Language
During the French Mandate (1918–1942), French became the dominant language in Lebanon and was compulsory in school. Since the end of the Mandate, the primary spoken language once again became Levantine Arabic, which is similar to the Arabic used in Syria, Jordan and by Palestinians.
Nevertheless, the official written language used in newspapers, schools and official documents remains Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Nowadays, French is the second language, mainly spoken by Maronites. If you have no sense of either Arabic or French, English is often understood in Beirut and most tourist places. In other areas, some knowledge of Arabic or French is most welcome. |