KalamWhat Language Is Spoken in Lebanon? Arabic, French, and English
Arabic is Lebanon's official language, and Lebanese Arabic is spoken daily. Learn why so many Lebanese also speak French and English, plus Armenian.
The Kalam team · 6 min read On this page
The official language of Lebanon is Arabic, and in daily life people speak Lebanese Arabic, a dialect of Levantine Arabic. Lebanon is also famous for its multilingualism: French and English are widely spoken, many Lebanese switch between all three in a single conversation, and there is a long-established Armenian-speaking community.
Arabic Is the Official Language of Lebanon
Article 11 of the Lebanese constitution states that Arabic is the official national language, and adds that a law determines the cases in which French is used. Arabic is the language of government, the courts, official documents, and the national curriculum.
As in all Arab countries, there are two layers:
- Modern Standard Arabic is used for writing, newspapers, news broadcasts, official documents, and formal speeches.
- Lebanese Arabic is what everyone actually speaks, at home, in shops, in politics talk shows, in comedy, and in pop music.
Lebanese Arabic
Lebanese Arabic belongs to the Levantine Arabic family, along with the dialects of Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. Speakers of these dialects understand each other easily, and thanks to Lebanese music, TV, and talk shows, Lebanese Arabic is familiar across much of the Arab world. Many learners find it one of the most approachable dialects because of its clear vowels and melodic rhythm.
Recognizable features of Lebanese speech include:
- ق as a glottal stop. Qalb (heart) becomes ʾalb, and qahwa (coffee) becomes ʾahwe.
- The “-e” ending. Words that end in -a in MSA often end in -e in Lebanese: ʾahwe, mdīne (city).
- “Baddi” for “I want.” Instead of MSA ʾurīd, Lebanese say baddi.
- “Shū” for “what.” As in shū ismak? (what’s your name?).
- The ʿam progressive. ʿam bishrab means “I’m drinking (right now).”
| English | MSA | Lebanese Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? | كيف حالك؟ (kayfa ḥāluk?) | كيفك؟ (kīfak?) |
| What? | ماذا؟ (mādhā?) | شو؟ (shū?) |
| I want | أريد (ʾurīd) | بدي (baddi) |
| Now | الآن (al-ʾān) | هلق (halla’) |
| Very | جداً (jiddan) | كتير (ktīr) |
| Good / well | جيد (jayyid) | منيح (mnīḥ) |
| How much? | كم؟ (kam?) | قديش؟ (‘addēsh?) |
Lebanese identity and language
You may hear the occasional claim that Lebanese is “not Arabic” or is a direct descendant of Phoenician. Linguists classify Lebanese Arabic as an Arabic dialect. Like other Levantine dialects, it does contain vocabulary and features inherited from Aramaic (sometimes called Syriac in this context), the main language of the region before Arabic spread, along with borrowings from Turkish, French, and English. Syriac also survives as a liturgical language in the Maronite Church.
French in Lebanon
French has deep roots in Lebanon. Ties go back to French Catholic missions and schools established in the 19th century, and Lebanon was under French Mandate from 1920 to 1943. French became the language of much of the elite, of law, and of many prestigious schools and universities, such as Université Saint-Joseph in Beirut.
French is not an official language, but Lebanon is a member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and a large share of schools still teach French as a first foreign language, with math and science sometimes taught in French. Merci (often pronounced mersi) is the most common way to say thanks in Beirut, along with Arabic yislamu (literally “may your hands be blessed” in the full phrase yislamu idēk).
English in Lebanon
English has grown steadily, especially since the late 20th century. The American University of Beirut, founded in 1866, and the Lebanese American University have long made English a prestigious language of education. Today, English is dominant in tech, business, media, and among many younger Lebanese, and a growing number of schools use English as their main foreign language.
