كنت سعيداً جداً

You start with kunt, which means 'I was.' This is the past tense of the verb 'to be' for the first person. Then you add mabsoot if you are male. If you are female, you must say mabsoota. Finally, jiddan adds that 'very' punch at the end. You can also swap jiddan for kteer if you want to sound more Levantine. It is like building a Lego tower of emotions. Just stack the words and you are ready to share your story.

Use it after a great night out with friends. Tell your host you were happy with the dinner. It works perfectly when describing a vacation or a movie you just saw. Text it to someone after a first date to show you enjoyed yourself. It fits well in professional but friendly emails after a successful meeting. Basically, use it whenever life felt good and you want to look back on it. It is a very safe and positive phrase.

Avoid this in a formal PhD thesis or a strict legal contract. In those high-formality cases, you should use the formal word sa'eed. Also, do not use it if you are currently happy. For the present moment, just say ana mabsoot. The word kunt strictly looks back at the past. If you are at a funeral, definitely keep this phrase in your pocket. It is too cheerful for somber occasions unless you are specifically sharing a happy memory of the deceased.

The word mabsoot has a fascinating history. It comes from the root 'b-s-t', which means 'to spread out.' Imagine a beautiful, soft rug spread out on the floor. When you are happy in the Arab world, your heart is said to 'spread out.' It is the opposite of feeling 'tight' or 'pressed' by stress. This reflects the Arabic value of emotional openness and hospitality. Being mabsoot means you have room in your heart for others.

In Lebanon, Syria, or Jordan, you will often hear kteer instead of jiddan. Kunt mabsoot kteer sounds very local and authentic there. For a group of people, you would say kunna mabsooteen. If you are talking to a female friend, you would ask her kunti mabsoota? You can also say mabsoot 'al-akhir which means 'happy to the end' or 'extremely happy.' It is a flexible phrase that travels across borders easily.