Farhan, Za'lan, Ta'ban: How to Say How You Feel in Iraqi Arabic

زعلان (za'lan) covers everything from mild disappointment to genuinely hurt feelings, and Iraqis also use it for being offended by something someone said or did. If a friend seems quiet or off, this is the first word you'll reach for.

فرحان (farhan) is 'happy', used for good news, a celebration, or simply a good mood. On the other end, خايف (khayef) means 'scared,' whether it's a genuine fright or just nerves about something coming up.

Iraqi Arabic uses the same kind of words for physical needs as it does for emotions. تعبان (ta'ban) is 'tired,' عطشان (atshan) is 'thirsty,' جوعان (jo'an) is 'hungry,' and مرتاح (murtah) is 'comfortable.'

مستحي (mustahi) means shy or embarrassed, useful for describing yourself before speaking up, or teasing a friend who's gone quiet in front of someone they like. مريض (mareedh) simply means sick.