In this post, I’ll share two easy chunks (phrases) that are found in the song which you can use in everyday conversations in Levantine Arabic.

Julia Boutros is a famous Lebanese singer and the song is one of my favourite songs by her.

So keep calm, play the song and learn a chunk (or two). 😀

Bukra Shi Nhar - Julia Boutros | بكرا شي نهار - جوليا بطرس

Watch this video on YouTube

Here are the lyrics and my rough translation of the song:

بكرا شي نهار بحكيلك هالخبرية

Someday I’ll tell you the news

* بكرا literally means ‘tomorrow’

عن يلي صار وعن هالحلم بعييني

About what happened and about the dream in my eyes

قصة مشوار و حدا بيعزا علي

A story of a trip and someone dear to me

***

قلبي واحتار ناوي يحكيلك عني

My heart is puzzled, it intends to tell you about me

شوية افكار ما بعمرن طلعوا مني

Some thoughts will never be revealed [come out of me]

وعن هالأسرار ما في داعي تسألني

And there is no need to ask me about these secrets

لحالي بقلك هنن بكرا شي نهار

I’ll tell you about them myself someday

***

وين بلاقيك بكرا بحطك بالصورة

Where can I find you, someday I’ll put you in a picture

وبلون فيك آيامي بفيّا ونورا

And colour you with the shadow and light of my days

*Okay, this is a literal translation but what she probably meant was that she wants to be with him in good and bad times 🤷‍♀️

روح وخليك ضلك عيني زورا

Go and keep visiting my eyes

زورا…بس هالمرة محظورة

Visit (my eyes)…but this time around, it’s forbidden

*The word محظورة is pronounced as محضورة. In some parts of the Levant, the letter ظ is pronounced as ض

بكرا شي نهار

Someday…

Chunk ’em:

**”Chunk ’em is based on the language learning method called ‘chunking’. The point is not to be too concerned about the specific meaning of each word but instead to learn and grasp the overall meaning of the phrase in the context it was said.

So here are two chunks for ya:

#01: ما في داعي

There’s no need to…

ما في داعي تغلّب حالك

ma fii daa2i t3haleb Hallak

There’s no need to trouble yourself

مافي داعي تعتذر انت ما عملت شي

ma fii daa2i ta3tazer, enta ma 3amalt shii

There’s no need to apologize, you didn’t do anything

#02: بس هالمرة

But this time around…

انت دايما تدفع عني بس هالمرة رح ادفع

enta dayman tedfa3 3ani bas hal mara raH adfa3

You’re always paying for me but this time around, I’ll pay

كنت دايما بمرقها (بمرقا) بس هالمرة انت زودها

kunt dayman bmare2ha/ bmare2a 3alayk bas hal mara enta zawadha

I’ve always been lenient towards you/ gone easy on you but this time around, you crossed the line

**You can also say بمشّيا) بمشّيها) instead of بمرقا) بمرقها)

كل مرة وقعتي في مشكلة بغطّي عليكي بس هالمرة لأ, ما رح اقدر

kol/kil mara w2a3ti fii mushkile ba3hati 3alayki bas hal mara la2, ma rah a2dr

I cover up for you every time you got into trouble but this time around, nope, I won’t be able to

~~~

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Take care and I’ll see you around in the hosh,

Lyn

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