šū / شو

“šū / شو” is a question word which is commonly used in Lebanese Arabic. It is usually translated as “what?”; however, it is a bit more nuanced than its English counterpart.

This video shows three simple ways “šū / شو” can be used, illustrated through a selection of short clips from Lebanese films and TV series:

1. Like “what”, “šū? / شو؟” is a common response to something that has just been said. It can be an expression of surprise or outrage, or simply a request for someone to repeat something that was not heard or understood.

2. “šū… / شو…” is often said during a conversation lull or before moving to a new topic, much like “so…” or “well…” in English. The speaker might say “šū… / شو…” with the intention of prompting the other person to say something, or might follow up with his/her own statement or question.

3. Somewhat related to the previous point, “šū? / شو؟” can be used to solicit someone’s opinion. In this sense, it can serve as shorthand for the question “šū raĀyak? / شو رَأْيَك؟” (said to a male) or “šū raĀyik? / شو رَأْيِك؟” (said to a female), i.e. "What is your opinion?"

To learn more, please visit http://www.lebanesearabicinstitute.com/shu/