"I used to hear this tickle game from my grandparents in Syria, but I think it is common culture for the Levant. The tone is the same but the words change from one country to another, and even from one area to another in the same country." -Wa'ad Mkarem

Notes

*Regarding "reveal": "The meaning in Arabic is the mom has a secret and will tell her kid about it." -Wa'ad Mkarem

Transliteration:

1. ya bah ya bah
2. ya'erq altfah
3. ya asab'e allwlw
4. ya eydyn Angelina alhlwyn almnah
5. eja al'esfwr yshrb mn hwny
6. hada sqa
7. whada t'ema
8. whada ghta
9. whda dfa
10. whada ghfa

11. had znd alswarh
12. had kw'e alslh
13. had ktf aljrh
14. wghr ghr ghr

Game Instructions

Lines 1 – 4: On each line stroke starting from the child's palm to the end of their fingers.
Line 5: Tap in the middle of the child's palm.
Line 6: Fold over the child's thumb.
Line 7: Fold over the index finger.
Line 8: Fold over the middle finger.
Line 9: Fold over the ring finger.
Line 10: Fold over the pinkie.

Line 11: Put your hand on the child's wrist.
Line 12: Put your hand on the child's elbow.
Line 13: Put your hand on the child's shoulder.
Line 14: Tickle the child!

Listen

Download

Thanks to Wa'ad Mkarem for the recording!

Watch
The game starts at 2:33 in the video below…

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Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Wa'ad Mkarem for sharing this song with the translation and YouTube video.

شكراً (Shukran)