Palestinian and Jordanian Arabic are dialects of the Levantine Arabic family spoken in Palestine and Jordan. But how similar are they, and what essential phrases should you learn? Whether you are navigating the streets of Amman or visiting family in Ramallah, understanding the local tongue is crucial. Let's explore the key differences and useful expressions below to help you sound less like a textbook and more like a local.

Understanding the Palestinian and Jordanian Arabic

Before we dive into the vocabulary, it is helpful to understand the landscape of the language. Both dialects are part of the broader Levantine family, which means they are the Arabic spoken in Jordan and Palestine, respectively. They share a massive amount of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation rules, making them mutually intelligible.

Do Palestinians and Jordanians speak the same language?

Yes, for the most part, they speak the same language. The historical and cultural connections between the two populations mean their dialects have evolved closely together. A speaker of Jordanian Arabic will have absolutely no trouble understanding Palestinian Arabic. They share the same sentence structures and the vast majority of their core vocabulary.

The Difference Between Palestinian and Jordanian Arabic

While they are mutually intelligible, there are subtle differences. The difference between Palestinian and Jordanian dialect usually comes down to slight pronunciation variations and specific cultural expressions.

  • Pronunciation: For example, the letter "Qaf" (ق) is often pronounced as a hard "G" in the Jordanian dialect, especially outside of Amman, whereas the Palestinian dialect frequently drops the sound entirely, replacing it with a glottal stop (like the "uh" in "uh-oh").

  • Vocabulary: You will also find minor vocabulary differences, such as the preferred word for "now" (hassa vs. halla2).

More Example:
1. Now

  • Jordanian Arabic: هلأ

  • Palestinian Arabic: هسا

  • Arabizi: halla2 / hassa

  • Note: Jordan prefers هلأ, while Palestine commonly uses هسا

  1. 2. What

  • Jordanian Arabic: شو

  • Palestinian Arabic: شو / ايش

  • Arabizi: shu / eish

  • Note: Palestinians often say ايش

  1. 3. Heart

  • Jordanian Arabic: قلب

  • Palestinian Arabic: قلب

  • Arabizi: galb / 2alb

  • Note: In Jordan, ق may sound like “g”, while in Palestine it’s often dropped

  1. 3. Also / too

  • Jordanian Arabic: كمان

  • Palestinian Arabic: كمان / برضه

  • Arabizi: kaman / bardo

  • Note: برضه is common in Palestine

  1. 4. Coffee

  • Jordanian Arabic: قهوة

  • Palestinian Arabic: قهوة

  • Arabizi: ahwe / gahwe

  • Note: Jordan may use a “g” sound

  1. 5. Car

  • Jordanian Arabic: سيارة

  • Palestinian Arabic: سيارة

  • Arabizi: sayyara / siyyara

  • Note: Slight difference in the “s” pronunciation

  1. 6. Water

  • Jordanian Arabic: مي

  • Palestinian Arabic: مية

  • Arabizi: mayy / mayyeh

  • Note: Palestinian often adds an “eh” at the end

  1. 7. Pen

  • Jordanian Arabic: قلم

  • Palestinian Arabic: قلم

  • Arabizi: alam / galam

  • Note: Jordan may pronounce ق as “g”


100 Must-Know Palestine and Jordanian Arabic Phrases

Learning the right Palestinian Jordanian Arabic phrases will immediately elevate your ability to connect with locals.

