إجا يكحلها عماها

South Levantine Arabic

Etymology

Literally, “he came to put kohl on (the eye), he blinded it”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔi.ʒa‿j.kaħ.ħil.ha ʕa.maː.ha/, [ʔɪ.ʒa‿j.kaħˈħɪl.ha ʕaˈmæː.ha]

• Audio (Ramallah)

  (file)

Phrase

إجا يكحّلها عماها • (ʔija ykaḥḥelha ʕamāha)

1. to make matters worse

   عشان أوفّر مصاري، جبت صاحبي يصلّحلي التلّاجة — بس إجا يكحّلها عماها․

   ʕašān ʔawaffer maṣāri jibt ṣāhbi yṣalleḥ-li it-tallāje bas ʔija ykaḥḥelha ʕamāha

   To save money, I brought my friend to fix the fridge for me — but he only made matters worse.