Language

Arabic is official and Levantine dialect is what you will hear. English is common in Damascus tourism and business circles and thins out quickly beyond them. A few words are received with disproportionate warmth.

• Marhaba — hello. Shukran — thank you. Afwan — you're welcome
• Min fadlak (to a man) or min fadlik (to a woman) — please
• Kam? — how much. Ghali — expensive. Yalla — let's go
• Kurdish is widely spoken across the north and northeast
• Western Aramaic survives as a spoken language in Maaloula and two neighbouring villages