Discover the Richness of Jordanian Dialect with Playaling!

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Are you eager to learn Jordanian Arabic? You’ve come to the right place! Playaling is your ultimate resource for mastering the Jordanian dialect through real-world videos. Dive into the unique charm of Jordanian Arabic, enriched by its historical and cultural roots, and start your journey with an engaging and inspiring learning experience.

Jordanian Arabic: A gateway to Levantine dialects

Jordanian Arabic is one of the dialects of the Levantine Arabic family, which also includes Syrian, Palestinian, and Lebanese dialects. These dialects share many similarities in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammatical structures, making them mutually intelligible across the Levant. Jordanian Arabic, however, has unique characteristics that distinguish it, influenced by the region’s geographic and cultural diversity.

Jordanian differs from one region to another, but the Jordanian subdialect spoken in Amman, the capital, is generally considered the standard Jordanian dialect. This is because it is the most widely used in television programs and is often presented as the representative Jordanian dialect. Therefore, when we refer to the Jordanian dialect in general, we are typically referring to the language spoken in Amman.

What distinguishes the Jordanian dialect from the Syrian one is the pronunciation of the letter أ “alif” as و “waw” in verbs. For example, they say يوخد instead of ياخد (to take) and يوكل instead of ياكل (to eat). In contrast, in the Lebanese dialect, أ “alif” is pronounced with an inclination, sounding like بييخد and بييكل.

Additionally, the Jordanian dialect features the use of a “dhamma” (u-sound) at the beginning of verbs, such as كُنت (I was) instead of كْنْتْ, Many nouns are also pronounced with a dhamma, like كُل (all), شُغل (work), and سُخن (hot). Sometimes, the initial sounds are opened or an extra أ “alif” is added to verbs, as in أَحْضَر (to watch) instead of اْحْضَرْ , and أَبْعَت (I send) instead of اِبعَت and أَرسُم (I draw) instead of اْرْسُم On the other hand, the Syrian and Lebanese dialects tend to pronounce the initial sounds as a sukoon (still or neutral sound).

The Jordanian dialect can also be distinguished from both Syrian and Lebanese dialects by negating verbs with the addition of the letter ش “sh” at the end. For example, بدّيش instead of ما بدي (I don’t want) and بقدرش instead of ما بقدر (I can’t).

It is also difficult to distinguish between the Palestinian and Jordanian dialects unless one has lived in either of these two countries. Sometimes, even those familiar with both dialects may find it challenging to tell them apart. This is because the majority of Jordanians are of Palestinian origin, due to successive of Palestinian refugees from historic Palestine during conflicts with Israel in 1948 and 1967.

English	Jordanian	Notes
May God give you strength	قوك	A greeting that means “May God give you strength.”
God bless you	الله محييك	Means “Hello” and is also used as a compliment.
Hey man	يا زم	Shortened from يا زلمة, commonly used among friends.
Ugly	شنع	Describes something unattractive or unpleasant.
I don’t know	هنداري، أنداري	Means “I don’t know,” with أنداري being a more colloquial form.
Run away	شلف	Used to mean “escape” or “run away quickly.”
Here I am	هيني
Or	إلا	Means “or,” also used in a conversational context.

The Diversity within Jordanian Arabic

Jordanian Arabic, much like the dialects of Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, exhibits considerable internal diversity, with distinct sub-dialects that reflect the country’s various regions. Each dialect showcases unique features, influenced by local and neighboring speech patterns, making Jordanian Arabic rich and varied.

Main Types of Jordanian Dialects:

Northern Dialect:

- Spoken from Amman to northern Jordan.
- Characterized by the pronunciation of the letter ق as “g” (e.g., قلب becomes قلب).
- The word كنت (I was) is pronounced as كُنت, similar to usage in many areas of Syria and Palestine

This video below in the Jordanian dialect highlights the rich customs and traditions of Jordanian weddings.

