Have you ever found yourself searching for the right words to describe your feelings? Emotions are a universal language, but expressing them can sometimes feel like a challenge—especially in a new language. That’s why I created an Emotion Wheel in Levantine Arabic, a powerful tool to help learners and speakers alike articulate their emotions with clarity and depth.
What is the Emotion Wheel?
The Emotion Wheel is a visual representation of human emotions, divided into categories and subcategories. It’s designed to help us explore our feelings and find precise words to describe them. For language learners, it’s not just a tool for vocabulary—it’s a bridge to deeper self-expression and cultural connection.
Why in Levantine Arabic?
Levantine Arabic is a rich and expressive dialect spoken across countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Palestine. While it’s often used for conversation, many learners struggle to convey complex emotions due to limited vocabulary. This wheel provides an engaging way to explore emotional terminology in Levantine Arabic, making communication more authentic and meaningful.
Key Features of the Emotion Wheel in Levantine Arabic
Primary Emotions: Core feelings like “Joy (فرح),” “Sadness (حزن),” “Anger (غضب),” and “Love (حب).”
Subcategories: Each primary emotion branches into more specific feelings, such as “Gratitude (ممتن)” under Joy or “Frustration (محبط)” under Anger.
Positive Additions: Unique to this wheel are inspiring terms like “Strong (قوي),” reminding us that emotions can empower us.
How to Use the Emotion Wheel
Self-Reflection: Take a moment each day to identify your emotions using the wheel. Are you feeling “Anxious (قلق)” or “Grateful (ممتن)?”
Language Practice: Use the wheel to practice new vocabulary. Create sentences or role-play scenarios that incorporate these emotions.
Cultural Connection: Understanding emotional vocabulary can deepen your appreciation of Levantine culture and its nuanced expressions.
What Makes Us Happy: Practical Examples
In addition to listing emotions, the wheel also highlights things that bring joy, such as:
Spending time with family (قعدة مع العيلة).
Listening to music (سماع موسيقى حلوة).
Exploring nature (المشي بين الأشجار أو على البحر).
The Process: A Calming Experience
Creating this wheel took me two hours, but the process was incredibly calming. Designing it allowed me to reflect on my own emotions and the beauty of expressing them in my native dialect. It’s a reminder that language learning is not just about words—it’s about connection, creativity, and growth.
How do you express your emotions in Levantine Arabic? Which feeling on the wheel resonates with you most today? Share your thoughts in the comments below or tag me on Instagram with your own reflections!
In our latest podcast episode, we dive into a fun and thought-provoking topic: What would I study if I weren’t a teacher?
I share my thoughts on the paths I might have taken if my career had gone in a different direction. Would I have become a therapist? An engineer? Or perhaps studied something entirely unrelated to teaching? The discussion is casual and encourages listeners to reflect on their own choices and dreams.
This episode is great for all levels of Levantine Arabic learners! Beginners will pick up new vocabulary and simple phrases, while advanced learners will enjoy analyzing the ideas and engaging with the topic in-depth. The best part? The script is available, so you can follow along while listening to improve your comprehension and pronunciation.
Don’t miss this engaging and inspiring episode. We’d love to hear your thoughts! If you weren’t in your current career path, what would you study?
If you’re a movie lover and looking to learn Levantine Arabic, the last film I watched is perfect for you! The script is available, and it’s ideal for learners of all levels. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, you’ll benefit from the everyday conversations and commonly used expressions. Curious to learn more about the film and pick up some new phrases together?
In this short video, I share a real story and conversation with my grandmother, who believes that true beauty means being light-skinned, blond, and having green or blue eyes. This video, in Levantine Arabic, will introduce you to vocabulary related to skin color. It’s perfect for all levels, as the script is available with translations. I’ve also attached a page from our third book Nawartona, with some of these vocabulary.
We recommend to watch the episode here first without checking the script.