Trilingualism and Code-Switching
The most famous feature of Lebanese speech may be the way people mix languages. The classic example is the greeting:
“Hi, kīfak, ça va?” (English “hi,” Lebanese Arabic “how are you,” French “how’s it going”)
Mixing Arabic, French, and English within one sentence is completely normal in Beirut and other cities, especially among educated and urban speakers. Which foreign language dominates often depends on a person’s school, community, and generation. Lebanese also commonly write Arabic in Latin letters with numbers for sounds that English lacks, known as Arabizi: 3 for ع, 7 for ح, and 2 for the glottal stop (kifak, 3am b2ello).
The Armenian Community
Lebanon has one of the largest Armenian communities in the Middle East. Most Lebanese Armenians are descendants of survivors of the Armenian genocide of 1915, who settled in Lebanon in the following years. They speak Western Armenian, and Beirut has become one of the most important centers of Western Armenian language and culture in the world.
The community is concentrated in Bourj Hammoud, just northeast of Beirut, and in the town of Anjar in the Bekaa Valley. Armenian schools, churches, newspapers, and political parties are active, and Armenians hold reserved seats in the Lebanese parliament. Most Lebanese Armenians also speak Arabic, and many speak French or English too.
Other Languages in Lebanon
Lebanon’s population includes large numbers of Syrian refugees and Palestinians, whose Arabic dialects are close relatives of Lebanese. There are also Kurdish-speaking communities and many migrant workers from countries such as Ethiopia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, who bring Amharic, Tagalog, Sinhala, Bengali, and other languages.
Useful Lebanese Arabic Phrases
| English | Lebanese Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | مرحبا | marḥaba |
| How are you? (to a man) | كيفك؟ | kīfak? |
| How are you? (to a woman) | كيفك؟ | kīfik? |
| I’m fine | منيح / منيحة | mnīḥ / mnīḥa |
| Thank you | يسلمو / ميرسي | yislamu / mersi |
| What’s your name? (to a man) | شو اسمك؟ | shū ismak? |
| I want… | بدي… | baddi… |
| How much? | قديش؟ | ‘addēsh? |
| Very nice | كتير حلو | ktīr ḥilu |
| Let’s go | يلا | yalla |
Lebanese use yalla constantly, and greetings often come with plenty of warmth; see how are you in Arabic and habibi for more. If you want to practice these out loud, Kalam has a Lebanese Arabic track with speaking drills and AI conversation scenarios like ordering at a café.
Which Language Should You Learn for Lebanon?
Many visitors get by in Beirut with English or French alone. But if you want to connect with Lebanese family, follow conversations at the dinner table, or enjoy Lebanese music and TV, learn Lebanese Arabic. It is also a great gateway into the wider Levantine dialect family, which is understood in Syria, Jordan, and Palestine.
FAQ
What is the official language of Lebanon?
Arabic is the official language of Lebanon under Article 11 of the constitution, which also says that a law determines when French is used. Modern Standard Arabic is used in writing and formal settings, while Lebanese Arabic is the everyday spoken language.
Is French an official language in Lebanon?
No, French is not an official language, but it has special recognition in the constitution and is widely spoken, especially among older generations, Christian communities, and graduates of French-language schools. Lebanon is a member of the Francophonie, and French remains common in education, law, and daily speech.
Do people in Lebanon speak English?
Yes, English is widely spoken, particularly in Beirut, in business and tech, and among younger Lebanese. Universities such as the American University of Beirut teach in English, and many schools now use English as their main foreign language. Visitors can usually get by in English in cities.
Is Lebanese Arabic the same as Levantine Arabic?
Lebanese Arabic is one of the Levantine Arabic dialects, alongside Syrian, Jordanian, and Palestinian Arabic. They share most of their grammar and vocabulary and are mutually intelligible. Lebanese has its own accent and some distinctive words, plus more French and English mixed into everyday speech.
What is “Hi, kifak, ça va?”
It is a famous Lebanese greeting that mixes English (“hi”), Lebanese Arabic (kīfak, “how are you?”), and French (ça va?, “how’s it going?”). It has become a symbol of Lebanon’s trilingual culture and the way many Lebanese naturally switch between languages in conversation.
