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Children’s Song in Lebanese Arabic Posted by on Nov 15, 2021 in Arabic Language, comprehension, Food, Music, Pronunciation, Vocabulary

Today’s post is dedicated to an old children’s song that I used to listen to and enjoy as a kid! The song titled: جدّي عندو جنينة My grandpa has a small farm and it’s in Lebanese Arabic. The song used to be streamed as part of the Lebanese children’s programme برنامج الأطفال اللبناني called: “How and why”? كِيفْ وْ لَيْشْ؟. The programmed used to be aired on كان البرنامج يُذاع على the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) هيئة الإذاعة اللبنانية. 

 

Photo by Filip Urban on Unsplash

 

The Song (content)

The song is focused on naming some vegetables الخضروات that can usually be found in one’s garden.

As is often the case, there are differences between the different Arabic dialects and standard Arabic. You will be able to learn how each vegetables is pronounced and called in both Lebanese and Standard Arabic.

* * * * *

 

The Clip

The video clip of the song is below, watch it as you’re following the lyrics below.

In addition to the English translation, the Standard Arabic version of each line is also also provided below.

 

Note that:

 First line> Lebanese Arabic – السطر الأول: اللهجة اللبنانية*

Italicised Line> Standard Arabic – السطر المائل: العربية الصحى*

 

Lyrics كلمات الأغنية

 

 

جدّي عندو جنينه

My grandpa has a small farm

جدّي لديه/عنده مزرعة صغيرة

 

فيها خضره كتير

In it, there are lots of vegetables

فيها الكثير من الخضروات

 

وبنصها فيها فزيّعه

And in the middle of it, there is a scarecrow

وفي منتصفها، هناك فزّاعة

 

تتهرب العصافير

So that the birds run away

لكي تهرب العصافير

 

* * * * *

 

 

فيها لوبيا وباتنجان

In it, beans and aubergines/eggplants

بها لوبيا وباذنجان

 

 تفاح ورمّان

Apples and pomegranates

تفاح ورمّان

 

بيعطو نشاط وقوّه

They give victuality and strength

يعطيان نشاطًا وقوّةً

 

وصحه للإنسان

and health for the human being

وصحّةً للإنسان

 

* * * * *

 

فيها كوسه وفيها خيار

In it, courgettes and in it, cucumbers

بها كوسا/قريع وبها خيار

 

بندوره حبّاتها كبار

Tomatoes, its pieces are big (with big pieces)

طماطم، حباته كبيرة

 

بقدونس مقته ونعنع

Parsley, (Armenian cucumbers) and mint

بقدونس، قثاء ونعناع

 

وجدّي بقطفها محتار

And my grandpa, with picking/reaping them, is confused

وجدّى حائر في قطفها

 

* * * * *

 

خس ملفوف وشوية فول

Lettuce, cabbage and a bit of broad/fava beans

خس، ملفوف والقليل من الفول

 

ودايما جدّي بيقول

And always, my grandpa says

ودائمًا، جدي يقول

 

كول بصل وكتّر توم

Eat onions, and have lots of garlic

كُلْ بصلًا وأكْثِر من الثوم

 

وشوف الصحه كيف بتكون

And see how the/your health becomes

وسترى الصحة كيف ستكون

 

* * * * *

 

جدّي عندو جنينه

My grandpa has a small farm

جدّي لديه/عنده مزرعة صغيرة

 

فيها خضره كتير

In it, there are lots of vegetables

فيها الكثير من الخضروات

 

وبنصها فيها فزيّعه

And in the middle of it, there is a scarecrow

وفي منتصفها، هناك فزّاعة

 

تتهرب العصافير

So that the birds run away

لكي تهرب العصافير

 

* * * * *

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About the Author: Hanan Ben Nafa

Hi, this is Hanan :) I'm an Arabic linguist. I completed my PhD in Linguistics - 2018. My PhD thesis was entitled Code-switching as an evaluative strategy: identity construction among Arabic-English bilinguals. I'm also a qualified public service translator & interpreter.