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Learn Hardcore Arabic (Levantine): كان - to be

Hardcore Arabic (Levantine)
/Lesson 3
/كان

كان

Word

كان

Meaning

to be

Part of speech

verb

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Arabic (Levantine)

Lesson

Usages of كان

قبل ساعة كان في حدا قدام البيت.'abl sâ'a kân fi hada 'oddâm elbêt.

An hour ago, there was someone in front of the house.

هلا ما في حدا قدام البيت، بس قبل كان في سيارة.halla' ma fi hada 'uddam el-beit, bass 'abl kan fi sayyara.

Now there is no one in front of the house, but before there was a car.

قبل ساعة كان في ولد قدام البيت.'abl sâ'a kân fi walad 'uddâm il-bêt

An hour ago, there was a boy in front of the house.

ابي ما اكل فطور اليوم لانه ما كان عنده وقت.abi ma akal futoor ilyom lanno ma kan indo wa't.

My father did not eat breakfast today because he did not have time.

مبارح ما كان في شمس، واليوم كمان ما في شمس.mbâreḥ mâ kân fi shams, w-il-yôm kamân mâ fi shams.

Yesterday there was no sun, and today there is no sun either.

المفتاح ضايع هلا، بس كان هون قبل.al-miftâh dâye3 halla, bass kân hôn 'abl.

The key is lost now, but it was here before.

شنطتي كانت ضايعة مبارح، بس هلا هي هون.shantiti kanet dâye3a mbareh, bass halla hiyye hoon.

My bag was lost yesterday, but now it is here.

المطبخ نظيف هلا، بس الطاولة كانت وسخة قبل.al-matbakh nzif halla, bass at-tawle kanet wesskha 'abl.

The kitchen is clean now, but the table was dirty before.

الايميل يلي وصل مبارح من الشغل كان عالكمبيوتر.al-eemeel yalli wasal mbareh min ish-shughl kân aal-kombyuter.

The email that arrived yesterday from work was on the computer.

مبارح كنت عم بشوف الايميل لما وصلت رسالة من الشغل.

Yesterday I was looking at the email when a message from work arrived.

هي كانت عم تدرس عربي لما اتصلت فيها صديقتها.hiyye kânet 3am tedros 3arabi lamma ittasalat fiha sadiqitha.

She was studying Arabic when her friend called her.

انا كنت عم استنى تاكسي قدام البيت لما وصل الباص.ana kint 'am astanna taksi 'uddâm albayt lamma wasal albâS

I was waiting for a taxi in front of the house when the bus arrived.

امي كانت عم تشوف عنوان المحل بالايميل لما فتحت الباب.immi kânet 3am tshuf 3inwân el-mahal bil-email lamma fata7it el-bâb

My mother was looking at the shop address in the email when she opened the door.

امي كانت مريضة مبارح، واليوم لسه تعبانة شوي.

My mother was sick yesterday, and today she is still a little tired.

بعدين شفت بنطلون اسود وجربته كمان، وكان مريح.ba3deen shift banṭalôn aswad w jarrabto kamân, w kân mreeḥ.

Then I saw black pants and tried them on too, and they were comfortable.

ما تروح عالشغل اذا كنت مريض واذا عندك حرارة.mâ trūḥ ʿalshughl iza kint marīḍ wa iza ʿindak ḥarâra

Do not go to work if you are sick and if you have a fever.

امي كانت عم تكنس بالمكنسة لما اتصلت فيها صديقتها.immi kânet am tiknos bil-miknase lamma ittasalet fiha sadiqitha.

My mother was sweeping with the broom when her friend called her.

كان لازم ارتب البيت قبل ما يجو الضيوف.kân lâzim arattib il-beit abl ma yiju id-duyuf

I had to tidy the house before the guests came.

ما كان لازم تتركي الصحون بالمطبخ.mâ kân lâzim titruki is-sohôn bilmatbakh

You should not have left the dishes in the kitchen.

