Levantine question words usually go at the start of the question, as in English.
The question words
| English | Levantine | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| what | ุดู | shu |
| where | ููู | wein |
| when | ุฅูู ุชู | eemta |
| why | ููุด | leish |
| how | ููู | kiif |
| who | ู ูู | miin |
| how many / how much | ูุฏููุด | 2addeish |
| how many | ูู | kam |
| which | ุฃูู | ayy |
Examples
- ุดู ุนู ุชุนู ูุshu 3am ta3mel?What are you (m) doing?
- ููู ุณุงููุฉุwein saakne?Where do you (f) live?
- ุฅูู ุชู ุงูุญููุฉุeemta il-7afle?When is the party?
- ููุด ุชุฃุฎุฑุชุleish t2akhkhart?Why were you late?
- ููููุkiifak?How are you (m)?
- ู ูู ูุงุฏุงุmiin haada?Who's that?
How many, how much
kam and 2addeish take a singular noun:
- ูู ููุฏ ุนูุฏูุkam walad 3andak?How many children do you have?
- ูุฏููุด ุงูุณุงุนุฉุ2addeish is-saa3a?What time is it?
- ุจูุฏููุด ูุงุฏุงุb-2addeish haada?How much is this?
Yes/no questions
Raise your voice at the end. No word order change is needed.
- ุฅูุช ุณูุฑูุinta suuri?Are you Syrian?