يا ما أشطر الليمون في

يا ما أشطر الليمون في

خلّ العنب حين ينغمس

خلّ العنب حين ينغمس

Oh, how clever the lemon is in

Oh, how clever is the lemon in

grape vinegar when it is immersed!

The vinegar when it's immersed

من ذا يعض يوم عليه

من ذا يعض يوم عليه

وكل مَن شمّه عطس

وكل مَن شمّه عطس

Who would bite into it someday?

Who would ever bite it

And everyone who smelled it sneezed.

And all who smell it sneeze

يا صاح رح لصاحبه

يا صاح رح لصاحبه

وحين تراه لا تنترس

وحين تراه لا تنترس

O friend, go to its owner,

Oh friend, go to your friend

and when you see him, do not be afraid.

And when you see him, don't be scared

وادخل عليه يبس لي

وادخل عليه يبس لي

منه رغيف حتى انتعس

منه رغيف حتى انتعس

And go in to him; he will knead for me

And offer him, dry for me

a loaf from it, until I become wretched.

A loaf from it until you’re full

وإن قال ما أبس شي

وإن قال ما أبس شي

هُون قِط يخطف قل له بس

هُون قِط يخطف قل له بس

And if he says, "I knead nothing,"

And if he says it’s no problem

here a cat snatches—tell it, "Enough!"

There, a cat snatches it, tell him enough