Learn Levantine Arabic: Marhabtayn

Saira Meerza
  • 4.9 (20)
  • LANGUAGE LEARNING

Hello everyone (or two hellos!) and welcome to the Arabic podcast 'Learn Levantine Arabic: Marhabtayn'. My name is Saira and I've been learning Levantine Arabic since 2019. I'm so grateful to have a platform to share my love for the language. In the following episodes, I have conversations in Arabic and openly make mistakes. I hope this encourages you to speak Arabic confidently and without fear. Remember, slow progress is still progress! If you have any questions, please send me a message. I would love to hear from you! Instagram: @marhabtayn_ 

  1. Season 2, Episode 1: Be Kind to Yourself

    06/21/2025

    Season 2, Episode 1: Be Kind to Yourself

    Send us a text Marhabtayn!! Welcome to Season 2! I hope you’re all safe and well. It’s been a while since my last episode, and I was SO nervous to come back. In this special introduction episode, I recap why I started learning Levantine Arabic - though my Arabic isn’t perfect yet. I talk about why I took a break from recording and how I’ve learned to be kinder to myself during tough times. I also share five simple tips for dealing with self-doubt and low motivation, plus a message of support for everyone facing difficult situations - especially my dear brothers and sisters in Palestine and Gaza. I’m praying for you all 3 Also, I’m working on transcripts for my episodes, so stay tuned! I’d love to hear from you on Instagram @marhabtayn_! شكرًا كتير عن جد على الاستماع!

    7 min

  2. 12/28/2023

    Episode 23: The Year 2023!

    Send us a text Marhabtayn! It has been a while, but I'm back with one last episode for 2023. Firstly, I hope you're all safe and well. My heart is broken because of what is happening in Palestine and I'm praying everyday that things get better InshaAllah. In this episode, Lina and I reflect on the year 2023 but in a very light-hearted way. The last few months have been difficult to process and wanted to record something funny and light. My Arabic is a bit rusty so please be patient with me, my mistakes and my essays! I hope you enjoy it and learn something new :) شو أطول مدة متواصلة لبستي فيها بيجاما في 2023 What's your record for the most consecutive days wearing pyjamas? كم سيلفي أخدتي لحد ما لقيتي أحسن صورة للبروفايل؟ How many selfies did you take before finding the perfect one for your profile picture? كم مرة حكيتي رح أبلّش ديت/ريجيم وبعدين أكلتي بيتزا؟ How many times did you say 'I'll start my diet tomorrow' and then ate pizza? إذا حيوانك الأليف ممكن يعطيكي تقييم  لسنة 2023 من 1 ل 10، قديش ممكن يعطيكي * If your pet could rate your 2023 on a scale from 1 to 10, what do you think they'd give you? *In the end, Lina and I had different interpretations of this question haha كم مرّة فتحتي التلاجة وتمنيتي يكون فيها أكل جديد؟ How many times did you check the fridge hoping new food magically appeared? إذا شنتتك بتحكي أي قصة بتضحّك رح تحكي عن رحلاتك هاي السنة؟ If your suitcase could talk, what hilarious story would it tell about your travels this year?  أي موهبة مش عادية اكتشفتي إنها عندك هاي السنة؟  What's the most unusual talent you discovered you had in 2023? شو أزبط حجة فكرتي فيها لما تأخرتي؟  What is the best excuse you came up with for being late? لو حياتك في سنة 2023 كان إلها شعار، شو ممكن يكون؟ If your life had a slogan for 2023, what would it be? لو ممكن توصفي سنة 2023 باستعمال الإيموجيز، أي إيموجيز بتختاري If you had to describe your 2023 using only emojis, what emojis would you choose? مفردات جديدة : new vocabulary الأزمة traffic زينة decorations  مريح comfortable   رسمي formal  رقم قياسي record تقييم evaluation  I don't like taking photos, I like someone else taking a photo of me  ما بحب آخد سيلفي، بحب حدا يصورني نشاط activity  قاعد sitting حيوان أليف pet  فاصلة comma  دموع tears  نقطة drop  تمه مفتوح his mouth is open الحقيقة truth دقيق في المواعيد punctual  موعد نهائي deadline  تقألم to adapt