Southern Dialect:

- Found in cities like Karak, Tafileh, Ma’an, and Shobak.
- Features the pronunciation of the letter ة as ي, a trait shared with several Palestinian, Syrian, and Lebanese dialects.
- Retains traditional linguistic forms, with similarities to southern Syrian and Bedouin dialects.

The video below showcases words that express emotions in the Jordanian dialect.

Bedouin Dialect:
- Spoken by the Bedouins of Jordan.
- Closely related to Bedouin dialects of the Arabian Peninsula.
- Shares common grammar and structure with northern Jordanian and Levantine dialects.

Aqaba Dialect:
- A unique blend of influences from Egyptian, Hijazi, and Gazan dialects.
- Less affected by other Jordanian sub-dialects.

Hybrid Dialect:

- A modern development, heavily influenced by the northern dialect.
- Now widely spoken in urban areas, especially in Amman.
- Reflects similar urban linguistic trends seen across the Levant, merging traditional and modern elements.

Influence of Non-Arabic languages

Over time, Jordanian, Syrian, and Palestinian Arabic have adopted words from various languages, including English and Turkish. For instance:

“Veranda” (برنده), “Balcony” (بلكونه), and “Radio” (راديو) from English.
“Dunam” (دُنم) refers to a land area of 1,000 square meters. and “Roznama” (روزناما) means “calendar,” from Turkish.

Linguistic similarities across the Levant

Jordanian Arabic shares many similarities with Syrian, Palestinian, and Lebanese dialects, particularly in vocabulary and structure. For example:

In all of Jordan, Palestine, and Syria the letter ق often shifts to a glottal stop (ʾ) or “g,” as in قلب becoming ألب or جلب.
In southern Jordan, as in southern Syria and parts of Palestine, the letter ك is sometimes pronounced as “ch,” creating a distinct sound (e.g., سكر becoming سـchـر).
The use of the verb بدي (I want) is common across Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, highlighting shared grammatical structures.

Learn Jordanian Arabic online with Playaling

Just as with Syrian or Palestinian dialects, learning Jordanian Arabic opens doors to understanding broader Levantine Arabic. Playaling provides the perfect platform for mastering Jordanian Arabic with a focus on listening, speaking, and writing. Here’s how you can start:

Start with learning the Arabic alphabet, reading, and writing: Building a strong foundation in these basics will make transitioning to Jordanian Arabic smoother and more intuitive, as you’ll be familiar with the core structure and sounds of the language.
Watch real-life Jordanian Arabic videos: Immerse yourself in authentic Jordanian conversations with Playaling’s extensive library of videos. Whether it’s street interviews, cultural clips, or daily interactions, our videos make the learning process engaging and practical.
Master Jordanian pronunciation: With Playaling’s cross-dialect Audio Dictionary, you can listen to Jordanian words and phrases in real contexts, helping you master pronunciation and usage with ease.
Enhance your listening skills: Sharpen your listening through interactive exercises, such as the Cloze Listen activity, which strengthens your understanding by filling in missing words from everyday Jordanian conversations.
Immerse yourself in Jordanian culture: Language and culture go hand in hand. Learning Jordanian Arabic means delving into Jordan’s rich traditions, music, cuisine, and customs. Let Playaling guide you through an immersive cultural experience.

Why choose Playaling for learning Jordanian Arabic?

At Playaling, we understand that mastering Jordanian Arabic is not just about language—it’s about embracing culture, history, and local nuances. Whether you’re a beginner or advancing your skills, Playaling offers a tailored approach to learning, with real-life videos, interactive captioning, and a cross-dialect Audio Dictionary.

What are you waiting for? Sign up for a free trial and unlock the beauty of Jordanian Arabic today! Explore the language, culture, and vibrant diversity of Jordan with Playaling as your guide.

In summary, while Modern Standard Arabic provides a solid foundation, Jordanian Arabic offers a rich, region-specific experience of the language, ideal for those looking to communicate more effectively in Jordan or across the Levant.

Unlock Jordanian Arabic: Explore, learn, enjoy with Playaling!