Lebanese Arabic: 3aayiz عايز

[Kenny-Alpha]

I was very shocked to discover that عايز (to need or to want) is used in Lebanon.

I am accustomed to hearing it in Egyptian films and video clips.

However, while watching a few Lebanese programs as of late, I came across عايز, particularly in a musalsali (a series) where a lady says to another woman: عايزتك هون [I need you here].

This totally caught me by surprise since I'm accustomed to using/hearing لازم، محتاج و بحاجة ل for need.

Upon doing some research, I found out that it is used.

 

[analeeh]

It's quite common in Levantine, but usually in this more specific meaning, not as a general word for 'want'.

 

[WadiH]

Yes and it appears in Syrian speech generally. It's an Arabic word and these are Arabic dialects, so this should not be surprising.

 

[Kenny-Alpha]

It's quite common in Levantine, but usually in this more specific meaning, not as a general word for 'want'.

Quite true in that I only hear it in the sense of to need, and not to want.