The Secrets of Shami Dialect: How We Refer to Sounds!

In Damascus, everything has a sound… and every sound has a name. Nothing happens around us without us giving it a name that fits just right—from hammers to spoons, ghee to cars, our dialect knows exactly how to describe every little detail. It’s like life has its own sound effects… only in Damascene Arabic.

Sound names in Damascus? They’re a language of their own!

Water boiling in a pot? That’s boqboqa – bubbling

Water sloshing in a bucket? That’s kharkhara – sloshing

Ghee sizzling on top of fatteh? Tashtasha – sizzling

Shivering from the cold? That’s tak taka – shuddering

Stuttering when you speak? Ta’ta’a – stuttering

Speaking nonsense? That’s barbara – babbling

Grinding your teeth? That’s kazkaza

Your keys clinking together? That’s khashkhasha

Chalk screeching on a board? Sarsara – screeching

Knocking on a door? Daqdaqa – knocking

A laugh from the heart? Karkara – a hearty laugh

Mouthwash swishing? Gharghara – gargling

Whispering softly? Washwasha – whispering

Stomach rumbling? Zaqzaqa – grumbling

Table wobbling? La’la’a – wobbling

Car stalling or slowing down? We say: “fi laklaka bel sayyara”

A ringing bell? Tantana

Scratching your skin? Hak haka

A ball bouncing off the ground? Dajdaja

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