    37 min

  3. 06/19/2023

    Episode 22: A conversation with Lina

    Send us a text Marhabtayn! I hope you're all well! I know it has been quite a while since I last posted an episode. If I'm honest, I haven't had a lot of confidence in my Arabic recently. I was so nervous recording this, but I'm so happy I did and I can continue to share my love of Arabic with you all. Remember, mistakes are all part of the journey. In this episode, Lina and I catch up on what we have been doing this year. I hope you enjoy it :)  p.s I'm so happy to share that I'm back!!  مفردات جديدة - new vocabulary  حوت - حيتان whale  مرتفعات heights  كسلان lazy  رطوبة humidity  مكيّف Air conditioner مروحة fan أمان safe مستوى متوسط intermediate level مر الوقت بسرعة time passed quickly  شو كنتِ تعملي هاي السنة؟ what have you been doing this year? انبسط - بينبسط to have fun  الثقافة البريطانية British culture  متحف - متاحف museum  مواصلات transportation  بنية تحتية infrastructure  عطف compassion  حنان - kind لطيف مع حاله kind to oneself  موجة حر heatwave  موجة حارة - heatwave (you can use either one)

    24 min

  4. 12/18/2022

    Episode 21: The Year 2022; الحلقة الحادية والعشرون: السنة ألفين وإثنان وعشرين

    Send us a text Marhabtayn! I hope you're all well. I can't believe 2022 is already coming to an end. Where has the time gone? In this episode, Lina and I reflect on the good moments in 2022, if there's anything we wish we did, what we're grateful for, how we took care of ourselves and how we would describe this year in 3-5 words.  I wish you all a wonderful festive period and a very Happy New Year! I'm so looking forward to making more episodes in 2023 :) ان شاء الله See you soon! P.s Lina was right - I said 2001/2002 at the start rather than 2021. The joy of learning a new language  😄  If you have any questions, you can message on Instagram: @marhabtayn_  1. شو كانت اللحظات الحلوة في هاي السنة؟ ?What were the beautiful moments of this year 2. شو بتتمني لو عملتي هاي السنة؟ ?What do you wish you did this year 3. لشو إنتِ ممتنة هاي السنة؟   ?What are you grateful for 4. كيف اهتميتي بحالك هاي السنة؟  ?How did you take care of yourself this year 5. كيف بتوصفي هاي السنة بتلات لخمس كلمات؟ ?How would you describe this year in 3-5 words   New vocabulary مفردات جديدة  العواطف emotions كأس العالم world cup   مش كتير عادل not very fair بيشجع To cheer for مين فريق شجعتي ؟ ? which team did you cheer for شجعتي - (past tense (feminine رابط link بيفوز to win ما عندي اهتمام مين بيفوز I don’t care / I don’t have an interest who wins إمكانيات possibilities بيخسر to lose بيستاهل to deserve يكسر القلب breaks the heart بشكل شخصي personally ضغط دم blood pressure دعم to support   15minutes خمس عشرة دقيقة لازم اعمل جدول احسن  I need to make a better schedule  مش ندمانة على شي I don’t regret anything  بشكل منتظم regularly  ممتن grateful  سجل to record تحمّل to bare مش مؤكد uncertain  قوة strength  رحت اتمشى I went for a walk  اهتم ب to care for النتيجة the result الامتحانات exams ممتع fun/exciting نمو growth سلام peace

