lebanese: "Shebbeik"
Saudi: "Dreesha"
14. Wallet
Lebanese: "Jezden"
Saudi: "Booky"
15. A pot or pan
Lebanese: "Tanjara" for pot and "Me2leye" for pan
Saudi: "7alla"
16. Annoying
Lebanese: "Mez3ej"
Saudi: "Migarwish"
17. Closet
Lebanese: "Khzene"
Saudi: "Doulab"
18. Wheel
Lebanese: "Douleb"
Saudi: "Kafar"
19. "I'm still..."
Lebanese: "Ba3edne"
Saudi: "Tawwani" or "Doobani"
20. "I didn't have enough time..."
Lebanese: "Ma la7a2et"
Saudi: "Ma amdani"