كان لازم نجيب كاسات اكتر مشان الزيارة.

We had to bring more glasses for the visit.

ما كان لازم احط المفتاح بالحمام، ومشان هيك صار ضايع.mâ kân lâzim aḥuṭṭ il-miftâḥ bil-ḥammâm, wimshân hayk ṣâr ḍâye3.

I should not have put the key in the bathroom, and that is why it became lost.

المحل كان غالي قبل، بس هلا صار رخيص.il-mahall kân ghâli 'abl, bass halla şâr rkhees.

The shop was expensive before, but now it has become cheap.

صديقتي كانت بالمكتبة عم تدور على كتاب عربي جديد.sadiqti kânet bil-maktabe 'am tdawwer 'ala ktâb 'arabi jdid

My female friend was at the bookstore looking for a new Arabic book.

اذا معك جواز السفر، ما رح يكون في مشكلة بالمطار.

If you have the passport with you, there will not be a problem at the airport.

كل ما تكون الشبكة مش منيحة، الانترنت ما بيشتغل منيح.

Whenever the network is not good, the internet does not work well.

كان في طابور طويل قدام البنك، وانا كنت مستعجل.kân fee taboor taweel 'uddâm il-bank, w-ana kunt mistaajil.

There was a long line in front of the bank, and I was in a hurry.

الزبون اللي وراي كان مستعجل كمان، فخليته ياخد دوري.az-zabun illi warâyi kân mista3jel kamân, fa-khallaytu yâkhod dawri.

The male customer behind me was in a hurry too, so I let him take my turn.

عادة بروح عالبنك بكير، لانه ما بكون في طابور كبير.

I usually go to the bank early, because there is not a big line then.

غالبا المديرة بتاخد قرار لما تكون الفكرة واضحة.ghâliban il-mudîra btâkhod qarâr lamma tkûn il-fikra wâDha.

The manager usually makes a decision when the idea is clear.

اختي كانت زعلانة مبارح، بس هلا صارت مبسوطة.ikhti kânet za3lâne mbâreh, bass halla sâret mabsûta.

My sister was upset yesterday, but now she has become happy.

لما بكون زعلان، بحب كون لحالي شوي.lamma bkoun zaalân, bhebb koun lahâli shway.

When I am upset, I like to be alone for a while.

حضرتك اذا كنت مستعجل، فيك ترجع بعد شوي لما يوصل دورك.

If you are in a hurry, you can come back a little later when your turn comes.

قبل ما انام، حطيت التلفون جنب السرير، والمخدة كانت تحت البطانية.qabl mâ anâm, hatteet it-tilifôn janb as-sarîr, wal-mikhadde kânet taht il-battâniyye.

Before I slept, I put the phone next to the bed, and the pillow was under the blanket.

هي كانت قدام المراية وعم تغسل وجهها.

She was in front of the mirror washing her face.

اختي كانت عم تغسل شعرها لما وصلت رسالة عالتلفون.ikhti kânet 'am tighsil sha'rha lamma wislit risâle 'attelefôn.

My sister was washing her hair when a message arrived on the phone.

هاد المفتاح مو تبعي؛ يمكن يكون تبع جارتي.haad al-miftaaH mu taba3i; yimkin ykoon taba3 jaarti.

This key is not mine; maybe it is my female neighbor’s.

فرشاية السنان تبعك يمكن تكون جنب معجون السنان.farshâye is-sinnân tabâk yimkin tkoun janb majoun is-sinnân.

Your toothbrush might be next to the toothpaste.

وجهي كان تعبان الصبح، فغسلته وشفت شعري بالمراية.wajhi kân ta3bân issubh, fa ghasaltuh washift sha3ri bil-mrâye.

My face looked tired in the morning, so I washed it and saw my hair in the mirror.

بالباص كان معي كيس فيه فواكه وموز.bil-bâṣ kân ma3i kîs fî fawâkih w mowz.

On the bus I had a bag with fruit and bananas in it.