  • 1. Hello – مرحبا (mar7aba)
    Note: Neutral greeting used everywhere

  • 2. Welcome – أهلا وسهلا (ahla w sahla)
    Note: Often said warmly to guests

  • 3. How are you? – كيفك؟ (keefak/keefik)
    Note: Used even with strangers politely

  • 4. How are things? – كيف الحال؟ (keef el-7al)
    Note: Slightly more formal

  • 5. What’s up? – شو الأخبار؟ (shu el-akhbar)
    Note: Used with friends

  • 6. Good, thank God – تمام الحمدلله (tamaam al7amdulillah)
    Note: Standard response

  • 7. I’m good – منيح الحمدلله (mnee7 al7amdulillah)
    Note: Common response

  • 8. What’s your name? – شو اسمك؟ (shu ismak)
    Note: Used in introductions

  • 9. My name is… – اسمي ... (ismi ...)
    Note: Neutral introduction

  • 10. Nice to meet you – تشرفنا (tsharrafna)
    Note: Very polite phrase

  • 11. Where are you from? – من وين إنت؟ (min wein inta/inti?)
    Note: Often asked early in conversation

  • 12. I’m from… – أنا من ... (ana min ...)
    Note: Common response

  • 13. Where do you live? – وين ساكن؟ (wein sakin?)
    Note: Used casually

  • 14. I live in… – أنا ساكن بـ… (ana sakin bi…)
    Note: Common reply

  • 15. What do you do for work? – شو بتشتغل؟ (shu btishtaghil?)
    Note: Normal conversation topic

  • 16. I work in… – أنا بشتغل بـ… (ana bashtghil bi…)
    Note: Used in introductions

  • 17. How old are you? – قديش عمرك؟ (qaddeish 3umrak?)
    Note: Asked casually

  • 18. What are you doing? – شو بتعمل؟ (shu bti3mil?)
    Note: Casual phrase

  • 19. Nothing – ولا شي (wala shi)
    Note: Common casual answer

  • 20. Let’s go – يلا (yalla)
    Note: Used frequently

  • 21. Let’s go – خلينا نروح (khallina nroo7)
    Note: Common with friends

  • 22. Wait a bit – استنى شوي (istanna shway)
    Note: Normal request

  • 23. Come here – تعال هون (ta3aal hon)
    Note: Common instruction

  • 24. Where are you going? – وين رايح؟ (wein raye7)
    Note: Casual

  • 25. I want coffee – بدّي قهوة (biddi qahwe)
    Note: Coffee culture is strong

  • 26. I want water – بدّي مي (biddi mayy)
    Note: Used in homes/cafes

  • 27. Do you want something? – بدك شي؟ (biddak shi)
    Note: Asked to guests

  • 28. Of course – أكيد (akeed)
    Note: Frequent response

  • 29. Maybe – يمكن (yimkin)
    Note: Neutral

  • 30. Why not? – ليش لأ؟ (leish la2)
    Note: Casual agreement

  • 31. I don’t know – ما بعرف (ma ba3rif)
    Note: Common

  • 32. I know – بعرف (ba3rif)
    Note: Neutral

  • 33. I understood you – فهمت عليك (fhimt 3aleik)
    Note: Common phrase

  • 34. I don’t understand – مش فاهم (mish fahim)
    Note: Used when confused

  • 35. Say it again – احكي مرة تانية (i7ki marra taniyeh)
    Note: Used often

  • 36. Speak slower – احكي أبطأ (i7hki abta2)
    Note: Helpful for learners

  • 37. Can you help me? – ممكن تساعدني؟ (mumkin tsa3idni)
    Note: People respond kindly