Arabic Script:
ستي بتميز كثير بين أحفادها. هي شقراء وعيونها زرق وكانت بتفضل الاحفاد يلي مثلها او بيشبهوها. انا لا شقرا ولا عيوني زرق. مرة كان هيك بدي اتقرب منها فسألتها, “يا ستي انا حلوة شيء؟” أخذت نفس عميق واطلعت فيّي وقالت لي, ‘يا ستّي الجمال مش كل شيء بالحياة انه ما اشبك شيء.’ فاذا انت كنت حنطيّة, سمراء, او سودا, وعيونك سود او بني فما لك حظ معها. بس اذا كنت بيضاء وشقرا وعيونك خضر او زرق فانت اكيد حلوة بنظرها بدي. اقلك شيء كيف ما كنتي انت اكيد حلوة.
Phonetic Script:
Sete bitmayez ktir bein el-a7fedha. Heye sha2rah w 3yonha zere2 w kenit bitfadel el-a7fed yale mithelha aw byesh-bahoha. Ana la sha2rah wala 3yone zere2. Marah ken heik bade et’arab minha fa sa2alta, ‘Ya sete ana 7ilwe shi?’ Akhadet nafas 3ami2 w tala3et fiyeh w aletle, ‘Ya sete jamel mish kil shi bil7ayet inu ma eshbek shi.’ Fa eza ente kinte 7untiyeh, samarah, aw sawdah, w 3yonek sud aw bene fa ma elek 7az ma3a. Bus eza kinte baydah, sha2rah, w 3yonek khudur aw zere2, ma ente akid 7ilweh b nazara. Bade elek kif ma kinte ente akid 7ilweh.
English Translation:
My grandmother distinguishes a lot between her grandchildren. She has blonde hair and blue eyes and used to prefer the grandchildren who looked like her. I am neither blonde nor do I have blue eyes. Once, I wanted to get closer to her, so I asked her, “Grandma, am I pretty?” She took a deep breath, looked at me, and said, “My dear, beauty is not everything in life.” It was clear that if you were tan, dark, or black with black or brown eyes, you had no luck with her. But if you were white, blonde, and had green or blue eyes, you were definitely pretty in her eyes. I want to tell you something: no matter how you look, you are definitely beautiful.
We’re thrilled to announce our latest podcast episode, diving into one of the most universal and heartwarming topics—friendship! In this episode, we discuss the concept of friendship in Levantine Arabic, exploring phrases, cultural nuances, and unique expressions that make this relationship so special across the Arab world. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced Arabic learner, this episode is tailored just for you. Each conversation is translated into both English and Arabic, allowing you to follow along with ease, build confidence, and pick up on key cultural insights. Click here to download the script. You can also print it!
These podcast episodes are designed to support you on your journey to learn Levantine Arabic, whether you’re just starting to study Arabic or looking to advance your skills. As we delve into friendship vocabulary, you’ll hear terms and phrases commonly used in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan. This episode provides a fantastic opportunity to practice Arabic conversation skills while picking up authentic expressions used by native Levantine speakers. By hearing these phrases in context, you’ll be able to reinforce your understanding of grammar and pronunciation, making this a practical addition to your Arabic language study.
The episode is a great exercise in both listening comprehension and real-life Arabic language practice, allowing you to absorb Arabic vocabulary and sentence structure in a natural, engaging way. We’ve made it accessible for all levels by providing translations in English and clear explanations of Arabic expressions, so you’ll feel supported throughout the episode.
Tune in to our latest episode on friendship and deepen your connection with Levantine Arabic! This podcast is more than just a language lesson—it’s a cultural journey. Whether you’re focusing on vocabulary building, understanding conversational Arabic, or simply enjoying stories that bring the Levantine culture to life, this episode will inspire and enrich your language learning.
Start exploring Levantine Arabic with us today and see how friendship translates across languages and cultures. This podcast episode is perfect for anyone looking to learn Arabic, practice conversational Arabic, or improve their fluency in Levantine dialect. Listen now, and let’s take another step forward in mastering Arabic together!
In this conversational podcast, Hala and I discuss our journey—how we got started and why. I share my experience of beginning with just a couple of students and scaling the business to a larger operation, eventually hiring four other teachers to help teach Levantine Arabic. I always recommend listening first without the script, then listening again while following along with it. Make a list of any unfamiliar words and add them to your vocabulary. To view the script translated into English, Arabic, and phonetics, click here.
