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Can you fix this Lebanese phrase?

Trying to recover a saying by my aunt from many years ago. I was young, only learned the vocal pronunciation. Can anyone please decipher / translate the old Lebanese adage about looking in a mirror, or a thousand words of a picture...

Sounded like: "Inall a bebo menale sar ati afamo."

I'm even confused on it's meaning... not even sure if I have it right...

Is this it? What's the phrase in English (roughly)?

Yallé fii bbaato msallé, pten3aro

6 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    ok, you have 2 of them here and you jumbled them a bit.

    the first one:

    "Inall a bebo menale sar ati afamo."

    is really:

    "inna llabiba minal isharati yafhamo"

    meaning: a smart person understands with a sign ( no need for words)

    your second one

    Yallé fii bbaato msallé, pten3aro

    is really

    yalli fi ta7et bato msalli bten3aro

    meaning

    if you have a "msalli" under your armpit it will poke you.

    I have no idea what a msalli is, but I'm sure someone will tell you soon. It might be that long thing people used to prick animals with when you are riding to get them to turn.

  • 5 years ago

    1. This is delicious! Ktir tayyib 2. Thank you for your hospitality, choukran ala istidafatikoum li 3. You are like an angel (to a host) anta kal malak 4. Can I help? hal youmkinouni an ousaid 5. Let me do that. (like clear the table, or wash dishes) it is like let me helpso you can say : khaline sedik 6. I appreciate you very much. ahtarimouka kasiran p.s: Lebanese people are so generous and hospital people you have to eat everything they will be prepared or offered for you maybe they will offer for you a ARAK is a delicious lebanese alcohol, when you go to visit them take with you sweets flowers or a gift. you will enjoy your time in the best house in the world, and best Lebanese family.

  • 1 decade ago

    u got your first explanation

    the second one;

    "msalleh" means a big sewing needle with hooked end;

    The meaning of the saying goes something like that:

    you worry about someone's remark only if whatever they are talking about concerns you, or is true. But if u do not have anything "hiding under your armpit", it will not matter whatever they say.

    I hope this is clear enough.

  • Mimi
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    It is: Inna allabiba minal Isharati Yaf hamo.

    This is not lebanense. There is no labanese language it is fromal Arabic. It mean the smart person understands from the sign langauge.

    I don't know that second one.

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  • 1 decade ago

    Webby said it right,

    Do u like this old lebanon adage??

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I can't add anything to what Webby said...she's right...I agree with her...she's always right so listen to what she said

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