Study Lebanese

The verb “want” in the Lebanese language is a very unique verb. It is what you can call an auxiliary verb, and there are many auxiliary verbs in Lebanese. A person trying to learn Lebanese, will find that this verb has some unique properties. It works in conjunction with the verb “Ken”, which is akin to verb “to be” in English to produce verbal phrases.

But its uniqueness is in the manner in which it could be used with the verb “Ken”. Whereas all other auxiliaries combine with verb “Ken” in all its forms of conjugation, that is, “Ken” is always conjugated with the personal pronouns, the verb “want” is the only verb that can use “ken” only with all forms of personal pronouns.

Example: “was/were going down” with the personal pronouns

Ana kint nezil
Inta kint nezil
Inti kinti nezli
Into kinto nezliin
Huwwi ken nezil
Hiyyi kenit nezli
Hinni keno nezliin
Niḣna kinna nezliin

As you can see “ken” is conjugated with all the personal pronouns. On the other hand, when used with “want” it becomes:

Note: All the following mean “Wanted”

Ana ken baddi
Inta ken baddak
Inti ken baddik
Into ken baddkon
Huwwi ken baddo
Hiyyi ken badda
Hinni ken baddon
Niḣna ken baddna

As you can see “ken” does not change with the personal pronouns. It remains the same. This phenomenon is unique only to this verb.

P.S. This verb is totally lacking in the Arabic language. It exists only in Levantine dialects.

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