lebanese

IPA/ˌleb.əˈniːz/
KK[lˈɛbənˌiz]IPA/ˌleb.əˈniːz/

lebanese — noun

  • lebanesesingular
  • lebanesesplural

1. a person who comes from Lebanon, a country on the eastern coast of the Mediterra

1.nounA2
Definition

a person who comes from Lebanon, a country on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Example

Mizuki met a friendly Lebanese at the photography exhibition in Beirut.

countable noun: 'a + nationality word' for one person

The woman beside Eli on the plane was a Lebanese from the Bekaa Valley.

Common collocations
  • a Lebanese
  • a young Lebanese
  • a local Lebanese
Synonyms
  • Lebanese person

    more explicit and slightly more formal; useful when the context needs to clearly avoid confusion with the adjective

  • someone from Lebanon

    a descriptive phrase that works at any language level and avoids the countable-noun pattern

  • of Lebanese origin

    focuses on ancestry rather than current nationality or residence

Grammar Patterns

a Lebanese

two Lebanese

determiner + Lebanese

Usage Note

The plural form is also 'Lebanese' — the word does not add '-s'.

Common Mistakes

Several Lebaneses attended the meeting.
Several Lebanese attended the meeting.
nationality words ending in '-ese' stay the same in the plural.

2. all the people who come from Lebanon, considered together as a group or nation.

2.nounA2
Definition

all the people who come from Lebanon, considered together as a group or nation.

Example

The Lebanese are known around the world for their generosity and hospitality.

fixed phrase: 'the + nationality word ending in -ese' for the people of a country

Many Lebanese have built strong communities abroad, especially in Brazil and Australia.

Common collocations
  • the Lebanese
  • the Lebanese community
  • the Lebanese diaspora
  • among the Lebanese
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

the Lebanese + plural verb

Usage Note

Always includes the definite article 'the' — 'the Lebanese' functions like a plural proper noun (similar to 'the French', 'the Japanese'). Use a plural verb: 'The Lebanese are…' (not 'is').

Common Mistakes

Lebanese is known for their food.
The Lebanese are known for their food.
this sense must always use 'the' and a plural verb.

lebanese — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four forms refer to a person connected with Lebanon, but they differ in how directly they function as a noun. 'Lebanese' alone is the standard demonym — a countable noun meaning a person from Lebanon ('a Lebanese' / 'two Lebanese'). 'Lebanese person' makes the noun explicit and is slightly more formal, useful in careful writing. 'Someone from Lebanon' is a descriptive phrase that avoids the demonym pattern entirely, useful for lower-level learners or when you want to sound more conversational. 'Of Lebanese origin' shifts the emphasis to ancestry rather than current nationality — it might describe a child born abroad to Lebanese parents. In everyday speech, 'a Lebanese' is the most natural and frequent choice.

Lebanese ↗Lebanese personsomeone from Lebanonof Lebanese origin

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • traditionally Lebanese
  • authentically Lebanese
  • distinctly Lebanese

Phrases

  • of Lebanese origin
  • from Lebanon
  • the Lebanese people

Prepositions

  • Lebanese from
  • among the Lebanese

Etymology

Semitic (root lbn meaning 'white')GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'Lebanese' comes from 'Lebanon' (the country name) plus the suffix '-ese', which is used in English to form adjectives and nouns meaning 'of or relating to a place' (as in 'Chinese', 'Japanese', 'Vietnamese'). The name 'Lebanon' itself comes from a Semitic root meaning 'white', referring to the snow-covered mountains of the region, especially Mount Lebanon.

First known use

1920

1920, in the meaning defined above