    19 min

  5. 10/08/2022

    Episode 20: Holidays; الحلقة العشرون: رحلات

    Send us a text Marhabtayn! I hope you're all well! In this episode, Lina and I talk about holidays.  This was a difficult episode for me to record because I haven't been studying Arabic as much as I would like to and I didn't feel very confident speaking, but I hope it encourages you to keep going no matter if you feel like you're having  a bad day with language learning (it happens to me all the time) . Slow progress is still progress and making mistakes is all part of the journey! If you have any questions, you can message me on Instagram: @marhabtayn_  **  إذا فزت باليانصيب بكرة وين أول مكان بدك تسافري؟ If you won the lottery, where is the first place you would travel?  2. عمرك راحت عليكي طيارة؟ شو صار؟ Have you ever missed a flight what happened?  3. لشو بتشتاقي أكتر إشي لما بتسافري؟ What do you miss the most when you travel?  4. شو أطول فترة كنتي فيها بعيدة عن بيتك؟ وحسيتي حالك مشتاقة للبيت؟ What is the longest period you've been away from your home?  Did you feel like you were missing home?  5. بالنسبة إلك، قديش لازم يكون طول العطلة؟ قديش وقت بتاخدي عشان تصيري مرتاحة؟  In your opinion, how long should a holiday be?  How much time do you need in order to be relaxed?  6. شو أهم بالنسبة إلك لما بتسافري، الراحة والاسترخاء ولا التجارب الجديدة؟ What is the most important thing when you travel, peace and relaxation or new experiences?   7. شو بتاخدي معك لما تسافري؟ بتحاولي تضبي شنتة خفيفة؟ What do you take with you when you travel?  Do you try and pack your bag light?  New vocabulary مفردات جديدة يانصيب  lottery نباتات     plants  طيران  plane  أهل   family سرير  bed بكالوريوس  bachelors degree  مثالي  ideal  عيد الفصح  Easter توازن  balance مغامرات  adventures وزن  weight  حجم  size ضب - بيضب  to pack جنوب آسيا  South Asia متعود على used to  شديد strict  امتحانات exams معقد complicated اليابان Japan بيشتاق To miss something اشتقت لأهي I missed my family راحت علي الطيارة I missed the flight جواز سفر passport شاحن charger  غير هيك other than that ممكن تعطيني نصيحة = ممكن تنصحيني شنتة كبيرة big suitcase  قوة خارقة superpower  جهاز device  سلحفاة turtle  سلاحف turtles  استراحة rest  حسب it depends  زرت   I visited كملي   continue! ما بيزبط    it doesn't work out عيد الميلاد Christmas أزمة   crowded  عطلة رسمية public holiday  بحس إني   I feel like خزانتي   my closet

    24 min

  6. 08/08/2022

    Episode 19: Free Time ; الحلقة التاسعة عشر : وقت فراغ

    Send us a text Marhabtayn! I hope you're all happy,  safe, well and enjoying summer! In this episode, Lina and I talk about our free time. I hope you learn some new words!   (p.s. the 'Marhaba' at the beginning of the episode got cut out for some reason!) If you have any questions, you can message on Instagram: @marhabtayn_  شو الأشياء اللي بتحبي تعمليها بوقت فراغك؟ 1.  What things do you like to do in your free time? 2.  قديش عندك وقت فراغ خلال الأسبوع؟ How much free time do you have during the week? 3. عندك وقت فراغ بكفي?. Do you have enough free time? 4.   شو رح تعملي إذا كان عندك وقت فراغ أكتر؟ What would you do if you had more free time? 5.  بتفضلي تكوني برة ولا جوا لما يكون عندك وقت فراغ؟ Do you prefer to be outside or inside when you have free time? 6.  شو معنى العبارة "الوقت من ذهب"؟ وشو رأيك فيها؟ What is the meaning of the saying 'Time is gold'? What do you think of it?  مفردات جديدة : new vocabulary اشتكيت I complained بنية تحتية infrastructure   شبكة - net e.g to catch insects or mosquitoes بيقضي وقت to spend time بيرتاح to be comfortable مدمن addict وقت فراغ free time مثالي ideal تركيز concentration  حسب depends  I said حاجة which means need, but I meant to say حجة - excuse بيستاهل to deserve  سباق race شبكة net حشرات insects ناموس mosquitos  مكيّف AC مروحة fan

    14 min

  7. 06/15/2022

    Episode 18: Personality ; الحلقة الثامنة عشر: الشخصية

    Send us a text Marhabtayn! I hope you're all happy, safe and well. It has been a while since I posted an episode, but I'm back! In this episode, Lina and I talk about our personalities. I hope you enjoy it and learn some new vocabulary! If you have any questions, you can message on Instagram: @marhabtayn_  شخصياتنا - our personalities شو هي صفاتك الشخصية؟ What are some characteristics of your personality? شو هي الأشياء اللي بتخليكي مبسوطة؟ What are things that make you happy? شو هي الأشياء اللي بتخليكي معصبة؟  What are things that make you angry? إنتِ خجولة؟ في أي مواقف بتكوني خجولة؟ Are you shy? In which situations are you shy? إنتِ انطوائية أو اجتماعية؟ Are you introverted or extroverted? إذا بتقدري تغيري أي صفات بشخصيتك، شو رح تغيري؟ If you could change any aspect of your personality, what would you change? شو بتعملي عشان تتسلي خلال رحلة طويلة بالسيارة؟ What do you do to have fun during a long car ride? مفردات جديدة : new vocabulary مركز الاهتمام - centre of attention مشمس - sunny دولة - دول - country / countries  عميق - deep إيجابي - positive بيخون ثقة  - betray trust بيكذب  - to lie بيستنى - to wait  خجل - shyness  توتر - stress  طاقة  - energy حساس - sensitive مميز - special بسوق - to drive   بيغني -to sing نقاش - discussion زمان in the past تمنيت I wished ساخر sarcastic ما بعرف إذا هاد الإشي صار معك  - I don't know if this has happened to you لطيف friendly  هادي quiet  محترم respectful  شعور feeling  خطة plan بيتوقع to expect  مجموعة كبيرة  big group طموح ambitious نوايا سيئة   bad intentions عنيد  stubborn

