I read quite a lot, but somehow, this sneaky word hasn’t had crossed me yet in 2006.

On one summer day in Dubai I was sitting with a client discussing their requirements for a software module I was to write for them.. The guy was explaining in a mix of Lebanese Arabic and English, like we always speak in the UAE. Everything is clear and looking good while he explained how he hopes to see the program work, then he paused for a second, looked at me and asked:

“فيه زبل هالحكي؟” (sounds like: fee zıbıl hal haki?)

Which literally translates to “Does what I’m saying contain manure?” (“fee” is the question for “does it exist”, and “zıbıl” is “manure” in the Syrian dialect)

I was mildly surprised for a moment, and started analyzing the question:

• Does he mean to ask me if I feel that he’s talking bullshit?
• Do they use this word “زبل” which means “manure” with a different meaning in Lebanon?
• I don’t think he’s talking bullshit, frankly, so what’s the best way to answer? If I say no my answer might also mean something negative. And if I say yes, he might get offended.

It took me a couple of seconds, and eventually I blurted out:

“إذا رأيك فيه زبل… فهو كذلك!”

“if in your opinion it contains manure… then it does!”

Needless to say, the guy wasn’t impressed with this useless answer, but we soon moved on to the next topic.

A few weeks later, the thought of this little incident was still lingering in my mind, and then the light came on 💡 could he have been speaking something in English? I searched online (I used to use Google’s Search back then) for this feasible-sounding word to find out about it meaning “possible”. It was a funny moment to find out about it like that.

And now every time I read or use the word “feasible” this little moment pops up into my head from an old memory… and I smile 🙂