بعد ساعة، كانت الطبخة جاهزة وطعمتها كتير منيحة.ba3d sa3a, kanet it-tabkha jahze w ta3metha ktir mniha.

After an hour, the dish was ready and it tasted very good.

لو انتبهتي منيح، ما كنتي نسيتي المحفظة.law intabahti mnih, mâ kinti nsiti l-mahfaza.

If you had paid attention well, you would not have forgotten the wallet.

لو شغلنا المكيف من الصبح، ما كانت الغرفة صارت حارة كتير.law shaghghalnâ l-mkayyif min is-subh, mâ kânat il-ghurfe sârat hârra ktîr.

If we had turned on the air conditioner in the morning, the room would not have gotten so hot.

لو جربتي هالسلطة، كان عجبك طعم الخس مع الخيار.law jarrabti has-salata, kân 'ajabik ta'm al-khass ma' al-khiyâr

If you tried this salad, you would like the taste of lettuce with cucumber.

لو معي محفظة اكبر، كنت حطيت فيها البطاقة والمصروف.

If I had a bigger wallet, I would have put the card and the spending money in it.

مسحت الطاولة لانه كانت مبلولة، وهلأ صارت ناشفة.masaht it-tâwle la'anno kânet mablûle, w-halla' şârat nâshfe.

I wiped the table because it was wet, and now it has become dry.

لما بكون لحالي، بشغل موسيقى وبشرب شاي.lamma bkoun lahâli, bshaghghel mousiqa w bishrab shây.

When I'm by myself, I play music and drink tea.

لما بكون صوت الراديو واطي، اختي بتقدر تدرس.lamma bikoun sawt ir-radio wâti, ikhti btiqdar tidrus.

When the radio volume is low, my sister can study.

كان في زحمة عالرصيف عند المفرق، فمشت اختي شوي وبعدين قطعت الشارع.kân fi zahme al-raseef ind il-mafraq, fa-mashat ikhti shwayy w-baadeen qataat ish-shaari.

There was a crowd on the sidewalk at the intersection, so my sister walked a bit and then crossed the street.

لما دخلنا عالبناية، ما عرفنا وين قاعة الدرس لان الممر كان طويل وفيه ابواب كتير.lamma dakhalna albinâye, ma irifna wein qâa id-dars la'ann il-mamarr kân tawîl w-fîh abwâb ktîr.

When we entered the building, we did not know where the classroom was because the corridor was long and had many doors.

الانترنت كان بطيء الصبح، بس هلا صار سريع بعد ما رجعت الكهربا.

The internet was slow in the morning, but now it has become fast after the electricity came back.

اخي سريع بالكتابة، بس انا ابطا منه لما بكون تعبان.

My brother is fast at typing, but I am slower than him when I am tired.

طلعت من الدوام من دون ما اخد استراحة تانية، لانه كان عندي موعد عند الدكتور.ṭalat min id-dawâm min dûn ma âkhod istiraha tanye, lânno kân indi mawid ind id-duktôr.

I left work without taking another break, because I had a doctor's appointment.

اختي كانت ماشية عالرصيف وعم تطلع عالخريطة، فمرت من المفرق وما انتبهت.ikhti kaanet maashye 'ar-raseef w'am titalla3 'al-khariiTa, famarrat mn el-mafraq wama ntabahet

My sister was walking on the sidewalk and looking at the map, so she passed the intersection without noticing.

لما الواحد بكون تعبان، بيروح عالبيت بكير.lamma l-wâhid bikûn taabân, byrûh aalbeit bakkîr.

When one is tired, one goes home early.

تاخرت عالشغل اليوم لانه كان في زحمة بالطريق.taakharet ashshughl ilyom laanno kan fi zahme bittarii'.

I was late to work today because there was traffic on the way.

المدربة قالتلي انو التمرين لازم يكون قصير اول اسبوع.al-mudarribeh 'âletli inno at-tamrin lâzem ykûn 'aṣîr awwal isbû3

The female trainer told me that the exercise has to be short in the first week.