    20 min

  8. 03/25/2022

    Celebrating 1 Year of Marhabtayn!

    Send us a text Marhabtayn! I hope you're all safe and well. Almost exactly one year ago today, I published the very first episode of Learn Levantine Arabic: Marhabtayn. I always feel so grateful I have a platform to share my love for the Arabic language. I hope it has encouraged you and continues to encourage you to speak Arabic without the fear of making mistakes. In this special anniversary episode, Lina and I have a very random conversation (see the questions below and you'll understand what I mean!) It's a lot longer than the others, but I really enjoyed recording it. I hope you find it useful :) Please message me if you have any questions - always happy to help!  If you have any questions, you can message on Instagram: @marhabtayn_  1.  بتفضلي تعيشي 30 يوم بدون تليفونك ولا كل حياتك بدون حلويات؟  Would you prefer to live 30 days without your phone or your whole life without sweets? 2.  إذا لازم تاكلي أكل واحد كل حياتك شو بتاكلي؟ If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you eat? 3.  قديش مصاري رح تقبلي عشان تاكلي عنكبوت عايش؟ How much money would you accept to eat a live spider?   4. لو كان عندك قوة خارقة شو بدك تكون؟ If you had a superpower, what would you want it to be?    5. شو رح تعملي لو كلب بلش يحكي معك بلغة بشرية؟  What would you do if a dog started talking to you in human language?    6. لو بتقدري تكون حيوان شو رح تكوني؟ If you could be an animal, what would you be?   7. لو كل شي ببيتك لازم يكون بلون واحد أي لون بتختاري؟  If everything in your house was one colour, what colour would you choose?   8. إذا اشتغلتي في سيرك شو رح يكون شغلك؟ If you worked in a circus, what would your job be?   9. إذا علقتِ في مصعد وكان لازم تسمعي أغنية وحدة أي أغنية بتسمعي؟ If you got stuck in an elevator and had to listen to only one song, what song would you listen to? كيف بتوصفي حالك بتلات كلمات؟  How do you describe yourself in three words?  11. لو حياتك كانت رواية شو رح يكون عنوانها? ?If your life was a novel, what would the title be? 12. لو لازم تاكلي لون خشب من علبة الألوان أي لون رح تاكلي؟  If you had to eat a crayon from the box, what colour would you eat?  13. لو كنتِ شخصية من شخصيات دزني أي شخصية رح تكوني؟   If you were a disney character, which character would you be? 14. لو كان عندك آلة زمن رح تسافري للماضي أو رح تسافري للمستقبل؟  If you could time travel, would you travel in the past or into the future? مفردات جديدة : New Vocabulary بيسمم poisonous  بنفسجي purple قوة خارقة superpower  عنكبوت spider الحبل المشدود tight rope  سيرك circus  لون خشب crayon  شخصية character  آلة زمن time machine علّق to get stuck  معلّق stuck  كلب - كلبين - كلاب dog ببغا parrot  تهديد threat  طعم taste أغرب سؤال weirdest question  بيزهق من to be bored of مبتسم smiling  مضحك (بيضحّك) funny هادي quiet  إيجابي positive  متوتّر nervous

    39 min
See All (24)

4.9
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Hello everyone (or two hellos!) and welcome to the Arabic podcast 'Learn Levantine Arabic: Marhabtayn'. My name is Saira and I've been learning Levantine Arabic since 2019. I'm so grateful to have a platform to share my love for the language. In the following episodes, I have conversations in Arabic and openly make mistakes. I hope this encourages you to speak Arabic confidently and without fear. Remember, slow progress is still progress! If you have any questions, please send me a message. I would love to hear from you! Instagram: @marhabtayn_ 

Information

You Might Also Like