  • 38. Thank you – شكرا (shukran)
    Note: Essential

  • 39. Thank you very much – شكرا كتير (shukran kteer)
    Note: Common

  • 40. You’re welcome – العفو (el-3afo)
    Note: Standard

  • 41. It’s okay – معلش (ma3lish)
    Note: Used in apologies

  • 42. Sorry – آسف (asif)
    Note: Apology

  • 43. Forgive me – سامحني (sami7ni)
    Note: More emotional

  • 44. No problem – ما في مشكلة (ma fi mushkileh)
    Note: Very common

  • 45. Enough / done – خلص (khalas)
    Note: Used often

  • 46. Okay – تمام (tamaam)
    Note: Confirmation

  • 47. Alright – ماشي (maashi)
    Note: Agreement

  • 48. Now – هلأ (halla2)
    Note: Typical Jordanian

  • 49. In a bit – بعد شوي (ba3d shway)
    Note: Common

  • 50. Later – بعدين (ba3dein)
    Note: Frequent

  • 51. Tomorrow – بكرا (bukra)
    Note: Common

  • 52. Yesterday – مبارح (mbaari7)
    Note: Common

  • 53. Today – اليوم (elyom)
    Note: Same in dialects

  • 54. What do you think? – شو رأيك؟ (shu ra2yak)
    Note: Discussion

  • 55. Nice idea – فكرة حلوة (fikra 7ilweh)
    Note: Positive

  • 56. Let’s try – خلينا نجرب (khallina njarrib)
    Note: Encouraging

  • 57. I agree – أنا موافق (ana mwafeq)
    Note: Common

  • 58. I disagree – أنا مش موافق (ana mish mwafeq)
    Note: Polite

  • 59. I’m hungry – أنا جوعان (ana jou3an)
    Note: Daily

  • 60. I’m thirsty – أنا عطشان (ana 3atshan)
    Note: Daily

  • 61. The food is good – الأكل طيب (el-akil tayyib)
    Note: Compliment

  • 62. We want the bill – بدنا نحاسب (biddna n7asib)
    Note: Restaurant

  • 63. How much is the bill? – قديش الحساب؟ (qaddeish el-7saab)
    Note: Common

  • 64. A bit expensive – غالي شوي (ghaali shway)
    Note: Bargaining

  • 65. Cheap – رخيص (rkhees)
    Note: Shopping

  • 66. Where is the bathroom? – وين الحمام؟ (wein el-7ammaam)
    Note: Useful

  • 67. Where is the restaurant? – وين المطعم؟ (wein el-mat3am)
    Note: Travel

  • 68. Where is the road? – وين الطريق؟ (wein el-tareeq)
    Note: Directions

  • 69. I got lost – ضعت الطريق (dayya3t el-tareeq)
    Note: Useful

  • 70. Turn right – لف يمين (lif yameen)
    Note: Direction

  • 71. Turn left – لف شمال (lif shmaal)
    Note: Direction

  • 72. Go straight – امشِ دغري (emshi dughri)
    Note: Direction

  • 73. Close – قريب (qareeb)
    Note: Descriptor

  • 74. Far – بعيد (b3eed)
    Note: Descriptor

  • 75. One moment – لحظة (lahza)
    Note: Common

  • 76. I’m in a hurry – مستعجل (mista3jil)
    Note: Common

  • 77. I have no time – ما عندي وقت (ma 3indi waqit)
    Note: Common

  • 78. What happened? – شو صار؟ (shu saar?)
    Note: Common

  • 79. Thank God – الحمدلله (al7amdulillah)
    Note: Very frequent

  • 80. God willing – إن شاء الله (inshallah)
    Note: Future

  • 81. God has willed it – ما شاء الله (mashallah)
    Note: Compliment

  • 82. Thanks for your effort – الله يعطيك العافية (allah ya3teek el-3afyeh)
    Note: Appreciation