اذا بدك تعملي اشتراك جديد، لازم يكون معك بطاقة او كاش.idha baddik ti3mali ishtirak jadid, lazim ykun ma3ik bitaqa aw kash.

If you want to get a new membership, you need to have a card or cash with you.

مبارح حضرت اول حلقة من مسلسل جديد، وكانت الحلقة منيحة كتير.

Yesterday I watched the first episode of a new series, and the episode was very good.

الفيلم كان طويل شوي، بس الممثل والممثلة كانوا منيحين كتير.il-film kân tawîl shway, bass il-mumathil w-il-mumathileh kânu mnihîn ktîr.

The movie was a little long, but the actor and actress were very good.

اليوم بالليل رح احضر حلقة تانية، وبعدها ممكن يكون عندي وقت اقرا.

Tonight I will watch another episode, and after that I might have time to read.

اذا رح تروحي عالمباراة، لازم يكون الملعب قريب من محطة الباص.iza rah trouhi 'almubârâh, lâzim ykoun il-mal'ab qarîb min mahatta il-bâs.

If you are going to the match, the stadium has to be close to the bus stop.

المدربة تبعي بتقول انو الرياضة منيحة اذا الواحد كان زعلان او زهقان.

My trainer says that exercise is good when a person is upset or bored.

بدي يكون عندي وقت للسباحة واقرا رواية بنفس الاسبوع.

I want to have time for swimming and to read a novel in the same week.

المشي بعد الشغل منيح لما بكون زهقان.al-mashi ba'd ash-shughl mnih lamma bkoun zah'an

Walking after work is good when I am bored.

الممثلة كانت عم تحكي مع الممثل بعد الحلقة.al-mumaththileh kânet 'am tehki ma' al-mumaththil ba'd al-halaqa

The actress was talking with the actor after the episode.

نهاية الرواية كانت احسن من نهاية الفيلم.

The ending of the novel was better than the ending of the movie.

اخر حلقة من المسلسل كانت احسن من اول حلقة.

The last episode of the series was better than the first episode.

كل البيت كان نظيف قبل الزيارة.kell il-bēt kān nadīf 'abl iz-ziyāra.

The whole house was clean before the visit.

اختي مفروض توصل عالمكتب بكير، بس اليوم تاخرت لانه كان في زحمة.

My sister is supposed to arrive at the office early, but today she was late because there was traffic.

ما اخدت القميص لانه الخصم كان صغير، والسعر بعده غالي.ma akhadet il-qamees la'anno il-khasm kân sagheer, wassi'r ba'do ghâli.

I did not take the shirt because the discount was small, and the price is still expensive.

بلكي يكون التوصيل مجاني اذا الطلبية اكبر من هالمبلغ.

Maybe the delivery is free if the order is bigger than this amount.

مو بس اخدنا خصم، كمان التوصيل كان مجاني.moo bass akhadna khasm, kamân at-tawsîl kân majjâni.

Not only did we get a discount, but the delivery was free too.

مو بس كان الاجتماع قصير، كمان خلص بكير.mū bass kān il-ijtimā qaṣīr, kamān khiliṣ bakkīr.

The meeting was not only short, it also ended early.

لما بكون الدوام طويل، عادي تكون تعبان.lamma bikoun id-dawâm tawîl, 3âdi tkoun ta3bân

When the workday is long, it is normal to be tired.

هو كان زعلان، بس انبسط لما سمع نكتة من صديقه.huwwe kân za3lân, bass inbasat lamma simi3 nikte min sadîqo.

He was upset, but he cheered up when he heard a joke from his friend.

دق جرس الباب وقت كنا عم ناكل، وطلعت اختي تشوف مين اجا.daqq jaras il-bâb wa't kunna 'am nâkul, w-tel'et ikhti tshûf mîn aja.

The doorbell rang while we were eating, and my sister went to see who had come.

