Hijazi Arabic

Adverb

ليش • ‎(lēš)

1. why?

North Levantine Arabic

Etymology

ل ‎(li-, la-, “to, for”) + إِيش ‎(ʾēš, “what”), although the normal word for “what” is now شو ‎(šū) Compare a similar structure in Egyptian Arabic لِيه ‎(lēh) and Standard Arabic لِمَاذَا ‎(li-māḏā), as well as in other languages such as French pourquoi.

Adverb

ليش ‎(lēš, layš)

1. why?

South Levantine Arabic

Etymology

ل ‎(li-, “to, for”) + إِيش ‎(ʾēš, “what”). Compare a similar structure in Egyptian Arabic لِيه ‎(lēh) and Standard Arabic لِمَاذَا ‎(li-māḏā), as well as in other languages such as French pourquoi.

Adverb

ليش ‎(lēš)

1. why?