I want (bidd) ّبد
In Modern Standard Arabic to express “want” you use the verb:
He wanted [he wants]arād [yurīd][اراد [يريد
In Levantine Arabic it is much easier. You don’t even have you use a verb. All you need to do is use the word بدّ (bidd) and attach different endings to it depending on the subject. The endings are exactly the same as the endings to express possession.
Below is a chart to show what is meant by that. I have written the attached endings in bold:
PhraseTransliterationArabic
I wantbiddiبِدّي
You want (to a male)biddakبِدَّك
You want (to a female)biddekبِدّك
He wantsbiddoبِدّه
She wantsbiddhaبِدّها
We wantbiddnaبِدّنا
You (plural) wantbiddkomبِدّكم
They (plural) wantbiddhomبِدّهم
As you can see, its pretty easy. Here are some examples about wanting a Shawarma – transliterated as šawarma (a common Middle Eastern street food):
I want shawarmabiddi šawarma بِدّي شاورمة
You (male) want shawarmabiddak šawarma بِدّك شاورمة
You (female) want shawarmabiddek šawarma بِدّك شاورمة
He wants shawarmabiddo šawarma بِدّه شاورمة
She wants shawarmabiddha šawarma بِدّها شاورمة
We want shawarmabiddna šawarmaبِدّنا شاورمة
You (plural) want shawarmabiddkom šawarma بِدّكم شوارما
They (plural) want shawarmabiddhom šawarma بِدّهم شوارما
To say you DON’T want something, just add the word ma before bidd.
I don’t want shawarmama biddi šawarmaما بِدّي شاورمة
You don’t (m) want shawarmama biddak šawarmaما بِدّك شاورمة
You don’t (f) want shawarmama biddek šawarmaما بِدّك شاورمة
He doesn’t want shawarmama biddo šawarmaما بِدّه شاورمة
She doesn’t want shawarmama biddha šawarmaما بِدّها شاورمة
We don’t shawarmama biddna šawarmaما بِدّنا شاورمة
You (pl) don’t want shawarmama biddkom šawarmaما بِدّكم شوارما
They (pl) don’t want shawarmama biddhom šawarmaما بِدّهم شوارما
It is also pretty common, but not essential, when negating bidd, for people to attach the suffix –sh. This style is widely used by many Levantine Arabic speakers, particularly in Israel/PA Territories and Jordan. However, it is considered more rough sounding than by just using ma to negate.
You should also know that you will hear some people negate bidd by using only the sh suffix (leaving out ma). Ex. Biddish – I don’t want.
I don’t want shawarmama biddīš šawarmaما بِدّيش شاورمة
You don’t (m) want shawarmama biddakš (or ma bidkāš) šawarmaما بِدّكش شاورمة
You don’t (f) want shawarmama biddekš (or ma bidkīš) šawarmaما بِدّكش شاورمة
He doesn’t want shawarmama biddoš šawarmaما بِدُش شاورمة
She doesn’t want shawarmama biddhāš šawarmaما بِدّهاش شاورمة
We don’t shawarmama biddnāš šawarmaما بِدّناش شاورمة
You (pl) don’t want shawarmama biddkomš šawarmaما بِدّكمش شوارما
They (pl) don’t want shawarmama biddhomš šawarmaما بِدّهمش شوارما
Just to review, you can negate bidd in 3 ways, using only ma before, using only sh after, or using both. The best and most versatile choice is to use only ma because its not only widely used and understood, but it sounds the most educated out of the three.
How do you express want in Levantine Arabic? It is much easier than Modern Standard Arabic where you have to use quite a complicated verb:
He wanted
arād
اراد
He wants
yurīd
يُريد
In Levantine Arabic it is much easier. You don’t even have you use a verb. All you need to do is use the word بدّ (bidd) and attach different endings to it depending on the subject. The endings are exactly the same as the endings to express possession.
Below is a chart to show what is meant by that. I have written the attached endings in bold:
Word/Phrase
Transliteration
Arabic
I want
biddi
بِدّي
You want (mascunline)
biddak
بِدَّك
You want (feminine)
biddek
بِدِّك
He wants
biddo
بِدُّه
She wants
biddhā
بِدّها
We want
biddnā
بِدّنا
You want (plural)
biddkom
بِدّكُم
They want
biddhom
بِدّهُم