الطرد يلي استلمناه من البريد كان فيه هدية صغيرة للحفلة.at-tard yalli istalamnah min il-barid kan fih hadiyye sghire lal-hafle.

The package that we received from the post office had a small gift for the party in it.

اذا كان مزاجك مو منيح، تعي نشرب شاي ونحكي شوي.iza kân mzâjak mu mnih, ta'i nishrab shây wnihki shway.

If your mood is not good, come have tea and talk a little.

امي كانت زعلانة، بس انبسطت لما اجت صديقتها.immi kânet za3lâne, bass inbasatet lamma ijet sadi'itha

My mother was upset, but she cheered up when her friend came.

وقت كنت عم دور على المفتاح، دق جرس الباب.wa'it kint 'am dawwir 'ala l-muftâh, da' jaras l-bâb

While I was looking for the key, the doorbell rang.

جنب المزرعة في نهر، والولاد كانوا عم يلعبوا جنبه.janb el-mazraa fi nahr, wal-wlaad kaanu am yilabu janbo.

Next to the farm there is a river, and the boys were playing next to it.

خالتي بتحب تقعد عالبلكون وتشرب قهوة لما الجو بيكون هادي.khâlti bthebb ti'ud aal-balkon w-tishrab 'ahwe lamma l-jaw bykoun hâdi.

My maternal aunt likes to sit on the balcony and drink coffee when the weather is quiet.

عمي ما اجا الجمعة لانه كان تعبان، بس رح يجي الاحد.3ammi ma ija ij-jum3a la'anno kan ta3ban, bass raH yiji l-ahad.

My paternal uncle did not come on Friday because he was tired, but he will come on Sunday.

صاحب اختي كان عم ياخد صور عند النهر لما طلعت الشمس.sâheb ekhti kân am yâkhod suwar end n-nahr lamma tile'et sh-shams

My sister's friend was taking pictures by the river when the sun came up.

كان بدي اشتري كيلو سكر كمان، بس نسيت المحفظة بالبيت.kân biddi shtiri kilo sukkar kamân, bass nsît el-mahfaza bil-beit

I wanted to buy a kilo of sugar too, but I forgot the wallet at home.

اختي كانت بدها تمر عالبقالة بعد الدوام، بس رجعت عالبيت بكير.ikhti kânet bidda tmurr 'albaqâle ba'd id-dawâm, bass rij'et 'albeet bekîr

My sister wanted to stop by the grocery store after work, but she went home early.

كنت بدي اتصل بكهربجي كمان، لانه اللمبة بالغرفة عم تطفي وترجع.kunt biddi ittasil bkahrabji kamān, la'anno l-lamba bil-ghurfe 3am titfi w tirja3.

I also wanted to call an electrician, because the light in the room keeps going off and coming back on.

كان بدي اكوي القميص، بس ما لقيت الكاوية.kân biddi akwi l-qamîṣ, bass ma la'ît l-kâwiye

I wanted to iron the shirt, but I could not find the iron.

كنا بدنا نغير القفل اليوم، بس السباك قال انو ما معه وقت.kunna biddna nghayyer il-'ufl ilyoum, bass is-sabbâk 'âl inno ma ma'o wa't

We wanted to change the lock today, but the plumber said he did not have time.

كنت بدي احط زهرة جديدة تحت الشجرة، بس الكلب لعب بالتراب.

I wanted to put a new flower under the tree, but the dog played in the soil.

كان بدي احكي معك امبارح، بس نمت بكير.kân biddi ihki ma'ak imbâreh, bass nimet bakkîr.

I wanted to talk to you yesterday, but I slept early.

كنا بدنا نعزم الجارة، بس كانت مشغولة مع بنتها.kunna baddna ni'zim il-jâra, bass kânit mashghûle ma'a bintha.

We wanted to invite the neighbor, but she was busy with her daughter.

جارتنا كانت بدها تشتري قطة، بس بنتها بدها كلب صغير.jârtnâ kânet biddha tishtri 'itta, bass bintha biddha kalb sghir.

