20 Words and Phrases You Only Hear in The Kitchen in Damascus!

The Damascene Cuisine has its own language! From chopping parsley to frying pastries, there are words you’ll only hear in a Damascus kitchen. If you’ve ever cooked with your mom or grandma, you’ve probably laughed at these quirky phrases—and now you can learn them too!

1– أمعّي البامية (Amm’i al-bamieh)

Remove the okra head in a specific way.

2– لقّمي الإبريق (La‘mi al-ibriq)

Adding tea leaves to hot water.

3– إسلي الدهنة (Isli al-dahneh)

Melting fat slowly to prepare for cooking.

4– كبجاية (Kabjaya)

A large spoon designed for sauces and liquids.

5– كفكير (Kafkir)

A perforated tool for lifting deep-fried foods and draining them from oil.

6 – مغرفة (Maghrafa)

A big ladle for stirring or serving.

7– اشمليش (Ishmlish)

Seedless raisin.

8– ستّاتي (Setati)

Fried, crunchy pastries usually made during Ramadan.

9– عصافيري (Asafiri)

Small pastries stuffed with cream, served cold.

10– تفوير الفول (Tafwir al-foul)

Lightly boiling beans before freezing to keep their color and flavor.

11– نئّزي العدس (Na’zi al-’adas)

Adding cold water to lentils while cooking to speed up the process.

12– نملية (Namliya)

Traditional wooden kitchen cabinet in old Damascus homes.

13– روّبي الحليبات (Rawbi al-halibat)

Turning milk into yogurt or a smooth consistency.

14– زيدي النصبة (Zidi al-nesbeh)

Adding a bit of broth or water to rice while cooking.

15– فلفلي الرزّات (Falfli el-rezzat)

Cooking rice with vermicelli.

16– هوسي البصلات (Hawsi al-basalat)

Sautéing onions until they soften.

17 – رصّي المكدوسات (Ressi al-makdousat)

Arranging stuffed eggplants tightly to remove excess water.

18 – خرّطي الفاصوليات (Kharrti al-fasooliyat)

Cutting beans evenly before cooking.

19– فرمي البئدونسات (Fremi al-ba’dunsat)

Chopping parsley finely.

20– إشي الزفرة (Ishi al-zafrah)

Removing the scum from meat or broth.

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