11 Ways To Spot A Lebanese Person In The Wild

As we all know by now, Lebanon’s vast diaspora has found home all across the globe. But sometimes, when they don’t make it too obvious, it can be hard to spot the Lebanese person in the pack. Here’s a comprehensive guide that will help you quickly locate people from the so-called land of the Cedars.

1. Pretend to not be Lebanese

Two Lebanese people are in a hotel lobby, one speaks French, the other English. They are patiently waiting for reception to get back to them. They look at each other suspiciously, and sweat builds up on their brow. Who will break first? They both know they know the other one knows. How did this happen? How did they get here? Please someone help.

2. Say you want your shawarma without toum

Make sure you have 2 hours for the lecture afterwards.

3. Say ade el dollar in a busy crowd

51 alf! The Lebanese person will instinctively declare before they catch themselves and attempt to flee. Be ready to immediately run after them in pursuit.

4. Declare that Fatouche is better than Tabbouleh

However, make sure you are sufficiently armed before doing so. We can make no guarantees of your safety. Do not try this at home.

5. Stare at them intently for 5 minutes, then drop a “men wen?”

They could be speaking French, Spanish, or Mandarin but they will immediately be exposed.

6. Say the word fresh

Just trying to buy some fresh vegetables? You’ve just triggered a wave of fresh dollar trauma into an unsuspecting Lebanese person. Make sure to strike then.

7. Toot your horn to the general tune

Whatever one may think of the 3ahed, if you do the iconic toot toot toot, a Lebanese person is 80% likely to say general afterwards.

8. Say any of the following sequence of numbers

1,500 – 10,452 – 961 – 1732580

They’ll try to hide it but you’ll see the Lebaneseness glisten in their eyes.

9. Mention Rafic el Hariri

Immediately, a chorus of 15 people repeating sara2 bas 3amar, sara2 bas 3amar, sara2 bas 3ammar will ring out around you, heralding your arrival among the Lebanese.

10. Walk on any street in Paris

Paris, part of the New Lebanon colony is abundant with the Cedar-species, just make sure to address them in French because they will 100% pretend they don’t know Arabic.

11. Say Lebanese are Arab

Well, akshually…as they rant you can remember why you actually left the country and maybe don’t want to be associated with Lebanese people at all.