  • 83. May God be with you – الله معك (allah ma3ak)
    Note: Leaving

  • 84. Good morning – صباح الخير (saba7 el-kheir)
    Note: Greeting

  • 85. Morning reply – صباح النور (saba7 el-noor)
    Note: Response

  • 86. Good evening – مساء الخير (masa el-kheir)
    Note: Greeting

  • 87. Evening reply – مساء النور (masa el-noor)
    Note: Response

  • 88. Good night – تصبح على خير (tisba7 3ala kheir)
    Note: Night farewell

  • 89. Where are you? – وينك؟ (weinak)
    Note: Friends

  • 90. I’m coming now – جاي هلأ (jay halla2)
    Note: Response

  • 91. Wait for me – استناني شوي (istannani shway)
    Note: Common

  • 92. What do you want? – شو بدك؟ (shu biddak)
    Note: Casual

  • 93. Why like that? – ليش هيك؟ (leish heik)
    Note: Confusion

  • 94. Really? – عنجد؟ (3anjad?)
    Note: Reaction

  • 95. Correct – مزبوط (mazboot)
    Note: Agreement

  • 96. Not correct – مش مزبوط (mish mazboot)
    Note: Disagreement

  • 97. What does it mean? – شو يعني؟ (shu ya3ni)
    Note: Question

  • 98. I understood – فهمت (fhimt)
    Note: Reply

  • 99. Alright then – طيب خلص (tayyib khalas)
    Note: Closing

  • 100. Goodbye – مع السلامة (ma3 el-salameh)
    Note: Farewell

Common Palestinian and Jordanian Arabic Words

Beyond full phrases, knowing individual Palestine Arabic and Jordanian Arabic words helps you build your own sentences.

  • 1. How – كيف (keef)

  • 2. Why – ليش (leish)

  • 3. Where – وين (wein)

  • 4. Here – هون (hon)

  • 5. There – هناك (hnaak)

  • 6. Want – بدّي (biddi)

  • 7. Go – روح (roo7)

  • 8. Come – تعا (ta3a / ta3aal)

  • 9. Food – أكل (akil)

  • 10. House – بيت (beit / daar)

  • 11. Friend – صاحب (sahib)

  • 12. Work – شغل (shughil)

  • 13. School – مدرسة (madraseh)

  • 14. Market – سوق (soug / sou2)

  • 15. Restaurant – مطعم (mat3am)

  • 16. Cheap – رخيص (rkhees)

  • 17. Expensive – غالي (ghali)

  • 18. Today – اليوم (elyom)

  • 19. Tomorrow – بكرا (bukra)

  • 20. Yesterday – مبارح (mbaareh)

  • 21. Day – نهار (nhar)

  • 22. Night – ليل (leil)

  • 23. Time – وقت (wa2et)

  • 24. Big – كبير (kbeer)

  • 25. Small – صغير (sghir)

  • 26. Hot – حار (haar)

  • 27. Cold – بارد (baarid)

  • 28. Good – منيح (mnee7)

  • 29. Very – كتير (kteer)

  • 30. Little – شوي (shway)

  • 31. People – ناس (naas)

  • 32. Road – طريق (taree2)

  • 33. Door – باب (baab)

  • 34. Room – غرفة (ghurfeh)

  • 35. Table – طاولة (tawleh)

  • 36. Chair – كرسي (kursi)

  • 37. Book – كتاب (kitaab)

  • 38. Sugar – سكر (sukkar)

  • 39. Tea – شاي (shay)

  • 40. Bread – خبز (khubz)

  • 41. Chicken – جاج (jaaj)

  • 42. Meat – لحم (la7m)


Learn Faster with a Jordanian and Palestinian Arabic Course

While vocabulary lists are helpful, the fastest way to achieve fluency is through structured learning. Hob Learning has a wide range of learning content that provides the auditory practice and grammatical context needed to turn words into real conversations.

Hob Learning offers interactive lessons designed specifically to teach you the dialect as it is actually spoken. Instead of wrestling with formal MSA, you can focus entirely on conversational Levantine Arabic.

Practice with Hob Learning

We encourage learners to practice conversational Arabic daily. Hearing the language and speaking it aloud is the only way to build true fluency.

Conclusion

Summarizing the importance of learning dialect-specific phrases, it is clear that speaking the local language opens doors that formal Arabic cannot. While Jordanian and Palestinian Arabic share many similarities, understanding their unique expressions shows a deep respect for the culture. We encourage readers to keep practicing real conversational Arabic every day. Reinforce your skills using Hob Learning as your trusted resource for mastering Levantine Arabic dialects, and you will soon find yourself navigating the Middle East with confidence and ease.