For the past few decades, Kuwait has been witnessing its own linguistic shift, particularly in its dialect. To delve into this change, how it came about, and what it might signify for the Kuwaiti identity, Kuwait Times interviewed several citizens from current and previous generations to gather their opinions on the matter.

How has it changed?

When speaking with young adults, all unanimously agreed that the Kuwaiti dialect has evolved since their parents’ and grandparents’ times. They noted differences, especially in informal settings with friends, where English has heavily influenced their speech.

Apart from incorporating English words, the younger generation has also started translating and creating words directly from English. For instance, Fouz, 28, shared, “Our generation has been taking words from English and turning them into Arabic. A lot of us love to use the term ‘sar feeni’, which is a direct translation of ‘I was like’ in English.”

Similarly, 33-year-old Ahmed mentioned frequently using terms like “imperwin” (to get paranoid) and “impeswit” (to pass out) in his social circles. These words are crafted by using English terms as a base and adjusting letters to better suit the Arabic language. Such expressions have only recently become part of the dialect.

Despite this generational shift, some, like Fouz and Ahmed, expressed a desire to learn classic Kuwaiti words used by their older relatives, indicating a recognition of the importance of preserving linguistic heritage.

sar feeni

“Sometimes, my grandmother would say something, and I’d just go ‘What are you saying?’. I have slowly built up my vocabulary, though. Just by sitting more with the elderly during family gatherings, I’ve picked up many words. It’s really that simple,” said 18-year-old Mariam, who actively seeks to prevent the potential erasure of traditional Kuwaiti words.

Causes and concerns

While the younger generation expressed some level of concern about the current state of the Kuwaiti dialect, parents and grandparents interviewed by Kuwait Times appeared more alarmed about the direction it seems to be heading.

Taiba, 56, and a mother of three, believes the rapid change is due to the influence of social media, especially “influencers”. “People are constantly watching others on Snapchat and Instagram, then proceed to copy the way that they speak. There’s no sense of individuality anymore. My daughters and their friends all sound the same. It isn’t bad, of course, but I just wish younger people expressed themselves in their own way,” she said.

“Kuwaiti dramas are very popular with the current generation, but they’re filled with grammatical and syntactical mistakes, despite representing our society. It only contributes to the change and faults in our dialect nowadays, and they don’t even realize it because they assume it’s the correct way of speaking,” she added.

Another woman, in her 70s and wishing to remain anonymous, admitted, “Our dialect is gone, and with it our identity as Kuwaitis.” When asked about preventing this endangerment, she emphasized the importance of tradition, community engagement and cultural activities. “Preservation starts with tradition. Get together with your family and elders and engage in cultural activities. Talk to your neighbors and invite them over, be in touch with your community, and make sure to do it all with love.”

Language as a cultural heritage

The beauty of language lies in its ever-changing nature, but many believe that preservation efforts are necessary for the Kuwaiti dialect, considering it as a core part of the country’s rich and longstanding culture.

“If you want an example of how real Kuwaiti is spoken, just put on ‘Darb Al Zalag’ (A Kuwaiti comedy from 1977). It’s a great way to learn, and there are many other shows and theatrical plays just like it,” recommended 41-year-old Fatemah, reflecting on a bygone era of Kuwaiti art and television.

“We should also advocate for the construction of cultural institutes dedicated to researching and keeping records of old Kuwaiti words and expressions, especially because it’s all oral. Our dialect is as important as any other aspect of our culture and must be preserved for generations to come, especially if it disappears. There should be something written that we can always go back to, like a dictionary, for example.”

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Nouriyah believes that not all hope is lost. “We can and should hold on to the classic dialect; it’s Kuwaiti heritage after all. I think if we made it more appealing by creating fun programs on TV or TikTok, people would be more aware of what’s going on and show more interest. Private schools should make more of an effort, too, and organize cultural activities that could educate their Kuwaiti students.”