بلاش

North Levantine Arabic

Etymology

Probably from Arabic بِلَا شَيْء (bi-lā šayʔ, “for nothing”). Eventually the b- was considered part of the word, and the preposition ب (b(i)-) is now added before it again.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba.ˈlaːʃ/
• (Lebanon) IPA^(key): /ba.ˈleːʃ/

Noun

بلاش • (balāš) m

1. No charge; no money; a price of zero; (in context) for free; gratis.

   ما في شي ببلاش غير العمى والطراش.

   Ma fi ši bi-balāš ḡayr il-ʿama wi-ṭ-ṭarāš.

   Nothing is for free except blindness and deafness. (A saying.)

South Levantine Arabic

Etymology

Probably from Arabic بِلَا شَيْء (bi-lā šayʔ, “for nothing”). Eventually the b- was considered part of the word, and the preposition ب (b(i)-) is now added before it again.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba.laːʃ/, [baˈlæːʃ]

• Audio (Jerusalem)

  (file)

Pronoun

بلاش • (balāš)

1. nothing

   Synonym: ولا إشي (wala ʔiši)

   Antonyms: كل إشي (kull ʔiši), كل شي (kull ši)

2. for free (without payment)

   أخدته ببلاش.

   ʔaḵadto bi-balāš

   I got it for free.

See also

• بلا (bala, “without”)

Interjection

بلاش • (balāš)

1. never mind!

   Synonym: ما عليش (ma ʕalēš, literally “there is nothing on it”)