Our neighbor wanted to buy a cat, but her daughter wants a small dog.

كان لازم اغير اللمبة لانه ما كان في ضو بالغرفة.

I had to change the light bulb because there was no light in the room.

الضو طفي لما كنا عم نحضر التلفزيون.id-daw tfi lamma kunna 3am nihdar it-tilfizyoon.

The light went off while we were watching TV.

امبارح كنت تعبان، ومشان هيك ما رحت عالشغل.

Yesterday I was tired, and that is why I did not go to work.

ما بحب لما حدا يتجاهل سؤالي، اذا كان مشغول بيقدر يرد بعدين.ma bahebb lamma hada yitjâhal su'âli, iza kân mashghul byiqdar yrudd ba'dein.

I do not like it when someone ignores my question; if they are busy, they can reply later.

اول مرة رحت عالبحر، كان الجو منيح.awwal marra rihit 3al-baher, kân ij-jaw mnih.

The first time I went to the sea, the weather was nice.

اذا كانت الخطة واضحة، النتيجة بتكون احسن بكتير.iza kânit il-khaṭṭa wâḍḥa, in-natîja btkuun aḥsan bktiir.

If the plan is clear, the result is much better.

كنت عم شوف الشاشة لما اشتغلت الكاميرا لحالها.kunt 'amm shoof ash-shasha lamma ishtaghalat il-kamera la-hâlha.

I was looking at the screen when the camera turned on by itself.

يا ريتك بعتتلي كلمة السر بكير، كنت فوتت عالحساب من البيت.

I wish you had sent me the password early; I would have logged into the account from home.

كان عندي جرح صغير عالركبة، فحطتلي الممرضة ضماد.kân indi jarh sghîr arrukbe, fahattetli il-mumarrida dmâd.

I had a small wound on my knee, so the nurse put a bandage on me.

لولا الممرضة، ما كنت عرفت كيف اغير الضماد واحط كريم عالجرح.lawla al-mumarrida, ma kunt 'irift kif aghayyir ad-dmad wahitt krim 'aljarh.

If it were not for the nurse, I would not have known how to change the bandage and put cream on the wound.

لولا الكاميرا، ما كنت قدرت ابعت صورة الجرح للصيدلي.lawla l-kamera, ma kunt qidirt ab3at sûrat il-jarh lil-saydali.

If it were not for the camera, I would not have been able to send a picture of the wound to the pharmacist.

يا ريتني ما حذفت الرسالة اللي فيها الخطة، كنت رجعت قريتها بالليل.ya reitni ma hadaft ir-risâle yalli fiiha l-khiTTa, kint rajaAt qriitha bil-leil

I wish I had not deleted the message that had the plan in it; I would have read it again at night.

هاي التجربة كانت جديدة علينا، وبالنهاية صارت النتيجة واضحة.hâi ittajribeh kânat jdîdeh ʿalayna, w bin-nihâyeh sârat innatîjeh wâdḥa.

This experience was new to us, and in the end the result became clear.

طلعت من البيت بلا جاكيت لانه ما كان في برد.tili3it min elbeit bala jakeet la'anno ma kân fi bard.

I left the house without a jacket because it was not cold.

انا باختار اقصر طريق عالطول لما بكون مستعجل.ana bakhtâr aqsar tarîq ʿaltûl lamma bkûn mestaʿjel.

I choose the shortest route right away when I am in a hurry.

بالمكتب القديم كان في طوابع ومغلفات بالجارور اللي تحت.bil-maktab il-qadîm kân fî tawâbi w-mghallafât bil-jârûr illi taht.

In the old office there used to be stamps and envelopes in the drawer below.

لما بكون زهقان، بحكي مع صديقي عالتلفون.lamma bkuun zahqaan, baHki ma' sadiiqi 'altelefon.

When I am bored, I talk with my friend on the phone.

بالحفلة كان الكل مبسوط.bil-hafle kân ilkell mabsûţ.

At the party, everyone was happy.

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